Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the 'Iron Lady', was the first female British Prime Minister and the longest serving PM for over 150 years.
Margaret Thatcher’s father, a shopkeeper and Mayor of Grantham, was a major influence in her childhood. She was educated at the local grammar school and studied Chemistry at Oxford University, where she became president of the university Conservative association.
Thatcher read for the Bar before being elected as the Conservative MP for Finchley in 1959. She held junior posts before becoming Shadow Spokesperson for Education, and entered the Cabinet as Education Secretary in 1970.
In Opposition she stood against Edward Heath for the party leadership in 1975 and won. Her victory was considered a surprise by many. In 1979, the Conservative Party won the General Election and Thatcher became PM, taking over from James Callaghan.
Her first 2 years in office were not easy - unemployment was very high, but the economy gradually showed improvement. She brought more of her supporters into the Cabinet, and added to her reputation by leading the country to war against Argentina in the Falkland Islands.
The Conservatives went on to win the 1983 election by an overwhelming majority, helped by a divided opposition. Her government followed a radical programme of privatisation and deregulation, reform of the trade unions, tax cuts and the introduction of market mechanisms into health and education. The aim was to reduce the role of government and increase individual self-reliance.
She also became a familiar figure internationally, creating a famous friendship with US President Reagan and gaining the praise of Soviet leader Gorbachev.
One great difficulty during her time in office was the issue of Europe. Her long-serving Foreign Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Howe resigned in November 1990 in protest at her attitude to Europe. His resignation speech brought about events which were to lead to her exit from 10 Downing Street later that month.
Michael Heseltine challenged her for the leadership, and while he failed to win, he gained 152 votes – enough to make it evident that a crucial minority favoured a change. Thatcher was eventually persuaded not to go forward to the second ballot, which was won by her Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Major.
She left the House of Commons in 1992, and was appointed a life peerage in the House of Lords in the same year, receiving the title of Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven.
In 1995 she was appointed as Lady Companion of the Order of the Garter, the highest order of Chivalry in the UK.
Her writings include 2 volumes of memoirs: The Downing Street Years and The Path to Power.
Thatcher died on 8 April 2013 at The Ritz Hotel in London, after suffering a stroke. She received a ceremonial funeral including full military honours, with a church service at St Paul’s Cathedral.
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of Government of the United Kingdom, and chairs Cabinet meetings. There is no specific date when the office of Prime Minister first appeared, as the role was not created but rather evolved over a period of time.[1] The term was used in the House of Commons in 1805[2] and it was certainly in parliamentary use by the 1880s,[3][4] and in 1905 the post of Prime Minister was officially given recognition in the order of precedence.[5] Modern historians generally consider Sir Robert Walpole, who led the government of Great Britain from 1721 to 1742,[6][7] as the first Prime Minister. Walpole is also the longest-serving Prime Minister by this definition.[8] However, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was the first Prime Minister and Margaret Thatcher the longest-serving Prime Minister to have been officially referred to as such.[5]
Strictly, the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Ireland) was William Pitt the Younger.[9] The first Prime Minister of the current United Kingdom (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) was David Lloyd George,[10] although the country was not renamed officially until 1927 when Stanley Baldwin was serving as Prime Minister.[11]
Due to the gradual evolution of the post of Prime Minister, the title is applied to early Prime Ministers only retrospectively;[12] this has sometimes given rise to academic dispute. Lord Bath and Lord Waldegrave are both sometimes listed as prime ministers.[13] Bath was invited to form a ministry by King George II when Henry Pelham resigned in 1746,[14] as was Waldegrave in 1757 after the dismissal of William Pitt the Elder,[15] who dominated the government during the Seven Years' War. Neither was able to command sufficient parliamentary support to form a government; Bath stepped down after two days,[13] and Waldegrave after three.[15] Modern academic consensus does not consider either man to have held office as Prime Minister, and they are not listed.
Whig (17) Tory (11) Conservative (17) Peelite (1) Liberal (7) Labour (6) National Labour (1)
Portrait Name[I]
(Birth–Death) Term of office
Electoral mandates Ministerial portfolios held during tenure Party[II] Ministry[III] Sovereign
(Rule) Ref.
