Leader of the House of Lords

Last updated

Leader of the House of Lords
House of Lords logo 2020.svg
Lord True Official Cabinet Portrait, October 2022.jpg
Incumbent
The Lord True
since 6 September 2022
Office of the Leader of the House
TypeHouse Leader
StatusParty Branch chief
Nominator Prime Minister
Appointer The Monarch
Deputy The Earl Howe [1]

The leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The post is also the leader of the governing party in the House of Lords who acts as the government party chairperson in the house. The role is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, usually one of the sinecure offices of Lord President of the Council, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal or Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Unless the Leader is also a departmental minister, being Leader constitutes the bulk of their government responsibilities, but it has never been an independent salaried office. The Office of the Leader of the House of Lords is a ministerial department. [2]

Contents

Though the leader of the House is a member of the cabinet and remains a partisan figure, the leader also has responsibilities to the House as a whole. In contrast to the House of Commons, where proceedings are controlled by the speaker, proceedings in the Lords are controlled by peers themselves, under the rules set out in the Standing Orders. The leader of the House has the responsibility of reminding the House of these rules and facilitating the Lords' self-regulation, though any member may draw attention to breaches of order or failure to observe customs. The Leader is often called upon to advise on procedures and points of order and is required to determine the order of speakers on Supplementary Questions, subject to the wishes of the House. However, like the Lord Speaker, the Leader of the House has no power to rule on points of order or to intervene during an inappropriate speech.

Until the election of the first Lord Speaker on 4 July 2006, the Leader of the House had responsibility for making preliminary decisions on requests for Private Notice Questions and for waiving the sub judice rule in certain cases. Those functions were transferred to the Lord Speaker.

History

The title seems to have come into use some time after 1800, as a formal way of referring to the peer who managed government business in the upper House, irrespective of which salaried position they held in the cabinet. However, it may have been used as early as 1689, applied to George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax, when he was Speaker of the House of Lords during the Convention Parliament of that year.[ citation needed ]

The role developed during the first quarter of the eighteenth century, at the same time as the role of Prime Minister and the system of Cabinet government. In the wake of the English Civil War, the Glorious Revolution and the succession of the Hanoverians to the throne, Britain evolved a system of government where ministers were sustained in office by their ability to carry legislation through Parliament. It was therefore necessary for a member of the government to take responsibility for steering government legislation through each House.

The Earl of Sunderland initiated aspects of the role during the Whig Junto under Queen Anne. Sunderland and the other Whigs were dismissed from office in reaction to their co-ordination of government matters, which was taken as a threat to the power of the monarch. Sunderland returned to power under George I, as Lord Privy Seal. The first documentary evidence of the existence of the role comes from 1717, when Sunderland became Secretary of State for the Northern Department: in the form of lists of peers invited to the office of the Northern Secretary immediately before sessions of Parliament.

When the Prime Minister sat in the House of Lords, which was common until the beginning of the twentieth century, he usually held the position of Leader of the House of Lords. When the Prime Minister sat in the Commons, the position of Leader of the Lords was often held by the Foreign Secretary or Colonial Secretary. In some coalition governments, it was held by the party leader who was not Prime Minister.

Since the end of the Marquess of Salisbury's last government, in 1902, the position clearly exists in its own right as a member of the cabinet. Since 1966 it has only been combined with sinecure positions and the holder has not been a departmental minister though some have held additional responsibilities such as Quintin Hogg, 2nd Viscount Hailsham also being designated "Minister for Science" or Margaret Baroness Jay also being "Minister for Women". The first female Leader of the Lords was Janet Young, Baroness Young in 1981–1983. Lord Peart, Viscount Whitelaw and Lord Wakeham served as Leader of the Lords having previously been Leader of the House of Commons.

Families

Responsibilities

List

Because the post is a parliamentary one and not a ministerial office in its own right, it is not always included in official lists of government offices, especially for earlier periods. This can make it difficult to determine who the Leader of the House of Lords was in a particular ministry.

