Lord President of the Council

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Lord President of the Council
Royal Arms of the United Kingdom (Crown & Garter).svg
Arms used by the Privy Council Office
Jacob Rees-Mogg MP.jpg
Incumbent
Jacob Rees-Mogg

since 24 July 2019
Privy Council Office
StyleThe Right Honourable
TypeGreat Officer of State
AppointerThe Monarch
on the advice of the Prime Minister
Term lengthAt Her Majesty's Pleasure
Formation1530
First holderThe 1st Duke of Suffolk
Websiteprivycouncil.independent.gov.uk

The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking below the Lord High Treasurer but above the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends and is responsible for presiding over meetings of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, presenting business for the monarch's approval. In the modern era, the holder is by convention always a member of one of the Houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom, and the office is normally a Cabinet post.

The office and its history[]

The Privy Council meets once a month, wherever the sovereign may be residing at the time, to give formal approval to Orders in Council.[1] Only a few privy counsellors need attend such meetings, and only when invited to do so at the government's request. As the duties of the Lord President are not onerous, the post has often been given to a government minister whose responsibilities are not department-specific. In recent years it has been most typical for the Lord President also to serve as Leader of the House of Commons or Leader of the House of Lords. The Lord President has no role in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Unlike some of the other Great Officers of State, the office of Lord President is not very old (relative to the over 1,000-year history of government in the British Isles), the first certain appointment to the office being that of the Duke of Suffolk in 1529.[2] (Although there is a reference to Edmund Dudley serving as 'president of the council' in 1497, it was only in 1529 that the role was given the style and precedence of a Great Officer of State by Act of Parliament (An Act that the President of the King's Counsel shall be associate with the Chancellor and Treasurer of England, and the Keeper of the King's Privy Seal).[3]) Prior to 1679 there were several periods in which the office was left vacant.

In the 19th century, the Lord President was generally the cabinet member responsible for the education system, amongst his other duties. This role was gradually scaled back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but remnants of it remain, such as the oversight of the governance of various universities.

During times of National or coalition government the office of Lord President has sometimes been held by the leader of a minority party (e.g. Baldwin 1931–1935, MacDonald 1935–1937, Attlee 1943–1945, Clegg 2010–2015). It has been suggested that the office has been intermittently used for Prime Ministerial deputies in the past.[4][5]

A particularly vital role was played by the Lord President of the Council during the Second World War. The Lord President served as chairman of the Lord President's Committee. This committee acted as a central clearing house which dealt with the country's economic problems. This was vital to the smooth running of the British war economy and consequently the entire British war effort.

Winston Churchill, clearly believing that this wartime co-ordinating role was beneficial, introduced a similar but expanded system in the first few years of his post-war premiership.[6] The so-called 'overlord ministers' included Frederick Leathers as Secretary of State for the Co-ordination of Transport, Fuel and Power and Lord Woolton as Lord President. Woolton's job was to co-ordinate the then separate ministries of agriculture and food.[7] The historian Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield quotes a PhD thesis by Michael Kandiah saying that Woolton was "arguably the most successful of the Overlords" partly because his ministries were quite closely related; indeed, they were merged in 1955 as the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.[8]

On several occasions since 1954, non-British Ministers have served briefly as acting Lords President of the Council, solely to preside over a meeting of the Privy Council held in a Commonwealth realm.[9][10][11] Examples of this practice are the meetings in New Zealand in 1990 and 1995, when Geoffrey Palmer and James Bolger respectively were acting Lords President.

Before the 2010 United Kingdom general election, the Lord President was The Lord Mandelson, who was also First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.[12] This was the first time that the Lord President had not been a leader of one of the two Houses since the period 20 October 1963 to 16 October 1964, when Quintin Hogg (2nd Viscount Hailsham until November 1963), after resigning his post as Leader of the House of Lords, held the office along with the offices of Minister for Sport and, from 1 April 1964, also of Secretary of State for Education and Science.[13]

Andrea Leadsom's appointment in June 2017 was the first in some time where the post holder was not a full Cabinet member.[14]

Visitorial role[]

The Lord President also serves as the visitor for several English universities, including:[15]

  • University of Birmingham
  • University of Bristol
  • University of Hull
  • Imperial College London
  • Keele University
  • University of Leeds
  • University of Leicester
  • University of Liverpool
  • University of London (but not King's College London or University College London)
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Reading
  • University of Sheffield
  • University of Southampton
  • University of Sussex

Partial list of Lords President of the Council[]

Lords President of the Council (c.1530–1702)[]

Lord President of the Council
Portrait Name
birth–death
Term of office
Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk.jpg Charles Brandon
1st Duke of Suffolk

(c. 1484–1545)
1530 14 August
1545
William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester from NPG.jpg William Paulet
1st Marquess of Winchester

(c. 1485–1572)
January
1546
February
1550
John Dudley (Knole, Kent).jpg John Dudley
1st Duke of Northumberland

