List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom

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The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the leader of His Majesty's Government. They chair Cabinet meetings. It is the highest civil office in the United Kingdom.

The procedure change

The appointment of a prime minister by the monarch is based on advice. However, though the advice is technically informal, the monarch would create a constitutional crisis if they did not comply. Therefore, in practice, what is decided in the House of Commons is the decisive event. The voters elect Members of Parliament (MPs), and the MPs choose the prime minister. The system grew in stages as the Commons grew in power and the monarch's authority dwindled. The current prime minister has been Rishi Sunak since 25 October 2022.

 
Present prime minister Rishi Sunak in front of 10 Downing Street during his first speech as Prime Minister

List of prime ministers change

Name Time in office Political party
Rishi Sunak 2022 – present Conservative
Liz Truss 2022 Conservative
Boris Johnson 2019 – 2022[1] Conservative
Theresa May 2016 – 2019 Conservative
David Cameron 2010 – 2016 Conservative
Gordon Brown 2007 – 2010 Labour
Tony Blair 1997 – 2007 Labour
John Major 1990 – 1997 Conservative
Margaret Thatcher 1979 – 1990 Conservative
James Callaghan 1976 – 1979 Labour
Harold Wilson 1974 – 1976 Labour
Edward Heath 1970 – 1974 Conservative
Harold Wilson 1964 – 1970 Labour
Alec Douglas-Home 1963 – 1964 Conservative
Harold Macmillan 1957 – 1963 Conservative
Anthony Eden 1955 – 1957 Conservative
Winston Churchill 1951 – 1955 Conservative
Clement Attlee 1945 – 1951 Labour
Winston Churchill 1940 – 1945 Conservative
Neville Chamberlain 1937 – 1940 Conservative
Stanley Baldwin 1935 – 1937 Conservative
Ramsay MacDonald 1929 – 1935 Labour
Stanley Baldwin 1924 – 1929 Conservative
Ramsay MacDonald 1924 Labour
Stanley Baldwin 1923 – 1924 Conservative
Andrew Bonar Law 1922 – 1923 Conservative
David Lloyd George 1916 – 1922 Liberal
Herbert Asquith 1908 – 1916 Liberal
Henry Campbell-Bannerman 1905 – 1908 Liberal
Arthur Balfour 1902 – 1905 Conservative
Marquess of Salisbury 1895 – 1902 Conservative
Earl of Rosebery 1894 – 1895 Liberal
William Ewart Gladstone 1892 – 1894 Liberal
Marquess of Salisbury 1886 – 1892 Conservative
William Ewart Gladstone 1886 – 1886 Liberal
Marquess of Salisbury 1885 – 1886 Conservative
William Ewart Gladstone 1880 – 1885 Liberal
Benjamin Disraeli 1874 – 1880 Conservative
William Ewart Gladstone 1868 – 1874 Liberal
Benjamin Disraeli 1868 – 1868 Conservative
The Earl of Derby 1866 – 1868 Conservative
Lord John Russell 1865 – 1866 Whig
Viscount Palmerston 1859 – 1865 Whig
The Earl of Derby 1858 – 1859 Conservative
Viscount Palmerston 1855 – 1858 Whig
Earl of Aberdeen 1852 – 1855 Conservative
The Earl of Derby 1852 Conservative
Lord John Russell 1846 – 1852 Whig
Sir Robert Peel 1841 – 1846 Conservative
Viscount Melbourne 1835 – 1841 Whig
Sir Robert Peel 1834 – 1835 Conservative
Duke of Wellington 1834 Tory
Viscount Melbourne 1834 Whig
Earl Grey 1830 – 1834 Whig
Duke of Wellington 1828 – 1830 Tory
Viscount Goderich 1827 – 1828 Tory
George Canning 1827 – 1827 Tory
Earl of Liverpool 1812 – 1827 Tory
Spencer Perceval 1809 – 1812 Tory
Duke of Portland 1807 – 1809 Whig
William Grenville 1806 – 1807 Whig
William Pitt the Younger 1804 – 1806 Tory
Henry Addington 1801 – 1804 Tory
William Pitt the Younger 1783 – 1801 Tory
Duke of Portland 1783 Whig
Earl of Shelburne 1782 – 1783 Whig
Marquess of Rockingham 1782 Whig
Lord North 1770 – 1782 Tory
Duke of Grafton 1768 – 1770 Whig
William Pitt 1766 – 1768 Whig
Marquess of Rockingham 1765 – 1766 Whig
George Grenville 1763 – 1765 Whig
Earl of Bute 1762 – 1763 Tory
Duke of Newcastle 1757 – 1762 Whig
Duke of Devonshire 1756 – 1757 Whig
Duke of Newcastle 1754 – 1756 Whig
Henry Pelham 1743 – 1754 Whig
Spencer Compton 1742 – 1743 Whig
Robert Walpole 1721 – 1742 Whig

References change

  1. "Boris Johnson's resignation: what is going on in UK politics?". The Guardian. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.