Minister of State for International Development

United Kingdom
Minister of State for International Development
Official Portrait, 2026
since 21 July 2026
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Style
StatusMinister of the Crown
Member of
Reports toPrime Minister
Foreign Secretary
SeatWestminster
NominatorThe Prime Minister
Appointer
Term length
Formation
  • 18 October 1964: (as Minister of Overseas Development)
  • 25 October 2022: (as Minister of State for Development and Africa)
First holderBarbara Castle (as Minister of Overseas Development)
Websitewww.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--214

The minister of state for international development is a ministerial position in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the Government of the United Kingdom. The current postholder is Kirsty McNeill since 21 July 2026.

The officeholder headed the Department for International Development (DFID) as secretary of state from 1997 to 2020 and was a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. The Department of International Development was abolished in September 2020 and merged into the Foreign Office. In 2022, the portfolio was restored as a Minister of State attending Cabinet, but was again removed in 2026.