David Lammy Keynote Speaker

UK Foreign Secretary (2024–2025) and Deputy Prime Minister (2025–2026)
Labour MP for Tottenham since 2000 and Harvard-trained barrister
Senior government leader with experience spanning foreign affairs, justice and international diplomacy

David Lammy's Biography

The Rt Hon David Lammy MP is a senior British politician, barrister and author with more than two decades of experience across government, foreign affairs, justice and public policy. He has represented Tottenham as its Labour MP since 2000, having first entered Parliament at the age of 27.

From July 2024 to September 2025, David served as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, leading British foreign policy during a period of significant geopolitical change. His role placed him at the heart of the UK’s international relationships, diplomacy and responses to global security challenges.

In September 2025, David was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He served in these positions until 20 July 2026, working across government while leading the Ministry of Justice. His tenure included work spanning prison and justice reform, legal innovation and the application of new technology within the justice system. He left government following the ministerial changes of July 2026 and remains MP for Tottenham.

David has a longstanding interest in justice, equality and social policy. In 2016, he was commissioned to lead the independent Lammy Review, examining the treatment and outcomes of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals within the criminal justice system. Earlier in his parliamentary career, he held a succession of ministerial roles covering health, constitutional affairs, culture, skills, higher education and intellectual property.

Before entering politics, David studied law at SOAS and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1995. He subsequently completed an LLM at Harvard Law School in 1997 and worked in the legal profession in both the United States and the UK. He has also held academic roles at the London School of Economics and SOAS.

David is also an accomplished author. His book Tribes: A Search for Belonging in a Divided Society (2021) explores our innate need to belong and how globalisation and digitisation are deepening divisions within society. He also authored Out of the Ashes: Britain After the Riots, an analysis of the long-standing social, economic and political causes behind the 2011 riots.

Alongside his political and academic work, David founded the Sophia Point Rainforest Research Centre in Guyana, reflecting his interest in climate, conservation and education.

With experience spanning the Foreign Office, Ministry of Justice, Parliament, law and academia, David brings a distinctive perspective on geopolitics, diplomacy, leadership, justice, identity and the challenges facing modern democracies.

Managing diversity in business

How to challenge cultural issues in a progressive and effective manner and ensure that diversity has a positive impact on the workplace and your bottom line.

Post-Brexit Britain

Building on his best-selling book Tribes, David seeks to navigate post-Brexit reality and build a shared narrative in the face of widening divisions and deepening tribalism.

Social justice in a fragmented and multi-cultural society

Learn from a leading national campaigner how diversity, multiculturalism and multi-racial architecture play an integral role today and how they impact activism and politics.

Crisis Management

How to manage a crisis effectively in a pressurised environment, and the strategic lessons learnt from dealing with testing situations at the front line of politics.

Criminal Justice

Examine the roots and outcomes of disproportionality in our criminal justice system, intimately tied to a critical analysis of drug laws.

Cities and the built environment

Understand the array of challenges and opportunities facing the infrastructure of our ever-expanding cities, including but not restricted to the relationship between climate action and racial justice.

UK politics and public life

An insider’s take on the day to day realities of political life and how the tools for dealing with strategic issues at Westminster can be employed at all levels of businesses and organisations.

American politics

Understand the similarities and differences between US and UK politics through an exploration of the prominent characters, defining groups and trends effecting these ever-changing landscapes.

He helps leaders understand geopolitics, diplomacy and global security, drawing on his experience as UK Foreign Secretary during a period of significant international change.
His perspective on leadership and decision-making has been shaped by more than two decades in Parliament and senior government, including serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.
He brings deep expertise in justice, equality and social policy. His work includes leading the independent Lammy Review into the treatment and outcomes of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people within the criminal justice system.
As a barrister, Harvard Law School graduate and former academic at the London School of Economics and SOAS, he combines political experience with a strong legal and intellectual foundation.
His books, including Tribes and Out of the Ashes, explore belonging, identity and social division, complementing his wider experience across foreign policy, justice, law, education and public life.