Chairman of the Conservative Party

Last updated
Chairman of the
Conservative Party
Conservatives logo.svg
Logo for the Conservative Party
Official portrait of Nigel Huddleston MP crop 2, 2024.jpg Dominic R.A. Johnson.jpg
since 4 November 2024
Appointer Leader of the Conservative Party
Term length At the pleasure of the Leader of the Conservative Party
Inaugural holder Arthur Steel-Maitland
Formation1911
DeputyVacant

The chairman of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom is responsible for party administration and overseeing the Conservative Campaign Headquarters, formerly Conservative Central Office.

Contents

When the Conservatives are in government, the officeholder is usually a member of the Cabinet holding a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio. Deputy or Vice Chairmen of the Conservative Party may also be appointed, with responsibility for specific aspects of the party. The Chairman of the Conservative Party is Nigel Huddleston, assuming this role on 4 November 2024.

The role of Deputy Chairman is currently vacant and not in use.

The role was created in 1911 in response to the Conservative party's defeat in the second 1910 general election. The position is not subject to election, as it is given by the party leader. [1]

List

Key

Member of the House of Commons
Member of the House of Lords
Non-parliamentarian

List

ChairmanTerm of office Election Ministerial officesLeaderRef
Arthur Maitland.jpg Arthur Steel-Maitland
MP for Birmingham East
19111916 Bonar Law [2]
George Younger, Vanity Fair, 1910-01-06.jpg Sir George Younger, Bt.
MP for Ayr Burghs
19161923 1918
1922
1923
[3]
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Jackson MP.jpg Stanley Jackson
MP for Howdenshire
19231926 1924 [2]
Viscount Davidson.jpg John Davidson
MP for Hemel Hempstead
19261930 1929 [2] [3]
Neville-Chamberlain (cropped).jpg Neville Chamberlain
MP for Birmingham Edgbaston
23 June
1930
15 April
1931
[2] [3]
Ac.stonehaven.jpg John Baird
Viscount Stonehaven
19311936 1931
1935
DouglasHacking.jpg Sir Douglas Hacking
MP for Chorley
19361942
Neville Chamberlain
Winston Churchill
Thomas Dugdale, 1st Baron Crathorne.jpg Thomas Dugdale
MP for Richmond
194229 October
1944
No image.svg Ralph Assheton
MP for City of London
29 October
1944
1 July
1946
1945 [2]
1st Earl of Woolton 1947.jpg Frederick Marquis
Earl of Woolton
1 July
1946
1 November
1955
1950
1951
1955
Lord President of the Council (1951–1952)
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1952–1955)
Minister of Materials (1952–1954)
[2]
Anthony Eden
Oliver Poole 1 November
1955
18 September
1957
[2] [4]
Harold Macmillan
Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham Allan Warren.jpg Quintin Hogg
Viscount Hailsham
18 September
1957
14 October
1959
1959 Lord President of the Council (1957–1959) [2]
Rab Butler.png Rab Butler
MP for Saffron Walden
14 October
1959
10 October
1961
Home Secretary (1957–1962)
Leader of the House of Commons (1955–1961)
[2]
The National Archives UK - CO 1069-166-17 Macleod crop.jpg Iain Macleod
MP for Enfield West
10 October
1961
21 October
1963
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1961–1963)
Leader of the House of Commons (1961–1963)
[a]
Oliver Poole
Baron Poole
17 April
1963
(Jointly)
[2] [a]
John Hare 1929.jpg John Hare
Viscount Blakenham
21 October
1963
21 January
1965
1964 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1963–1964)
Alec Douglas-Home
No image.svg Edward du Cann
MP for Taunton
21 January
1965
11 September
1967
1966 [2]
Edward Heath
Anthony Barber
MP for Altrincham and Sale
11 September
1967
31 July
1970
1970
No image.svg Peter Thomas
MP for Hendon South
31 July
1970
7 April
1972
Secretary of State for Wales (1970–1974)
Peter Carington 1984.jpg Peter Carington
Baron Carrington
7 April
1972
11 June
1974
Feb 1974 Secretary of State for Defence (1970–1974)
Secretary of State for Energy (1974)
William Whitelaw
MP for Penrith and The Border
11 June
1974
27 February
1975
Oct 1974
Peter Thorneycroft
Baron Thorneycroft
27 February
1975
14 September
1981
1979 Margaret Thatcher [2]
Cecil Parkinson
MP for South Hertfordshire
14 September
1981
14 September
1983
1983 Paymaster General (1981–1983)
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1982–1983)
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1983)
[2]
Official portrait of Lord Deben crop 2.jpg John Gummer
MP for Suffolk Coastal
14 September
1983
2 September
1985
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Employment (1983)
Minister of State for Employment (1983–1985)
Paymaster General (1984–1985)
Official portrait of Lord Tebbit 2020 crop 2.jpg Norman Tebbit
MP for Chingford
2 September
1985
2 November
1987
1987 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1985–1987) [2]
No image.svg Peter Brooke
MP for City of London
and Westminster South
2 November
1987
24 July
1989
Paymaster General (1987–1989)
Official portrait of Lord Baker of Dorking 2020 crop 2.jpg Kenneth Baker
MP for Mole Valley
24 July
1989
28 November
1990
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Official portrait of Lord Patten of Barnes crop 2.jpg Chris Patten
MP for Bath
28 November
1990
10 May
1992
1992 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster John Major [5]
Official portrait of Lord Fowler crop 2.jpg Sir Norman Fowler
MP for Sutton Coldfield
10 May
1992
20 July
1994
Attended Cabinet
No image.svg Jeremy Hanley
MP for Richmond and Barnes
20 July
1994
5 July
1995
Minister without portfolio
No image.svg Brian Mawhinney
MP for Peterborough
North West Cambridgeshire
5 July
1995
20 June
1997
1997 Minister without portfolio
Cecil Parkinson
Baron Parkinson
20 June
1997
2 December
1998
William Hague
Official portrait of The Marquess of Lothian crop 2.jpg Michael Ancram
Earl of Ancram