(1504–1553)
February
1550
July
1553
Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester by Francis Delaram.jpg Henry Montagu
1st Earl of Manchester

(c. 1563–1642)
September
1621
July
1628
James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough.jpg James Ley
1st Earl of Marlborough

(c. 1552–1629)
July
1628
14 December
1628
No image.svg Edward Conway
1st Viscount Conway

(1564–1631)
14 December
1628
3 January
1631
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury.jpg Anthony Ashley-Cooper
1st Earl of Shaftesbury

(1621–1683)
21 April
1679
15 October
1679
John Robartes.jpg John Robartes
1st Earl of Radnor

(1606–1685)
24 October
1679
24 August
1684
Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester.jpg Laurence Hyde
1st Earl of Rochester

(1642–1711)
24 August
1684
18 February
1685
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax by Mary Beale.jpg George Savile
1st Marquess of Halifax

(1633–1695)
18 February
1685
4 December
1685
2nd Earl of Sunderland.jpg Robert Spencer
2nd Earl of Sunderland

(1641–1702)
4 December
1685
October
1688
Viscount preston.jpg Richard Graham
1st Viscount Preston

(1648���1695)
October
1688
December
1688
1stDukeOfLeeds.jpg Thomas Osborne
1st Duke of Leeds
[nb 1]
(1632–1712)
14 February
1689
18 May
1699
Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke by John Greenhill.jpg Thomas Herbert
8th Earl of Pembroke

(c. 1656–1733)
18 May
1699
29 January
1702
Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset.jpg Charles Seymour
6th Duke of Somerset

(1662–1748)
29 January
1702
13 July
1702

Lord Presidents of the Council (1702–present)[]

Lord President of the Council
Portrait Name
birth–death
Term of office Other ministerial portfolios held during tenure Party Ministry Monarch
(Reign)
Thomas Herbert, 8th Earl of Pembroke by John Greenhill.jpg The Right Honourable
Thomas Herbert
8th Earl of Pembroke

KG PC
(c. 1656–1733)
13 July
1702
25 November
1708
Godolphin–Marlborough
(ToryWhig)
Anne
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1707-1714).svg
(1702–1714)
John Somers, Baron Somers by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt lowres color.jpg The Right Honourable
John Somers
1st Baron Somers

PC
(1651–1716)
25 November
1708
21 September
1710
Whig
Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester.jpg The Right Honourable
Laurence Hyde
1st Earl of Rochester

KG PC
(1642–1711)
21 September
1710
13 June
1711
Tory Oxford–Bolingbroke
JohnSheffield.jpg His Grace
John Sheffield
1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby

KG PC
(1648–1721)
13 June
1711
23 September
1714
George I
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
(1714–1727)
Daniel Finch, 2nd Earl of Nottingham and 7th Earl of Winchilsea by Jonathan Richardson.jpg The Right Honourable
Daniel Finch
2nd Earl of Nottingham

PC
(1647–1730)
23 September
1714
6 July
1716
Tory Townshend
William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.jpg The Right Honourable
William Cavendish
2nd Duke of Devonshire

KG PC
(1672–1729)
6 July
1716
16 March
1718
Whig
Stanhope–Sunderland I
Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland.jpg The Right Honourable
Charles Spencer
3rd Earl of Sunderland

PC
(1675–1722)
16 March
1718
6 February
1719
  • First Lord of the Treasury
Whig Stanhope–Sunderland II
1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull.JPG His Grace
Evelyn Pierrepont
1st Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull

KG PC
(c. 1655–1726)
6 February
1719
11 June
1720
Whig
Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (2).jpg The Right Honourable
Charles Townshend
2nd Viscount Townshend

PC FRS
(1674–1738)
11 June
1720
25 June
1721
  • Secretary of State for the Northern Department [nb 2]
Whig
Walpole–Townshend
Henry Boyle Lord Carleton by Godfrey Kneller.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry Boyle
1st Baron Carleton

PC
(1669–1725)
25 June
1721
27 March
1725
Whig
William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.jpg The Right Honourable
William Cavendish
2nd Duke of Devonshire

KG PC
(1672–1729)
27 March
1725
4 June
1729
Whig
George II
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
(1727–1760)
1stBaronTrevor.jpg The Right Honourable
Thomas Trevor
1st Baron Trevor

PC
(1658–1730)
8 May
1730
19 June
1730
Tory
Spencer Compton 1st Earl of Wilmington.jpg The Right Honourable
Spencer Compton
1st Earl of Wilmington

KG KB PC
(1673–1743)
31 December
1730
13 February
1742
Whig Walpole
William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington (1683-1756), Attributed to Godfrey Kneller.jpg The Right Honourable
William Stanhope
1st Earl of Harrington

PC FRS
(c. 1683–1756)
13 February
1742
3 January
1745
  • Secretary of State for the Northern Department [nb 3]
Whig Carteret
Broad Bottom
(I & II)
Dorset1.JPG His Grace
Lionel Sackville
1st Duke of Dorset

