Edward Llewellyn, Baron Llewellyn of Steep
Edward David Gerard Llewellyn, Baron Llewellyn of Steep, (born 23 September 1965) was the British ambassador to France. He took up the post in November 2016. Formerly a British political adviser, he was the Downing Street chief of staff under former prime minister David Cameron. In January 2022, it was announced that he would become Ambassador to Italy. He presented his credentials to president Sergio Mattarella on 7 April 2022. Early life and career. He attended Eton College at the same time as Cameron, though Llewellyn was a year above him. Llewellyn left Eton  in 1983 and spent a brief amount of time working at Conservative Central Office, before studying at New College, Oxford, where he was steward (i.e. president) of the College JCR. New College contemporaries included Rageh Omaar, Steve Hilton and Ian Katz. The UK government website says that Llewellyn spent four years (from 1988 to 1992) working for the Conservative Party's research department, including a year as Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher. Political career. After leaving Oxford, he was employed as an aide to former Governor Chris Patten in Hong Kong, as a member of Patten's 'Cabinet' following Patten 's appointment as a European Commissioner, and then to the former Liberal Democrat Leader Paddy Ashdown in his role as high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Llewellyn was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1997 Birthday Honours and promoted to Officer (OBE) in the 2006 New Year Honours. Llewellyn was appointed as an Honorary Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve in July 2021. Chief of Staff to David Cameron. Following David Cameron's victory in the Conservative leadership election in December 2005, Llewellyn was hired to be Cameron's personal chief of staff  in his capacity as leader of the Opposition. Llewellyn continued in this role until 2010. Negotiations over coalition. He served as part of the Conservative negotiating team, along with George Osborne, William Hague and Oliver Letwin, when they were negotiating a possible deal with the Liberal Democrats after the 2010 general election. Their negotiations were successful and they created the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition agreement leading to the formation of a coalition government. Downing Street Chief of Staff. Cameron became Prime Minister and appointed Llewellyn to the post of Downing Street chief of staff. In July 2011, several newspapers reported  that Llewellyn asked Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates not to speak to Cameron about the News International phone hacking scandal. Following the Conservative Party's election victory at the 2015 general election, Llewellyn was sworn into the Privy Council on 14 May 2015. House of Lords. In August 2016, he was nominated for a life peerage in David Cameron's Resignation Honours and was created Baron Llewellyn of Steep, of Steep in the County of Hampshire, on 20 October. He took his seat on 31 October, when he was introduced by Chris Patten and William Hague. Ambassador to France . It was announced on 23 September 2016 that he would become British Ambassador to France, and it was reported that he will not sit in the House of Lords while serving as ambassador. He took up the post on 9 November 2016, being referred to as Edward Llewellyn. Llewellyn was succeeded as ambassador by Menna Rawlings in summer 2021, but it was announced he would transfer to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ambassador to Italy. On 18 January 2022 it was announced that Llewelyn would succeed Jill Morris as British Ambassador to Italy and Non-Resident Ambassador to San Marino. He  presented his credentials to president Sergio Mattarella on 7 April 2022. References.