Cabinet of the United Kingdom facts for kids
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Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet pictured in September 2025
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| Purpose | Senior decision-making body of the UK government chaired by the prime minister |
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| Sir Keir Starmer | |
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Membership
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28 members |
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is a very important group of senior leaders in the Government of the United Kingdom. Think of it as the main team that helps run the country. This team is led by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister chooses who gets to be in the Cabinet. These members are usually important ministers like Secretaries of State. They are almost always chosen from people who are already part of Parliament. This means they are either in the House of Commons or the House of Lords.
The Cabinet's main job is to make big decisions about how the country is run. They discuss important policies and solve problems between different government departments.
Other groups, like the Shadow Cabinet, watch the Cabinet's work closely. The Shadow Cabinet is made up of members from the main opposition party. They challenge the government and suggest different ideas.
Contents
How the Cabinet Started
Early Beginnings
For a long time, kings and queens in England had many different officials. Each official had their own job and powers. There wasn't one main group that worked together to make all the big decisions.
The idea of a "cabinet" started in the late 1500s. It meant a small, private room where the monarch got advice. People used the term "Cabinet council" to describe these private meetings.
The First Cabinets
King Charles I started a more formal "Cabinet Council" in 1625. This was like a private group of advisors. Over time, this group became known simply as the "cabinet."
After 1707, when Scotland and England joined, the Cabinet became even more important. King George I and King George II relied a lot on their advisors. This was partly because they weren't native English speakers. They also knew less about British politics.
The Modern Cabinet
The way the Cabinet works today was mostly set up by Prime Minister David Lloyd George. This happened between 1916 and 1922. He created the Cabinet Office to help organize meetings and decisions.
This new system was very important during the First World War. It helped the government make faster and better decisions. They needed to coordinate efforts for things like getting soldiers and making weapons. This led to the idea of a "War Cabinet" during times of conflict.
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Who is in the Cabinet?
Choosing Cabinet Members
The Prime Minister gets to choose who joins the Cabinet. These are usually important government ministers.
Most Cabinet members must also be part of Parliament. This means they are either elected to the House of Commons or are members of the House of Lords. This rule helps keep the government connected to the people it serves.
There's a limit to how many ministers can be paid Cabinet salaries. This helps manage government spending. Sometimes, other important ministers, like the Attorney General, attend Cabinet meetings. They offer expert advice but might not be full members.
Other People at Meetings
Sometimes, civil servants from the Cabinet Office also attend meetings. They help organize things and keep records. Special advisors to the Prime Minister might also be there. However, these people usually don't join in the discussions.
How Cabinet Meetings Work
Where and When They Meet
Most Cabinet meetings happen in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street in London. This is the official home and office of the Prime Minister. Sometimes, meetings might take place in other locations.
The day of the week for meetings has changed over time. It used to be Thursdays, then it switched to Tuesdays. Then it went back to Thursdays, and now it's often Tuesdays again!
Meeting Length and Rules
How long a meeting lasts depends on the Prime Minister's style and current events. Modern meetings can be quite short, sometimes only 30 minutes.
All ministers in the Cabinet must follow a rule called "collective ministerial responsibility." This means that once the Cabinet makes a decision, all ministers must support it publicly. Even if they disagreed in the meeting, they must act as one team outside of it.
Why the Cabinet is Important
The Prime Minister's Role
Cabinet ministers are chosen by the monarch, but this is usually on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister also decides what jobs ministers have.
The Prime Minister leads the Cabinet. They are often called "primus inter pares" which means "first among equals." However, today the Prime Minister is the main head of government. They have a lot of power to choose and remove Cabinet ministers. They also control what topics the Cabinet discusses.
Decision-Making and Influence
The Cabinet is the top decision-making group for the government. It's where major plans and policies are discussed and agreed upon.
Some people think that the Prime Minister has become too powerful. They suggest that many big decisions are made by the Prime Minister and a small group of trusted advisors. This group is sometimes called a "kitchen cabinet." This means the full Cabinet meetings might sometimes just confirm decisions already made.
However, others argue that Cabinet committees handle many important issues. This makes the overall decision-making process more efficient. The power of a Prime Minister also depends on how much support they have from their political party. If a party is divided, the Prime Minister might need to include different powerful members in the Cabinet to keep everyone working together.
Current Cabinet
The current Cabinet is led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It took over from the Sunak ministry. This is Sir Keir Starmer's second Cabinet, formed after the 2024 General Election.
As of 14 May 2026[update] the makeup of the current Cabinet is as follows:
Starmer ministry |
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| Minister |
Office(s) | Department | Took office | |
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| Cabinet ministers | ||||
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Sir Keir Starmer MP for Holborn and St Pancras |
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union |
Cabinet Office | 5 July 2024 |
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David Lammy MP for Tottenham |
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice |
Ministry of Justice | 5 September 2025 |
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Rachel Reeves MP for Leeds West and Pudsey |
Chancellor of the Exchequer | HM Treasury | 5 July 2024 |
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Yvette Cooper MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley |
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 5 September 2025 |
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Shabana Mahmood MP for Birmingham Ladywood |
Secretary of State for the Home Department | Home Office | 5 September 2025 |
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Pat McFadden MP for Wolverhampton South East |
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | Department for Work and Pensions | 5 September 2025 |
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Darren Jones MP for Bristol North West |
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister | Cabinet Office | 1 September 2025 |
| Minister for Intergovernmental Relations | 6 September 2025 | |||
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | 5 September 2025 | |||
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John Healey MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough |
Secretary of State for Defence | Ministry of Defence | 5 July 2024 |
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James Murray MP for Ealing North |
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care | Department of Health and Social Care | 14 May 2026 |
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Bridget Phillipson MP for Houghton and Sunderland South |
Secretary of State for Education | Department for Education | 5 July 2024 |
| Minister for Women and Equalities | 8 July 2024 | |||
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Ed Miliband MP for Doncaster North |
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 5 July 2024 |
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Steve Reed MP for Streatham and Croydon North |
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 5 September 2025 |
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Peter Kyle MP for Hove and Portslade |
Secretary of State for Business and Trade, President of the Board of Trade |
Department for Business and Trade, UK Export Finance |
5 September 2025 |
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Liz Kendall MP for Leicester West |
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology | Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | 5 September 2025 |
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Heidi Alexander MP for Swindon South |
Secretary of State for Transport | Department for Transport | 29 November 2024 |
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Emma Reynolds MP for Wycombe |
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 5 September 2025 |
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Lisa Nandy MP for Wigan |
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport | Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 5 July 2024 |
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Hilary Benn MP for Leeds South |
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland Office | 5 July 2024 |
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Douglas Alexander MP for Lothian East |
Secretary of State for Scotland | Scotland Office | 5 September 2025 |
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Jo Stevens MP for Cardiff East |
Secretary of State for Wales | Wales Office | 5 July 2024 |
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Jonathan Reynolds MP for Stalybridge and Hyde |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) | HM Treasury | 5 September 2025 |
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Angela Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon Life peer |
Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords |
Office of the Leader of the House of Lords | 5 July 2024 |
| Ministers who also attend Cabinet | ||||
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Sir Alan Campbell MP for Tynemouth |
Lord President of the Council, Leader of the House of Commons |
Office of the Leader of the House of Commons | 5 September 2025 |
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Lucy Rigby MP for Northampton North |
Chief Secretary to the Treasury | HM Treasury | 14 May 2026 |
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Richard Hermer, Baron Hermer Life peer |
Attorney General | Attorney General's Office | 5 July 2024 |
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Jenny Chapman, Baroness Chapman of Darlington Life peer |
Minister of State (International Development and Africa) | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 7 September 2025 |
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Nick Thomas-Symonds MP for Torfaen |
Paymaster General, Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations) |
Cabinet Office | 8 July 2024
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Anna Turley MP for Redcar |
Minister of State (Minister without Portfolio) | Cabinet Office | 6 September 2025 |
See also
In Spanish: Gabinete del Reino Unido para niños
- British Government frontbench
- List of female cabinet members of the United Kingdom
- Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet
- United Kingdom cabinet committee
