Philip Somerset
The Honourable Philip Somerset MP MLC | |
|---|---|
 Official Government Portrait, painted by Thomas Carew. | |
| Cabinet Secretary | |
| Assumed office 2 October 2025 (74 days) | |
| Monarch | George VII |
| Preceded by | The Duke of York |
| Previous Positions | |
| Speaker of the House of Commons | |
| In office 23 March 2025 – 21 April 2025 (30 days) | |
| Preceded by | Charles Wright |
| Succeeded by | Charles Wright |
| Member of Parliament for the Cities of London and Westminster | |
| In office 23 March 2025 – 19 May 2025 (58 days) | |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Undetermined |
| In office 13 November 2024 – 20 February 2025 (100 days) | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Wright |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Philip Michael Costeau 8 October 2024 (1 year, 70 days) |
| Political party | Independent (since 1 January 2025) |
| Other political affiliations | British Workers' Party (until 1 January 2025) Labour Party (until 8 December 2024) |
| Spouse | Esther Wright |
| Parent | Prince Matthew, Duke of Somerset Madeline Somerset, Duchess of Somerset |
| Residence | Denham Place |
| Education | University of St Andrews (LLB) |
| Signature |  |
Philip Michael Alexander Somerset is a civil servant, courtier and journalist, most well-known for his distinguished Parliamentary and Government career, and for his service as the former Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation. He currently serves as Cabinet Secretary & Head of the Home Civil Service, as a Member of the Board of Directors at Forbes-Western, and as a member of the Royal Household. His previous positions of note also include four sessions as the Member of Parliament for the Cities of London and Westminster, as Speaker of the House of Commons, and as Deputy Prime Minister, First Secretary of State, and Secretary of State for Justice.
Philip is the youngest child of Prince Matthew, Duke of Somerset and Madeline, Duchess of Somerset. He resides in Denham Place, Uxbridge, where he lives alone. He is married to Esther Sherwood-Somerset, the Baroness of Huntingdon. They were married on the 5th of October at Balfour Castle, Shapinsay.[1]
Arrival and Early Career
Philip Somerset joined the Empire as Philip Costeau, having crossed the Channel after the unfortunate destruction of his French hometown by a rampaging Owain Carew.[2]
His Citizenship Application was approved by the then Prime Minister, Thomas Carew, following which Costeau spent a week in the National Archives, studying up on the laws, customs, and traditions of the Empire.
Soon after, Philip joined the BBC, as an intern.[3] His first publication concerned the October Budget which was being debated at the time of his joining.[4] Philip was also seen protesting the Budget in Westminster, authoring and campaigning for a resolution against the automatic tax deductions proposal fronted by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Wright.[5]
Philip was largely involved in journalism and civic activism, engaging in the Strangers' Gallery or writing articles for the BBC.
- ↑ https://gbi.freeforums.net/thread/11913/wedding-philip-esther
- ↑ https://gbi.freeforums.net/post/73290. Although Owain Carew left on the 11th of August that year, it is suspected that he spent a month attempting to repeatedly tailgate a rude Frenchman but realised only belatedly that he was in France, where this was the norm.
- ↑ https://gbi.freeforums.net/post/69544/thread
- ↑ https://gbi.freeforums.net/thread/9345/october-budget-2024
- ↑ https://gbi.freeforums.net/thread/9394/resolution-civil-rights-violations-government