Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills

The Rt Hon John Denham MP

John Denham was appointed Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills as part of Gordon Brown's first Cabinet in June 2007.

Mr Denham became an MP in 1992. In 1993, he joined the Environment Select Committee and, in 1995, was promoted to the Opposition frontbench by Tony Blair as a spokesman on social security.

Following the 1997 General Election, he was appointed as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Social Security and was later promoted within the department to Minister of State.

Mr Denham moved to the Department of Health in 1999 and became a Member of the Privy Council in 2000.

Mr Denham was Minister of State at the Home Office from 2001 to 2003. In July 2003 he was appointed as the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee.