Priti Patel was appointed Secretary of State for International Development on 14 July 2016. She was elected Conservative MP for Witham in May 2010.
Priti attended a comprehensive school in Watford before studying economics at Keele University. She completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Essex. Priti served as Minister of State for Employment from May 2015 until July 2016. She was Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from July 2014 to May 2015. In November 2013, the Prime Minister appointed Priti as the first ever UK Indian Diaspora Champion.
Before becoming an MP, she worked in consultancy and worked internationally.
The Secretary of State leads the DFID ministerial team, sets the overall strategy and direction of the department.
- National Security Council
- Strategy
- G7 and G20
- World Bank, IMF and other IFIs (including Regional Development Banks)
- Overall delivery and management of 0.7%
- Communications
- Reform: United Nations and multilateral
- Economic Development (including CDC, Trade Policy and private sector)
- Modern day slavery and child exploitation
- Women and girls
Twitter: @patel4witham