Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids United KingdomDeputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
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Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
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| Government of the United Kingdom Cabinet Office |
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| Style |
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| Member of |
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| Reports to | The Prime Minister |
| Residence | None, may use grace and favour residences |
| Seat | Westminster |
| Formation | 1942 |
| First holder | Clement Attlee |
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The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is an important title given to a senior government minister. This person is a member of the British Cabinet, which is the main decision-making group in the UK government. The title often goes to a very important minister, the second-in-command of the ruling political party, or a close friend of the Prime Minister.
This role doesn't come with its own special laws or duties. However, the person holding the title is usually given other important jobs, like being a Secretary of State for a government department. The title isn't always used. Sometimes, prime ministers choose someone to be their deputy without giving them this specific title, or they might use a different title like First Secretary of State. The current Deputy Prime Minister is Angela Rayner.
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What is the Deputy Prime Minister's Role?
The title of Deputy Prime Minister is more of an honor than an official job. The King or Queen has never officially recognized it as a separate position. The person holding this title does not get an extra salary just for being Deputy Prime Minister. Also, if the Prime Minister leaves office, the Deputy Prime Minister does not automatically become the new Prime Minister.
In 1942, when Winston Churchill wanted to make Anthony Eden his Deputy Prime Minister, George VI (the King at the time) said that such a job "does not exist." The King worried that giving someone this title might look like he was choosing the next Prime Minister, which is usually the King's decision. However, today, the King or Queen doesn't really choose the Prime Minister anymore. The person who can lead the government and has the most support in Parliament becomes Prime Minister.
What Does the Deputy Prime Minister Do?
The responsibilities of the Deputy Prime Minister can change. It depends on what the Prime Minister needs help with. As of late 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister's jobs include:
- Filling in for the Prime Minister in Parliament, at home, and when traveling abroad.
- Helping the Prime Minister with their work.
- Focusing on special areas like employment rights.
- Helping different government departments work together on community policies.
Experts say there are a few reasons why a Prime Minister might appoint a deputy. Sometimes, it's to show who the Prime Minister would prefer to take over if something happened to them. Other times, it's to help the government run more smoothly. For some political parties, it's a way to recognize the importance of their deputy leader. It can also be a way to include leaders from other parties in a coalition government or to give a rival a senior role.
Having a Deputy Prime Minister can be helpful. It allows someone to assist the Prime Minister without being tied to a specific department. This person can help with coordinating different government tasks and leading important committees. It also sends a message about how important that person is in the government.
A Brief History of the Role
Before World War II, no one was officially called Deputy Prime Minister. Sometimes, a minister would fill in if the Prime Minister was sick or away. But they weren't given the title.
This changed in 1942 when Clement Attlee was called Deputy Prime Minister by Winston Churchill. This was seen as a special arrangement because of the war and the coalition government. The King didn't formally approve it. Churchill wanted to show how important the Labour Party was in their joint government. Interestingly, Churchill actually wanted Anthony Eden to take over if he died, not Attlee.
After the war, the title wasn't formally used again for a long time. This was because people worried it might limit the King's power to choose a Prime Minister. However, there was often a senior minister who everyone saw as the unofficial deputy.
In 1995, Michael Heseltine was officially styled Deputy Prime Minister. Since the title didn't have its own legal power, he was also made First Secretary of State.
John Prescott served as Deputy Prime Minister under Tony Blair for the entire time Blair was Prime Minister. He is the longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister. Prescott also held other important roles, like Secretary of State for the Environment. Later, a special office, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), was created for him.
The position was empty during Gordon Brown's time as Prime Minister.
In 2010, when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government, Nick Clegg became Deputy Prime Minister under David Cameron. He served until 2015. During this time, William Hague was also appointed First Secretary of State. This was the only time both titles were used by different people. Cameron even said Hague was his "de facto political deputy" (meaning unofficial deputy) during this period. The role was then empty for several years.
