James Heappey
Major James Stephen Heappey (born 30 January 1981) is a British politician and former soldier who served as Minister of State for the Armed Forces from 2020 to 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wells in Somerset since 2015.
Major The Right Honourable James Heappey MP | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | |
| In office 13 February 2020 – 26 March 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson Liz Truss Rishi Sunak |
| Preceded by | Anne-Marie Trevelyan |
| Succeeded by | Leo Docherty |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement | |
| In office 16 December 2019 – 13 February 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | Anne-Marie Trevelyan |
| Succeeded by | Jeremy Quin |
| Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister | |
| In office 4 August 2019 – 16 December 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | Andrew Bowie |
| Succeeded by | Trudy Harrison |
| Member of Parliament for Wells | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Tessa Munt |
| Majority | 9,991 (16.2%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 January 1981 Nailsea, England, UK |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Kate Heappey |
| Education | University of Birmingham (BA) Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
| Website | Official website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 2004–2012 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment The Rifles |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces from 2020 to 2022, before being promoted to Minister of State by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in July 2022. In September 2022, Heappey was appointed to the larger portfolio of Armed Forces and Veterans' Minister and was given the right to attend Cabinet by new Prime Minister Liz Truss. In October 2022, new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed Heappey as Minister of State for the Armed Forces, a ministerial role outside of Cabinet, and returned his responsibilities as Veterans' Minister to Johnny Mercer.