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford by Arthur Pond.jpg The Right Honourable
Robert Walpole
1st Earl of Orford
KGKB
MP for King's Lynn[IV]
(1676–1745) 4 April
1721 15 May
1730
First Lord of the Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Leader of the House of Commons
Whig Walpole–Townshend
(I–III) George I
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
(1714–1727) [28]
1722 George II
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
(1727–1760)
15 May
1730 11 February
1742 Walpole
(IV–VI)
1727 1734 1741
Spencer Compton 1st Earl of Wilmington cropped.jpg The Right Honourable
Spencer Compton
1st Earl of Wilmington
KGKBPC
(1673–1743) 16 February
1742 2 July
1743†
First Lord of the Treasury
Whig Carteret [29]
Henry Pelham, Parliamentary Art Collection crop.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry Pelham
FRS
MP for Sussex
(1694–1754) 27 August
1743 10 February
1746
First Lord of the Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Leader of the House of Commons
Whig Carteret [30]
Broad Bottom
(I–III)
12 February
1746 6 March
1754†
1747
ThomasPelham-Holles.jpg His Grace
Thomas Pelham-Holles
1st Duke of Newcastle
KGPCFRS
(1693–1768) 16 March
1754 16 November
1756
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig Newcastle
(I & II)
(Parliament) [31]
1754
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire cropped.JPG His Grace
William Cavendish
4th Duke of Devonshire
KGPC
(1720–1764) 16 November
1756 25 June
1757
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig Pitt–Devonshire [32]
1757 Caretaker
ThomasPelham-Holles.jpg His Grace
Thomas Pelham-Holles
1st Duke of Newcastle
KGPCFRS
(1693–1768) 2 July
1757 26 May
1762
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig Pitt–Newcastle
(I & II) [31]
1761 George III
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1801-1816).svg
(1760–1811)
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute cropped cropped.jpg The Right Honourable
John Stuart
3rd Earl of Bute
KGPC
(1713–1792) 26 May
1762 8 April
1763
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Tory Bute [33]
George Grenville (1712–1770) by William Hoare (1707-1792) Cropped.jpg The Right Honourable
George Grenville
MP for Buckingham
(1712–1770) 16 April
1763 13 July
1765
First Lord of the Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Leader of the House of Commons
Whig
(Grenvillite) Grenville [34]
2nd Marquess of Rockingham cropped.jpg The Most Honourable
Charles Watson-Wentworth
2nd Marquess of Rockingham
KGPCFRS
(1730–1782) 13 July
1765 30 July
1766
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig
(Rockingham) Rockingham I [35]
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham by Richard Brompton cropped cropped.jpg The Right Honourable
William Pitt
1st Earl of Chatham
PCFRS
MP for Bath[V]
(1708–1778) 30 July
1766 14 October
1768
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
Whig
(Chathamite) Chatham
(I & II) [36]
1768
Grafton3 cropped.JPG His Grace
Augustus FitzRoy
3rd Duke of Grafton
KGPC
(1735–1811) 14 October
1768 28 January
1770
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig
(Chathamite) Grafton [37]
Nathaniel Dance Lord North cropped cropped.jpg The Right Honourable
Frederick North
Lord North
KGPC
MP for Banbury
(1732–1792) 28 January
1770 22 March
1782
First Lord of the Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Leader of the House of Commons
Tory North
(I–III) [38]
1774 1780
2nd Marquess of Rockingham cropped.jpg The Most Honourable
Charles Watson-Wentworth
2nd Marquess of Rockingham
KGPC
(1730–1782) 27 March
1782 1 July
1782†
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig
(Rockingham) Rockingham II [35]
William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne by JL Mosnier crop.jpg The Right Honourable
William Petty
2nd Earl of Shelburne
KGPC
(1737–1805) 4 July
1782 2 April
1783
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig
(Chathamite) Shelburne [39]
3rd Duke of Portland 1804 cropped.jpg His Grace
William Cavendish-Bentinck
3rd Duke of Portland
PCFRS
(1738–1809) 2 April
1783 19 December
1783
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig Fox–North [40]
William Pitt the Younger.jpg The Right Honourable
William Pitt 'the Younger'
MP for Appleby – Cambridge University[VI]
(1759–1806) 19 December
1783 14 March
1801
First Lord of the Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Leader of the House of Commons
Tory
(Pittite) Pitt
(I–IV) [41]
1784 1790 1796