KG PC
(1688–1765)
3 January
1745
17 June
1751
  • Lord Lieutenant of Ireland [nb 4]
Whig
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville by William Hoare.jpg The Right Honourable
John Carteret
2nd Earl Granville

KG PC
(1690–1763)
17 June
1751
2 January
1763
Whig
Newcastle I
Pitt–Devonshire
1757 Caretaker
Pitt–Newcastle
George III
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
(1760–1820)
[nb 5]
Bute
4thDukeOfBedford.jpg His Grace
John Russell
4th Duke of Bedford

KG PC FRS
(1710–1771)
9 September
1763
12 July
1765
Whig Grenville
(WhigTory)
Daniel Finch (1689-1769), 8th Earl of Winchilsea, 3rd Earl of Nottingham, by Thomas Worlidge.jpg The Right Honourable
Daniel Finch
8th Earl of Winchilsea

KG PC
(1689–1769)
12 July
1765
30 July
1766
Whig Rockingham I
Robert Henley, 1st Earl of Northington by Thomas Hudson.jpg The Right Honourable
Robert Henley
1st Earl of Northington

PC
(c. 1708–1772)
30 July
1766
22 December
1767
Whig Chatham
(WhigTory)
1stMarquessOfStafford.jpg The Right Honourable
Granville Leveson-Gower
2nd Earl Gower

PC
(1721–1803)
22 December
1767
24 November
1779
Tory
Grafton
(WhigTory)
North
2ndEarlBathurst.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry Bathurst
2nd Earl Bathurst

PC KC
(1714–1794)
24 November
1779
27 March
1782
Tory
Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden by Nathaniel Dance, (later Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland, Bt).jpg The Right Honourable
Charles Pratt
1st Baron Camden

PC
(1714–1794)
27 March
1782
2 April
1783
Whig Rockingham II
Shelburne
(WhigTory)
Portrait of David Murray 2nd Earl of Mansfield by Sylvester Harding.jpg The Right Honourable
David Murray
7th Viscount Stormont

KT PC
(1727–1796)
2 April
1783
19 December
1783
Tory Fox–North
(WhigTory)
1stMarquessOfStafford.jpg The Right Honourable
Granville Leveson-Gower
2nd Earl Gower

PC
(1721–1803)
19 December
1783
1 December
1784
Tory Pitt I
Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden by Nathaniel Dance, (later Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland, Bt).jpg The Right Honourable
Charles Pratt
1st Earl Camden
[nb 6]
PC
(1714–1794)
1 December
1784
18 April
1794
Tory
2ndEarlFitzwilliam.jpg The Right Honourable
William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam
4th Earl Fitzwilliam

PC
(1748–1833)
1 July
1794
17 December
1794
Whig
Portrait of David Murray 2nd Earl of Mansfield by Sylvester Harding.jpg The Right Honourable
David Murray
2nd Earl of Mansfield

KT PC
(1727–1796)
17 December
1794
1 September
1796
Tory
Chatham2.JPG The Right Honourable
John Pitt
2nd Earl of Chatham

KG PC
(1756–1835)
21 September
1796
30 July
1801
Addington
3rd Duke of Portland crop.jpg His Grace
William Cavendish-Bentinck
3rd Duke of Portland

KG PC FRS
(1738–1809)
30 July
1801
14 January
1805
Tory
Pitt II
Henry Addington by Beechey.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry Addington
1st Viscount Sidmouth

PC
(1757–1844)
14 January
1805
10 July
1805
Tory
John Jeffreys Pratt (1759–1840), Marquis Camden by William Salter.jpg The Right Honourable
John Pratt
2nd Earl Camden

KG PC
(1759–1840)
10 July
1805
19 February
1806
Tory
2ndEarlFitzwilliam.jpg The Right Honourable
William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam
4th Earl Fitzwilliam

PC
(1748–1833)
19 February
1806
8 October
1806
Whig All the Talents
(WhigTory)
Henry Addington by Beechey.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry Addington
1st Viscount Sidmouth

PC
(1757–1844)
8 October
1806
26 March
1807
Tory
John Jeffreys Pratt (1759–1840), Marquis Camden by William Salter.jpg The Right Honourable
John Pratt
2nd Earl Camden

KG PC
(1759–1840)
26 March
1807
8 April
1812
Tory Portland II
Perceval
Henry Addington by Beechey.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry Addington
1st Viscount Sidmouth

PC
(1757–1844)
8 April
1812
11 June
1812
Tory
1stEarlOfHarrowby.jpg The Right Honourable
Dudley Ryder
1st Earl of Harrowby

PC
(1762–1847)
11 June
1812
17 August
1827
Tory Liverpool
George IV
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg
(1820–1830)
Canning
(CanningiteWhig)
4th-Duke-of-Portland.gif His Grace
William Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck
4th Duke of Portland

