Government of the United Kingdom

"His Majesty's Government" and "Her Majesty's Government" redirect here. For the use of the term, see His Majesty's Government (term).

This article is about the central executive authority of the UK. For the people in the current British administration, see British Government frontbench. For the broader political system of the UK, see Politics of the United Kingdom.

His Majesty's Government

Welsh: Llywodraeth ei Fawrhydi
Irish: Rialtas a Shoilse
Scottish Gaelic: Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd

Central government

Overview
State| United Kingdom
Leader| Prime Minister (Keir Starmer)
Appointed by| Monarch (Charles III)
on the advice of the prime minister
Main organ| Cabinet of the United Kingdom
Ministries|

* 24 ministerial departments
* 20 non-ministerial departments[2]

Responsible to| Parliament of the United Kingdom
Annual budget| £1.230 trillion (2023/24)[1]
Headquarters| 10 Downing Street, London
Website| gov.uk
This article is part of a series on

Politics of the United Kingdom

Constitution

* Magna Carta
* Bill of Rights
* Treaty of Union (Acts of Union)
* Parliamentary sovereignty
* Rule of law
* Separation of powers
* Other constitutional principles

The Crown

* The Monarch (list)

King Charles III

* Heir apparent

William, Prince of Wales

* * *

* Royal family
* Succession
* Prerogative
* Counsellors of State
* Republicanism in the United Kingdom

Executive

* Privy Council

Charles III
(King-in-Council)

* * *

* HM Government

* Cabinet (list)

Starmer ministry (L)

* Prime Minister (list)

Keir Starmer (L)

* Deputy Prime Minister

Angela Rayner (L)

* * *

* Departments
* Ministers
* Agencies

Legislature

* UK Parliament

(King-in-Parliament)

* * *

* King

Charles III

* * *

* House of Lords

* Lord Speaker
The Lord McFall of Alcluith

* * *

* House of Commons

* Speaker
Sir Lindsay Hoyle

* Leader of the Opposition
Kemi Badenoch (C)

* * *

* 59th Parliament
* Opposition
* MPs
* List of MPs

Judiciary

Charles III
(King-on-the-Bench)

* * *

* Supreme Court

* President

The Lord Reed

* Deputy President

The Lord Hodge

* Justices of the Supreme Court

* * *

* United Kingdom
* England and Wales
* Scotland
* Northern Ireland

Bank of England

* Governor

Andrew Bailey

* Deputy governors

Monetary Policy Committee

* * *

* Currencies
* Banknotes
* Coins

Elections and referendums

* Censorship
* UK Parliament constituencies (2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies)
* Political parties
* Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000
* Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022
* Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions
* Senedd constituencies and electoral regions

UK general elections

* * *

* 1801 co-option
* 1802
* 1806
* 1807
* 1812
* 1818
* 1820
* 1826
* 1830
* 1831
* 1832–33
* 1835
* 1837
* 1841
* 1847
* 1852
* 1857
* 1859
* 1865
* 1868
* 1874
* 1880
* 1885
* 1886
* 1892
* 1895
* 1900
* 1906
* 1910 (Jan–Feb)
* 1910 (Dec)
* 1918
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1929
* 1931
* 1935
* 1945
* 1950
* 1951
* 1955
* 1959
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* 1966
* 1970
* 1974 (Feb)
* 1974 (Oct)
* 1979
* 1983
* 1987
* 1992
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2010
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2024

Endorsements

* 2010
* 2015
* 2017
* 2019
* 2024

European Parliament elections (1979–2019)

* * *

* 1979
* 1984
* 1989
* 1994
* 1999
* 2004
* 2009
* 2014
* 2019

Scottish Parliament elections

* * *

* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2021
* Next

Northern Ireland Assembly elections

* * *

* 1998
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2017
* 2022
* Next

Senedd elections

* * *

* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2016
* 2021
* Next

UK referendums

* * *

* 1975
* 2011
* 2016

Devolution

* Intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom
* Legislative consent motions
* Prime Minister and Heads of Devolved Governments Council
* Council of the Nations and Regions

