Charles Clarke
Former Home Secretary. The Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP

Charles Clarke was appointed Home Secretary in December 2004.

Educated at Highgate School, London, Charles Clarke read mathematics and economics at Kings College Cambridge, graduating BA (Hons). He was President of the National Union of Students from 1975 to 1977. Born in 1950, Mr Clarke was married in 1984. He and his wife Carol have two sons.

Mr Clarke was made Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for School Standards in July 1998. He was appointed Minister of State at the Home Office on 29 July 1999 and became Minister without Portfolio and Labour Party Chair in July 2001. He was appointed Secretary of State for Education and Skills in October 2002.

He is also a member of the Joint Committee on House of Lords reform.