More recently, Dominic Raab served as Deputy Prime Minister under Boris Johnson and later Rishi Sunak. Thérèse Coffey briefly held the role under Liz Truss, becoming the shortest-serving Deputy Prime Minister. After Raab resigned in 2023, Oliver Dowden took over. Following the 2024 general election, Angela Rayner became the current Deputy Prime Minister in Keir Starmer's government.
Office and Home
There isn't a specific office building just for the Deputy Prime Minister. They usually have an office within the Cabinet Office headquarters at 70 Whitehall, which is very close to 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister's official residence.
The Prime Minister might also let the Deputy Prime Minister use a special country house, known as a grace and favour residence. For example, Nick Clegg shared Chevening House as a weekend home, and John Prescott used Dorneywood.
List of Deputy Prime Ministers
The following people have officially held the title of Deputy Prime Minister.
| Deputy Prime Minister | Term of office | Duration | Other ministerial portfolios held during tenure | Party | Ministry | |||
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Clement Attlee MP for Limehouse (1883–1967) |
19 February 1942 |
23 May 1945 |
3 years, 94 days |
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Labour | Churchill War | |
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Michael Heseltine MP for Henley (born 1933) |
5 July 1995 |
2 May 1997 |
1 year, 302 days | Conservative | Major II | ||
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John Prescott MP for Kingston upon Hull East (1938–2024) |
2 May 1997 |
27 June 2007 |
10 years, 57 days |
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Labour | Blair I | |
| Blair II | ||||||||
| Blair III | ||||||||
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Nick Clegg MP for Sheffield Hallam (born 1967) |
11 May 2010 |
8 May 2015 |
4 years, 363 days | Liberal Democrat | Cameron–Clegg | ||
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Dominic Raab MP for Esher and Walton (born 1974) |
15 September 2021 |
6 September 2022 |
357 days |
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Conservative | Johnson II | |
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Thérèse Coffey MP for Suffolk Coastal (born 1971) |
6 September 2022 |
25 October 2022 |
50 days | Truss | |||
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Dominic Raab MP for Esher and Walton (born 1974) |
25 October 2022 |
21 April 2023 |
179 days |
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Sunak | ||
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Oliver Dowden MP for Hertsmere (born 1978) |
21 April 2023 |
5 July 2024 |
1 year, 76 days |
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Angela Rayner MP for Ashton-under-Lyne (born 1980) |
5 July 2024 |
Incumbent | 346 days |
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Labour | Starmer | |
Timeline of Deputy Prime Ministers
Unofficial Deputies
Sometimes, a Prime Minister's second-in-command isn't officially called Deputy Prime Minister. They might be known as the First Secretary of State or just an unofficial deputy. Other times, Prime Ministers don't choose a permanent deputy at all. They might just have temporary arrangements. The role of Lord President of the Council has also sometimes been used for deputies in the past.
It can be tricky to figure out who was truly the deputy to the Prime Minister, as it wasn't always an official title.
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Many people have been seen as important deputies, even without the official title. These include figures like Clement Attlee, Anthony Eden, Rab Butler, John Prescott, and Nick Clegg.
What Happens if the Prime Minister Cannot Work?
No one automatically takes over as Prime Minister if the current one dies or becomes unable to do their job. However, it's generally agreed that an interim (temporary) Prime Minister should be appointed quickly. There's some discussion about how to choose this person.
In 2021, Simon Case, a top government official, suggested that the Cabinet (the group of senior ministers) would need to choose someone. This person would need to be able to lead the country and have the support of Parliament. The King or Queen would then need a clear recommendation very quickly, ideally within 48 hours.
When the Prime Minister travels, a senior minister is usually appointed to handle urgent matters. However, the Prime Minister remains in charge and stays updated. For example, in 2020, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in the hospital with COVID-19, he asked Dominic Raab (who was First Secretary of State at the time) to fill in for him "where necessary."
See also
In Spanish: Vice primer ministro del Reino Unido para niños
- First Secretary of State
- Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)
