Political Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Last updated

Political Secretary to the Prime Minister
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg
Royal Arms as used by His Majesty's Government
Incumbent
James Forsyth
since October 2022
Prime Minister's Office
Appointer Prime minister
Formation1964
First holder Marcia Williams
Website 10 Downing Street

The Political Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is a senior official in the United Kingdom Civil Service who advises the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Established by Prime Minister Harold Wilson, but continued by subsequent Prime Ministers, the Political Secretary was originally not a civil servant, but was later incorporated into the Civil Service.

Contents

List of political secretaries to the prime minister of the United Kingdom

Political secretaryYearsPrime Minister
Marcia Williams [1] [2] 1964–1970 Harold Wilson
Douglas Hurd [3] [4] 1970–1974 Edward Heath
Marcia Williams [5] [6] 1974–1976 Harold Wilson
Tom McNally [7] [8] [9] 1976–1979 James Callaghan
Richard Ryder [10] [11] [12] 1979–1981 Margaret Thatcher
Derek Howe [13] 1981–1983
Stephen Sherbourne [14] [15] 1983–1988
John Whittingdale [16] [17] 1988–1990
Judith Chaplin [18] 1990–1992 John Major
Jonathan Hill [19] 1992–1994
Howell James [20] [21] [22] 1994–1997
Sally Morgan [23] [24] 1997–2001 Tony Blair
Robert Hill [25] 2001–2002
Pat McFadden [26] [27] [28] 2002–2005
John McTernan [29] [30] 2005–2007
Joe Irvin [31] 2007–2010 Gordon Brown
Stephen Gilbert [32] [33] 2010–2015 David Cameron
Laurence Mann [34] 2015–2016
Stephen Parkinson [35] 2016–2019 Theresa May
Danny Kruger [36] [37] [38] 2019–2019 Boris Johnson
Benjamin Gascoigne [39] [40] [41] 2019–2021
Declan Lyons [42] 2021–2022
Sophie Jarvis [43] 2022 Liz Truss
James Forsyth [44] 2022–present Rishi Sunak

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet of the United Kingdom</span> Senior decision-making body of the UK government

The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the senior decision-making body of His Majesty's Government. A committee of the Privy Council, it is chaired by the Prime Minister and its members include Secretaries of State and other senior ministers. Members of the Cabinet are appointed by the Prime Minister and are by convention chosen from members of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilary Armstrong</span> British Labour politician

Hilary Jane Armstrong, Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top, DL is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Durham from 1987 to 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos</span> British diplomat (born 1954)

Valerie Ann Amos, Baroness Amos, is a British Labour Party politician and diplomat who served as the eighth UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Before her appointment to the UN, she served as British High Commissioner to Australia. She was created a life peer in 1997, serving as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council from 2003 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alastair Campbell</span> British journalist and political adviser (born 1957)

Alastair John Campbell is a British journalist, author, strategist, broadcaster, and activist, who is known for his political roles during Tony Blair's leadership of the Labour Party. Campbell worked as Blair's spokesman and campaign director in opposition (1994–1997), then as Downing Street Press Secretary, and as the Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson (1997–2000). He then became Downing Street's director of communications and spokesman for the Labour Party (2000–2003). He returned as campaign director for the 2005 general election in Blair's third win.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington</span> British baroness (born 1939)

Margaret Ann Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington,, is a British politician for the Labour Party and former BBC television producer and presenter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patricia Scotland</span> British Dominican barrister and Labour life peer (born 1955)

Patricia Janet Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal,, is a British diplomat, barrister and politician, serving as the sixth secretary-general of the Commonwealth of Nations. She was elected at the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and took office on 1 April 2016. She is the first woman to hold the post. She was elevated to the House of Lords in 1997 and, as a British Labour Party politician, served in ministerial positions within the UK Government, most notably as the Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland. She is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Dominica, where she was born.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Number 10 Policy Unit</span>

The Number 10 Policy Unit is a body of policymakers based in 10 Downing Street, providing policy advice directly to the British Prime Minister. Originally set up to support Harold Wilson in 1974, it has gone through a series of guises to suit the needs of successive prime ministers, staffed variously by political advisers, civil servants and more recently a combination of both.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcia Williams</span> British civil servant, and peer (1932–2019)

Marcia Matilda Williams, Baroness Falkender, CBE, also known as Marcia Falkender, was known as the private secretary for, and then the political secretary and head of political office to, UK Labour prime minister Harold Wilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Blair</span> Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007

Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1997 and held various shadow cabinet posts from 1987 to 1994. Blair was Member of Parliament (MP) for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007. He is the second-longest-serving prime minister in post-war British history and the longest-serving Labour politician to have held the office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Warsi</span> British-Pakistani lawyer and Conservative politician

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shriti Vadera, Baroness Vadera</span> Ugandan-born British banker (born 1962)

Shriti Vadera, Baroness Vadera, is a Ugandan-born British investment banker, and has been chair of Prudential plc since January 2021, having joined the board in May 2020. Until September 2009, she was a government minister jointly for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Cabinet Office. She was chair of Santander UK from March 2015 to October 2020, the first woman to head a major British bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downing Street Chief of Staff</span> Most senior political appointee in the Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The office of Downing Street Chief of Staff is the most senior political appointee in the Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, acting as a senior aide to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The holder of the office retains a highly powerful, non-ministerial position within His Majesty's Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis</span> British Labour politician and journalist

Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis, is a British Labour Party politician and journalist who served in HM Government for five years in the Blair ministry and the Brown ministry. He served as Secretary of State for Transport from 2009 to 2010, and as Chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission from 2015 to 2017. He was Chair of the European Movement, from March 2021 until December 2022 having previously served as Vice-Chairman from 2019 to 2021. He is currently a columnist for The New European.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministerial Code</span> Rules for UK government ministers

The Ministerial Code is a document setting out "rules" and standards for government ministers in the United Kingdom. Separate codes exist for ministers of the Scottish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Welsh Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louise Casey, Baroness Casey of Blackstock</span> British public official (born 1965)

Louise Casey, Baroness Casey of Blackstock,, is a British government official working in social welfare.

