Sir Philip Barton

Philip Barton studied economics and politics at Warwick and economics at the London School of Economics before entering the Foreign Office in 1986. He worked in Caracas, New Delhi, and Nicosia, served as deputy governor of Gibraltar, and became private secretary to prime ministers John Major and Tony Blair. His Washington assignment was as deputy ambassador from 2011 to 2013. ¹

Barton subsequently served as high commissioner to Pakistan, acting chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, and director general for consular and security affairs. After a brief posting as high commissioner to India in 2020, he became permanent under-secretary of the newly combined Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, a position he held until January 2025. ¹