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Chancellor of the Exchequer facts for kids

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United Kingdom
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Second Lord of the Treasury
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg
Rachel Reeves Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped 2).jpg
Incumbent
Rachel Reeves

since 5 July 2024
His Majesty's Treasury
Style The Chancellor
(informal)
The Right Honourable
(within the UK and Commonwealth)
Member of
Reports to First Lord of the Treasury
(Prime Minister of the United Kingdom)
Residence 11 Downing Street
Seat Westminster
Nominator The Prime Minister
Appointer The Monarch
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term length At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation 22 June 1316
First holder Hervey de Stanton
(in the Kingdom of England only)
Deputy Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Salary £159,038 per annum (2022)
(including £86,584 MP salary)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is a very important government minister in the United Kingdom. This person leads His Majesty's Treasury, which is the government department in charge of the UK's money. The Chancellor is one of the four most powerful jobs in the British Cabinet.

This role is similar to a finance minister in other countries. The Chancellor handles all money and economic matters for the country. They are also known as the Second Lord of the Treasury. This means they help manage the government's finances. Historically, the Chancellor's job was to collect and check the King's money. The first records of this job go back to 1129.

The Chancellor is the third oldest major government job in British history. Today, it is one of the most powerful jobs in British politics, second only to the Prime Minister. The current Chancellor is Rachel Reeves. She became the first woman to hold this position in July 2024.

What Does the Chancellor Do?

The Chancellor has a big job managing the UK's money. They decide how the government collects money and how it spends it.

Managing Government Money

The Chancellor has a lot of control over other government departments. This is because the Treasury sets limits on how much money each department can spend. The Chancellor's power depends on their personality and their relationship with the Prime Minister. For example, Gordon Brown was Chancellor for ten years. He was a very strong figure in the government. This made the Chancellor's job even more important.

One of the main tasks is creating the yearly government budget. This is called the Autumn Budget. It predicts how much the government will spend in the next year. It also announces new financial plans. The budget is a big secret until the Chancellor announces it in Parliament. If details are leaked early, it can cause big problems.

Controlling Money Supply

The Bank of England sets interest rates in the UK. However, the Chancellor still plays a key role in how money is managed. The Chancellor sets the inflation target. This is the goal for how much prices should rise each year. The Bank of England then sets interest rates to try and meet this target. The Chancellor also helps choose some members of the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee.

Working with Other Ministers

The Chancellor works with other ministers in the Treasury. The most important is the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. This person helps decide how government money is spent across different departments. There are also other ministers like the Paymaster General and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. The Chancellor must be a member of the Privy Council. This means they are called "The Right Honourable."

Special Things About the Job

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has some unique traditions and perks.

Official Homes

The Chancellor lives at 11 Downing Street in London. This house is right next door to 10 Downing Street, where the Prime Minister lives. Both houses are now used as offices. The people who live there have apartments in the attic. In 1997, Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown swapped apartments. This was because the Chancellor's apartment was bigger and suited Blair's family better.

The Chancellor also traditionally gets to use Dorneywood. This is a country house with a large park. It is a summer residence. However, the Prime Minister decides who gets to use it.

The Budget Box

Cropped Gladstone's Red Box
The famous Budget Box, used to carry the speech.

The Chancellor carries their budget speech to Parliament in a special red box. This box is called the 'Budget Box'. It looks like other boxes used by government ministers. But it's famous because the Chancellor shows it to the press before going to Parliament.

The first Budget Box was used by William Ewart Gladstone in 1853. It was used until 1965. Then, James Callaghan used a new one. In 1997, Gordon Brown also used a new box. This new box was made in Scotland. It was covered in red leather with the Royal crest. Later, Alistair Darling and George Osborne went back to using the original box. But it was very old and fragile. The key to the original box is now lost!

Robe of Office

The Chancellor also has a special robe. It is similar to the one worn by the Lord Chancellor. In modern times, it is mostly worn at coronations. Some Chancellors used to wear it for other special events. The robe that belonged to William Ewart Gladstone and was worn by famous Chancellors like David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill is now missing.

Who Has Been Chancellor?

Here is a list of some of the people who have held this important job.

Chancellors of England (around 1221 – 1708)

Chancellor of the Exchequer Term of office Monarch
(Reign)
No image.svg Eustace of Fauconberg
Bishop of London
c. 1221 N/A Henry III
Coat of Arms of England (-1340).svg
(1216–1272)
No image.svg John Maunsell
Secretary of State
c. 1234 N/A
Ralph de Leicester before 1248
Edward of Westminster 1248 N/A
Albric de Fiscamp before 1263
No image.svg John Chishull
Lord Chancellor
1263 1265
No image.svg Walter Giffard
Bishop of Bath and Wells
1265 1266
No image.svg Godfrey Giffard
Lord Chancellor
1266 1268
No image.svg John Chishull
Lord Chancellor
1268 1269
No image.svg Richard of Middleton
Archdeacon of Northumberland
1269 1272
Roger de la Leye before 1283
Geoffrey de Neuband Edward I
Coat of Arms of England (-1340).svg
(1272–1307)
Philip de Willoughby 1283 1305
No image.svg John Benstead
Secretary of State
1305 1306
No image.svg John Sandale
Bishop of Winchester
c. July
1307
1308 Edward II
Coat of Arms of England (-1340).svg
(1307–1327)
John of Markenfield 1309 1312
No image.svg John Hotham
Bishop of Ely
1312 1316
No image.svg Hervey de Stanton 1316 c. 1323
BishopWalterStapledon ExeterCathedral.JPG Walter Stapledon
Lord High Treasurer
1323 c. 1324
No image.svg Hervey de Stanton
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
1324 c. January
1327
No image.svg Adam de Harvington c. January
1327
1330 Edward III
Coat of Arms of Edward III of England (1327-1377) (Attributed).svg
(1327–1377)
No image.svg Robert Wodehouse 1330 1331
Chichestercathedralrobertstratfordtomb.jpg Robert de Stratford
Bishop of Chichester
1331 1334
John Hildesle c. 1338 N/A
William de Everdon 1341 N/A
William Askeby
Archdeacon of Northampton
1363 N/A
No image.svg Robert de Ashton 1375 c. June
1377
Sir Walter Barnham c. June
1377
c. September
1399
Richard II
Coat of Arms of Richard II of England (1377-1399).svg
(1377–1399)
No image.svg Henry Somer
MP for Middlesex
1410 1437 Henry IV
Coat of Arms of Henry IV of England (1399-1413).svg
(1399–1413)
Henry V
Coat of Arms of Henry IV & V of England (1413-1422).svg
(1413–1422)
Henry VI
Coat of Arms of Henry VI of England (1422-1471).svg
(1422–1461)
No image.svg John Somerset 1441 1447
No image.svg Thomas Browne
MP for Dover
1440? 1450?
No image.svg Thomas Witham 1454 N/A
No image.svg Thomas Thwaites c. March
1461
N/A Edward IV
Coat of Arms of Edward IV of England (1461-1483).svg
(1461–1470)
No image.svg Thomas Witham 1465 1469
Richard Fowler 1469 c. April
1471
Henry VI
Coat of Arms of Henry VI of England (1422-1471).svg
(1470–1471)
No image.svg Thomas Thwaites
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
c. April
1471
c. April
1483
Edward IV
Coat of Arms of Edward IV of England (1461-1483).svg
(1471–1483)
William Catesby, memorial brass.jpg William Catesby
Speaker of the House of Commons
c. April
1483
c. 1484 Edward V
Coat of Arms of Edward V of England (1483).svg
(1483)
Richard III
Coat of Arms of Richard III of England (1483-1485).svg
(1483–1485)
Sir Thomas Lovell, bronze medallion.jpg Thomas Lovell
Speaker of the House of Commons
c. August
1485
1524 Henry VII
Coat of Arms of Henry VII of England (1485-1509).svg
(1485–1509)
Henry VIII
Coat of Arms of England (1509-1554) - Dragon with pizzle.png
(1509–1547)
John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners by Ambrosius Benson.jpg John Bourchier
2nd Baron Berners
1524 1533?
Cromwell,Thomas(1EEssex)01.jpg Thomas Cromwell
1st Earl of Essex

Secretary of State
12 April
1533
10 June
1540
John Baker
MP for Kent
1545 c. November
1558
SirJohnBaker.jpg
Edward VI
Coat of Arms of England (1509-1554) - Dragon with pizzle.png
(1547–1553)
Mary I<
Coat of Arms of England (1554-1558).svg
(1553–1558)
Died in office.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Term of office Monarch
(Reign)
No image.svg Richard Sackville
MP for Sussex
February
1559
21 April
1566
Elizabeth I
Coat of Arms of England (1558-1603).svg
(1558–1603)
Walter Mildmay.jpg Walter Mildmay
MP for Northamptonshire
1566 31 May
1589
Sir John Fortescue by Sidney Hunt.jpg John Fortescue
MP for Buckinghamshire →Middlesex
1589 1603
George Home 1st Earl of Dunbar.jpg George Home
1st Earl of Dunbar
24 May
1603
April
1606
James I
Coat of Arms of England (1603-1649).svg
(1603–1625)
Unknown man, formerly known as Sir Julius Caesar from NPG.jpg Julius Caesar
MP for Middlesex
11 April
1606
1614
Fulkegrevillee.jpg Fulke Greville
MP for Warwickshire
15 October
1614
1621
RichardWeston.jpg Richard Weston
MP for 7 constituencies successively
29 January
1621
15 July
1628
Charles I
Coat of Arms of England (1603-1649).svg
(1625–1649)
No image.svg Edward Barrett
1st Lord Barrett of Newburgh
14 August
1628
1629
Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington from NPG.jpg Francis Cottington
1st Baron Cottington
18 April
1629
6 January
1642
1stLordColepeper.jpg John Colepeper
MP for Kent
6 January
1642
22 February
1643
Peter Lely (1618-1680) (after) - Sir Edward Hyde (1609–1674), 1st Earl of Clarendon - 1257076 - National Trust.jpg Edward Hyde February
1643
1646
Vacancy during the Interregnum (1649–1660)
Chancellor of the Exchequer Term of office Ministry Monarch
(Reign)
Peter Lely (1618-1680) (after) - Sir Edward Hyde (1609–1674), 1st Earl of Clarendon - 1257076 - National Trust.jpg Edward Hyde
1st Baron Hyde
1660 13 May
1661
Clarendon Charles II
Coat of Arms of England (1660-1689).svg
(1660–1685)
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury.jpg Anthony Ashley Cooper
1st Baron Ashley
13 May
1661
22 November
1672
Cabal
No image.svg John Duncombe
MP for Bury St Edmunds
22 November
1672
2 May
1676
Danby I
John Ernle
MP for 4 constituencies successively
2 May
1676
9 April
1689
Privy Council
Chits
James II
Coat of Arms of England (1660-1689).svg
(1685–1688)
William III
&
Mary II
Coat of Arms of England (1689-1694).svg
(1689–1694)
Henrybooth.jpg Henry Booth
2nd Baron Delamer
9 April
1689
18 March
1690
Carmarthen–Halifax
No image.svg Richard Hampden
MP for Buckinghamshire
18 March
1690
10 May
1694
Carmarthen
Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.jpg Charles Montagu
MP for Maldon → Westminster
10 May
1694
31 May
1699
Whig Junto I
William III
Coat of Arms of England (1694-1702).svg
(1694–1702)
John Smith, Speaker of the House of Commons.jpg John Smith
MP for Andover
31 May
1699
23 March
1701
Pembroke
Henry Boyle
MP for Cambridge University → Westminster
27 March
1701
22 April
1708
Henry Boyle Lord Carleton by Godfrey Kneller.jpg Godolphin–Marlborough
(ToryWhig)
Anne
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1707-1714).svg
(1702–1714)

Chancellors of Great Britain (1708–1817)

Chancellor of the Exchequer Term of office Party Ministry Monarch
(Reign)
John Smith, Speaker of the House of Commons.jpg John Smith
MP for Andover
22 April
1708
11 August
1710
Whig Godolphin–Marlborough
(ToryWhig)
Anne
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1707-1714).svg
(1702–1714)
Robert Harley Chancellor of the Exchequer by Kneller.jpg Robert Harley
MP for Radnor
11 August
1710
4 June
1711
Tory Oxford–Bolingbroke
Bingley.jpg Robert Benson
MP for York
4 June
1711
21 August
1713
Tory
Sir William Wyndham, 3rd Bt by Jonathan Richardson.jpg William Wyndham
MP for Somerset
21 August
1713
13 October
1714
Tory
George I
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
(1714–1727)
Richardonslow.jpg Richard Onslow
MP for Surrey
13 October
1714
12 October
1715
Whig Townshend
Robertwalpole cropped.jpg Robert Walpole
MP for King's Lynn
12 October
1715
15 April
1717
Whig
James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.jpg James Stanhope
1st Earl Stanhope
15 April
1717
20 March
1718
Whig Stanhope–Sunderland I
JohnAislabie.jpg John Aislabie
MP for Ripon
20 March
1718
23 January
1721
Whig Stanhope–Sunderland II
Sir John Pratt by Michael Dahl.jpg John Pratt
Lord Chief Justice (interim)
2 February
1721
3 April
1721
Whig
Robertwalpole cropped.jpg Robert Walpole
1st Earl of Orford

MP for King's Lynn
3 April
1721
12 February
1742
Whig Walpole–Townshend
George II
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
(1727–1760)
Walpole
1stLordSandys.jpg Samuel Sandys
MP for Worcester
12 February
1742
12 December
1743
Whig Carteret
Henry Pelham by William Hoare.jpg Henry Pelham
MP for Sussex
12 December
1743
8 March
1754
Whig
Broad Bottom
(I & II)
Sir William Lee by C.F. Barker.jpg William Lee
Lord Chief Justice (interim)
8 March
1754
6 April
1754
Whig Newcastle I
HenryBilsonLegge.jpg Henry Bilson-Legge
MP for Orford
6 April
1754
25 November
1755
Whig
Lyttlelton.jpg George Lyttelton
MP for Okehampton
25 November
1755
16 November
1756
Whig
HenryBilsonLegge.jpg Henry Bilson-Legge
MP for Orford
16 November
1756
13 April
1757
Whig Pitt–Devonshire
William Murray, Earl of Mansfield LCJ.jpg William Murray
1st Earl of Mansfield

Lord Chief Justice (interim)
13 April
1757
2 July
1757
Whig
1757 Caretaker
HenryBilsonLegge.jpg Henry Bilson-Legge
MP for Orford → Hampshire
2 July
1757
19 March
1761
Whig Pitt–Newcastle
George III
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1801-1816).svg
(1760–1820)
2ndViscountBarrington.jpg William Barrington
2nd Viscount Barrington

MP for Plymouth
19 March
1761
29 May
1762
Whig
Francis Baron le Despencer by Nathaniel Dance-Holland.jpg Francis Dashwood
MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis
29 May
1762
16 April
1763
Tory Bute
(ToryWhig)
George Grenville (1712–1770) by William Hoare (1707-1792) Cropped.jpg George Grenville
MP for Buckingham
16 April
1763
16 July
1765
Whig Grenville
(WhigTory)
No image.svg William Dowdeswell
MP for Worcestershire
16 July
1765
2 August
1766
Whig Rockingham I
Charles Townshend after Reynolds.jpg Charles Townshend
MP for Harwich
2 August
1766
4 September
1767
Whig Chatham
(WhigTory)
Nathaniel Dance Lord North cropped cropped.jpg Frederick North
Lord North

MP for Banbury
11 September
1767
27 March
1782
Tory
Grafton
North
Lord John Cavendish by GD Tomlinson.jpg Lord John Cavendish
MP for York
27 March
1782
10 July
1782
Whig Rockingham II
William Pitt the Younger.jpg William Pitt the Younger
MP for Appleby
10 July
1782
31 March
1783
Whig Shelburne
(WhigTory)
Lord John Cavendish by GD Tomlinson.jpg Lord John Cavendish
MP for York
2 April
1783
19 December
1783
Whig Fox–North
William Pitt the Younger.jpg William Pitt the Younger
MP for Appleby → Cambridge University
19 December
1783
14 March
1801
Tory Pitt I
Henry Addington by Beechey.jpg Henry Addington
MP for Devizes
14 March
1801
10 May
1804
Tory Addington
William Pitt the Younger.jpg William Pitt the Younger
MP for Cambridge University
10 May
1804
23 January
1806
Tory Pitt II
Lord-ellenborough.jpg Edward Law
1st Baron Ellenborough

Lord Chief Justice (interim)
23 January
1806
5 February
1806
Tory All the Talents
(WhigTory)
Henry Walton (1746-1813) - Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne - NPG 178 - National Portrait Gallery.jpg Lord Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice
MP for Cambridge University
5 February
1806
26 March
1807
Whig
Spencer PercevalCE.jpg Spencer Perceval
MP for Northampton
26 March
1807
11 May
1812
Tory Portland II
Perceval
Nicholas Vansittart by William Owen.jpg Nicholas Vansittart
MP for East Grinstead → Harwich
9 June
1812
12 July
1817
Tory Liverpool

Chancellors of the United Kingdom (1817–present)

The governments of Great Britain and Ireland joined together in 1801. But their money departments didn't combine until 1817.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Term of office Party Ministry Monarch
(Reign)
Nicholas Vansittart by William Owen.jpg Nicholas Vansittart
MP for Harwich
12 July 1817 31 January 1823 Tory Liverpool George III
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1801-1816).svg
(1760–1820)
George IV
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg
(1820–1830)
Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon by Sir Thomas Lawrence cropped.jpg Frederick John Robinson
MP for Ripon
31 January 1823 27 April 1827 Tory
George Canning by Richard Evans - detail.jpg George Canning
MP for Seaford
27 April 1827 8 August 1827 Tory Canning
(Canningite–Whig)
Lord Tenterden LCJ by William Owen.jpg Charles Abbott
1st Baron Tenterden
Lord Chief Justice (interim)
8 August 1827 5 September 1827 Tory Goderich
John Charles Herries.jpg John Charles Herries
MP for Harwich
5 September 1827 26 January 1828 Tory
HenryGoulburn.jpg Henry Goulburn
MP for Armagh
26 January 1828 22 November 1830 Tory Wellington–Peel
William IV
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1816-1837).svg
(1830–1837)
JC Spencer, Viscount Althorp by HP Bone cropped.jpg John Spencer
Viscount Althorp

MP for Northamptonshire →
South Northamptonshire
22 November 1830 14 November 1834 Whig Grey
Melbourne I
Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman by Sir Martin Archer Shee crop.jpg Thomas Denman
1st Baron Denman

Lord Chief Justice (interim)
14 November 1834 15 December 1834 Whig Wellington Caretaker
Robert Peel by RR Scanlan detail.jpg Robert Peel
MP for Tamworth
15 December 1834 8 April 1835 Conservative Peel I
1stBaronMonteagle.jpg Thomas Spring Rice
MP for Cambridge
18 April 1835 26 August 1839 Whig Melbourne II
Victoria
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1837–1901)
Francis Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook by Sir George Hayter.jpg Francis Baring
MP for Portsmouth
26 August 1839 30 August 1841 Whig
HenryGoulburn.jpg Henry Goulburn
MP for Cambridge University
3 September 1841 27 June 1846 Conservative Peel II
1stViscountHalifax.jpg Charles Wood
MP for Halifax
6 July 1846 21 February 1852 Whig Russell I
Disraeli.jpg Benjamin Disraeli
MP for Buckinghamshire
27 February 1852 17 December 1852 Conservative Who? Who?
WE Gladstone robed NPG.jpg William Ewart Gladstone
MP for Oxford University
28 December 1852 28 February 1855 Peelite Aberdeen
(Peelite–Whig)
Sir George Cornewall Lewis, 2nd Bt.jpg George Cornewall Lewis
MP for Radnor
28 February 1855 21 February 1858 Whig Palmerston I
Disraeli.jpg Benjamin Disraeli
MP for Buckinghamshire
26 February 1858 11 June 1859 Conservative Derby–Disraeli II
WE Gladstone robed NPG.jpg William Ewart Gladstone
MP for Oxford University →
South Lancashire
18 June 1859 26 June 1866 Liberal Palmerston II
Russell II
Disraeli.jpg Benjamin Disraeli
MP for Buckinghamshire
6 July 1866 29 February 1868 Conservative Derby–Disraeli III
George Ward Hunt (30 July 1825 – 29 July 1877) .jpg George Ward Hunt
MP for North Northamptonshire
29 February 1868 1 December 1868 Conservative
Robert Lowe, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke by George Frederic Watts.jpg Robert Lowe
MP for London University
9 December 1868 11 August 1873 Liberal Gladstone I
WE Gladstone robed NPG.jpg William Ewart Gladstone
MP for Greenwich
11 August 1873 17 February 1874 Liberal
Stafford Northcote, 1st Earl of Iddesleigh.jpg Stafford Northcote
MP for North Devonshire
21 February 1874 21 April 1880 Conservative Disraeli II
WE Gladstone robed NPG.jpg William Ewart Gladstone
MP for Midlothian
28 April 1880 16 December 1882 Liberal Gladstone II
Hugh Childers, Lock & Whitfield woodburytype, 1876-83 crop.jpg Hugh Childers
MP for Pontefract
16 December 1882 9 June 1885 Liberal
St Aldwyn Michael Edward Hicks-Beach (1st Earl).jpg Michael Hicks Beach
MP for Bristol West
24 June 1885 28 January 1886 Conservative Salisbury I
Sir William Harcourt.jpg William Harcourt
MP for Derby
6 February 1886 20 July 1886 Liberal Gladstone III
Randolph churchill.jpg Lord Randolph Churchill
MP for Paddington South
3 August 1886 22 December 1886 Conservative Salisbury II
George Goschen by Bassano.jpg George Goschen
MP for St George Hanover Square
14 January 1887 11 August 1892 Liberal Unionist
Sir William Harcourt.jpg William Harcourt
MP for Derby
18 August 1892 21 June 1895 Liberal Gladstone IV
Rosebery
St Aldwyn Michael Edward Hicks-Beach (1st Earl).jpg Michael Hicks Beach
MP for Bristol West
29 June 1895 11 August 1902 Conservative Salisbury
(III & IV)

(Con.–Lib.U.)
Edward VII
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1901–1910)
Charles Thomson Ritchie headshot.jpg Charles Ritchie
MP for Croydon
11 August 1902 9 October 1903 Conservative Balfour
Austen Chamberlain MP.jpg Austen Chamberlain
MP for East Worcestershire
9 October 1903 4 December 1905 Liberal Unionist
H H Asquith 1908.jpg Herbert Henry Asquith
MP for East Fife
10 December 1905 16 April 1908 Liberal Campbell-Bannerman
David Lloyd George 1911.jpg David Lloyd George
MP for Caernarvon Boroughs
16 April 1908 25 May 1915 Liberal Asquith
(I–III)
George V
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1910–1936)
Reginald McKenna photo.jpg Reginald McKenna
MP for North Monmouthshire
25 May 1915 10 December 1916 Liberal Asquith Coalition
(Lib.Con.–et al.)
Andrew Bonar Law 02.jpg Bonar Law
MP for Bootle →
Glasgow Central
10 December 1916 10 January 1919 Conservative Lloyd George
(I & II)
Austen Chamberlain MP.jpg Austen Chamberlain
MP for Birmingham West
10 January 1919 1 April 1921 Conservative
Viscount Horne.jpg Robert Horne
MP for Glasgow Hillhead
1 April 1921 19 October 1922 Conservative
Stanley Baldwin ggbain.35233 (cropped).jpg Stanley Baldwin
MP for Bewdley
27 October 1922 27 August 1923 Conservative Law
Baldwin I
Chamberlain Neville.jpg Neville Chamberlain
MP for Birmingham Ladywood
27 August 1923 22 January 1924 Conservative
Lord Snowden.jpg Philip Snowden
MP for Colne Valley
22 January 1924 3 November 1924 Labour MacDonald I
Winston Churchill cph.3a49758.jpg Winston Churchill
MP for Epping
6 November 1924 4 June 1929 Conservative Baldwin II
Lord Snowden.jpg Philip Snowden
MP for Colne Valley
7 June 1929 5 November 1931 Labour MacDonald II
National Labour National I
(N.Lab.–Con.–et al.)
Chamberlain Neville.jpg Neville Chamberlain
MP for Birmingham Edgbaston
5 November 1931 28 May 1937 Conservative National II
National III
(Con.–N.Lab.–et al.)
Edward VIII
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1936)
George VI
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837-1952).svg
(1936–1952)
Viscount Simon.jpg John Simon
MP for Spen Valley
28 May 1937 12 May 1940 Liberal National National IV
Chamberlain War
Kinglsey Wood.jpg Kingsley Wood
MP for Woolwich West
12 May 1940 21 September 1943 Conservative Churchill War
(All parties)
John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley 1947.jpg John Anderson
MP for Combined Scottish Universities
24 September 1943 26 July 1945 Independent
(National)
Churchill Caretaker
(Con.–Lib.N.)
Hugh Dalton.png Hugh Dalton
MP for Bishop Auckland
27 July 1945 13 November 1947 Labour Attlee
(I & II)
Stafford Cripps 1947.jpg Stafford Cripps
MP for Bristol East →
Bristol South East
13 November 1947 19 October 1950 Labour
Hugh Gaitskell MP.PNG Hugh Gaitskell
MP for Leeds South
19 October 1950 26 October 1951 Labour
Richard-Austen-Rab-Butler-1st-Baron-Butler-of-Saffron-Walden.jpg Richard Austen Butler
MP for Saffron Walden
26 October 1951 20 December 1955 Conservative Churchill III
Elizabeth II
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1952-2022).svg
(1952–2022)
Eden
Harold Macmillan in 1942.jpg Harold Macmillan
MP for Bromley
20 December 1955 13 January 1957 Conservative
Peter Thorneycroft cropped.png Peter Thorneycroft
MP for Monmouth
13 January 1957 6 January 1958 Conservative Macmillan
(I & II)
Derick Heathcoat-Amory.png Derick Heathcoat-Amory
MP for Tiverton
6 January 1958 27 July 1960 Conservative
SelwynLloyd1960.jpg Selwyn Lloyd
MP for Wirral
27 July 1960 13 July 1962 Conservative
Reginald Maudling
MP for Barnet
16 July 1962 16 October 1964 Conservative
Douglas-Home
James Callaghan 1970 (cropped).jpg James Callaghan
MP for Cardiff South East
17 October 1964 29 November 1967 Labour Wilson
(I & II)
Roy Jenkins 1977b.jpg Roy Jenkins
MP for Birmingham Stechford
29 November 1967 19 June 1970 Labour
The National Archives UK - CO 1069-166-17 Macleod crop.jpg Iain Macleod
MP for Enfield West
20 June 1970 20 July 1970 Conservative Heath
Anthony Barber
MP for Altrincham and Sale
25 July 1970 4 March 1974 Conservative
Denis Healey.jpg Denis Healey
MP for Leeds East
5 March 1974 4 May 1979 Labour Wilson
(III & IV)
Callaghan
Geoffrey Howe (1985).jpg Geoffrey Howe
MP for East Surrey
4 May 1979 11 June 1983 Conservative Thatcher I
Official portrait of Lord Lawson of Blaby crop 2.jpg Nigel Lawson
MP for Blaby
11 June 1983 26 October 1989 Conservative Thatcher II
Thatcher III
Major PM full (cropped).jpg John Major
MP for Huntingdon
26 October 1989 28 November 1990 Conservative
Official portrait of Lord Lamont of Lerwick 2020 crop 2.jpg Norman Lamont
MP for Kingston-upon-Thames
28 November 1990 27 May 1993 Conservative Major I
Major II
Kenneth Clarke (2011).jpg Kenneth Clarke
MP for Rushcliffe
27 May 1993 2 May 1997 Conservative
Chancellor Gordon Brown official portrait.jpg Gordon Brown
MP for Dunfermline East →
Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
2 May 1997 27 June 2007 Labour Blair
(I, II & III)
Alistair Darling official portrait.jpg Alistair Darling
MP for Edinburgh South West
28 June 2007 11 May 2010 Labour Brown
George Osborne HM Treasury.jpg George Osborne
MP for Tatton
11 May 2010 13 July 2016 Conservative Cameron–Clegg
(Con.L.D.)
Cameron II
Official portrait of Mr Philip Hammond crop 2.jpg Philip Hammond
MP for Runnymede and Weybridge
13 July 2016 24 July 2019 Conservative May I
May II
Sajid Javid Official Cabinet Portrait, September 2021 (cropped).jpg Sajid Javid
MP for Bromsgrove
24 July 2019 13 February 2020 Conservative Johnson I
Johnson II
Rishi Sunak Official Cabinet Portrait, September 2021 (cropped).jpg Rishi Sunak
MP for Richmond (Yorks)
13 February 2020 5 July 2022 Conservative
Nadhim Zahawi Official Cabinet Portrait, September 2021 (cropped).jpg Nadhim Zahawi
MP for Stratford-on-Avon
5 July 2022 6 September 2022 Conservative
Kwasi Kwarteng Official Cabinet Portrait, September 2022 (seated) (cropped).jpg Kwasi Kwarteng
MP for Spelthorne
6 September 2022 14 October 2022 Conservative Truss
Charles III
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (2022).svg
(2022–present)
Official portrait of the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, 2022 (cropped).jpg Jeremy Hunt
MP for South West Surrey
14 October 2022 5 July 2024 Conservative
Sunak
Rachel Reeves Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped 2) (cropped).jpg Rachel Reeves
MP for Leeds West
5 July 2024 Incumbent Labour Starmer

Timeline of Chancellors

This timeline shows who has been Chancellor of the Exchequer since 1817.

Rachel Reeves Jeremy Hunt Kwasi Kwarteng Nadhim Zahawi Rishi Sunak Sajid Javid Philip Hammond George Osborne Alistair Darling Gordon Brown Kenneth Clarke Norman Lamont John Major Nigel Lawson Geoffrey Howe Denis Healey Anthony Barber Iain Macleod Roy Jenkins James Callaghan Reginald Maudling Selwyn Lloyd Derick Heathcoat-Amory Peter Thorneycroft Harold Macmillan Rab Butler Hugh Gaitskell Stafford Cripps Hugh Dalton John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley Kingsley Wood John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon Winston Churchill Philip Snowden Neville Chamberlain Stanley Baldwin Robert Horne, 1st Viscount Horne of Slamannan Bonar Law Reginald McKenna David Lloyd George H. H. Asquith Austin Chamberlain Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee George Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen Lord Randolph Churchill William Hardcourt (politician) Michael Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn Hugh Childers Stafford Northcote Robert Lowe George Ward Hunt George Cornewall Lewis William Ewart Gladstone Benjamin Disraeli Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax Francis Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook Thomas Spring Rice, 1st Baron Monteagle of Brandon Robert Peel Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman John Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer Henry Goulburn John Charles Herries Charles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden George Canning Frederick John Robinson Nicholas Vansittart

See Also

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