LeaderTerm of officeOther ministerial offices held as Leader of the House of LordsPolitical partyPrime Minister
Charles Spencer 3rd Earl of Sunderland.jpg Charles Spencer
The Earl of Sunderland
[3]
April
1717
March
1718
Secretary of State for the Northern Department No such office
James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.jpg James Stanhope
The Earl Stanhope
[3]
Viscount Stanhope until April 1718
March
1718
5 February
1721
Secretary of State for the Northern Department No such office
Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (2).jpg Charles Townshend
The Viscount Townshend
[3]
February
1721
May
1730
Secretary of State for the Northern Department Whig Robert Walpole
William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington (1683-1756), Attributed to Godfrey Kneller.jpg William Stanhope
The Earl of Harrington
[3]
Lord Harrington until 1742
May
1730
February
1742
Secretary of State for the Northern Department
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville by William Hoare.jpg John Carteret
The Earl Granville

Lord Carteret until 1744
12 February
1742
24 November
1744
Secretary of State for the Northern Department Whig Earl of Wilmington (until July 1743)
Henry Pelham (from 27 August 1743)
William Stanhope, 1st Earl of Harrington (1683-1756), Attributed to Godfrey Kneller.jpg William Stanhope
The Earl of Harrington
[3]
November
1744
October
1746
Secretary of State for the Northern Department
Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield by Allan Ramsay.jpg Philip Dormer Stanhope
The Earl of Chesterfield
[3]
October
1746
February
1748
Secretary of State for the Northern Department Whig
1stDukeOfNewcastleOld.jpg Thomas Pelham-Holles
The Duke of Newcastle
February
1748
16 November
1756
Secretary of State for the Northern Department until March 1754Prime Minister from March 1754Whig
Himself
4th Duke of Devonshire after Hudson.jpg William Cavendish
The Duke of Devonshire
16 November
1756
25 June
1757
Prime Minister WhigHimself
1stDukeOfNewcastleOld.jpg Thomas Pelham-Holles
The Duke of Newcastle
2 July
1757
26 May
1762
Prime Minister WhigHimself
Charles Wyndham, 2nd Earl of Egremont by William Hoare lowres color.jpg Charles Wyndham
The Earl of Egremont
[3]
May
1762
21 August
1763
Secretary of State for the Southern Department Earl of Bute (until April 1763)
George Grenville (from 16 April 1763)
2ndEarlofHalifaxByJoshuaReynoldsNSArtGallery.jpg George Montagu Dunk
The Earl of Halifax
[3]
August
1763
July
1765
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
2nd Marquess of Rockingham cropped.jpg Charles Watson-Wentworth
The Marquess of Rockingham
13 July
1765
30 July
1766
Prime Minister Whig
(Rockingham)
Himself
Grafton3.JPG Augustus FitzRoy
The Duke of Grafton
176628 January
1770
First Lord of the Treasury

Prime Minister from October 1768

Whig
(Chathamite)
Earl of Chatham (William Pitt the Elder)
(until October 1768)
Himself (from 14 October 1768)
MarqBath.jpg Thomas Thynne
The Viscount Weymouth
[3]
January
1770
December
1770
Secretary of State for the Southern Department Lord North
4thEarlRochford.jpg William Nassau de Zuylestein
The Earl of Rochford
[3]
December
1770
November
1775
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
Sir Joshua Reynolds - Portrait of Henry Howard.jpg Henry Howard
The Earl of Suffolk
[3]
November
1775
6 March
1779
Secretary of State for the Northern Department
MarqBath.jpg Thomas Thynne
The Viscount Weymouth
[3]
March
1779
November
1779
– Secretary of State until October 1779
- Secretary of State for the Southern Department from October 1779
Portrait of David Murray 2nd Earl of Mansfield by Sylvester Harding.jpg David Murray
The Viscount Stormont
[3]
November
1779
March
1782
Secretary of State for the Northern Department
William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne by JL Mosnier crop.jpg William Petty
The Earl of Shelburne
March
1782
April
1783
Secretary of State for the Home Department until July 1782
Prime Minister from July 1782
Whig
(Rockingham)
Marquess of Rockingham (until 1 July 1782)
Himself (from 4 July 1782)
3rd Duke of Portland crop.jpg William Cavendish-Bentinck
The Duke of Portland
2 April
1783
December
1783
Prime Minister Whig
(Foxite)
Himself
(figurehead)
1stMarquessOfBuckingham.jpg George Nugent-Temple-Grenville
The Earl Temple
[4]
December
1783
December
1783
Secretary of State for the Home Department

