Home Secretary facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids United Kingdom Secretary of State for the Home Department
Royal Arms as used by the Home Office
Incumbent Yvette Cooper since 5 July 2024
Home Office
Style	Home Secretary (informal) The Right Honourable (within the UK and Commonwealth)
Member of	Cabinet Privy Council National Security Council
Reports to	The Prime Minister
Seat	Westminster
Nominator	The Prime Minister
Appointer	The Monarch (on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	27 March 1782
First holder	Earl of Shelburne
Salary	£159,038 per annum (2022) (including £86,584 MP salary)
Website	Home Secretary

The Secretary of State for the Home Department, often called the Home Secretary, is a very important government minister in the United Kingdom. This person leads the Home Office, which is a big government department. Being the Home Secretary is one of the most senior jobs in the government. It means they are a key member of the British Cabinet and the National Security Council.

This job is similar to an "interior minister" in other countries. It was created in 1782, but its duties have changed a lot over time. Many famous people have been Home Secretary, including future prime ministers like Winston Churchill and Theresa May. The person who held the job for the longest was Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, for over nine years! The shortest time was Grant Shapps, who served for only six days. In 2007, Jacqui Smith became the first woman to be Home Secretary. The current Home Secretary is Yvette Cooper.

The Home Secretary works with other ministers in the Home Office. Their work is also checked by special committees in Parliament. Sometimes, this role can be tricky because many difficult issues can come up.

What Does the Home Secretary Do?
How the Role Started
A Look at Past Home Secretaries
Images for kids
See also

What Does the Home Secretary Do?

The Home Secretary is like the "interior minister" for the UK. Their main jobs include:

Keeping the Peace: They oversee law enforcement in England and Wales. This means they are in charge of police forces.
National Safety: They deal with matters of national security, which means protecting the country from threats.
Immigration Rules: They handle issues about immigration, deciding who can come into the UK and how.
Spy Agency Oversight: They oversee the Security Service (MI5), which is the UK's domestic intelligence agency.

Before 2007, the Home Secretary was also in charge of prisons and probation in England and Wales. But these duties were moved to the Ministry of Justice that year.

How the Role Started

The idea of a "Secretary of State" in England goes back to the early 1600s. The job of Secretary of State for the Home Department was created in 1782. This happened when the government changed how it handled its "Northern" and "Southern" departments. These were split into the Foreign Office (dealing with other countries) and the Home Office (dealing with things inside the UK).

In 2007, some of the Home Office's responsibilities for criminal justice were moved to the new Ministry of Justice.

A Look at Past Home Secretaries

Images for kids

William Petty, the first Home Secretary in 1782.
Thomas Townshend, who served twice as Home Secretary.
Lord North, a former Prime Minister who also served as Home Secretary.
George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 3rd Earl Temple.
William Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville.
Henry Dundas.
William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland.
Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester.
Charles Philip Yorke.
Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool.
George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer.
Richard Ryder.
Henry Addington, the longest-serving Home Secretary.
Robert Peel, who served twice as Home Secretary and later became Prime Minister.
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne.
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne.
John Ponsonby, 4th Earl of Bessborough.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.
Henry Goulburn.
Lord John Russell.
Constantine Phipps, 1st Marquess of Normanby.
Sir James Graham, 2nd Baronet.
Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet.
Spencer Horatio Walpole.
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston.
Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron-Estcourt.
George Cornewall Lewis.
Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook.
Henry Bruce, 1st Baron Aberdare.
Robert Lowe.
R. A. Cross, 1st Viscount Cross.
William Harcourt.
Hugh Childers.
Henry Matthews, 1st Viscount Llandaff.
H. H. Asquith.
Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley.
Charles Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee.
Aretas Akers-Douglas, 1st Viscount Chilston.
Herbert Gladstone.
Winston Churchill, a famous Prime Minister who was also Home Secretary.
Reginald McKenna.
John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon.
Herbert Samuel.
George Cave, 1st Viscount Cave.
Edward Shortt.
William Bridgeman, 1st Viscount Bridgeman.
Arthur Henderson.
William Joynson-Hicks, 1st Viscount Brentford.
John Robert Clynes.
Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet.
Samuel Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood.
John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley.
Herbert Morrison.
James Chuter Ede.
David Maxwell Fyfe.
Gwilym Lloyd George.
Rab Butler.
Henry Brooke, Baron Brooke of Cumnor.
Frank Soskice.
Roy Jenkins.
James Callaghan, who later became Prime Minister.
Robert Carr.
Merlyn Rees.
Leon Brittan.
Douglas Hurd.
Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking.
Michael Howard.
Jack Straw.
David Blunkett.
Charles Clarke.
John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan.
Jacqui Smith, the first female Home Secretary.
Alan Johnson.
Theresa May, who later became Prime Minister.
Amber Rudd.
Sajid Javid.
Priti Patel.
Suella Braverman.
Grant Shapps, the shortest-serving Home Secretary.
James Cleverly.

Home Secretary facts for kids

Contents

What Does the Home Secretary Do?

How the Role Started

A Look at Past Home Secretaries

Images for kids

See also