Francis Maude

Francis Maude – Life, Career, and Political Philosophy

Francis Maude (born July 4, 1953) is a British Conservative politician and peer, noted for his roles in government efficiency, digital reform, and public service modernization. Explore his life, key offices, ideas, and legacy.

Introduction

Francis Anthony Aylmer Maude, better known as Lord Maude of Horsham, is a British Conservative politician whose career spans more than three decades in Parliament, cabinet government, and public sector reform.

With ministerial posts under Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron, Maude became particularly influential for championing government efficiency, transparency, and digital transformation. After retiring from the House of Commons, he continues to engage through business, consultancy, and public policy work.

Early Life and Family

Francis Maude was born on 4 July 1953 in Abingdon-on-Thames, Berkshire, England. He is the son of Angus Maude (1912–1993), himself a life peer and prominent Conservative politician, which situates Francis in a family with political pedigree.

During part of his childhood, the family lived in Sydney, Australia, when his father was editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.

Francis was educated at Abingdon School (in Oxfordshire). He then attended Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, followed by legal studies at the College of Law. He was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1977 and practiced as a criminal lawyer before entering full-time politics.

Political Career & Offices Held

Early Parliamentary Career (1983–1992)

Maude first became an MP in the 1983 general election, representing North Warwickshire, a newly created constituency.

His initial ministerial appointments included:

• Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under Margaret Thatcher (1987–1989)

• Minister for Europe (1989–1990) in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office

• Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1990–1992)

However, Maude lost his parliamentary seat in the 1992 election, temporarily halting his ministerial trajectory.

Between Parliaments (1992–1997)

After losing his seat, Maude entered the business and financial world: he was a managing director at Morgan Stanley and held non-executive directorships (e.g. ASDA). He also chaired the government’s Deregulation Task Force (1994–1997).

Return to Parliament & Opposition (1997–2010)

In 1997, he was elected MP for Horsham in West Sussex, a seat he would hold until 2015.

During his time in opposition, Maude held multiple shadow cabinet roles:

• Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport

• Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer (1998–2000)

• Shadow Foreign Secretary (2000–2001)

• Chairman of the Conservative Party (2005–2007), where he helped drive the party’s modernization efforts under David Cameron

• Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office / Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (from 2007 onward)

Government Roles under David Cameron (2010–2016)

When the Conservatives entered government in coalition with the Liberal Democrats in 2010, Maude was appointed Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (2010–2015).

In that role, Maude oversaw major efficiency and reform programmes, the creation of the Government Digital Service and the consolidation of government websites under gov.uk.

In 2015, Maude became a life peer (Baron Maude of Horsham) and was made Minister of State for Trade and Investment (2015–2016). He stepped down from ministerial office in February 2016.

Key Focus & Policies

Efficiency, Reform & Savings

One of Maude’s signature achievements was his leadership of the Efficiency & Reform Group (ERG). Under his stewardship, the government claimed tens of billions of pounds in savings through consolidation, better procurement, property rationalization, and reducing waste.

Digital Government & Transparency

Maude pushed forward digital transformation in government:

• The setup of Gov.uk, consolidating over a thousand government websites

• The establishment of the Government Digital Service (GDS)

• Emphasis on open data: requiring government departments to publish spending, salaries, performance metrics, etc.

Public Service & Civil Service Reform

He introduced performance metrics, a “functional model” approach (breaking down silos in government), and reforms in recruitment, pensions, and project delivery.

Trade and Investment

As Trade Minister, Maude worked to support UK exports, trade policy, and investment promotion. However, his term in that role was relatively short.

Personality, Philosophy & Critiques

Maude has often been seen as a technocrat within politics: more interested in systems, delivery, and institutional change than grand ideological battles. His approach emphasizes pragmatism, data, metrics, and reform.

However, his career has not been without controversy:

• In 2012, during the UK fuel crisis, Maude advised people to store petrol in jerrycans, advice which drew strong public criticism after safety concerns and panic buying ensued.

• In his earlier years, he was implicated in criticisms of hypocrisy over business interests while promoting “family friendly” public policy stances.

• Some civil service stalwarts criticized his leadership style and public criticism of departmental performance.

• Regarding Section 28 (a law that prohibited promotion of homosexuality in local authorities), Maude later acknowledged it was a mistake and said in hindsight it was “very wrong.”

He is also viewed as part of the “modernising” wing of the Conservative Party, pressing it to adapt to changing social, electoral, and technological conditions.

Legacy & Post-Political Career

After leaving government roles, Maude founded Francis Maude Associates (FMA), a consultancy specializing in government efficiency, reform, and digital transformation.

In his consulting role and advisory positions, he applies the lessons and methods from his ministerial experience to governments and organizations globally.

His digital reforms (e.g. Gov.uk) have had influence beyond the UK—served as a model for many governments seeking to modernize public services.

Maude’s legacy lies in showing that a politician can combine policy ambition with operational discipline, and that modernizing government is not just ideological but deeply technical.