PC DCL
(1768–1854)
17 August
1827
28 January
1828
Tory Goderich
(CanningiteWhig)
Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst by William Salter.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry Bathurst
3rd Earl Bathurst

KG PC
(1762–1834)
28 January
1828
22 November
1830
Tory Wellington–Peel
William IV
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg
(1830–1837)
Lord Henry Petty.jpg The Most Honourable
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice
3rd Marquess of Lansdowne

PC FRS
(1780–1863)
22 November
1830
15 November
1834
Whig Grey
Melbourne I
Rosslyn2.JPG The Right Honourable
James St Clair-Erskine
2nd Earl of Rosslyn

GCB PC
(1762–1837)
15 December
1834
18 April
1835
Conservative Peel I
Lord Henry Petty.jpg The Most Honourable
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice
3rd Marquess of Lansdowne

KG PC FRS
(1780–1863)
18 April
1835
3 September
1841
Whig Melbourne II
Victoria
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1837–1901)
1stLordWharncliffe.jpg The Right Honourable
James Stuart-Wortley
1st Baron Wharncliffe

PC
(1776–1845)
3 September
1841
19 December
1845
Conservative Peel II
5th Duke of Buccleuch.jpg His Grace
Walter Montagu Douglas Scott
5th Duke of Buccleuch

KG PC
(1806–1884)
21 January
1846
6 July
1846
Conservative
Lord Henry Petty.jpg The Most Honourable
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice
3rd Marquess of Lansdowne

KG PC FRS
(1780–1863)
6 July
1846
27 February
1852
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Whig Russell I
William Lowther, 2nd Earl of Lonsdale.jpg The Right Honourable
William Lowther
2nd Earl of Lonsdale

PC FRS
(1787–1872)
27 February
1852
28 December
1852
Conservative Who? Who?
Second Earl Granville.jpg The Right Honourable
Granville Leveson-Gower
2nd Earl Granville

PC FRS
(1815–1891)
28 December
1852
12 June
1854
Whig Aberdeen
(PeeliteWhig)
Lord John Russell.jpg The Right Honourable
Lord John Russell

FRS
MP for City of London
(1792–1878)
12 June
1854
8 February
1855
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Whig
Second Earl Granville.jpg The Right Honourable
Granville Leveson-Gower
2nd Earl Granville

KG PC FRS
(1815–1891)
8 February
1855
26 February
1858
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Whig Palmerston I
James Gascoyne-Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Salisbury by DJ Pound.jpg The Most Honourable
James Gascoyne-Cecil
2nd Marquess of Salisbury

KG PC
(1791–1868)
26 February
1858
18 June
1859
Conservative Derby–Disraeli II
Second Earl Granville.jpg The Right Honourable
Granville Leveson-Gower
2nd Earl Granville

KG PC FRS
(1815–1891)
18 June
1859
6 July
1866
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Liberal Palmerston II
Russell II
3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos.jpg His Grace
Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville
3rd Duke of Buckingham and Chandos

GCSI PC DL
(1823–1889)
6 July
1866
8 March
1867
Conservative Derby–Disraeli III
John Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough.jpg His Grace
John Spencer-Churchill
7th Duke of Marlborough

KG PC
(1822–1883)
8 March
1867
9 December
1868
Conservative
George Robinson 1st Marquess of Ripon.jpg The Most Honourable
George Robinson
1st Marquess of Ripon
[nb 8]
KG VD PC
(1827–1909)
9 December
1868
9 August
1873
Liberal Gladstone I
Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare NPG.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry Bruce
1st Baron Aberdare

PC
(1815–1895)
9 August
1873
21 February
1874
Liberal
Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox, and 1st Duke of Gordon.jpg His Grace
Charles Gordon-Lennox
6th Duke of Richmond

KG PC
(1818–1903)
21 February
1874
28 April
1880
  • Leader of the House of Lords [nb 9]
Conservative Disraeli II
5th earl spencer.jpg The Right Honourable
John Spencer
5th Earl Spencer

KG PC
(1835–1910)
28 April
1880
19 March
1883
Liberal Gladstone II
1st Baron Carlingford.jpg The Right Honourable
Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue
1st Baron Carlingford

KP PC
(1823–1898)
19 March
1883
24 June
1885
Liberal
1st Earl of Cranbrook.jpg The Right Honourable
Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy
1st Viscount Cranbrook

GCSI PC
(1814–1906)
24 June
1885
6 February
1886
Conservative Salisbury I
5th earl spencer.jpg The Right Honourable
John Spencer
5th Earl Spencer

KG PC
(1835–1910)
6 February
1886
3 August
1886
Liberal Gladstone III
1st Earl of Cranbrook.jpg The Right Honourable
Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy
1st Viscount Cranbrook