MP for Devizes
2 December
1998
18 September
2001
2001
Official portrait of Rt Hon David Davis MP crop 2.jpg David Davis
MP for Haltemprice and Howden
18 September
2001
23 July
2002
Iain Duncan Smith
Theresa May official portrait (cropped).jpg Theresa May
MP for Maidenhead
23 July
2002
6 November
2003
[4]
Official portrait of Dr Liam Fox crop 2.jpg Liam Fox
MP for Woodspring
6 November
2003
6 May
2005
2005 Michael Howard [b]
No image.svg Maurice Saatchi
Baron Saatchi
10 November
2003
(Jointly)
[4] [b]
Official portrait of Lord Maude of Horsham crop 2, 2024.jpg Francis Maude
MP for Horsham
6 May
2005
2 July
2007
David Cameron
Official portrait of Dame Caroline Spelman crop 2.jpg Caroline Spelman
MP for Meriden
2 July
2007
19 January
2009
Eric Pickles Official.jpg Eric Pickles
MP for Brentwood and Ongar
19 January
2009
12 May
2010
2010
No image.svg Andrew Feldman
Baron Feldman of Elstree
12 May
2010
(Jointly 2010–15)
14 July
2016
2015 [2] [c] [d]
Official portrait of Baroness Warsi crop 2.jpg Sayeeda Warsi
Baroness Warsi
12 May
2010
(Jointly)
4 September
2012
Minister without portfolio [6] [c]
Official portrait of Grant Shapps crop 2.jpg Grant Shapps
MP for Welwyn Hatfield
4 September
2012
(Jointly)
11 May
2015
2015 Minister without portfolio [d]
Official portrait of Lord McLoughlin, 2022.jpg Sir Patrick McLoughlin
MP for Derbyshire Dales
14 July
2016
8 January
2018
2017 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Theresa May
Official portrait of Brandon Lewis crop 2.jpg Brandon Lewis
MP for Great Yarmouth
8 January
2018
24 July
2019
Minister without portfolio [7]
Ben Elliot 24 July
2019
(Jointly)
5 September
2022
2019 Boris Johnson [e] [f] [g] [h]
Official portrait of James Cleverly crop 2.jpg James Cleverly
MP for Braintree
13 February
2020
Minister without portfolio [8] [e]
Official portrait of Amanda Milling MP crop 2.jpg Amanda Milling
MP for Cannock Chase
13 February
2020
(Jointly)
15 September
2021
Minister without portfolio [9] [f]
Official portrait of Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP crop 2.jpg Oliver Dowden
MP for Hertsmere
15 September
2021
(Jointly)
24 June
2022
Minister without portfolio [g]
Official portrait of Andrew Stephenson MP crop 2.jpg Andrew Stephenson
MP for Pendle
7 July
2022
(Jointly)
6 September
2022
Minister without portfolio [h]
Official portrait of Rt Hon Jake Berry MP crop 2.jpg Sir Jake Berry
MP for Rossendale and Darwen
6 September
2022
25 October
2022
Minister without portfolio Liz Truss
Nadhim Zahawi Official Cabinet Portrait, September 2021 (cropped).jpg Nadhim Zahawi
MP for Stratford-on-Avon
25 October
2022
29 January
2023
Minister without portfolio Rishi Sunak
Official portrait of Greg Hands crop 2.jpg Greg Hands
MP for Chelsea and Fulham
7 February
2023
13 November
2023
Minister without portfolio
Richard Holden Official Cabinet Portrait, November 2023 (cropped).jpg Richard Holden
MP for North West Durham
13 November
2023
5 July
2024
2024 Minister without portfolio
Official portrait of Richard Fuller MP crop 2, 2024.jpg Richard Fuller
MP for North Bedfordshire
8 July
2024
4 November
2024
Official portrait of Nigel Huddleston MP crop 2, 2024.jpg Nigel Huddleston
MP for Droitwich and Evesham
4 November
2024
Incumbent Kemi Badenoch
Dominic R.A. Johnson.jpg Dominic Johnson
Lord Johnson of Lainston
  1. 1 2 Iain Macleod and Baron Poole jointly held the chairmanship from 17 April to 10 October 1961.
  2. 1 2 Liam Fox and Lord Saatchi jointly held the chairmanship from 11 November 2003 to 6 May 2005.
  3. 1 2 Lord Feldman of Elstree and Baroness Warsi jointly held the chairmanship from 12 May 2010 to 4 September 2012.
  4. 1 2 Lord Feldman of Elstree and Grant Shapps jointly held the chairmanship from 4 September 2012 to 11 May 2015.
  5. 1 2 Ben Elliot and James Cleverly jointly held the chairmanship from 24 July 2019 to 13 February 2020.
  6. 1 2 Ben Elliot and Amanda Milling jointly held the chairmanship from 13 February 2020 to 15 September 2021.
  7. 1 2 Ben Elliot and Oliver Dowden jointly held the chairmanship from 15 September 2021 to 24 June 2022.
  8. 1 2 Ben Elliot and Andrew Stephenson jointly held the chairmanship from 7 July 2022 to 5 September 2022.

