Hilary Benn was appointed Secretary of State for International Development in October 2003. In September 2003 he was appointed the Prime Minister's G8 Africa Personal Representative.

Hilary Benn, born in 1953, attended Holland Park Comprehensive School and received a degree from the University of Sussex in 1974. He served for 20 years on Ealing Borough Council. In 1997 he was appointed as special adviser to the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, Secretary of State for Education and Employment. Hilary Benn was elected as MP for Leeds Central in June 1999.

Between May 2002 and May 2003 Hilary was the Home Office Minister for Prisons and Probation.

He is married with three sons and one daughter.