Henry Addington by Beechey.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry Addington
MP for Devizes
(1757–1844) 17 March
1801 10 May
1804
First Lord of the Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Leader of the House of Commons
Tory
(Pittite) Addington
(I & II) [42]
1801 co-option 1802
William Pitt the Younger.jpg The Right Honourable
William Pitt 'the Younger'
MP for Cambridge University
(1759–1806) 10 May
1804 23 January
1806†
First Lord of the Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Leader of the House of Commons
Tory
(Pittite) Pitt V [41]
1st Baron Grenville-cropped.jpg The Right Honourable
William Grenville
1st Baron Grenville
PCFRS
(1759–1834) 11 February
1806 31 March
1807
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig All the Talents
(I & II) [43]
1806
3rd Duke of Portland 1804 cropped.jpg His Grace
William Cavendish-Bentinck
3rd Duke of Portland
KGPCFRS
(1738–1809) 31 March
1807 4 October
1809
First Lord of the Treasury
Tory
(nom. Whig) Portland
(II & III) [40]
1807
Spencerperceval.jpg The Right Honourable
Spencer Perceval
KC
MP for Northampton
(1762–1812) 4 October
1809 11 May
1812†
First Lord of the Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Leader of the House of Commons
Tory Perceval [44]
Regency
Coat of Arms of George, Prince of Wales and Prince Regent (1762-1820).svg
(1811–1820)
Earl jenkinson.jpg The Right Honourable
Robert Jenkinson
2nd Earl of Liverpool
KGPCFRS
(1770–1828) 8 June
1812 9 April
1827
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Tory Liverpool
(I–V) [45]
1812 1818
1820 1826
George IV
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg
(1820–1830)
George Canning by Richard Evans - detail.jpg The Right Honourable
George Canning
FRS
MP for Seaford
(1770–1827) 10 April
1827 8 August
1827†
First Lord of the Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Leader of the House of Commons
Tory
(Canningite) Canning
(Ca.–W.) [46]
Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon by Sir Thomas Lawrence cropped.jpg The Right Honourable
Frederick John Robinson
1st Viscount Goderich
PC
(1782–1859) 31 August
1827 21 January
1828
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Tory
(Canningite) Goderich
(Ca.–W.) [47]
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington by John Jackson cropped.jpg Field MarshalHis Grace
Arthur Wellesley
1st Duke of Wellington
KGGCBGCHPC
(1769–1852) 22 January
1828 16 November
1830
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Tory Wellington [48]
1830 William IV
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg
(1830–1837)
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey by Sir Thomas Lawrence copy.jpg The Right Honourable
Charles Grey
2nd Earl Grey
KGPC
(1764–1845) 22 November
1830 9 July
1834
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig Grey
(I–III) [49]
1831 1832
2nd V Melbourne.jpg The Right Honourable
William Lamb
2nd Viscount Melbourne
PC
(1779–1848) 16 July
1834 14 November
1834
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig Melbourne I [50]
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington by John Jackson cropped.jpg Field MarshalHis Grace
Arthur Wellesley
1st Duke of Wellington
KGGCBGCHPC
(1769–1852) 14 November
1834 10 December
1834
First Lord of the Treasury
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Leader of the House of Lords
Tory Wellington Caretaker [48]
Robert Peel by RR Scanlan detail.jpg The Right Honourable
Sir Robert Peel
BtFRS
MP for Tamworth
(1788–1850) 10 December
1834 8 April
1835
First Lord of the Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative Peel I [51]
2nd V Melbourne.jpg The Right Honourable
William Lamb
2nd Viscount Melbourne
PCFRS
(1779–1848) 18 April
1835 30 August
1841
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Whig Melbourne
(II & III) [50]
1835§ 1837
Victoria
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1837–1901)
Robert Peel by RR Scanlan detail.jpg The Right Honourable
Sir Robert Peel
BtFRS
MP for Tamworth
(1788–1850) 30 August
1841 29 June
1846
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative Peel II [51]
1841
Lord John Russell.jpg The Right Honourable
Lord John Russell
GCMGPCFRS
MP for the City of London
(1792–1878) 30 June
1846 21 February
1852
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Whig Russell
(I & II) [52]
1847
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg The Right Honourable
Edward Smith-Stanley
14th Earl of Derby
PC
(1799–1869) 23 February
1852 17 December
1852
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative Who? Who?
