He was the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2017 to 2019 for the Theresa May ministry. He was the Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and was the Secretary of State for Education from 12 May 2010 to 15 July 2014. He is the Member of Parliament for the Surrey Heath constituency in the United Kingdom. He was first elected in the 2005 general election.