Before forging a career in politics, David Lammy studied at Harvard University, becoming the first black Briton to attend Harvard Law School. Graduating with a Master of Laws, he practised as a Barrister before moving into government. David was elected to parliament in 2000, joining the Labour Government in 2002.

He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health, Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister for Higher Education and, as of July 2022, the Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

David was a passionate campaigner for Britain remaining in the European Union prior to the 2016 referendum and has continued to be an outspoken critic of the government’s Brexit negotiation strategy and is a firm supporter of a second referendum.

David Lammy and Windrush

Royal Navy official photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

He also led the campaign for the Windrush British Citizens to be granted full Citizenship, has been at the forefront of the fight for justice for the families affected by the Grenfell Fire and 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, he presented a TED talk (watched by 18 million people) calling for a global recognition that we cannot save climate change without racial and social justice.

David Lammy Broadcasting Work

David writes for national newspapers including The Guardian, The Times, The Independent and The New Statesman. He is President of the British and Foreign Schools Association and is a former trustee of Action Aid. In 2020, he co-founded the Sophia Point Rainforest Project, a charity that aims to transform research, education and conservation of Guyana’s rainforests.

It provides the facilities to help empower the next generation of Guyanese to play a role in conserving their rainforest. In the UK he has championed a green and fair recovery that priorities green jobs, supports the marginalised and advances environmental protections.

He is an avid supporter of environmental politics and is a regular contributor to the Haringey Labour Climate Action newsletter and has worked with Friends of the Earth and WWF UK to discuss impacts of climate change.

David is a regular contributor to television and radio shows, appearing on the BBC, ITV, Sky, London Live and regional and national programs including Radio Four’s Today Programme, Westminster Hour and many others.

In 2015, he was the subject of the BBC documentary This is Tottenham, which gave viewers an insight into the day-to-day life of an MP. In 2019, David presented the Channel 4 documentary, The Unremembered: Britain’s Forgotten War Heroes, about the lack of memorials for African soldiers who gave their lives to protect Britain during WW1. The documentary inspired an investigation by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission which found that “pervasive racism” was the leading factor.

David Lammy Written Work

To date, David Lammy has published two books; Out of the Ashes: Britain After the Riots (2012) which looked into the reasons behind the 2011 London riots, and Tribes (2020), which explores the social and racial divisions in society.

Duncan R2, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

David Lammy Keynote Speaking

Managing Diversity in Business: How to challenge issues surrounding diversity in a progressive and effective manner and help to ensure that it has a positive impact on the workplace and your bottom line.

Brexit: The aftermath of Brexit and its impact on the economy, businesses and society on a local and global scale.

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.

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.

Social Activism in a Fragmented and Multi-Cultural Society: Learn how diversity, multiculturalism and multi-racial architecture play an integral role today and how they impact on activism and politics.

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 affecting these every-changing landscapes.

David’s speaking engagements include The Guardian’s Discussion Series, Harvey Nash, Langdon Business Breakfast, Change London, Westbourne Communications, Dulwich College, Arup and London School of Fashion.

David is just one of a great team of political speakers and experts on diversity at Great British Speakers

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