(I & II) [53]
1852
Earlofaberdeen.jpg The Right Honourable
George Hamilton-Gordon
4th Earl of Aberdeen
KGKTFRSEFRSPCFSA Scot
(1784–1860) 19 December
1852 30 January
1855
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Peelite Aberdeen
(P.–W.) [54]
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry John Temple
3rd Viscount Palmerston
KGGCBPCFRS
MP for Tiverton
(1784–1865) 6 February
1855 19 February
1858
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Whig Palmerston
(I & II) [55]
1857
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg The Right Honourable
Edward Smith-Stanley
14th Earl of Derby
KGPC
(1799–1869) 20 February
1858 11 June
1859
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative Derby III [53]
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston.jpg The Right Honourable
Henry John Temple
3rd Viscount Palmerston
KGGCBPCFRS
MP for Tiverton
(1784–1865) 12 June
1859 18 October
1865†
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Liberal Palmerston
(III & IV) [55]
1859 1865
Lord John Russell.jpg The Right Honourable
John Russell
1st Earl Russell
KGGCMGPCFRS
(1792–1878) 29 October
1865 26 June
1866
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Liberal Russell III [52]
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg The Right Honourable
Edward Smith-Stanley
14th Earl of Derby
KGPC
(1799–1869) 28 June
1866 25 February
1868
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative Derby IV [53]
Disraeli.jpg The Right Honourable
Benjamin Disraeli
MP for Buckinghamshire
(1804–1881) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative Disraeli I [56]
27 February
1868 1 December
1868
Gladstone.jpg The Right Honourable
William Ewart Gladstone
FSS
MP for Greenwich
(1809–1898) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Chancellor of the Exchequer[VII]
Liberal Gladstone I [57]
3 December
1868 17 February
1874
1868
Disraeli.jpg The Right Honourable
Benjamin Disraeli
1st Earl of Beaconsfield
PCFRS
MP for Buckinghamshire[VIII]
(1804–1881) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons[IX]
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal[X]
Leader of the House of Lords[XI]
Conservative Disraeli II [56]
20 February
1874 21 April
1880
1874
Gladstone.jpg The Right Honourable
William Ewart Gladstone
FRSFSS
MP for Midlothian
(1809–1898) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Chancellor of the Exchequer[XII]
Liberal Gladstone II [57]
23 April
1880 9 June
1885
1880
Robert cecil.jpg The Most Honourable
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
3rd Marquess of Salisbury
KGGCVOPCFRS
(1830–1903) 23 June
1885 28 January
1886
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Leader of the House of Lords
Conservative Salisbury I [58]
Gladstone.jpg The Right Honourable
William Ewart Gladstone
FRSFSS
MP for Midlothian
(1809–1898) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
Leader of the House of Commons
Liberal Gladstone III [57]
1 February
1886 20 July
1886
1885§
Robert cecil.jpg The Most Honourable
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
3rd Marquess of Salisbury
KGGCVOPCFRS
(1830–1903) 25 July
1886 11 August
1892
Leader of the House of Lords
First Lord of the Treasury[XIII]
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs[XIV]
Conservative Salisbury II [58]
1886
Gladstone.jpg The Right Honourable
William Ewart Gladstone
FRSFSS
MP for Midlothian
(1809–1898) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
Leader of the House of Commons
Liberal Gladstone IV [57]
15 August
1892 2 March
1894
1892§
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery - 1890s.jpg The Right Honourable
Archibald Primrose