GCSI PC
(1814–1906)
3 August
1886
18 August
1892
Conservative Salisbury II
1st Earl of Kimberley 1868.jpg The Right Honourable
John Wodehouse
1st Earl of Kimberley

KG PC DL
(1826–1902)
18 August
1892
10 March
1894
  • Secretary of State for India
Liberal Gladstone IV
Archibald-Philip-Primrose-5th-Earl-of-Rosebery (cropped).jpg The Right Honourable
Archibald Primrose
5th Earl of Rosebery

KG PC FRS
(1847–1929)
10 March
1894
29 June
1895
  • Prime Minister
  • First Lord of the Treasury
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Liberal Rosebery
Picture of Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire.jpg His Grace
Spencer Cavendish
8th Duke of Devonshire

KG PC FRS
(1833–1908)
29 June
1895
19 October
1903
  • President of the Board of Education [nb 13]
  • Leader of the House of Lords [nb 14]
Liberal Unionist Salisbury
(III & IV)

(Con.Lib.U.)
Edward VII
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1901–1910)
Balfour
(Con.Lib.U.)
Lord Londonderry, 6th Marquess.jpg The Most Honourable
Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart
6th Marquess of Londonderry

KG GCVO CB PC JP DL
(1852–1915)
19 October
1903
11 December
1905
  • President of the Board of Education
Conservative
Portrait of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe.jpg The Right Honourable
Robert Crewe-Milnes
1st Earl of Crewe

KG PC FSA
(1858–1945)
11 December
1905
16 April
1908
Liberal Campbell-Bannerman
Lord Tweedmouth, Naval Secretary, portrait bust.jpg The Right Honourable
Edward Marjoribanks
2nd Baron Tweedmouth

KT PC
(1849–1909)
16 April
1908
19 October
1908
Liberal Asquith
(I–III)
Henry Fowler.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry Fowler
1st Viscount Wolverhampton

GCSI PC
(1830–1911)
19 October
1908
21 June
1910
Liberal
George V
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1910–1936)
William Lygon.jpg The Right Honourable
William Lygon
7th Earl Beauchamp

KCMG PC
(1872–1938)
21 June
1910
7 November
1910
Liberal
John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn - Project Gutenberg eText 17976.jpg The Right Honourable
John Morley
1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn

OM PC FRS
(1838–1923)
7 November
1910
5 August
1914
  • Secretary of State for India [nb 15]
Liberal
William Lygon.jpg The Right Honourable
William Lygon
7th Earl Beauchamp

KG KCMG PC
(1872–1938)
5 August
1914
25 May
1915
Liberal
Portrait of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe.jpg The Most Honourable
Robert Crewe-Milnes
1st Marquess of Crewe

KG PC FSA
(1858–1945)
25 May
1915
10 December
1916
Liberal Asquith Coalition
(Lib.Con.Lab.)
Curzon GGBain.jpg The Right Honourable
George Curzon
1st Earl Curzon of Kedleston

KG GCSI GCIE PC
(1859–1925)
10 December
1916
23 October
1919
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative Lloyd George
(I & II)

(Lib.Con.Lab.)
Gws balfour 02.jpg The Right Honourable
Arthur Balfour
1st Earl of Balfour
[nb 17]
KG OM PC FRS DL
(1848–1930)
23 October
1919
19 October
1922
Conservative
James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury.jpg The Most Honourable
James Gascoyne-Cecil
4th Marquess of Salisbury

KG GCVO CB PC DL
(1861–1947)
24 October
1922
22 January
1924
  • Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster [nb 18]
Conservative Law
Baldwin I
Lord Parmoor - 19221128.jpg The Right Honourable
Charles Cripps
1st Baron Parmoor

KCVO PC QC
(1852–1941)
22 January
1924
3 November
1924
Labour MacDonald I
Curzon GGBain.jpg The Most Honourable
George Curzon
1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston

KG GCSI GCIE PC
(1859–1925)
6 November
1924
27 April
1925
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative Baldwin II
Gws balfour 02.jpg The Right Honourable
Arthur Balfour
1st Earl of Balfour

KG OM PC FRS DL
(1848–1930)
27 April
1925
4 June
1929
Conservative
Lord Parmoor - 19221128.jpg The Right Honourable
Charles Cripps
1st Baron Parmoor

KCVO PC QC
(1852–1941)
7 June
1929
24 August
1931
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Labour MacDonald II
Stanley Baldwin ggbain.35233 (cropped).jpg The Right Honourable
Stanley Baldwin

JP FRS
MP for Bewdley
(1867–1947)
25 August
1931
7 June
1935
Conservative National I
(N.Lab.Con.Lib.N.
Lib.
National II
(N.Lab.Con.Lib.N.
Lib. until 1932
)
Ramsay MacDonald ggbain 35734.jpg The Right Honourable
Ramsay MacDonald

