History of the prime minister of the United Kingdom facts for kids
The job of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom didn't just appear overnight. It grew slowly over 300 years. Many laws, political changes, and historical events shaped it into what it is today.
Contents
How the Role Began
Before 1721, leaders in England and Great Britain served at the king or queen's command. They were called "chief ministers."
The Big Changes of 1688-1689
The Prime Minister's role wasn't planned. So, there's no exact start date. A good starting point is 1688-1689. This is when King James II left England. The Parliament of England then made William III and Mary II joint rulers. They passed laws to limit the monarch's power. These laws included the Bill of Rights (1689) and the Act of Settlement (1701). These changes shifted power from the monarch to Parliament. This set the stage for the Prime Minister's role to grow.
The Treasury Bench's Importance
The new laws gave Parliament control over money and laws. This changed how the government and Parliament worked together. Monarchs now needed Parliament's approval for money. They couldn't just close Parliament whenever they wanted. Parliament became a constant part of political life. Monarchs also stopped rejecting laws. They feared Parliament would then refuse them money.
Government officials, like those from the Treasury, joined Parliament. They connected the monarch and Parliament. Ministers had to explain government plans. They also had to get support from other Members of Parliament. They explained money needs and how money was spent. These officials sat in special front seats called the Treasury Bench. This was the start of government ministers also being leading members of Parliament. Today, the Prime Minister and other senior ministers still sit there.
Standing Order 66: Controlling Money Bills
After the 1688 Revolution, there was a worry. Members of Parliament who weren't in the government might propose bad money laws. To prevent this, the King's ministers gained an advantage in 1706. The Commons informally agreed that only the Crown could suggest money bills. This became a formal rule, Standing Order 66, in 1713. It said the Commons would only vote money if a minister of the Crown proposed it. This rule is still in place today.
This rule had a big impact. It helped stabilize the budget process. It also gave the Crown's ministers a leading role in the Commons. The head of the Treasury became very important among ministers. While only ministers could start money bills, Parliament still had to approve them. This rule was the start of ministers being responsible and accountable for their actions.
The term "Prime Minister" started being used around this time. It was an unofficial name for the government leader. This was usually the head of the Treasury. For example, Jonathan Swift called Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin and Robert Harley "Prime Minister" in 1713. Since 1721, almost every head of government has also been the First Lord of the Treasury.
How Political Parties Started Leading
Political parties first appeared around 1678-1681. The Whigs believed in a limited monarchy. They wanted to stop James, Duke of York, from becoming king because he was Catholic. The Tories believed in the "Divine Right of Kings." They supported James's claim to the throne.
Parties in the 17th century weren't well-organized. They were more like groups that worked together temporarily. It was thought that there could only be one "King's Party." Opposing it was seen as disloyal. But by the late 1600s, Parliaments and governments could be identified as "Whig" or "Tory."
The Cabinet's Role
The modern Prime Minister also leads the Cabinet. The Cabinet is a group of ministers who make government policies. They are also in charge of government departments. The Prime Minister chooses these ministers. But the monarch still formally appoints them. The Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, forms the executive branch of government.
The word "Cabinet" appeared after the 1688 Revolution. It described ministers who met privately with the monarch. People didn't like the Cabinet at first. Its meetings were secret. It also pushed aside the older Privy Council. The early Cabinet included the Treasurer and other department heads. But it could also include people not in Parliament. Later, only Members of Parliament were in the Cabinet. This was important for ministers to be accountable.
Kings William and Anne chose and fired Cabinet members. They attended meetings and made decisions. Over time, the monarch stopped doing these things. This allowed the Prime Minister to gain control. George I (1714–1727) stopped attending Cabinet meetings after 1717. He didn't speak English well and found the discussions boring. Later kings also rarely attended. This led to the rule that monarchs don't attend Cabinet meetings. The Prime Minister became responsible for calling meetings, leading them, and reporting to the monarch. These tasks naturally gave the Prime Minister more power over other ministers.
Even though the first three Hanoverian kings rarely attended Cabinet meetings, they still wanted to appoint ministers and direct policy. It wasn't until the late 1700s that Prime Ministers gained control over who was in the Cabinet.
"One-Party Government"
British governments are usually formed by one political party. The Prime Minister and Cabinet members are almost always from the party with the most seats in the House of Commons. Governments made of two or more parties (coalitions) or by a party without a majority (minority governments) were rare before 2010. This "one-party government" system has been common for almost 300 years.
Early on, William III (1689–1702) preferred "mixed ministries." These had both Tories and Whigs. He thought this would spread power and offer different views. But it didn't work well. Members couldn't agree on a leader or policies.
In 1697, William formed a Whig-only government. This was called the Junto. It's often seen as the first true Cabinet. Its members were all Whigs, matching the majority in the Commons.