5th Earl of Rosebery
KGPCFRS
(1847–1929) 5 March
1894 22 June
1895
First Lord of the Treasury
Lord President of the Council
Leader of the House of Lords
Liberal Rosebery [59]
Robert cecil.jpg The Most Honourable
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
3rd Marquess of Salisbury
KGGCVOPCFRS
(1830–1903) 25 June
1895 11 July
1902
Leader of the House of Lords
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs[XV]
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal[XVI]
Conservative Salisbury
(III–V)
(Co.–Li.U.) [58]
1895 1900
Edward VII
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1901–1910)
Arthur Balfour, photo portrait facing left.jpg The Right Honourable
Arthur Balfour
OMFRSDL
MP for Manchester East
(1848–1930) 11 July
1902 5 December
1905
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative Balfour
(Co.–Li.U.) [60]
Henry Campbell-Bannerman photo.jpg The Right Honourable
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
GCB
MP for Stirling Burghs
(1836–1908) 5 December
1905 7 April
1908
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Liberal Campbell-Bannerman
(I & II) [61]
1906
H H Asquith 1908.jpg The Right Honourable
Herbert Henry Asquith
KCFRS
MP for East Fife
(1852–1928) 7 April
1908 25 May
1915
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Secretary of State for War[XVII]
Liberal Asquith
(I–III) [62]
Jan.1910§ Dec.1910§
George V
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1910–1936)
25 May
1915 6 December
1916 Asquith IV
(Li.–Co.–La.)
The Right Hon. David Lloyd George.jpg The Right Honourable
David Lloyd George
OM
MP for Caernarvon Boroughs
(1863–1945) 6 December
1916 19 October
1922
First Lord of the Treasury
Liberal Lloyd George
(I & II)
(Li.–Co.–La.) [63]
1918
Andrew Bonar Law 02.jpg The Right Honourable
Andrew Bonar Law
MP for Glasgow Central
(1858–1923) 23 October
1922 20 May
1923
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative Law
(I & II) [64]
1922
Stanley Baldwin ggbain.35233.jpg The Right Honourable
Stanley Baldwin
MP for Bewdley
(1867–1947) 23 May
1923 16 January
1924
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Chancellor of the Exchequer[XVIII]
Conservative Baldwin I [65]
Ramsay MacDonald ggbain 35734.jpg The Right Honourable
James Ramsay MacDonald
MP for Aberavon
(1866–1937) 22 January
1924 4 November
1924
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Labour MacDonald I [66]
1923§
Stanley Baldwin ggbain.35233.jpg The Right Honourable
Stanley Baldwin
FRS
MP for Bewdley
(1867–1947) 4 November
1924 5 June
1929
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative Baldwin II [65]
1924
Ramsay MacDonald ggbain 35734.jpg The Right Honourable
James Ramsay MacDonald
FRS
MP for Seaham
(1866–1937) 5 June
1929 24 August
1931
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Labour MacDonald II [66]
1929§
24 August
1931 28 October
1931 National Labour 1st National
(La.N.–Co.–Li.N.–Li.)
28 October
1931 7 June
1935 2nd National[XIX]
(La.N.–Co.–Li.N.–Li.)
1931
Stanley Baldwin ggbain.35233.jpg The Right Honourable
Stanley Baldwin
FRS
MP for Bewdley
(1867–1947) 7 June
1935 28 May
1937
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative 3rd National
(Co.–La.N.–Li.N.) [65]
Edward VIII
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1936)
1935 George VI
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1936–1952)
Neville chamberlain1921.jpg The Right Honourable
Arthur Neville Chamberlain
FRS
MP for Birmingham Edgbaston
(1869–1940) 28 May
1937 3 September
1939
First Lord of the Treasury
Leader of the House of Commons
Conservative 4th National
(Co.–La.N.–Li.N.) [67]
3 September
1939 10 May
1940 Chamberlain War
(Co.–La.N.–Li.N.)