FRS
MP for Combined Scottish Universities [nb 20]
(1866–1937)
7 June
1935
28 May
1937
National Labour National III
(Con.N.Lab.Lib.N.)
Edward VIII
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1936)
George VI
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1936–1952)
1st Earl of Halifax 1947.jpg The Right Honourable
Edward Wood
3rd Viscount Halifax

PC
(1881–1959)
28 May
1937
9 March
1938
  • Leader of the House of Lords
  • Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs [nb 21]
Conservative National IV
(Con.N.Lab.Lib.N.)
Hailsham1.JPG The Right Honourable
Douglas Hogg
1st Viscount Hailsham

PC KC
(1872–1950)
9 March
1938
31 October
1938
Conservative
Portrait of Walter Runciman, 1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford.jpg The Right Honourable
Walter Runciman
1st Viscount Runciman of Doxford

PC
(1870–1949)
31 October
1938
3 September
1939
National Liberal
Stanhope7.JPG The Right Honourable
James Stanhope
7th Earl Stanhope

KG DSO MC PC
(1880–1967)
3 September
1939
11 May
1940
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative Chamberlain War
(Con.N.Lab.Lib.N.)
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R99302 Chamberlain.jpg The Right Honourable
Neville Chamberlain

FRS
MP for Birmingham Edgbaston
(1869–1940)
11 May
1940
3 October
1940
Conservative Churchill War
(All parties)
John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley 1947.jpg The Right Honourable
John Anderson

GCB GCSI GCIE FRS
MP for Combined Scottish Universities
(1882–1958)
3 October
1940
24 September
1943
National
Clement Attlee.jpg The Right Honourable
Clement Attlee

CH FRS
MP for Limehouse
(1883–1967)
24 September
1943
23 May
1945
Labour
1st Earl of Woolton 1947.jpg The Right Honourable
Frederick Marquis
1st Baron Woolton

CH PC
(1883–1964)
25 May
1945
26 July
1945
National Churchill Caretaker
(Con.Lib.N.)
Herbert Morrison 1947.jpg The Right Honourable
Herbert Morrison

MP for Lewisham South [nb 22]
(1888–1965)
27 July
1945
9 March
1951

  • Leader of the House of Commons
Labour Attlee
(I & II)
Dr. Christopher Addison LOC 16027831872 (cropped).jpg The Right Honourable
Christopher Addison
1st Viscount Addison

KG PC FRCS
(1869–1951)
9 March
1951
26 October
1951
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Labour
1st Earl of Woolton 1947.jpg The Right Honourable
Frederick Marquis
1st Baron Woolton

CH PC
(1883–1964)
28 October
1951
25 November
1952
Conservative Churchill III
Elizabeth II
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.svg
(1952–present)
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 1947.jpg The Most Honourable
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
5th Marquess of Salisbury

KG PC
(1893–1972)
25 November
1952
29 March
1957
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative
Eden
Macmillan
(I & II)
Alec Douglas-Home (c1963).jpg The Right Honourable
Alec Douglas-Home
14th Earl of Home

PC
(1903–1995)
29 March
1957
17 September
1957
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative
Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham Allan Warren.jpg The Right Honourable
Quintin Hogg
2nd Viscount Hailsham

PC QC
(1907–2001)
17 September
1957
14 October
1959
Conservative
Alec Douglas-Home (c1963).jpg The Right Honourable
Alec Douglas-Home
14th Earl of Home

PC
(1903–1995)
14 October
1959
27 July
1960
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative
Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham Allan Warren.jpg The Right Honourable
Quintin Hogg

QC
MP for St Marylebone [nb 23]
(1907–2001)
27 July
1960
16 October
1964
  • Leader of the House of Lords [nb 24]
  • Minister for Science [nb 25]
  • Secretary of State for Education and Science [nb 26]
Conservative
Douglas-Home
The Right Honourable
Herbert Bowden

CBE
MP for Leicester South West
(1905–1994)
16 October
1964
11 August
1966
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Labour Wilson
(I & II)
Crossland MP.jpg The Right Honourable
Richard Crossman

CBE
MP for Coventry East
(1907–1974)
11 August
1966
18 October
1968
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Labour
The Right Honourable
Fred Peart

MP for Workington
(1914–1988)
18 October
1968
19 June
1970
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Labour
Whitelaw Escutcheon.png The Right Honourable
William Whitelaw

MC DL
MP for Penrith and The Border
(1918–1999)
20 June
1970
7 April
1972
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative Heath
The Right Honourable
Robert Carr

MP for Mitcham
(1916–2012)
7 April
1972
5 November
1972
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative
The Right Honourable
Jim Prior

MP for Lowestoft
(1927–2016)
5 November
1972
4 March
1974
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative
No image.svg The Right Honourable
Edward Short

MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central
(1912–2012)
5 March
1974
8 April
1976
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Labour Wilson
(III & IV)
Michael Foot (1981).jpg The Right Honourable
Michael Foot

