Difference between revisions of "Cabinet of the United Kingdom"
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| − | The '''Cabinet of the United Kingdom''' is a body consisting of the most senior ministers in the government of the [[United Kingdom]], headed by the [[Prime Minister]]. Formally a committee of the [[Privy Council]], it is the main [[executive]] body of the British Government. Traditionally, the Cabinet meets weekly on a Thursday morning. | + | The '''Cabinet of the United Kingdom''' is a body consisting of the most senior ministers in the government of the [[United Kingdom]], headed by the [[Prime Minister]]. Formally a committee of the [[Privy Council]], it is the main [[executive]] body of the British Government. Traditionally, the Cabinet meets weekly on a Thursday morning. All members of the Cabinet are drawn from either the [[House of Commons]] or the [[House of Lords]]. |
| − | + | In recent years, some ex-ministers (notably [[Clare Short]]) have alleged that under the government of current prime minister [[Tony Blair]], Cabinet meetings have lost their decision-making role; according to a former senior civil servant, Lord Butler, the Blair cabinet "took one decision in eight months", with other decisions being made by the Prime Minister and his close advisers.<ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/tonyblair/story/0,,2090574,00.html Blair cabinet 'took one decision in eight months'], Guardian Unlimited, 29 May 2007</ref> | |
==Current members of the Cabinet== | ==Current members of the Cabinet== | ||
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*Chief Secretary to the Treasury: [[Stephen Timms]] | *Chief Secretary to the Treasury: [[Stephen Timms]] | ||
*Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury: [[Jacqui Smith]] | *Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury: [[Jacqui Smith]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==The Shadow Cabinet== | ||
| + | The Shadow Cabinet is the group of senior politicians in the official opposition party (currently the [[Conservative Party]]) who mirror the roles of Cabinet members. If the opposition party secures a majority in the [[House of Commons]] and is invited to form a government, the members of the Shadow Cabinet typically form the new Cabinet. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | *[[Cabinet of the United States]] | ||
| + | *[[Prime Minister]] | ||
Revision as of 16:59, June 22, 2007
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is a body consisting of the most senior ministers in the government of the United Kingdom, headed by the Prime Minister. Formally a committee of the Privy Council, it is the main executive body of the British Government. Traditionally, the Cabinet meets weekly on a Thursday morning. All members of the Cabinet are drawn from either the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
In recent years, some ex-ministers (notably Clare Short) have alleged that under the government of current prime minister Tony Blair, Cabinet meetings have lost their decision-making role; according to a former senior civil servant, Lord Butler, the Blair cabinet "took one decision in eight months", with other decisions being made by the Prime Minister and his close advisers.[1]
Current members of the Cabinet
This is the current composition of the Cabinet following the reshuffle on May 5, 2006:[2]
- Prime Minister: Tony Blair
- Deputy Prime Minister: John Prescott
- Chancellor of the Exchequer: Gordon Brown
- Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Margaret Beckett
- Secretary of State for the Home Department: John Reid
- Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain and Secretary of State for Justice: Lord Falconer of Thoroton
- Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lords: Baroness Amos
- Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons: Jack Straw
- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: Ruth Kelly
- Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport: Tessa Jowell
- Secretary of State for Defence: Des Browne
- Secretary of State for Education and Skills: Alan Johnson
- Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: David Miliband
- Secretary of State for Health: Patricia Hewitt
- Secretary of State for International Development: Hilary Benn
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Secretary of State for Wales: Peter Hain
- Secretary of State for Trade and Industry: Alistair Darling
- Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland: Douglas Alexander
- Secretary of State for Work and Pensions: John Hutton
- Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Hilary Armstrong
- Minister without Portfolio and Party Chair: Hazel Blears
- Chief Secretary to the Treasury: Stephen Timms
- Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury: Jacqui Smith
The Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is the group of senior politicians in the official opposition party (currently the Conservative Party) who mirror the roles of Cabinet members. If the opposition party secures a majority in the House of Commons and is invited to form a government, the members of the Shadow Cabinet typically form the new Cabinet.
References
- ↑ Blair cabinet 'took one decision in eight months', Guardian Unlimited, 29 May 2007
- ↑ Her Majesty's Government at the 10 Downing Street official website