* * *

England

* Governance of England
* English votes for English laws
* Greater London Authority
* 1998 referendum
* Greater London Authority Act 1999
(2007 Act)
* Mayor of London
* Sadiq Khan
* Mayoral cabinet
* London Assembly
* London Plan
* Combined authorities
* Metro mayors

* * *

Northern Ireland

* Northern Ireland Act 1998
(2006 Act)
* First Minister
* Michelle O'Neill
* deputy First Minister
* Emma Little-Pengelly
* Executive
* Assembly
* Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly
* Law of Northern Ireland

* * *

Scotland

* Scottish devolution
* 1997 referendum
* Scotland Act 1998
(2012 Act, 2016 Act)
* First Minister
* John Swinney
* Government
* Scottish Parliament
* Act of the Scottish Parliament
* Scottish statutory instrument
* Scots law

* * *

Wales

* Welsh devolution
* 1997 referendum
(2011 referendum on law-making powers)
* Government of Wales Act 1998
(2006 Act, Wales Act 2014, Wales Act 2017)
* First Minister
* Eluned Morgan
* Government
* Senedd
* Measure of the National Assembly for Wales (1999–2011)
* Act of Senedd Cymru
* Welsh law

Administration

England

* History
* Subdivisions: Regions
* Ceremonial counties (list)
* Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties
* Metropolitan county
* Non-metropolitan county
* Greater London
* Unitary authorities (list)
* Districts (list)
* Metropolitan Borough
* Non-metropolitan District
* London Borough
* Civil parishes (list)
* Historic counties

* * *

Northern Ireland

* History
* Subdivisions: Counties
* Districts

* * *

Scotland

* History
* Subdivisions: Sheriffdoms
* Council areas
* Community council areas
* Civil parishes
* Shires of Scotland

* * *

Wales

* History
* Preserved counties
* Principal areas
* Communities (list)
* Historic counties

Crown Dependencies

* Bailiwick of Guernsey

* Guernsey
* Alderney
* Sark

* * *

* Bailiwick of Jersey

* * *

* Isle of Man

* * *

* British Islands
* Common Travel Area
* UK-CD Customs Union

Overseas Territories

* Akrotiri and Dhekelia
* Anguilla
* Bermuda
* British Antarctic Territory
* British Indian Ocean Territory
* British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands
* Falkland Islands
* Gibraltar
* Montserrat
* Pitcairn Islands
* Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
* Saint Helena
* Ascension Island
* Tristan da Cunha
* South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
* Turks and Caicos Islands

* * *

* British Overseas Territories citizen
* Visa requirements
* Visa policies

* * *

* British Overseas Territories Act 2002
* UK-OT JMC
* Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute
* Gibraltar sovereignty dispute
* Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute

Foreign relations

* Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
* Foreign policy (history)

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in the United Kingdom

* * *

* UK passport
* British National (Overseas) passport
* Visa requirements
* UK–CD Customs Union
* Visa policy
* Free trade agreements

* * *

* Australia
* Barbados
* Belgium
* Belize
* Brunei
* Canada
* China
* Hong Kong
* Cyprus
* Denmark
* France
* Germany
* India
* Israel
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* Netherlands
* New Zealand
* Norway
* Russia
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* Singapore
* Spain
* South Africa
* Palestine
* Pakistan
* Poland
* Portugal
* United States
* Zimbabwe

* * *

* Ireland
* politics of Northern Ireland
* Good Friday Agreement
* UK–Ireland border
* Northern Ireland Protocol
* British–Irish Council

* * *

* European Union (history)
* Brexit
* Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union
* UK–EU withdrawal agreement

* * *

* The Commonwealth
* member states

* * *

* United Kingdom and the United Nations
* United Nations Security Council
* P5

* * *

* NATO
* G20
* G7

United Kingdom portal

* England
* Northern Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

His Majesty's Government,[a] abbreviated to HM Government[b] or otherwise UK Government, is the central executive authority of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.[4][5] The government is led by the prime minister (Keir Starmer since 5 July 2024) who appoints all the other ministers. The country has had a Labour government since 2024. The prime minister and his most senior ministers belong to the supreme decision-making committee, known as the Cabinet.[5]