Timeline

Dominic Johnson, Baron Johnson of LainstonNigel HuddlestonRichard Fuller (Conservative politician)Richard Holden (British politician)Greg HandsNadhim ZahawiJake BerryAndrew StephensonOliver DowdenAmanda MillingJames CleverlyBen ElliotBrandon LewisPatrick McLoughlinGrant ShappsSayeeda WarsiAndrew Feldman, Baron Feldman of ElstreeEric PicklesCaroline SpelmanFrancis MaudeMaurice SaatchiLiam FoxTheresa MayDavid Davis (British politician)Michael AncramBrian MawhinneyJeremy HanleyNorman FowlerChris PattenKenneth Baker, Baron Baker of DorkingPeter Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton MandevilleNorman TebbitJohn GummerCecil ParkinsonPeter ThorneycroftWilliam WhitelawPeter CaringtonPeter Thomas, Baron Thomas of GwydirAnthony BarberEdward du CannJohn Hare, 1st Viscount BlackenhamIain MacleodRab ButlerQuintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St MaryleboneOliver Poole, 1st Baron PooleFrederick MarquisRalph Assheton, 1st Baron ClitheroeThomas Dugdale, 1st Baron CrathorneDouglas HackingJohn Baird, 1st Viscount StonehavenNeville ChamberlainJ. C. C. DavidsonStanley Jackson (cricketer)George Younger, 1st Viscount Younger of LeckieArthur Steel-MaitlandChairman of the Conservative Party