Queen Anne (1702–1714) followed this pattern, preferring Tory Cabinets. This worked when Parliament was also mostly Tory. But in 1708, when Whigs gained a majority, Anne didn't ask them to form a government. She didn't like the idea that politicians could force themselves on her. She preferred a minority government. So, her chief ministers, like Godolphin and Harley, had trouble leading with a Parliament that opposed them.
These experiences showed that one-party governments worked better. But it wasn't until the 1830s that a rule was set. The monarch had to choose the Prime Minister from the party with the most support in Parliament. Since then, most governments have followed this rule.
Still, Prime Ministers sometimes lead minority or coalition governments. A minority government happens when no single party wins a majority of seats. This is called a "hung parliament." The current Prime Minister usually gets the first chance to form a government. For example, after the June 2017 election, Theresa May led a minority government. Her party didn't have a majority.
A hung parliament can also lead to a coalition government. Here, two or more parties work together. Coalitions have also formed during big national crises, like wars. Parties agree to put aside differences to face the crisis. Coalitions are rare in the UK. Since 1721, there have been fewer than a dozen. The Cameron–Clegg coalition (2010-2015) was the first in 70 years.
The Treasury Commission's Role
The Prime Minister's job is mostly based on tradition, not specific laws. Its legal power comes from the Prime Minister also being the First Lord of the Treasury. These two roles became linked after the Hanoverian succession in 1714.
When George I became king in 1714, his German advisors told him not to appoint a single Lord High Treasurer. They feared this person would become too powerful. So, the king created a "Treasury Commission." This was a committee of five ministers who shared the Treasurer's duties. This was meant to prevent any one person from becoming too powerful. The commission included the First Lord of the Treasury, the Second Lord, and three Junior Lords.
No one has been appointed Lord High Treasurer since 1714. The office has remained a commission for 300 years. The Treasury Commission stopped meeting in the late 1700s. But it still exists with different roles. The First Lord of the Treasury is now the Prime Minister. The Second Lord is the chancellor of the Exchequer (in charge of the Treasury). The Junior Lords are now government Whips. They help keep party members in line in Parliament.
Early Prime Ministers
"Who Was the "First" Prime Minister?"
Since the job grew over time, it's not perfectly clear who the first Prime Minister was. But most people agree it was Sir Robert Walpole. He became First Lord of the Treasury in 1721.
In 1720, a company called the South Sea Company collapsed. This caused many people to lose their money. King George I asked Robert Walpole to help. Walpole was known for his political and money skills. He quickly helped the country recover from the crisis. A year later, the king made him First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Leader of the House of Commons. This made him the most powerful minister. Walpole led the country for two decades. He stabilized the nation's money, kept peace, and made the country rich.
Walpole showed how a chief minister could truly lead the government. First, he knew the monarch couldn't rule directly anymore. So, he called himself just the "King's Servant." Second, he saw that power was now in the Commons. He made sure government business happened there. Third, he knew the Cabinet had to work as a team. He led the other members and demanded their full support. Fourth, he understood that political parties gave ministers strength. He led the Whig party and kept its members disciplined. Finally, he set an example by resigning in 1742. He had won a vote of confidence by only three votes. This small majority weakened his power, so he stepped down.
Why the Title Was Avoided
Even with Walpole's impact, he wasn't a Prime Minister in the modern sense. The king, not Parliament, chose him. And the king, not Walpole, chose the Cabinet. Walpole set an example, but few followed it right away. For over 40 years after Walpole, there was uncertainty about the position. Sometimes the Prime Minister was just a figurehead. Other times, the monarch still truly governed. People also thought the title "Prime Minister" took power away from the monarch. They also felt it insulted other ministers, who were equally chosen by the monarch.
Because of this, people didn't like to use the title. Walpole himself denied it. In 1741, Samuel Sandys said, "According to our Constitution we can have no sole and prime minister." Walpole replied, "I unequivocally deny that I am sole or Prime Minister." George Grenville, a Prime Minister in the 1760s, called it "an odious title." Lord North also refused to be called Prime Minister.
This denial continued into the 1800s. In 1806, a Member of Commons said, "the Constitution abhors the idea of a prime minister."
By the early 1900s, the Prime Minister's job was clearly the most important. But there were no laws describing its powers. The first official mention was in 1878. Disraeli signed the Treaty of Berlin as "First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister." In 1904, Arthur Balfour, a Prime Minister, explained that his office had no salary or legal duties as Prime Minister. He said, "his name occurs in no Acts of Parliament."
In 1905, the position gained some official recognition. The "prime minister" was named in the order of precedence. This meant he was ranked very high, only below archbishops and the Lord Chancellor.
