Lord President of the Council

Lord President of the Council
source
Post	Lord President of the Council
Body	the United Kingdom
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Incumbent	Penny Mordaunt
Incumbentsince	6 September 2022
Department	Privy Council Office
Style	The Right Honourable
Member of	Cabinet, Privy Council
Reports to	The Prime Minister
Nominator	The Prime Minister
Appointer	The Monarch
Appointer qualified	on advice of the Prime Minister
Termlength	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	1530
First	William FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton
Salary	£104,360 (2022) (including MP salary)

Lord President of the Council is a senior ministerial role within the Government of the United Kingdom and a member of the Cabinet. The officeholder presides over meetings of the Privy Council, a formal body of advisors to the Monarch, and is responsible for the Privy Council Office. Historically a position of great influence, its modern duties are largely ceremonial, though it is often used as a cabinet role for a senior minister without a specific departmental portfolio.

History

The office originated in the Tudor period, with William FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton often cited as the first holder in 1530, during the reign of Henry VIII. It evolved from the medieval role of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and became a central figure in the Stuart period government. Historically, the Lord President was a key advisor in the Cabal Ministry and during the political turmoil of the Glorious Revolution. In the 19th century, figures like Lord Palmerston and William Ewart Gladstone held the post, which gradually transitioned from an executive role to a more formal one following the expansion of specific government departments like the Foreign Office and the Treasury.

Responsibilities

The primary statutory duty is to preside over meetings of the Privy Council, such as those where the Accession Council proclaims a new sovereign. The President is responsible for arranging business and advising the Monarch on the approval of Orders in Council, which have the force of law. The role also involves oversight of the Privy Council Office and its responsibilities for research policy, some aspects of higher education, and the Medical Research Council. As a senior cabinet minister, the incumbent is often assigned additional cross-departmental responsibilities by the Prime Minister, as seen with Michael Gove's role in Cabinet Office policy coordination.

List of officeholders

A complete list of officeholders extends from the 16th century to the present. Notable 20th century holders include Arthur Balfour, who served while also being Prime Minister, and Clement Attlee, who held the post in the wartime coalition under Winston Churchill. In recent decades, it has frequently been held by Leader of the House of Commons or Leader of the House of Lords, such as Alec Douglas-Home, Margaret Beckett, and Nick Clegg. The current officeholder, Penny Mordaunt, also serves as Leader of the House of Commons.

Notable Lord Presidents

Several holders have been pivotal political figures. Arthur Balfour is renowned for the Balfour Declaration issued during his tenure. Winston Churchill held the office briefly in 1952. Tony Benn, serving as Anthony Wedgwood Benn in Harold Wilson's government, used the position to advocate for industrial policy. David Blunkett and Peter Mandelson held the role in the New Labour era, with the latter also serving as First Secretary of State. The tenure of Michael Gove under Boris Johnson was marked by significant domestic policy coordination across Whitehall.

In popular culture

The office occasionally appears in political dramas and literature, typically as a symbol of senior government authority. It is referenced in the BBC series Yes Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister, which satirise the workings of Whitehall. The role is mentioned in historical fiction concerning the Tudor court, such as novels by Hilary Mantel, and in televised depictions of governments, like in The Crown, which features historical figures like Alec Douglas-Home.

Category:British political offices Category:Privy Council of the United Kingdom Category:1530 establishments in England