The Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly MP, former Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary, will be one of the headline speakers at the BMF Members Conference in September.

James Cleverly’s career spans the military, business, local and national politics, and he remains a serving officer in the Territorial Army.

He entered national politics in 2015 when he was elected as Conservative MP for Braintree, joining the Cabinet in 2019 as Education Secretary. His tenure in government, under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, spanned some of the most turbulent times in recent history. 

As Home Secretary, he was responsible for policing, counter-terrorism, immigration policy and the National Crime Agency. As Foreign Secretary, he led UK diplomacy during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and as the UK’s relationship with the EU changed.  

Following the 2024 general election, Cleverly emerged as one of the front-runners for the leadership of the Conservative Party but was eliminated from the contest in the final round of MP voting, and returned to the backbenches after Kemi Badenoch's election. Earlier this year, he was awarded a knighthood for “political and public service.”

John Newcomb, BMF CEO, said: “We are delighted that James Cleverly will address BMF Members’ Day this year. He is not only one of the country’s senior politicians, but the breadth of his experience in business and the military adds to his insights into the global and domestic political landscapes.”

Focusing on the theme  “Engaging with the Future”, the BMF Annual Members Conference and Awards takes place at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham on 17 and 18 September.