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A photo of Desmond Swayne by Chris McAndrew –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Desmon Swayne

Sir Desmond Angus Swayne was born on 20 August 1956. He is a British Conservative politician serving as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of New Forest West since 1997.

Before going into politics, Swayne was a teacher, and then a manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland. He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to David Cameron. In the article are the top ten interesting facts about Desmond Swayne.

1. Desmond was a knowledgeable and learned man

Desmond Swayne photo by Foreign and Commonwealth Office –

He was privately educated at Drumley House Preparatory School at Mossblown in South Ayrshire and Bedford School. He studied Theology at St Mary’s College at the University of St Andrews.

He taught economics at Charterhouse School for one year followed by seven years at Wrekin College. So, apart from the prominent politician we know in Desmond Swayne, he was also a lecturer in economics.

2. He served as a Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury from 2012 to June 2014

In the United Kingdom, there are at least six Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury, serving as a commission for the ancient office of Treasurer of the Exchequer. The board consists of the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord of the Treasury, and four or more junior lords acting as assistant whips in the House of Commons.

It is commonly thought that the Lords Commissioners of HM Treasury serve as commissioners for exercising the office of Lord High Treasurer, however, this is not true. Strictly, they are commissioners for exercising the office of Treasurer of the Exchequer of Great Britain and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland.

So, Desmond Swayne was appointed as Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury in September 2012. He held his position as a Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury until around July 2014.

3. He once worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland

Royal Bank of Scotland photo by Andrew Abbott –

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc is a major retail and commercial bank in Scotland. It is one of the retail banking subsidiaries of NatWest Group, together with NatWest and Ulster Bank.

The Royal Bank of Scotland has around 700 branches, mainly in Scotland, though there are branches in many larger towns and cities throughout England and Wales.

Take note that the bank is completely separate from the fellow Edinburgh-based bank, the Bank of Scotland, which pre-dates the Royal Bank by 32 years. So, Desmond Swayne worked for the bank as a computer systems manager. He was a man of many professions.

4. Desmond started his military career in 1987

On 2 August 1987, he was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps, Territorial Army with the rank of second lieutenant. He served with the Queen’s Own Mercian Yeomanry. He was promoted to lieutenant on 2 August 1989, and to captain on 1 August 1992.

On 1 November 1992, he transferred to the newly formed Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry. He was promoted to major on 14 December 1996 with seniority from 1 January 1996. In 2003, he was called up and posted to Iraq as part of the Iraq War. He served for six months before returning to the House of Commons.

5. The 1987 and the 1992 general elections were not favorable to Desmond

Betty Boothroyd photo by Chris McAndrew –

Before Desmond was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps on 2 August 1987, he had lost the election seat he was vying for on 11 June 1987. Swayne unsuccessfully contested the constituency of Pontypridd for the Conservative Party in the 1987 general election.

In the 1992 general election, he sought office in the constituency of West Bromwich West. However, he was defeated by the Labour incumbent Betty Boothroyd, who became Speaker of the House of Commons shortly afterward.

6. Desmond was a man who never lost hope easily

Despite vying for two seats in two general elections, then losing the two seats consecutively, Desmond still stayed intact and was read for another seat. He was elected to the seat of New Forest West at the 1997 general election.

In the 1997 Conservative Party leadership election, Swayne supported Michael Howard, and later John Redwood. He held the seat to serve his seventh consecutive term in the 2019 general election.

7. Desmond as a Parliamentary Private Secretary

David Camero photo by an Unknown photographer –

From 2001 to 2005, Swayne was Parliamentary Private Secretary to both Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Howard, and David Cameron. Following the election of David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party in December 2005, he was appointed as his PPS.

This position involved being the eyes and ears of Cameron in the House of Commons and reporting back on observations and requests from colleagues. In 2006, a series of Swayne’s e-mails to Cameron with unflattering descriptions of fellow Conservatives were leaked to the media.

8. Desmond wore blackface while attending a Blues Brothers-themed party

James Brown photo by Robbie Drexhage –

On 28 September 2019, Swayne remarked that blackface was an entirely acceptable bit of fun. On 30 September, it was reported that he wore blackface while attending a Blues Brothers-themed party, where he was pictured posing as James Brown.

Swayne said he went to some trouble to be as authentic as possible in creating the costume. After initially declining to apologize, Swayne later said he was sorry for any offense that he gave.

9. Swayne was critical of the UK government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Desmond and David Bernstein photo by Foreign and Commonwealth Office –

Abut the COVID-19 pandemic, Swayne believed that the government should have taken a softer approach, including keeping shops and public spaces open as had the Swedish government.

He suggested that the government’s lockdown measures and policies were disproportionate to the threat posed by the virus.

peaking to parliament in July 2020, Swayne described the Coronavirus law requiring the public to wear face masks in indoor public places as “a monstrous imposition”, and said that it would make him less likely to go shopping.

10. Swayne has received many honors and decorations

Desmond Swayne photo by DFID – UK Department for International Development –

Swayne is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the Iraq Medal, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He has also received the Territorial Decoration for 12 years of service in the Territorial Army.

In June 2009, he was awarded the Volunteer Reserves, Service Medal. Swayne was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours for political and parliamentary service.