Non-diplomats/officials appointed to senior diplomatic postings since 1945

David Ormsby-Gore (5th Baron Harlech)

  1950-1961: Conservative MP for Oswestry

  1961-1965: HMA to USA

Derick Heathcoat-Amory (Viscount Amory)

  1945-1960: Conservative MP for Tiverton (inc Chancellor of the Exchequer 58-60)

  1961-1963: High Commissioner to Canada  

John Freeman

  1945-55: Labour MP for Watford

  1961-1965: Editor of the New Statesman

  1965-68: High Commissioner to India

  1969-71: HMA to USA

Sir Christopher Soames (now Baron Soames)

  1950-1966: Conservative MP for Bedford (inc Secretary of State for War 58-60)

  1968-1972: HMA to France

Ivor Richard, Baron Richard

  1964-1974: Labour MP for Barons Court

  1974-1979: UK Permanent Representative to the UN

  Later Leader of the House of Lords.

Peter Jay

  Economics Editor, The Times

  1977-1979: HMA to USA

Chris Patten, (now Baron Patten of Barnes)

  1979-1992: Conservative MP for Bath (for a time Conservative Party Chairman)

  1992-1997: Governor of Hong Kong

David Waddington (now Baron Waddington)

  1968-1990: Conservative MP (including as Home Secretary 89-90)

  1990-1992: Lord Privy Seal

  1992-1997: Governor of Bermuda

Richard Luce (now Baron Luce)

  1971-1974: Conservative MP for Arundel and Shoreham

  1974-1992: Conservative MP for Shoreham (including as Minister of State, FCO)

  1997-2000: Governor of Gibraltar

Alastair Goodlad (now Baron Goodlad)

  1974-1999: Conservative MP (including as Chief Whip)

  1999-2005: High Commissioner to Australia

Helen Liddell

  1994-2005: Labour MP (including as Secretary of State for Scotland)

  2005- : High Commissioner to Australia

Paul Boateng

  1987-2005: Labour MP for Brent South

  2005- : High Commissioner to South Africa