MP for Ebbw Vale
(1913–2010)
8 April
1976
4 May
1979
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Labour Callaghan
Christopher Soames.jpg The Right Honourable
Christopher Soames
Baron Soames

CMG GCVO CH CBE PC
(1920–1987)
5 May
1979
14 September
1981
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative Thatcher I
Francis Leslie Pym.jpg The Right Honourable
Francis Pym

MC
MP for Cambridgeshire
(1922–2008)
14 September
1981
7 April
1982
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative
The Right Honourable
John Biffen

MP for Oswestry
(1930–2007)
7 April
1982
11 June
1983
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative
Whitelaw Escutcheon.png The Right Honourable
William Whitelaw
1st Viscount Whitelaw

CH MC DL
(1918–1999)
11 June
1983
10 January
1988
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative Thatcher II
Thatcher III
Official portrait of Lord Wakeham crop 2.jpg The Right Honourable
John Wakeham

MP for South Colchester and Maldon
(born 1932)
10 January
1988
24 July
1989
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative
Geoffrey Howe.jpg The Right Honourable
Sir Geoffrey Howe

QC
MP for East Surrey
(1926–2015)
24 July
1989
1 November
1990
Conservative
Official portrait of Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market crop 2.jpg The Right Honourable
John MacGregor

OBE
MP for South Norfolk
(born 1937)
2 November
1990
10 April
1992
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative
Major I
The Right Honourable
Tony Newton

OBE PC DL
MP for Braintree
(1937–2012)
10 April
1992
2 May
1997
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative Major II
Official portrait of Baroness Taylor of Bolton crop 2, 2019.jpg The Right Honourable
Ann Taylor

PC
MP for Dewsbury
(born 1947)
2 May
1997
27 July
1998
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Labour Blair I
Official portrait of Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP crop 2.jpg The Right Honourable
Margaret Beckett

MP for Derby South
(born 1943)
27 July
1998
8 June
2001
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Labour
Robin Cook-close crop.jpg The Right Honourable
Robin Cook

MP for Livingston
(1946–2005)
8 June
2001
18 March
2003
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Labour Blair II
Official portrait of Lord Reid of Cardowan, 2020.jpg The Right Honourable
John Reid

MP for Hamilton North and Bellshill
(born 1947)
4 April
2003
13 June
2003
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Labour
Williams of Mostyn Escutcheon.png The Right Honourable
Gareth Williams
Baron Williams of Mostyn

PC QC
(1941–2003)
13 June
2003
20 September
2003
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Labour
Valerie Amos DFID 2013.jpg The Right Honourable
Valerie Amos
Baroness Amos

PC
(born 1954)
6 October
2003
27 June
2007
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Labour
Blair III
Baroness Ashton headshot.jpg The Right Honourable
Catherine Ashton
Baroness Ashton of Upholland

PC
(born 1956)
28 June
2007
3 October
2008
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Labour Brown
BaronessRoyallPortrait.jpg The Right Honourable
Janet Royall
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

PC
(born 1955)
3 October
2008
5 June
2009
  • Leader of the House of Lords
Labour
Peter Mandelson at Politics of Climate Change 3.jpg The Right Honourable
Peter Mandelson
Baron Mandelson

PC
(born 1953)
5 June
2009
11 May
2010
Labour
Nick Clegg election infobox.jpg The Right Honourable
Nick Clegg

MP for Sheffield Hallam
(born 1967)
11 May
2010
8 May
2015
Liberal Democrat Cameron–Clegg
(Con.Lib.Dem.)
Official portrait of Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP crop 2.jpg The Right Honourable
Chris Grayling

MP for Epsom and Ewell
(born 1962)
9 May
2015
14 July
2016
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative Cameron II
Official portrait of Mr David Lidington crop 2.jpg The Right Honourable
David Lidington

CBE
MP for Aylesbury
(born 1956)
14 July
2016
11 June
2017
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative May I
Official portrait of Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP crop 2.jpg The Right Honourable
Andrea Leadsom

MP for South Northamptonshire
(born 1963)
11 June
2017
22 May
2019
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative May II
Official portrait of Rt Hon Mel Stride MP crop 2.jpg The Right Honourable
Mel Stride

MP for Central Devon
(born 1961)
23 May
2019
24 July
2019
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative May II
Jacob Rees-Mogg MP.jpg The Right Honourable
Jacob Rees-Mogg

MP for North East Somerset
(born 1969)
24 July
2019
Incumbent
  • Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative Johnson
(I & II)

