Iain Duncan Smith

Iain Duncan Smith was elected as the Member of Parliament for Chingford in 1992, a seat he has held, representing Chingford and Woodford Green since its renaming. His career began with military service in the Scots Guards from 1975 to 1981, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1975 and promoted to Lieutenant in 1977. During his military tenure, he undertook operational tours in Northern Ireland and Rhodesia. Following his service, he worked for GEC Marconi throughout the 1980s, before contesting Bradford West in 1987.

He was a prominent campaigner for leaving the European Union, playing a key role in the lead-up to the 2016 referendum. His political and public service was recognized in the 2020 New Year Honours when he was knighted. Currently, Sir Iain co-chairs the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), an international cross-party group he helped launch in 2020. This alliance advocates for a coordinated democratic response to the complex challenges posed by China, bringing together parliamentarians from over 30 countries to address issues from human rights to trade and security.