Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
position
The Deputy Prime Minister (or DPM) is, when appointed, the second highest ranking executive officer of the government of the United Kingdom. He or she would be the deputy chief of the Cabinet.
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | |
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Government of the United Kingdom | |
Style | Deputy Prime Minister (informal) The Right Honourable (within the UK and Commonwealth) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
Status | Second highest in executive branch |
Member of | |
Reports to | Prime Minister |
Residence | None, may use Grace and favour residences |
Seat | Westminster, London |
Nominator | Prime Minister |
Appointer | The Crown (on the advice of the Prime Minister) |
Term length | No fixed term |
Formation | 19 February 1942 |
First holder | Clement Attlee |
Website | www.gov.uk |
Unlike other countries, the position of Deputy Prime Minister is not always needed or appointed. The Prime Minister chooses whether or not they want to have a deputy.
The position was created in 1942: Clement Attlee was the first Deputy Prime Minister. The present holder of this position is Oliver Dowden from 21 April 2023. There have been times when the post has been very important. Its introduction in the Second World War is the most obvious case.
List of deputy prime ministers change
- Clement Attlee (1942–1945)
- Herbert Morrison (1945–1951)
- Anthony Eden (1951–1955)
- Rab Butler (1962–1963)
- George Brown (1966–1968)
- Geoffrey Howe (1989–1990)
- Michael Heseltine (1995–1997)
- John Prescott (1997–2007)
- Nick Clegg (2010–2015)
- Dominic Raab (2021–2022)
- Thérèse Coffey (2022)
- Dominic Raab (2022–2023)
- Oliver Dowden (since 2023)