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

William Pitt the Younger
Viscount Sydney by Gilbert Stuart.jpg Thomas Townshend
The Lord Sydney
[4]
December
1783
June
1789
Secretary of State for the Home Department Whig
Francis Osborne cropped.jpg Francis Osborne
The Duke of Leeds
[4]
17891790Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Tory
1st Baron Grenville-cropped.jpg William Grenville
The Lord Grenville
[4]
November
1790
February
1801
Secretary of State for the Home Department until June 1791
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from June 1791
Tory
4thEarlOfBuckinghamshire.jpg Robert Hobart
The Lord Hobart
[5]
March
1801
October
1801
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies Tory Henry Addington
2ndEarlOfChichester.jpg Thomas Pelham
The Lord Pelham
[4]
October
1801
August
1803
Secretary of State for the Home Department Tory
Earl jenkinson.jpg Robert Jenkinson
The Lord Hawkesbury
[4]
November
1803
February
1806
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs until May 1804
Secretary of State for the Home Department from May 1804
Tory
William Pitt the Younger
1st Baron Grenville-cropped.jpg William Grenville
The Lord Grenville
[4]
11 February
1806
March
1807
Prime Minister WhigHimself
(Ministry of All the Talents)
Earl jenkinson.jpg Robert Jenkinson
The Earl of Liverpool
[4]
Baron Hawkesburyuntil 1808
Earl of Liverpool from 1808
25 March
1807
April
1827
Secretary of State for the Home Department until November 1809
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies November 1809 – June 1812
Prime Minister from June 1812
Tory 3rd Duke of Portland
Spencer Perceval
Himself
Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon by Sir Thomas Lawrence cropped.jpg F. J. Robinson
The Viscount Goderich
[4]
30 April
1827
January
1828
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies until September 1827
Prime Minister from August 1827
Tory George Canning
Himself
Sir Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington.jpg Arthur Wellesley
The Duke of Wellington
[4]
January
1828
November
1830
Prime Minister ToryHimself
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey by Sir Thomas Lawrence copy.jpg Charles Grey
The Earl Grey
22 November
1830
9 July
1834
Prime Minister WhigHimself
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, painted by John Partridge.jpg William Lamb
The Viscount Melbourne
16 July
1834
14 November
1834
Prime Minister WhigHimself
Sir Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington.jpg Arthur Wellesley
The Duke of Wellington
17 November
1834
8 April
1835
Prime Minister until December 1834
Secretary of State for the Home Department until December 1834
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies until December 1834
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
ToryHimself
(Caretaker)
Robert Peel
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, painted by John Partridge.jpg William Lamb
The Viscount Melbourne
18 April
1835
30 August
1841
Prime Minister WhigHimself
Sir Arthur Wellesley Duke of Wellington.jpg Arthur Wellesley
The Duke of Wellington
3 September
1841
27 June
1846
Minister without portfolio Conservative Robert Peel
Lord Henry Petty.jpg Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice
The Marquess of Lansdowne
6 July
1846
21 February
1852
Lord President of the Council Whig Lord John Russell
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg Edward Smith-Stanley
The Earl of Derby
23 February
1852
17 December
1852
Prime Minister ConservativeHimself
Earlofaberdeen.jpg George Hamilton-Gordon
The Earl of Aberdeen
19 December
1852
30 January
1855
Prime Minister Peelite Himself
(Coalition)
Second Earl Granville.jpg Granville Leveson-Gower
The Earl Granville
8 February
1855
21 February
1858
Lord President of the Council Whig Viscount Palmerston
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg Edward Smith-Stanley
The Earl of Derby
21 February
1858
11 June
1859
Prime Minister ConservativeHimself
Second Earl Granville.jpg Granville Leveson-Gower
The Earl Granville
18 June
1859
29 October
1865
Lord President of the Council Liberal Viscount Palmerston
Lord john russell.jpg John Russell
The Earl Russell
29 October
1865
26 June
1866
Prime Minister LiberalHimself
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby-1865.jpg Edward Smith-Stanley
The Earl of Derby
28 June
1866
25 February
1868
Prime Minister ConservativeHimself
JH Harris 3rd Earl of Malmesbury by JG Middleton crop.jpg James Harris
The Earl of Malmesbury
27 February
1868
1 December
1868
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Conservative Benjamin Disraeli
Second Earl Granville.jpg Granville Leveson-Gower
The Earl Granville
9 December
1868
17 February
1874
Secretary of State for the Colonies until July 1870
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from July 1870
Liberal William Ewart Gladstone
Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond, 6th Duke of Lennox, and 1st Duke of Gordon.jpg Charles Gordon-Lennox
The Duke of Richmond
21 February
1874
21 August
1876
Lord President of the Council ConservativeBenjamin Disraeli
Disraeli.jpg Benjamin Disraeli
The Earl of Beaconsfield
21 August
1876
21 April
1880
Prime Minister

Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal from August 1876 until February 1878

Conservative
Second Earl Granville.jpg Granville Leveson-Gower
The Earl Granville
28 April
1880
9 June
1885
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs LiberalWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Robert-Gascoyne-Cecil-3rd-Marquess-of-Salisbury.jpg Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
The Marquess of Salisbury
23 June
1885
28 January
1886
Prime Minister
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
ConservativeHimself
Second Earl Granville.jpg Granville Leveson-Gower
The Earl Granville
6 February
1886
20 July
1886
Secretary of State for the Colonies LiberalWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Robert-Gascoyne-Cecil-3rd-Marquess-of-Salisbury.jpg Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
The Marquess of Salisbury
25 July
1886
11 August
1892
Prime Minister
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from January 1887
ConservativeHimself
1st Earl of Kimberley 1897.jpg John Wodehouse
The Earl of Kimberley
18 August
1892
5 March
1894
Lord President of the Council LiberalWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Archibald-Philip-Primrose-5th-Earl-of-Rosebery (cropped).jpg Archibald Primrose
The Earl of Rosebery
5 March
1894
21 June
1895
Prime Minister LiberalHimself
Robert-Gascoyne-Cecil-3rd-Marquess-of-Salisbury.jpg Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
The Marquess of Salisbury
25 June
1895
11 July
1902
Prime Minister
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs until November 1900
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal from 12 November 1900
ConservativeHimself
Picture of Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire.jpg Spencer Cavendish
The Duke of Devonshire
12 July
1902
13 October
1903
Lord President of the Council Liberal Unionist Arthur Balfour
(Conservative)
Marquess of Lansdowne crop.jpg Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice
The Marquess of Lansdowne
13 October
1903
4 December
1905
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Liberal Unionist
George Robinson 1st Marquess of Ripon.jpg George Robinson
The Marquess of Ripon
10 December
1905
14 April
1908
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Liberal Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Portrait of Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe.jpg Robert Crewe-Milnes
The Marquess of Crewe