The Organisation of Scottish Labour is a body established under the national rules of the UK Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downing Street Press Secretary</span> Adviser to the prime minister of the UK

The Downing Street Press Secretary is an adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on news media and how to manage the image of the British government to the press. The position is part of the Prime Minister's Office and involves using information on what is happening in the UK and around the world, to decide on how the Prime Minister should present his or her reaction to the media. The incumbent also advises on how to handle news stories and other information which could affect the current Prime Minister or the Ministry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Evans, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park</span> British politician (born 1975)

Natalie Jessica Evans, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park,, is a British politician and member of the House of Lords. A member of the Conservative Party, she was made a life peer in 2014 and from 2016 to 2022 was Leader of the House of Lords. She was the first Leader of the House of Lords to serve under two different prime ministers since Lord Shepherd in 1974, and the longest serving Lords leader since 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Kruger</span> British Conservative politician

Daniel Rayne Kruger is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Devizes in Wiltshire since 2019.

Andrew Hood is a British businessman and adviser to the Government of the United Kingdom.

References

  1. "Marcia Williams, political secretary, 1932-2019". Financial Times. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  2. "Baroness Falkender, Harold Wilson's powerful secretary, dies". BBC News. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  3. "Douglas Hurd". Peters Fraser and Dunlop (PFD) Literary Agents. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  4. "Douglas Hurd". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  5. "Lady Falkender obituary". the Guardian. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  6. "Baroness Falkender, Harold Wilson's powerful secretary, dies". BBC News. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  7. Gray, Robert (1 December 1995). "Profile: Tom McNally, Shandwick Consultants; Following a noble cause". www.prweek.com. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  8. "So long, Tom". BBC News. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  9. "Said what he thought, meant what he said". the Guardian. 28 March 2005. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  10. "Profile: Richard Ryder". the Guardian. 30 January 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  11. "The rise of Lord Ryder". 11 December 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  12. "Profile: When a whip is taking a whipping: Richard Ryder". The Independent. 17 July 1992. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  13. "Correspondence and papers collected by Derek Howe (MT's Political Secretary) (2), February 1981-November 1982, 1981-02 - 1982-11 | ArchiveSearch". archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  14. "Howard's gang of three take charge". The Independent. 7 March 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  15. Bennett, Rosemary. "Portillo adviser promoted". The Sunday Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  16. "StackPath". www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  17. Aglionby, John (11 May 2015). "Profiles: David Cameron's ministerial line-up". Financial Times. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  18. "BBC News | UK Politics | Major wanted Thatcher 'destroyed'". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  19. Haigron, David; Hill, Jonathan (1 March 2004). "Interview with Jonathan Hill, Political Secretary to John Major: "A Journey into Political Communication"". Revue LISA/LISA e-journal. Littératures, Histoire des Idées, Images, Sociétés du Monde Anglophone – Literature, History of Ideas, Images and Societies of the English-speaking World. doi: 10.4000/lisa.733 . ISSN   1762-6153.
  20. "Profile: Howell James". the Guardian. 25 March 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  21. "View From The Top: Political PR from Major to Labour". www.prweek.com. 26 November 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  22. "The PRCA promotes all aspects of public relations and internal communications work". www.prca.org.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  23. "The Baroness Morgan of Huyton". www.parliamentonline.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  24. "Sally Morgan returns to Blair's circle". HeraldScotland. 10 November 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  25. "Blair reshuffles No 10 staff". the Guardian. 9 November 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  26. "Talent issue - the politician: Pat McFadden". The Independent. 29 December 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  27. "Blair confronts his worst nightmare". the Guardian. 24 November 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  28. "Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP". www.parliamentonline.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  29. "Scotsman columnist McTernan named Australian PM's communications chief". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  30. "Tony Blair: His legacy will be debated but not forgotten". www.telegraph.co.uk. 20 July 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  31. "Gordon Brown's biggest influences: 40-31". www.telegraph.co.uk. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  32. "Dissolution Peerages 2015". GOV.UK. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  33. "Don't ask, don't tell: how a conspiracy of silence will corrupt Britain's next election". openDemocracy. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  34. Steerpike (29 December 2021). "David Cameron winds his office up". www.spectator.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  35. "Inside Number 10 | Stephen Parkinson". The Critic Magazine. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  36. "Boris Johnson ushers in radical new era of special advisers". the Guardian. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  37. "Levelling up our communities: proposals for a new covenant". UCL Institute for Global Prosperity . 4 January 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  38. "Danny Kruger MP". www.parliamentonline.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  39. "This Is Why The Battle For Control In Number 10 Has Left Boris Johnson More Isolated Than Ever Before". Politics Home . 12 November 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  40. "Who's in charge inside No 10: the maverick advisers running Britain". www.newstatesman.com. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  41. Griggs, Ian (19 December 2019). "Who's in and who's out in the Number 10 comms team following the election?". www.prweek.com. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  42. "Declan Lyons". Mace Magazine. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  43. "New PM installs close allies in top cabinet jobs". Financial Times. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  44. "Rishi Sunak hires journalist James Forsyth as political secretary". the Guardian. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.

See also