Churchill HU 90973.jpg The Right Honourable
Winston Churchill
CHTDDLFRSRA
MP for Epping
(1874–1965) Timeline of premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister of Defence
Leader of the House of Commons[XX]
Conservative Churchill War
(All parties) [68]
10 May
1940 23 May
1945
23 May
1945 26 July
1945 Churchill Caretaker
(Co.–Li.N.)
Attlee BW cropped.jpg The Right Honourable
Clement Attlee
OMCHFRS
MP for Limehouse – Walthamstow West[XXI]
(1883–1967) 26 July
1945 26 October
1951
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister of Defence[XXII]
Labour Attlee
(I & II) [69]
1945 1950
Churchill HU 90973.jpg The Right Honourable
Sir Winston Churchill
KGOMCHTDDLFRSRA
MP for Woodford
(1874–1965) 26 October
1951 6 April
1955
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister of Defence[XXIII]
Conservative Churchill III [68]
1951 Elizabeth II
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.svg
(1952–present)
Sir Anthony-Eden number 10 Official.jpg The Right Honourable
Sir Robert Anthony Eden
KGMC
MP for Warwick & Leamington
(1897–1977) 6 April
1955 10 January
1957
First Lord of the Treasury
Conservative Eden
(I & II) [70]
1955
Harold Macmillan number 10 official.jpg The Right Honourable
Maurice Harold Macmillan
FRS
MP for Bromley
(1894–1986) 10 January
1957 19 October
1963
First Lord of the Treasury
Conservative Macmillan
(I & II) [71]
1959
Alec Douglas-Home (c1963).jpg The Right Honourable
Sir Alec Douglas-Home
KT
MP for Kinross & Western Perthshire[XXIV]
(1903–1995) 19 October
1963 16 October
1964
First Lord of the Treasury
Conservative Douglas-Home [72]
Harold Wilson Number 10 official.jpg The Right Honourable
James Harold Wilson
OBEFRS
MP for Huyton
(1916–1995) 16 October
1964 19 June
1970
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service[XXV]
Labour Wilson
(I & II) [73]
1964 1966
Heathdod.JPG The Right Honourable
Edward Heath
MBE
MP for Bexley
(1916–2005) 19 June
1970 4 March
1974
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Conservative Heath [74]
1970
Harold Wilson Number 10 official.jpg The Right Honourable
James Harold Wilson
OBEFRS
MP for Huyton
(1916–1995) 4 March
1974 5 April
1976
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Labour Wilson
(III & IV) [73]
Feb.1974§ Oct.1974
James Callaghan.JPG The Right Honourable
Leonard James Callaghan
MP for Cardiff South East
(1912–2005) 5 April
1976 4 May
1979
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Labour Callaghan [75]
Margaret Thatcher cropped2.png The Right Honourable
Margaret Thatcher
FRS
MP for Finchley
(1925–2013) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Conservative Thatcher I [76]
4 May
1979 10 June
1983
1979
10 June
1983 12 June
1987 Thatcher II
1983
12 June
1987 28 November
1990 Thatcher III
1987
Major PM full.jpg The Right Honourable
John Major
MP for Huntingdon
(born 1943) 28 November
1990 10 April
1992
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Conservative Major I [77]
10 April
1992 2 May
1997 Major II
1992
Tony Blair.jpg The Right Honourable
Tony Blair
MP for Sedgefield
(born 1953) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Labour Blair
(I–III) [78]
2 May
1997 27 June
2007
1997 2001 2005
GordonBrown1234 cropped.jpg The Right Honourable
James Gordon Brown
MP for Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath
(born 1951) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Labour Brown [79]
27 June
2007 11 May
2010
Official-photo-cameron.png The Right Honourable
David Cameron
MP for Witney
(born 1966) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Conservative Cameron–Clegg
(Co.–Li.D.) [80]
11 May
2010 8 May
2015
2010§
8 May
2015 13 July
2016 Cameron II
2015
Theresa May (cropped).png The Right Honourable
Theresa May
MP for Maidenhead
(born 1956) Premiership
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
Conservative May I [81]
13 July
2016 11 June
2017
11 June
2017 Incumbent May II
2017 it is 24Kt Gold Plated