Earl of Creweuntil 1911
Marquess of Crewe from 1911
14 April
1908
10 December
1916
Secretary of State for the Colonies May 1908– November 1910
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal October 1908 – October 1911; February 1912 – May 1915
Secretary of State for India November 1910 – March 1911; May 1911 – May 1915
Lord President of the Council from May 1915
President of the Board of Education from August 1916
Liberal H. H. Asquith
George Curzon2.jpg George Curzon
The Marquess Curzon of Kedleston

Earl Curzon of Kedlestonuntil 1921
Marquess Curzon of Kedleston from 1921
10 December
1916
22 January
1924
Lord President of the Council until October 1919
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from October 1919
Conservative David Lloyd George
(Liberal)
Bonar Law
Stanley Baldwin
Portrait of Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane.jpg Richard Haldane
The Viscount Haldane
22 January
1924
3 November
1924
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain Labour Ramsay MacDonald
George Curzon2.jpg George Curzon
The Marquess Curzon of Kedleston
3 November
1924
20 March
1925
Lord President of the Council ConservativeStanley Baldwin
James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury.jpg James Gascoyne-Cecil
The Marquess of Salisbury
27 April
1925
4 June
1929
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Conservative
Lord Parmoor - 19221128.jpg Charles Cripps
The Lord Parmoor
7 June
1929
24 August
1931
Lord President of the Council LabourRamsay MacDonald
Rufus Isaacs.jpg Rufus Isaacs
The Marquess of Reading
24 August
1931
5 November
1931
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs LiberalRamsay MacDonald
Hailsham1.JPG Douglas Hogg
The Viscount Hailsham
5 November
1931
7 June
1935
Secretary of State for War Conservative
Charles (Charlie) Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry.jpg Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart
The Marquess of Londonderry
7 June
1935
22 November
1935
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal ConservativeStanley Baldwin
Lord Halifax 1937.jpg Edward Wood
The Viscount Halifax
22 November
1935
21 February
1938
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal until May 1937
Lord President of the Council from 28 May 1937
Conservative
Neville Chamberlain
Stanhope7.JPG James Stanhope
The Earl Stanhope
21 February
1938
14 May
1940
President of the Board of Education until October 1938
First Lord of the Admiralty October 1938 to September 1939
Lord President of the Council September 1939 to May 1940
Conservative
Thomas Inskip.jpg Thomas Inskip
The Viscount Caldecote
14 May
1940
3 October
1940
Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs Conservative Winston Churchill
Lord Halifax 1937.jpg Edward Wood
The Viscount Halifax
3 October
1940
22 December
1940
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Conservative
Lord Lloyd.JPG George Lloyd
The Lord Lloyd
22 December
1940
4 February
1941
Secretary of State for the Colonies Conservative
Walter Guinness, Lord Moyne.jpg Walter Guinness
The Lord Moyne
8 February
1941
21 February
1942
Secretary of State for the Colonies Conservative
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 1947.jpg Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
Viscount Cranborne
21 February
1942
26 July
1945
Secretary of State for the Colonies to November 1942
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal November 1942 to September 1943
Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs September 1943 to 1945
Conservative
Christopher Addison, 1st Viscount Addison.jpg Christopher Addison
The Viscount Addison
3 August
1945
26 October
1951
Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs until July 1947
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations July 1947 – October 1947
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal October 1947 – March 1951
Paymaster General July 1948– April 1949
Lord President of the Council from March 1951
Labour Clement Attlee
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 1947.jpg Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
The Marquess of Salisbury
28 October
1951
29 March
1957
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal until May 1952
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations March 1952– November 1952
Lord President of the Council from November 1952
Conservative Winston Churchill
Anthony Eden
Alec Douglas-Home (c1963).jpg Alec Douglas-Home
The Earl of Home
29 March
1957
27 July
1960
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
Lord President of the Council until September 1957; from October 1959
Conservative Harold Macmillan
Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham Allan Warren.jpg Quintin Hogg
The Viscount Hailsham
27 July
1960
20 October
1963
Lord President of the Council
– Minister for Science
Conservative
Peter Carington 1984.jpg Peter Carington
The Lord Carrington
[6]
20 October
1963
16 October
1964
Minister without portfolio Conservative Alec Douglas-Home
Lord Longford 4 Allan Warren.jpg Frank Pakenham
The Earl of Longford
[6]
18 October
1964
16 January
1968
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal until December 1965; from April 1966
Secretary of State for the Colonies December 1965 – April 1966
Labour Harold Wilson
Edward Shackleton
The Lord Shackleton
[6]
16 January
1968
19 June
1970
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal until April 1968; from October 1968
Paymaster General April 1968–November 1968
Labour
George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe.jpg George Jellicoe
The Earl Jellicoe
[6]
20 June
1970
23 May
1973
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Conservative Edward Heath
David Hennessy
The Lord Windlesham
[6]
5 June
1973
4 March
1974
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Conservative
Malcolm Shepherd
The Lord Shepherd
[6]
7 March
1974
10 September
1976
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Labour Harold Wilson
James Callaghan
Fred Peart
The Lord Peart
[6]
10 September
1976
4 May
1979
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Labour
Christopher Soames.jpg Christopher Soames
The Lord Soames
[6]
5 May
1979
14 September
1981
Lord President of the Council Conservative Margaret Thatcher
Janet Young
The Baroness Young
[6]
14 September
1981
11 June
1983
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster until April 1982
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal from April 1982
Conservative
William Whitelaw
The Viscount Whitelaw
[6]
11 June
1983
10 January
1988
Lord President of the Council Conservative
John Ganzoni
The Lord Belstead
[6]
10 January
1988
28 November
1990
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Conservative
David Waddington
The Lord Waddington
[6]
28 November
1990
11 April
1992
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Conservative John Major
Official portrait of Lord Wakeham crop 2.jpg John Wakeham
The Lord Wakeham
[6]
11 April
1992
20 July
1994
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Conservative
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 2013.JPG Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
Viscount Cranborne
[6]
20 July
1994
2 May
1997
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Conservative
Ivor Richard
The Lord Richard
[6]
2 May
1997
27 July
1998
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Labour Tony Blair
Official portrait of Baroness Jay of Paddington crop 2, 2019.jpg Margaret Jay
The Baroness Jay of Paddington
[6]
27 July
1998
8 June
2001
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal

Minister for Women

Labour
Gareth Williams
The Lord Williams of Mostyn
[6]
8 June
2001
20 September
2003
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal until June 2003
Lord President of the Council from June 2003
Labour
Baroness Valerie Ann Amos.jpg Valerie Amos
The Baroness Amos
[6]
6 October
2003
27 June
2007
Lord President of the Council Labour
Baroness Ashton headshot.jpg Catherine Ashton
The Baroness Ashton of Upholland
[6]
28 June
2007
2 October
2008
Lord President of the Council Labour Gordon Brown
BaronessRoyallPortrait.jpg Janet Royall
The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
[6]
2 October
2008
11 May
2010
Lord President of the Council until June 2009
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from June 2009
Labour
Official portrait of Lord Strathclyde crop 2, 2023.jpg Thomas Galbraith
The Lord Strathclyde
[6]
12 May
2010
7 January
2013
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Conservative David Cameron
Jonathan Hill 2015.jpg Jonathan Hill
The Lord Hill of Oareford
[6]
7 January
2013
15 July
2014
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Conservative
Official portrait of Baroness Stowell of Beeston crop 2, 2022.jpg Tina Stowell
The Baroness Stowell of Beeston
[6]
15 July
2014
14 July
2016
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Conservative
Official portrait of Baroness Evans of Bowes Park crop 2, 2023.jpg Natalie Evans
The Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
[6]
14 July
2016
6 September
2022
Conservative Theresa May
Boris Johnson
Official portrait of Lord True crop 2.jpg Nicholas True
The Lord True
[7]
6 September
2022
IncumbentConservative Liz Truss
Rishi Sunak