Ministers of the Crown are responsible to the House in which they sit; they make statements in that House and take questions from members of that House. For most senior ministers this is usually the elected House of Commons rather than the House of Lords. The government is dependent on Parliament to make primary legislation,[6] and general elections are held every five years (at most) to elect a new House of Commons, unless the prime minister advises the monarch to dissolve Parliament, in which case an election may be held sooner. After an election, the monarch selects as prime minister the leader of the party most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons, usually by possessing a majority of MPs.[7]

Under the uncodified British constitution, executive authority lies with the sovereign, although this authority is exercised only after receiving the advice of the Privy Council.[8] The prime minister, the House of Lords, the leader of the opposition, and the police and military high command serve as members and advisers of the monarch on the Privy Council. In most cases the cabinet exercise power directly as leaders of the government departments, though some Cabinet positions are sinecures to a greater or lesser degree (for instance Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster or Lord Privy Seal).

The government is sometimes referred to by the metonym "Westminster" or "Whitehall", as many of its offices are situated there. These metonyms are used especially by members of the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to differentiate their government from His Majesty's Government.

## History

[edit]

Further information: History of the constitution of the United Kingdom and History of monarchy in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy in which the reigning monarch (that is, the king or queen who is the head of state at any given time) does not make any open political decisions. All political decisions are taken by the government and Parliament. This constitutional state of affairs is the result of a long history of constraining and reducing the political power of the monarch, beginning with Magna Carta in 1215.

Since the start of Edward VII's reign in 1901, by convention, the prime minister has been an elected member of Parliament (MP) and thus answerable to the House of Commons, although there were two weeks in 1963 when Alec Douglas-Home was first a member of the House of Lords and then of neither house. A similar convention applies to the position of chancellor of the exchequer. The last chancellor of the exchequer to be a member of the House of Lords was Lord Denman, who served for one month in 1834.[9]

## Powers

[edit]

### Royal Prerogative

[edit]

Main article: Royal Prerogative in the United Kingdom

The British monarch is the head of state and the sovereign, but not the head of government. In practice, the monarch conventionally takes little direct part in governing the country and remains neutral in political affairs. However, the authority of the state that is vested in the sovereign, known as the Crown, remains the source of executive power exercised by the government.

In addition to explicit statutory authority, the Crown also possesses a body of powers in certain matters collectively known as the royal prerogative. These powers range from the authority to issue or withdraw passports to declarations of war. By long-standing convention, most of these powers are delegated from the sovereign to various ministers or other officers of the Crown, who may use them without having to obtain the consent of Parliament.

The prime minister also has weekly meetings with the monarch. What is said in these meetings is strictly private; however, they generally involve government and political matters which the monarch has a "right and a duty" to comment on.[10] Such comments are non-binding however and the King must ultimately abide by decisions of the government.[11]

Royal prerogative powers include, but are not limited to, the following:

### Domestic powers

[edit]

Queen Elizabeth II receiving Prime Minister Tony Blair after winning a third term in office on 6 May 2005

* The power to appoint and dismiss a prime minister. This power is exercised by the monarch personally. However, the last time the monarch used their own discretion when exercising this power was 1834, with the modern convention that they appoint (and are expected to appoint) the individual most likely to be capable of commanding of a majority in the House of Commons.[12]
* The power to appoint and dismiss other ministers. This power is exercised by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister.
* The power to assent to and enact laws by giving royal assent to bills passed by Parliament, which is required for a law to become effective (an act). This is exercised by the monarch, who also theoretically has the power to refuse assent, although no monarch has refused assent to a bill passed by Parliament since Queen Anne in 1708.
* The power to give and to issue commissions to commissioned officers in the Armed Forces.
* The power to command the Armed Forces. This power is exercised by the Defence Council in the King's name.
* The power to appoint members to the Privy Council.
* The power to issue, suspend, cancel, recall, impound, withdraw, or revoke British passports and the general power to provide or deny British passport facilities to British citizens and British nationals. This is exercised in the United Kingdom (but not necessarily in the Isle of Man, Channel Islands or British Overseas Territories) by the home secretary.
* The power to pardon any conviction (the royal prerogative of mercy).
* The power to grant, cancel and annul any honours.
* The power to create corporations (including the status of being a city, with its corporation) by royal charter, and to amend, replace and revoke existing charters.