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leader of the House of Commons</span> Political role in the UK Government

The Leader of the House of Commons is a minister of the Crown of the Government of the United Kingdom whose main role is organising government business in the House of Commons. The Leader is always a member or attendee of the cabinet of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State for Education</span> Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom

The secretary of state for education, also referred to as the education secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, responsible for the work of the Department for Education. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Gummer</span> British politician (born 1939)

John Selwyn Gummer, Baron Deben, FRASE is a British Conservative Party politician, formerly the Member of Parliament (MP) for Suffolk Coastal and now a member of the House of Lords. He was Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1983 to 1985 and held various government posts including Secretary of State for the Environment from 1993 to 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Young, Baron Young of Cookham</span> British Conservative politician (born 1941)

George Samuel Knatchbull Young, Baron Young of Cookham,, known as Sir George Young, 6th Baronet from 1960 to 2015, is a British Conservative Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1974 to 2015, having represented Ealing Acton from 1974 to 1997 and North West Hampshire from 1997. He has served in Cabinet on three occasions: as Secretary of State for Transport from 1995 to 1997; as the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal from 2010 to 2012; and as Conservative Chief Whip from 2012 to 2014.

The Bruges Group is a think tank based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1989, it advocates for a restructuring of Britain's relationship with the European Union and other European countries. Its members and staff campaign against the notion of an "ever-closer union" in Europe and, above all, against British involvement in a single European state. The group is often associated with the Conservative Party, including MPs such as Iain Duncan Smith, Daniel Hannan, John Redwood, and Norman Lamont. However, it is formally an independent all-party think tank, and some Labour MPs and peers have cited the publications or attended the meetings of the Bruges Group through the years, such as Frank Field, Gisela Stuart, Lord Stoddart of Swindon and Lord Shore of Stepney.

The National Conservative Convention (NCC), is the most senior body of the Conservative Party's voluntary wing. The National Convention effectively serves as the Party's internal Parliament, and is made up of its 800 highest-ranking Party Officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St Johns</span> British politician (born 1947)

Joyce Anne Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St Johns,, is a British Conservative Party politician, previously serving as Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from August 2014 to June 2017. Anelay was appointed as Minister of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union in the Second May ministry, after the 2017 reshuffle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Howell, Baron Howell of Guildford</span> British politician (born 1936)

David Arthur Russell Howell, Baron Howell of Guildford, is a British Conservative Party politician, journalist, and economic consultant. Having been successively Secretary of State for Energy and then for Transport under Margaret Thatcher, Howell has more recently been a Minister of State in the Foreign Office from the election in 2010 until the reshuffle of 2012. He has served as Chair of the House of Lords International Relations Committee since May 2016. Along with William Hague, Sir George Young and Kenneth Clarke, he is one of the few Cabinet ministers from the 1979–97 governments who continued to hold high office in the party, being its deputy leader in the House of Lords until 2010. His daughter, Frances, was married to the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Warsi</span> British-Pakistani lawyer and politician life peer (born 1971)

Sayeeda Hussain Warsi, Baroness Warsi, is a British lawyer, politician, and member of the House of Lords who served as co-chairwoman of the Conservative Party from 2010 to 2012. She served in the Cameron–Clegg coalition, first as the Minister without portfolio between 2010 and 2012, then as the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and as the Minister of State for Faith and Communities, until her resignation citing her disagreement with the Government's policy relating to the Israel–Gaza conflict in August 2014. In September 2024 Baroness Warsi resigned the Whip and left the Conservative Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Society of Conservative Lawyers</span>

The Society of Conservative Lawyers was founded in 1947 and is an affiliate of the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom. A leading Conservative think tank, the society also provides expert legal advice to the Conservative Front Bench and hosts debates on topical issues. Since its foundation generations of Conservative candidates have been selected from the Society's ranks.

LGBT+ Conservatives is an organisation for LGBT conservatism in the United Kingdom. It is the official LGBT wing of the Conservative Party. The current advocacy group can trace its roots back to the Conservative Group for Homosexual Equality which was later renamed the Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality. The group was eventually disbanded and the new LGBTory group was formed, changing its name in 2016 to LGBT+ Conservatives.