Deputy Leaders

The following peers have served as Deputy Leaders of the House of Lords since 1963: [8]

LeaderTerm startTerm endOther ministerial offices held as Deputy Leader of the House of LordsPolitical partyPrime Minister
The Viscount Blakenham October 1963October 1964Conservative
The Lord Champion 21 October 19647 January 1967Labour
The Lord Shackleton 7 January 196716 January 1968
The Lord Shepherd February 1968June 1970
The Lord Aberdare 19701974Conservative
The Lord Beswick February 1974December 1975Labour
The Lord Goronwy-Roberts December 1975May 1979
The Earl Ferrers November 1979May 1983Conservative
The Lord Belstead June 1983January 1988
The Earl Ferrers January 1988May 1997
The Baroness Jay of Paddington 2 May 199727 July 1998Labour
The Lord Williams of Mostyn October 1998June 2001
The Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean 8 June 20016 June 2005
The Lord Rooker 6 June 20055 October 2008
The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath 5 October 200811 May 2010
The Lord McNally 13 May 201015 October 2013Liberal Democrat
The Lord Wallace of Tankerness 15 October 20138 May 2015
The Earl Howe [1] 12 May 2015IncumbentConservative

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone</span> British judge, politician, life peer and Cabinet minister

Quintin McGarel Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone,, known as the 2nd Viscount Hailsham between 1950 and 1963, at which point he disclaimed his hereditary peerage, was a British barrister and Conservative Party politician who served as Lord Chancellor from 1970 to 1974 and again from 1979 to 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquess of Salisbury</span> Title in the Peerage of Great Britain

Marquess of Salisbury is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1789 for the 7th Earl of Salisbury. Most of the holders of the title have been prominent in British political life over the last two centuries, particularly the 3rd Marquess, who served three times as Prime Minister in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lord President of the Council</span> United Kingdom official position

The Lord President of the Council is the presiding officer of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and the fourth of the Great Officers of State, ranking below the Lord High Treasurer but above the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends and is responsible for chairing the meetings of the Privy Council, presenting business for the approval of the Sovereign. In the modern era, the incumbent is by convention always a member of one of the houses of Parliament, and the office is normally a Cabinet position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Right Honourable</span> Honorific prefix

The Right Honourable is an honorific style traditionally applied to certain persons and collective bodies in the United Kingdom, the former British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations. The term is predominantly used today as a style associated with the holding of certain senior public offices in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and, to a lesser extent, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lord Privy Seal</span> Sinecure office of state in the UK

The lord privy seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the lord president of the Council and above the lord great chamberlain. Originally, its holder was responsible for the monarch's personal (privy) seal until the use of such a seal became obsolete. Though one of the oldest offices in European governments, it has no particular function today because the use of a privy seal has been obsolete for centuries; it may be regarded as a traditional sinecure, but today, the holder of the office is invariably given a seat in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom, and is sometimes referred to as a minister without portfolio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury</span> UK Prime Minister three times from 1885 to 1902

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, known as Lord Salisbury, was a British statesman and Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom three times for a total of over thirteen years. He was also Foreign Secretary before and during most of his tenure. He avoided alignments or alliances, maintaining the policy of "splendid isolation".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Hogg, 1st Viscount Hailsham</span> British politician and judge (1872–1950)

Douglas McGarel Hogg, 1st Viscount Hailsham, was a British lawyer and Conservative politician who twice served as Lord Chancellor, in addition to a number of other Cabinet positions. Mooted as a possible successor to Stanley Baldwin as party leader for a time in the very early 1930s, he was widely considered to be one of the leading Conservative politicians of his generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Gascoyne-Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Salisbury</span> British politician

James Brownlow William Gascoyne-Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Salisbury,, styled Viscount Cranborne until 1823, was a British Conservative politician. He held office under The Earl of Derby as Lord Privy Seal in 1852 and Lord President of the Council between 1858 and 1859. He was the father of Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, three times Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and grandfather of Arthur Balfour, who also served as Prime Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury</span> British politician (born 1946)

