About

David Lammy is the Member of Parliament for Tottenham. His work is guided by his interest in justice, equality, and environmental issues.

Born and raised in Tottenham, David studied law at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Law School, was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1995, and completed pupillage the following year at 3 Serjeants’ Inn.  

David completed an LLM (Master of Laws)  at Harvard Law School in 1997 and worked at a US law firm as a barrister qualified in England and Wales and holder of a US postgraduate law degree. He returned to the UK to work at a British law firm, and upon entering Parliament in 2000 he registered as a non-practising barrister.

Elected to represent the constituency of Tottenham, David replaced Bernie Grant, one of the first three black men elected to parliament.

David rose quickly, holding positions in the previous Labour Government from 2001 to 2010. He is respected across the political spectrum for his strong, principled interventions on social justice issues, particularly in relation to race.

These include his campaign to win justice for those affected by the Windrush Scandal and his prominent role in the fight for justice for the families affected by the Grenfell Fire.

His 2017 review into the treatment of, and outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people in the Criminal Justice System remains an important point of reference.

Between 2020 and 2024, David served in opposition as Shadow Justice Secretary and Shadow Foreign Secretary. After the General Election of 2024, the Prime Minister appointed him Foreign Secretary in government.

As Foreign Secretary, David worked tirelessly to secure the United Kingdom’s formal recognition of a Palestinian state.

In September 2025, David was appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor. At this time, he became the first black Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.