David Lammy
Harvard educated David Lammy is the Member of Parliament for Tottenham and the Shadow Foreign Secretary. One of the leading agenda setters in the fields of social activism, diversity and multi-culturalism, he was a member of the previous Labour Government (2001-2010), is respected across the party spectrum and a well-known figure amongst the general public.
David Lammy's videos
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David Lammy's 2025 biography
About David Lammy
A well-known advocate of social activism, diversity and multi-culturalism, David continues to tackle the big issues facing society (on a macro and micro scale) and provide tangible solutions to bring about effective change.
A passionate campaigner for Britain remaining in the European Union prior to the referendum in 2016, David has continued to be an outspoken critic of the government’s Brexit negotiation strategy. He also led the campaign for the Windrush British Citizens to be granted full British Citizenship, and has been at the forefront of the fight for justice for the families affected by the Grenfell Fire. When David Lammy was named Politician of the Year by both GQ and the Political Studies Association, he dedicated both awards to the Windrush Generation and his friend Khadija Saye who lost her life in Grenfell Tower.
In 2017, David published the widely recognised review into the treatment of, and outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals in the Criminal Justice System. In 2020, David presented a TED talk as part of their latest Countdown series, calling for a global recognition that we cannot solve climate change without racial and social justice.
David was elected to Parliament at the age of 27 in 2000, following the untimely death of Tottenham’s long-standing MP Bernie Grant. He joined the Labour Government in 2002 and remained a member until 2010. He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health, Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Minister for Culture, Media and Sport and latterly Minister for Higher Education. He was admitted to the Privy Council in 2008. He now sits on the Serious Violence Taskforce with the Home Secretary.
David writes for national newspapers, including the Guardian, the Times, the Independent and the New Statesman, is President of the British and Foreign Schools Association and is a former trustee of Action Aid.
He is an Associate Tenant Barrister at the pre-eminent Doughty Street Chambers, a Visiting Lecturer at the School of Oriental and African studies, and a Visiting Professor in Practice at London School of Economics, Department of Law.
David Lammy's 2025 talks & topics
Managing diversity in business
As one of the leading voices on diversity in the UK, hear David’s thoughts on how to challenge cultural issues in a progressive and effective manner and how to ensure that diversity has a positive impact on the workplace and your bottom line.
Post-Brexit Britain
Building on his best-selling book Tribes, David seeks to navigate post-Brexit reality and build a shared narrative in the face of widening divisions and deepening tribalism.
Social activism in a fragmented and multi-cultural society
Learn from a leading national campaigner how diversity, multiculturalism and multi-racial architecture play an integral role today and how they impact on activism and politics.
Crisis Management
How to manage a crisis effectively in a pressurised environment, and the strategic lessons learnt from dealing with testing situations at the front line of politics.
Criminal Justice
Examine the roots and outcomes of disproportionality in our criminal justice system, intimately tied to a critical analysis of drug laws.
Cities and the built environment
Understand the array of challenges and opportunities facing the infrastructure of our ever-expanding cities as they go through constant and rapid transformation, including but not restricted to the relationship between climate action and racial justice.
UK politics and public life
An insider’s take on the day to day realities of political life and how the tools for dealing with strategic issues at Westminster can be employed at all levels of businesses and organisations.
American politics
Understand the similarities and differences between US and UK politics through an exploration of the prominent characters, defining groups and trends effecting these ever-changing landscapes.