The first law to mention the premiership was the Chequers Estate Act 1917 in 1917. This law gave the Chequers Estate as a country home for future Prime Ministers.
Clear legal recognition came with the Ministers of the Crown Act 1937. This law set a salary for the person who was both "the First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister." It recognized the "position" of Prime Minister and its link to the "office" of First Lord of the Treasury. Even today, the sign on the door of 10 Downing Street still says "First Lord of the Treasury."
The Prime Minister as "First Among Equals"
How Cabinet Government Developed
Despite the reluctance to officially recognize the Prime Minister, this changed in the 1780s. For the first 20 years of his reign, George III (1760–1820) tried to be his own "prime minister." He tried to control policy from outside the Cabinet. This caused confusion and didn't work well. After a defeat in the American Revolutionary War, the Marquess of Rockingham became Prime Minister. He insisted that the Prime Minister would control the Cabinet. He and his Cabinet were united in their policies. They would succeed or fail together. King George III had to agree.
From this time, the Prime Minister's position became more accepted. The title was used more often, though still unofficially. Even Tories, who had opposed it, started to accept it. William Pitt the Younger, a Tory, said in 1803 that "this person generally called the first minister" was essential for government.
The Tories fully accepted the role after Pitt became Prime Minister in 1784. For the next 17 years, Pitt, a Tory, was Prime Minister just like Walpole, a Whig, had been earlier.
This was further strengthened after 1810. King George III became permanently unwell. The next king, George IV, was not very active. So, for 20 years, Tory Cabinets led by Tory Prime Ministers largely ran the country on their own.
The Tories were in power for almost 45 years. Lord Liverpool was Prime Minister for nearly 15 years. Together, he and Pitt held the position for almost 33 years. Under their long leadership, Cabinet government became a firm tradition. The Cabinet system of government today is largely the same as it was in 1830.
In this system, called the Westminster system, the monarch is the head of state. The monarch chooses the person who can lead a majority in the House of Commons to be Prime Minister. The Prime Minister then chooses the Cabinet members from Parliament. These members usually agree with the Prime Minister's plans. The monarch then formally appoints them. The Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, is responsible for what the government does. The monarch does not attend Cabinet meetings. The monarch has three rights: to be kept informed, to advise, and to warn. This means the monarch reviews government papers and meets weekly with the Prime Minister.
The "Loyal Opposition"
The modern British system has a government formed by the majority party. It also has an organized opposition. These are the members who are not part of the governing party. They are called His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition. They sit on the benches opposite the government ministers. Their leaders form a "shadow government." This includes a paid "shadow prime minister," who is the leader of the Opposition. They are ready to take over if the government falls.
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In the late 1600s, opposing the king's government was seen as disloyal. But this idea faded as the two-party system grew. The phrase "His Majesty's Opposition" was first used in 1826 by John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton. He joked that it was harder on the Opposition to object to a bill. The phrase stuck. Sometimes called the "Loyal Opposition", it means that opposing the government is not treason. People can disagree with policies and still be loyal to the country.
The position of leader of the Opposition was officially recognized in 1937 by the Ministers of the Crown Act 1937.
The Great Reform Act and the Prime Minister
British Prime Ministers are not directly elected by the public. A Prime Minister doesn't even have to be a party leader. They become Prime Minister because they are a Member of Parliament (either Commons or Lords). They either lead a party with a majority or win more seats in an election.
Since 1902, all Prime Ministers have been members of the House of Commons. Like other members, they first represent a local area. For example, Tony Blair represented Sedgefield. He became Prime Minister because he was elected Labour Party leader. Then he led the party to victory in the 1997 election.
Neither the monarch nor the House of Lords now has much say in who is elected to the Commons or who becomes Prime Minister. This has been a tradition for almost 200 years.
Before the 1800s, they had a lot of influence. Most citizens couldn't vote. Seats in the Commons were unfairly distributed. The Crown and Lords controlled about 30% of the seats. These were called "rotten boroughs." This gave them a lot of power in the Commons and in choosing the Prime Minister.
In 1830, Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, a Whig, became Prime Minister. He wanted to reform the voting system. For two years, he and his Cabinet worked to pass the Great Reform Bill of 1832. This Bill was important more for what it symbolized than for its immediate changes. It increased the number of voters by 65%. The middle class gained most of the new votes. It removed representation from 56 "rotten boroughs." But many still remained, and millions of working-class men and all women still couldn't vote.
Symbolically, the Reform Act was huge. It's now seen as one of the most important British constitutional documents.
First, the Act removed the monarch from the election process and choosing the Prime Minister. This tradition was confirmed two years later. In 1834, King William IV tried to dismiss his Prime Minister. But he was forced to bring him back. Since then, no monarch has tried to force a Prime Minister on Parliament.