Robert Michael James Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury, Baron Gascoyne-Cecil,, is a British Conservative politician. From 1979 to 1987 he represented South Dorset in the House of Commons, and in the 1990s he was Leader of the House of Lords under his courtesy title of Viscount Cranborne. Lord Salisbury lives in one of England's largest historic houses, the 17th-century Hatfield House in Hertfordshire, and currently serves as Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury</span> British politician

James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury,, known as Viscount Cranborne from 1868 to 1903, was a British statesman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury</span> British Conservative politician (1893–1972)

Robert Arthur James Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury,, known as Viscount Cranborne from 1903 to 1947, was a British Conservative politician.

In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited, in contrast to hereditary peers. With the exception of the Dukedom of Edinburgh awarded for life to Prince Edward in 2023, all life peerages conferred since 2009 have been created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 with the rank of baron and entitle their holders to sit and vote in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as age and citizenship. The legitimate children of a life peer appointed under the Life Peerages Act 1958 are entitled to style themselves with the prefix "The Honourable", although they cannot inherit the peerage itself. Prior to 2009, life peers of baronial rank could also be so created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 for senior judges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlton Club</span> Gentlemens club in London

The Carlton Club is a private members' club in St James's, London. It was the original home of the Conservative Party before the creation of Conservative Central Office. Membership of the club is by nomination and election only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unionist government, 1895–1905</span> Government of the United Kingdom

A coalition of the Conservative and Liberal Unionist parties took power in the United Kingdom shortly before the 1895 general election. Conservative leader Lord Salisbury was appointed Prime Minister and his nephew, Arthur Balfour, became Leader of the House of Commons, but various major posts went to the Liberal Unionists, most notably the Leader of the House of Lords, the Liberal Unionist Duke of Devonshire, who was made Lord President, and his colleague in the Commons, Joseph Chamberlain, who became Colonial Secretary. It was this government which would conduct the Second Boer War from 1899–1902, which helped them to win a landslide victory at the 1900 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservative government, 1922–1924</span> Government of the United Kingdom

The Conservative Government of the United Kingdom that began in 1922 and ended in 1924 consisted of two ministries: the Law ministry and then the first Baldwin ministry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Baldwin ministry</span> Government of the United Kingdom

Stanley Baldwin of the Conservative Party formed the second Baldwin ministry upon his reappointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom by King George V after the 1924 general election. His second ministry ended following the so-called "Flapper Election" of May 1929.

Robert Edward Peter Gascoyne-Cecil, 6th Marquess of Salisbury,, styled Viscount Cranborne from 1947 to 1972, was a British landowner and Conservative politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservative government, 1957–1964</span>

The Conservative government of the United Kingdom that began in 1957 and ended in 1964 consisted of three ministries: the first Macmillan ministry, second Macmillan ministry, and then the Douglas-Home ministry. They were respectively led by Harold Macmillan and Sir Alec Douglas-Home, who were appointed by Queen Elizabeth II.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Rt Hon Earl Howe". UK Government. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 J. C. Sainty, "List of peers responsible for the management of the House of Lords 1717–1803" in Clyve Jones and David L. Jones eds, Peers, Politics and Power: The House of Lords 1603–1911 (Hambledon, 1986) pp. 221–227.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Chris Cook and John Stevenson, British Historical Facts 1760–1830 (1980) pp. 50–51.
  5. M. W. McCahill, The House of Lords in the Age of George III (1760-1811) (2009) p. 242.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Matthew Purvis, Leader of the House of Lords: Holders of the Post. House of Lords Library, 15 July 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  7. "Ministerial Appointments: September 2022". GOV.UK. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. Brown, Thomas; Evennett, Heather (19 March 2015). "Principal Office Holders in the House of Lords" (PDF). House of Lords . Retrieved 22 April 2019.