Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom

Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom
Post	Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Incumbent	Rishi Sunak
Incumbentsince	25 October 2022
Department	Cabinet, Prime Minister's Office, Civil Service
Style	Prime Minister, (informal), The Right Honourable, (formal), His Excellency, (diplomatic)
Type	Head of government
Abbreviation	PM
Member of	Cabinet, Privy Council, British–Irish Council
Reports to	The Monarch, House of Commons
Residence	10 Downing Street
Seat	Westminster
Nominator	Political parties
Appointer	The Monarch
Termlength	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	3 April 1721
First	Robert Walpole
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister
Salary	£164,951 per annum, (including £86,584 MP salary)
Website	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/prime-ministers-office-10-downing-street

Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom are the head of government of the United Kingdom, chairing the Cabinet and selecting its ministers. The office, established in its modern form in the 18th century, is not codified in statute but operates under the UK's uncodified constitution through a system of constitutional conventions. The incumbent, Rishi Sunak, is the leader of the Conservative Party and was appointed by King Charles III in October 2022.

History and development of the office

The role evolved from the First Lord of the Treasury, with Robert Walpole widely considered the first prime minister during the reign of George I. The office gained prominence through the political dominance of figures like William Pitt the Younger and the Duke of Wellington, with its powers solidified during the Victorian era under leaders such as William Ewart Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli. Key developments included the Parliament Act 1911, which curtailed the power of the House of Lords, and the expansion of the role during global conflicts like the Second World War under Winston Churchill. The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 temporarily altered the power to call elections, later repealed by the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022.

Appointment, powers and responsibilities

The prime minister is appointed by the monarch, who by convention selects the individual most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons, typically the leader of the party with a majority following a general election. Key powers include recommending the dissolution of Parliament to the sovereign, appointing and dismissing secretaries of state, and allocating functions between government departments. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet, sets its agenda, and is the principal government figure in Parliamentary debates, while also representing the UK at international summits like the G7 and NATO.

List of prime ministers

Since Walpole, the United Kingdom has had over 70 prime ministers, predominantly from the Conservative and Labour parties. Notable long-serving premiers include William Pitt the Younger, Lord Liverpool, and Margaret Thatcher, the first woman to hold the office. The 20th century saw premiers guide the nation through major events such as the Great Depression, the Battle of Britain, the Suez Crisis, and the Falklands War. The 21st century has seen rapid turnover at times, with figures like Tony Blair, David Cameron, and Boris Johnson navigating issues from the Iraq War to Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Living former prime ministers

As of 2024, there are six living former prime ministers: John Major (served 1990–1997), Tony Blair (1997–2007), Gordon Brown (2007–2010), David Cameron (2010–2016), Theresa May (2016–2019), and Boris Johnson (2019–2022). They occasionally undertake public duties, such as Johnson's work with the Henry Jackson Society or Blair's role at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. By convention, they are granted ongoing security and are entitled to support from the Cabinet Office for certain public activities.

Precedence, privileges and form of address

The prime minister, as the sitting head of government, takes precedence immediately after the Archbishop of Canterbury and other senior Church of England clergy. The customary form of address is "Prime Minister" or, more formally, "The Right Honourable", a title also used by other members of the Privy Council. The incumbent is provided an official residence and office at 10 Downing Street, a grace-and-favour home at Chequers, and is assigned an official car, typically a Jaguar XJ or a Range Rover, from the Metropolitan Police's fleet.

Residences and transport

The prime minister's official London residence and workplace is 10 Downing Street, a building owned by the Crown Estate adjacent to the Cabinet Office in Whitehall. The country residence is Chequers, an Elizabethan manor house in Buckinghamshire gifted to the nation by Arthur Lee, 1st Viscount Lee of Fareham. Official transport includes a dedicated fleet of vehicles operated by the Metropolitan Police's Special Escort Group, while longer journeys are conducted aboard aircraft from No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron of the Royal Air Force, often referred to as "UK P.M. Flight".

Category:Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom Category:British political offices