- The UK Coalition Government - Martin Oldfield
The first peacetime coalition government in the UK since the 1930s has been formed. The Ministers are Conservatives unless otherwise indicated below. Four are women, with Baroness Warsi being the first Muslim woman to become a Cabinet minister. For details of individual Cabinet ministers then go to the BBC site.
The members of the Privy Council are also listed below.
Ken Clarke and William Hague were both ministers in previous Conservative governments.
The Cabinet met for the first time on 13 May 2010. The economy and reducing the budget deficit was the main focus of this meeting .The Prime Minister is also expected to announce the rest of his government team, with another 15 or so Liberal Democrats thought to be in line for jobs.
The first new rule issued to the Cabinet this morning is that members are banned from having their mobile phones and Blackberrys with them during meetings. They also agreed to a 5% pay cut.
There is a range of policies already outlined and more details will emerge during the next few days. Some policies were shared elements in the two parties' election manifestos. Others represent a series of compromises, other policies allow for the Liberal Democrats to abstain when asked to vote in the House of Commons.
Full Members of the Cabinet
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service
The Rt Hon David Cameron MP
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council (with special responsibility for political and constitutional reform)
The Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP (Liberal Democrat)
First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Rt Hon William Hague MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer
George Osborne MP
Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice
The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office and Minister for Women and Equalities
The Rt Hon Theresa May MP
Secretary of State for Defence
Dr Liam Fox MP
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Dr Vincent Cable MP (Liberal Democrat)
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Chris Huhne MP (Liberal Democrat)
Secretary of State for Health
Andrew Lansley CBE MP
Secretary of State for Education
Michael Gove MP
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Eric Pickles MP
Secretary of State for Transport
Philip Hammond MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Caroline Spelman MP
Secretary of State for International Development
Andrew Mitchell MP
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Owen Paterson MP
Secretary of State for Scotland (providing ministerial support to the Deputy Prime Minister)
Danny Alexander MP (Liberal Democrat) 29 May 2010 promoted to Chief Secretary. Mr Alexander was replaced by Michael Moore (Liberal Democrat).
Secretary of State for Wales
Cheryl Gillan MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport
Jeremy Hunt MP
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
David Laws MP (Liberal Democrat) Resigned 29 May 2010
Leader of the House of Lords, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Rt Hon Lord Strathclyde
Minister without Portfolio (Minister of State) (Unpaid)
Baroness Warsi
Also Attend Cabinet Meetings But Do Not Vote
Minister for the Cabinet Office, Paymaster General
The Rt Hon Francis Maude MP
Minister of State – Cabinet Office (providing policy advice to the Prime Minister)
The Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP
Minister of State (Universities and Science) – Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
David Willetts MP
Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal
The Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip
The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP
Also Attends Cabinet Meetings When Required
Attorney General
Dominic Grieve QC MP
Members of the Privy Council
The Privy Council is one of the oldest forms of government in the country. For an outline of its work go to the Privy Council website.
George Osborne MP
Dr Liam Fox MP
Dr Vince Cable MP
Eric Pickles MP
Jeremy Hunt MP
Chris Huhne MP
Michael Gove MP
Caroline Spelman MP
Andrew Lansley CBE MP
Andrew Mitchell MP
Danny Alexander MP
David Laws MP
Philip Hammond MP
Dominic Grieve QC MP
Owen Paterson MP
Cheryl Gillan MP
Baroness Warsi
There are a number of commentators who believe coalition governments result in unstable alliances. It is clear that the Cabinet ministers will not only face a range of domestic and global challenges, but also will need to learn to adapt to a range of conflicting party policies.
The New Government and Its Policies
Martin Oldfield - Martin Oldfield I have worked as a Tour Leader taking groups of travellers to a range of countries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and ...