Second, the Bill reduced the Lords' power. They lost many of their "pocket boroughs." This weakened them. They couldn't stop later, bigger voting reforms.
This loss of power led to the Parliament Act 1911. This law reduced the Lords' role in making laws. It also strengthened the tradition that a Prime Minister cannot sit in the House of Lords. The last one to do so was Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, from 1895 to 1902.
Grey set an example for future Prime Ministers. He was primus inter pares (first among equals). He used his party's victory to push for reform. He was respectful to the king. But he made it clear that his duty was to follow the will of the people and Parliament.
Prime Ministers Who Connected with People
Before 1832, the Prime Minister's job was mostly behind closed doors. They worked with the Cabinet and other officials. They met the monarch and attended Parliament. They didn't campaign or speak directly to ordinary voters.
After the Great Reform Bill, the role changed. Prime Ministers had to connect with the public. More people could vote. Power shifted to the people. Prime Ministers took on more responsibility as party leaders. They had to motivate their followers, explain policies, and deliver their party's "message." Successful leaders needed new skills: giving good speeches, presenting a good image, and interacting with crowds. They became the "voice" and "face" of their party.
Robert Peel was the first to see this new role. After his party's successful campaign in 1841, a friend wrote to him. He said that the elections showed people were choosing the Prime Minister, not just confirming the monarch's choice.
Benjamin Disraeli and William Ewart Gladstone took this new role further. They created public "images" of themselves. Known as "Dizzy" and the "Grand Old Man," their rivalry lasted almost 20 years. Newspapers, photos, and cartoons showed their debates. This linked specific people with the Prime Minister's job in the public mind.
Each created a different public image. Disraeli, who expanded the Empire, presented himself as an "Imperialist." He made gestures like calling Queen Victoria "Empress of India." Gladstone, who didn't value the Empire as much, presented himself as a "man of the people." He circulated pictures of himself cutting down oak trees as a hobby.
Gladstone went beyond just image. He appealed directly to the people. In his Midlothian campaign, he spoke to hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people. He spoke in fields, halls, and railway stations. He was the first leader to campaign across a whole area. He delivered his message to anyone who would listen. His message became the party's message.
Campaigning directly to the people became common. Many 20th-century Prime Ministers, like David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill, were famous for their speaking skills. With radio, TV, and the internet, they used these to connect with the nation. Stanley Baldwin was great at radio broadcasts in the 1920s and 1930s. Churchill also used radio effectively during World War II. More recent Prime Ministers, like Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, became very famous. They were sometimes criticized for acting more like presidents.
The Parliament Act and the Prime Minister
The modern Prime Minister leads a political party and the government. They also guide the law-making process. They turn their party's plans into laws. For example, Tony Blair's Labour party promised a British Bill of Rights and devolved governments for Scotland and Wales. He then helped pass the Human Rights Act (1998), the Scotland Act (1998), and the Government of Wales Act (1998).
Since the 1300s, Parliament has had two parts: the Commons and the Lords. Members of the Commons are elected. Members of the Lords are not. Most Lords are "temporal," meaning they have titles like duke or baron. The rest are Lords Spiritual (church leaders).
For most of its history, Lords Temporal inherited their titles and seats. They were usually landowners. They were generally Tory (later Conservative) and resisted new ideas. The Commons' party makeup varied. After the Great Reform Bill in 1832, the Commons became more progressive. This trend grew with each expansion of voting rights.
In 1906, the Liberal Party won a huge victory. They promised social reforms for working-class people. They had many more seats than the Conservatives in the Commons. So, they expected to pass their laws easily. However, the Conservative Party had a huge majority in the Lords. They could easily block any laws passed by the Commons that they didn't like.
For five years, the Commons and the Lords argued over many bills. The Liberals passed some of their plans. But the Conservatives blocked or changed others. When the Lords blocked the "People's Budget" in 1909, it led to a major constitutional crisis.
In 1910, Prime Minister H. H. Asquith introduced a bill to limit the Lords' power to block laws. The Commons passed it, but the Lords rejected it. After an election fought on this issue, the Liberals still had a good majority. King George V then threatened to create enough new Liberal Lords to pass the bill. Rather than have a permanent Liberal majority, the Conservative Lords gave in. The bill became law.
The Parliament Act 1911 established that the Commons was supreme. It said the Lords could only delay money bills for one month. Any other bill rejected by the Lords would still become law if the Commons passed it three times over two years. The Lords could still delay laws, but they could no longer block them completely. The Lords' delaying power was reduced to one year by the Parliament Act 1949.
This Act indirectly made the Prime Minister even more powerful. While the Lords are still involved in making laws, they can no longer block laws passed by the Commons. Prime Ministers are now sure to pass their laws. This is true as long as they control their Cabinet, keep party discipline, and have a majority in the Commons.
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