Andrew Simon Feldman, Baron Feldman of Elstree, is a British barrister, businessman and Conservative fundraiser and politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservative Middle East Council</span>

The Conservative Middle East Council or CMEC is an organisation that exists to help ensure that British Conservative MPs and Peers better understand the Middle East. Its director is former MP Charlotte Leslie who was appointed in July 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Dissolution Honours</span> British government recognitions

The 1992 Dissolution Honours List was gazetted on 5 June 1992 following the advice of the Prime Minister, John Major.

The February 1974 Dissolution Honours List was issued on 2 April 1974 following the dissolution of the United Kingdom parliament in preparation for a general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours</span> British government recognitions

The 2016 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours are honours awarded following the July 2016 resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron. The life peerages and other honours were issued as two separate lists by the Cabinet Office on 4 August 2016 and all honours were gazetted as one list on 16 August 2016. This was the first Prime Minister's Resignation Honours since 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union</span> Former British Cabinet position

The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union or, informally, Brexit Secretary, was a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, responsible for the business of the Department for Exiting the European Union, as well as for the UK's withdrawal from the European Union (EU), informally referred to as "Brexit". The secretary of state oversaw Brexit negotiations following a 2016 referendum, in which a majority of those who voted were in favour of exiting the EU. The officeholder was a member of the Cabinet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Johnson ministry</span> UK government in 2019

The first Johnson ministry began on 24 July 2019 when Queen Elizabeth II invited Boris Johnson to form a new government, following the resignation of the predecessor Prime Minister Theresa May. May had resigned as Leader of the Conservative Party on 7 June 2019; Johnson was elected as her successor on 23 July 2019. The Johnson ministry was formed from the 57th Parliament of the United Kingdom, as a Conservative minority government. It lost its working majority on 3 September 2019 when Tory MP Phillip Lee crossed the floor to the Liberal Democrats. An election was called for 12 December 2019, which led to the formation of a Conservative majority government, the second Johnson ministry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours</span> British government recognitions

The 2019 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours are honours awarded following the July 2019 resignation of the Prime Minister, Theresa May. The life peerages and other honours were issued as two separate lists by the Cabinet Office on 10 September 2019, while the honours were gazetted as one list on 28 October 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minister without portfolio (United Kingdom)</span> Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, a minister without portfolio is often a cabinet position, or often attends cabinet. The role is sometimes used to enable the chairman of the governing party, contemporarily either the chairman of the Conservative Party or the chair of the Labour Party, to attend cabinet meetings. The sinecure positions of Lord Privy Seal, Paymaster General, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which have few responsibilities and have a higher rank in the order of precedence than minister without portfolio can also be used to similar effect. There is currently one minister without portfolio, Ellie Reeves, who was appointed following the 2024 general election.

References

Notes

  1. Harris, Robin (2011). The Conservatives – A History. London: Bantam Press. ISBN   9780593065112. (p. 249) After the second election defeat of 1910 there was an unstoppable pressure for an enquiry into the party's failures. A committee recommended that two new posts be created - that of party treasurer and that of chairman of the party (enjoying 'Cabinet rank'). ... Balfour accepted the changes but tried to reduce the status of the chairman, a position which he significantly (and permanently) re-titled 'chairman of the party organization'. He also concealed, as long as he could, the 'Cabinet rank' pledge. Finally he appointed a rather junior but, as it turned out, vigorous and assertive Birmingham member of parliament, Arthur Steel-Maitland, to the chairmanship.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Harris, Robin (2011). The Conservatives – A History. London: Bantam Press. ISBN   9780593065112.
  3. 1 2 3 Stewart, Graham (1999). Burying Caesar – Churchill, Chamberlain and the Battle for the Tory Party. London: Phoenix. ISBN   9780753810606.
  4. 1 2 3 Sampson, Anthony (2004). Who Runs This Place?. London: John Murray. ISBN   0719565642.
  5. Patten, Chris (2005). Not Quite the Diplomat. London: Allen Lane. ISBN   0713998555.
  6. "Baroness Warsi". UK Parliament. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  7. "Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  8. "Rt Hon James Cleverly MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  9. "Rt Hon Amanda Milling MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 July 2021.

Bibliography