Baroness Goldie Appointed As Minister Of State For Defence

The Baroness will be responsible for a number of defence-related issues in the House of Lords (Picture: UK Parliament).

On Friday, Baroness Annabel Goldie was announced as minister of state for defence for Boris Johnson’s government, assuming responsibility for all defence matters in the House of Lords.

The Baroness has been a life peer since 2013, having been elected to Scottish Parliament in 1999 and leading the Scottish Conservatives from 2005 to 2011.

She has actively addressed imminent defence issues facing the UK, speaking in the House of Commons on 16 July about cybersecurity:

"No one is indifferent to or casual about the immensity of that threat. It is the threat of the modern age and the Government are acutely aware of it."

After the Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose drove off three Iranian vessels trying to stop a British-flagged commercial ship, Baroness Goldie assured the House that Government were "anxious to ensure that we do everything we can to de-escalate tensions":

"We are unrelenting in our efforts to achieve that objective not just through our diplomatic endeavours but in conjunction with our global partners."

Upon her arrival to her post, Baroness Goldie was welcomed by the new Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, who praised a ministerial team with "experience and enthusiasm".

In her new role, she will take on ceremonial and commemorative duties as well as community engagement responsibility.

She will also oversee EU relations - including Brexit matters.

Having been a Baroness in Waiting since 2016, the Conservative member of the House of Lords will now also be engaged with the issue of arms control, with the export licensing of weapons to Saudi Arabia recently being disputed.

Baroness Goldie is one of several new defence appointments under Boris Johnson's new UK leadership, with the departure of former Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt and former Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood.