Chief Secretary to the Treasury facts for kids

Quick facts for kids United Kingdom Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Incumbent James Murray since 1 September 2025
His Majesty's Treasury
Style	The Right Honourable
Reports to	Chancellor of the Exchequer Prime Minister
Nominator	Prime Minister
Appointer	The Monarch (on the advice of the prime minister)
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	8 October 1961
First holder	Henry Brooke
Salary	£121,326 per annum (2022) (including £86,584 MP salary)

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is a very important job in the government of the United Kingdom. This person is the second most senior minister in HM Treasury, which is like the UK's finance department. The most senior person there is the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Chief Secretary is always a key member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom, a group of top government ministers.

This role was created in 1961 to help the Chancellor manage the country's money matters. There is also a Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury from the opposition party. This person keeps an eye on what the Chief Secretary is doing.

What Does the Chief Secretary Do?

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has a big responsibility. They manage how the government spends money. Think of it like managing a huge household budget for the entire country! This includes looking at all the different government departments. They help decide how much money each one needs.

From 1961 to 2015, the person in this role was considered a full member of the Cabinet. This meant the Treasury was unique. It had two top ministers in the Cabinet: the Chancellor and the Chief Secretary. Today, the Chief Secretary still plays a vital role. They make sure the government spends money wisely and efficiently.

See also

• Secretary to the Treasury
• Financial Secretary to the Treasury
• Economic Secretary to the Treasury
• Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
• Paymaster General

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