Notes

  1. ^ Marquess of Carmarthen from 1689, created Duke of Leeds in 1694
  2. ^ Served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department from February 1721
  3. ^ Served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department from November 1744
  4. ^ Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from December 1750
  5. ^ The Prince of Wales served as Prince Regent from 5 February 1811.
  6. ^ Baron Camden from 1765; created Earl Camden and Viscount Bayham in 1786[16]
  7. ^ Lord Privy Seal until February 1798
  8. ^ Earl of Ripon and Earl de Grey from 1859; created Marquess of Ripon in 1871[17]
  9. ^ Served Leader of the House of Lords until August 1876
  10. ^ Served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from May 1882
  11. ^ Served as Lord Privy Seal until March 1885
  12. ^ Served as Secretary of State for War from January 1886
  13. ^ Served as President of the Board of Education March 1900 – July 1902
  14. ^ Served as Leader of the House of Lords from July 1902
  15. ^ Served as Secretary of State for India March 1911– May 1911
  16. ^ Served as President of the Board of Trade from August 1916
  17. ^ MP for City of London until 1922; thereafter created Earl of Balfour and Viscount Traprain and joined the House of Lords[18]
  18. ^ Served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster until May 1923
  19. ^ Served as Lord Privy Seal September 1932 - December 1933
  20. ^ MP for Seaham until 1935; returned to Parliament as MP for Combined Scottish Universities in 1936[19]
  21. ^ Served as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from February 1938
  22. ^ MP for Lewisham East until 1950; MP for Lewisham South thereafter.[20]
  23. ^ Viscount Hailsham until 1963 when disclaimed under the Peerage Act 1963; returned to Parliament as MP for St. Marylebone in 1963[21]
  24. ^ Served as Leader of the House of Lords until October 1963
  25. ^ Served as Minister for Science from October 1963 – April 1964
  26. ^ Served as Secretary of State for Education and Science from April 1964
  27. ^ With special responsibility for political and constitutional reform

See also[]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ "Privy Council: Guide to its origins, powers and members". BBC News. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2018. The body convenes, on average, about once a month and its meetings – known as councils – are presided over by The Queen.
  2. ^ Fryde, E. B. (1986) [1941]. Handbook of British Chronology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. ^ 21 Hen. 8, c.20
  4. ^ Seldon, Anthony; Meakin, Jonathan; Thoms, Illias (2021). The Impossible Office? The History of the British Prime Minister. Cambridge University Press. p. 157. ISBN 9781316515327.
  5. ^ Norton, Philip (2020). Governing Britain: Parliament, Ministers and Our Ambiguous Constitution. Manchester University Press. p. 144. ISBN 9-781526-145451.
  6. ^ Hennessy, Peter. The Prime Minister: The Office and Its Holders Since 1945 (2000), pp.189–190.
  7. ^ Hennessy, p.191
  8. ^ Hennessy, p. 193
  9. ^ Viscount Samuel (18 May 1954). "Her Majesty's Return". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 187. House of Lords. col. 645. ... there has been constitutional work done, there have been acts of State: ... meetings of the Privy Council, an organ of the Constitution older than Parliament itself, for wherever the Sovereign is, and three Privy Counsellors are present, there may be meetings of the Council and Orders passed. So, during this tour there have been sessions of the Privy Council in Australia, in New Zealand and in Ceylon, with their own local Privy Council members – members of the one single Imperial Privy Council, but their own local members.
  10. ^ Cox, Noel (1998–99). "The Dichotomy of Legal Theory and Political Reality: The Honours Prerogative and Imperial Unity". Australian Journal of Law and Society. 1 (14): 15–42. Retrieved 19 November 2011. The Queen has in fact regularly presided over meetings of the Privy Council in New Zealand, since her first in 1954. That was the first held by the Sovereign outside the United Kingdom, although in 1920 Edward Prince of Wales held a Council in Wellington to swear in the Earl of Liverpool as Governor-General.
  11. ^ Kumarasingham, Harshan (2010). Onward with Executive Power: Lessons from New Zealand 1947–57 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Institute of Policy Studies, Victoria University of Wellington. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-877347-37-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2011. The Queen held a meeting of the Privy Council [on 13 January 1954] at the 'Court at Government House at Wellington' with her New Zealand prime minister as 'acting Lord President' of the council. The deputy prime minister, Keith Holyoake, 'secured for himself a place in constitutional history by becoming the first member to be sworn of Her Majesty’s Council outside the United Kingdom'.
  12. ^ Patrick Wintour (5 June 2009). "Weakened Gordon Brown unable to shift cabinet's bigger beasts". Guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  13. ^ D. Butler and G. Butler, Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900–2000
  14. ^ "Election 2017: Prime Minister and Cabinet appointments". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Universities". Privy Council. 1 January 2005. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  16. ^ "No. 12750". The London Gazette. 9 May 1786. p. 201.
  17. ^ "No. 23748". The London Gazette. 20 June 1871. p. 2847.
  18. ^ "No. 32691". The London Gazette. 5 May 1922. p. 3512.
  19. ^ "No. 15252". The Edinburgh Gazette. 4 February 1936. p. 134.
  20. ^ "No. 39372". The London Gazette. 30 October 1951. p. 5663.
  21. ^ "No. 43180". The London Gazette. 10 December 1963. p. 10099.

Sources[]

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