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 Julian Lewis read Philosophy and Politics at Oxford before specialising in Strategic Studies. He was awarded his doctorate in 1981 and a book based on his research, “Changing Direction: British Military Planning for Post-war Strategic Defence 1942–47”, was published in 1988. A second edition, based on newly-declassified archives, was published by Frank Cass in March 2003.
Between 1981 and 1985, he was a leader of the anti-CND campaigns waged by The Coalition for Peace Through Security, and by the Conservative Party. He briefed many politicians during the nuclear weapons debate and was Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Swansea West in 1983. He was elected to Parliament in May 1997 and re-elected in June 2001.
Julian served for four years as Secretary of the Conservative Parliamentary Defence Committee. He was one of four MPs in the RAF's programme for the 1998 Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, as one of two MPs in the RAF's 2000 AFPS graduate programme, and as one of four MPs in the Royal Navy's 2004 AFPS graduate programme.
In February 2000 Julian was appointed as one of the three Conservative Members of the Select Committee on Defence. The following month he was elected Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and European Affairs Committee, in succession to the late Michael Colvin. He stepped down from these posts on joining the front bench in 2001.
Following the election of Iain Duncan Smith as leader of the Opposition in September 2001, Julian was appointed as an Opposition Whip. He was promoted to become a Shadow Defence Minister in November 2002.
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