### Foreign powers

[edit]

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Whitehall

* The power to make and ratify treaties.
* The power to declare war and conclude peace with other nations.
* The power to deploy the Armed Forces overseas.
* The power to recognise states.
* The credit power and receive diplomats.

While no formal documents set out the prerogatives, the government published the above list in October 2003 to increase transparency, as some of the powers exercised in the name of the monarch are part of the royal prerogative.[13] However, the complete extent of the royal prerogative powers has never been fully set out, as many of them originated in ancient custom and the period of absolute monarchy, or were modified by later constitutional practice.

## Ministers and departments

[edit]

Main articles: List of government ministers of the United Kingdom and Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom

As of 2019[update], there are around 120 government ministers[14] supported by 560,000[15] civil servants and other staff working in the 24 ministerial departments[16] and their executive agencies. There are also an additional 20 non-ministerial departments with a range of further responsibilities.

In theory, a government minister does not have to be a member of either House of Parliament. In practice, however, the convention is that ministers must be members of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords to be accountable to Parliament. From time to time, prime ministers appoint non-parliamentarians as ministers. In recent years such ministers have been appointed to the House of Lords.[17]

## Government in Parliament

[edit]

Prime Minister's Questions, 2024

The government is required by convention and for practical reasons to maintain the confidence of the House of Commons. It requires the support of the House of Commons for the maintenance of supply (by voting through the government's budgets) and to pass primary legislation. By convention, if a government loses the confidence of the House of Commons it must either resign or a general election is held. The support of the lords, while useful to the government in getting its legislation passed without delay, is not vital. A government is not required to resign even if it loses the confidence of the lords and is defeated in key votes in that House. The House of Commons is thus the responsible house.

The prime minister is held to account during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) which provides an opportunity for MPs from all parties to question the PM on any subject. There are also departmental questions when ministers answer questions relating to their specific departmental brief. Unlike PMQs, both the cabinet ministers for the department and junior ministers within the department may answer on behalf of the government, depending on the topic of the question.

During debates on legislation proposed by the government, ministers—usually with departmental responsibility for the bill—will lead the debate for the government and respond to points made by MPs or Lords.

Committees[18] of both the House of Commons and House of Lords hold the government to account, scrutinise its work and examine in detail proposals for legislation. Ministers appear before committees to give evidence and answer questions.

Government ministers are also required by convention and the Ministerial Code,[19] when Parliament is sitting, to make major statements regarding government policy or issues of national importance to Parliament. This allows MPs or Lords to question the government on the statement. When the government instead chooses to make announcements first outside Parliament, it is often the subject of significant criticism from MPs and the speaker of the House of Commons.[20]

## Location

[edit]

The main entrance of 10 Downing Street, the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is by custom nowadays also the prime minister

The prime minister is based at 10 Downing Street in Westminster, London. Cabinet meetings also take place here. Most government departments have their headquarters nearby in Whitehall.

## Limits of government power

[edit]

See also: Act of Parliament (UK) and Powers of the prime minister of the United Kingdom

The government's powers include general executive and statutory powers, delegated legislation, and numerous powers of appointment and patronage. However, some powerful officials and bodies, (e.g. HM judges, local authorities, and the charity commissions) are legally more or less independent of the government, and government powers are legally limited to those retained by the Crown under common law or granted and limited by act of Parliament. Both substantive and procedural limitations are enforceable in the courts by judicial review.

Nevertheless, magistrates and mayors can still be arrested and put on trial for corruption, and the government has powers to insert commissioners into a local authority to oversee its work, and to issue directives that must be obeyed by the local authority if the local authority is not abiding by its statutory obligations.[21]

By contrast, as in European Union (EU) member states, EU officials cannot be prosecuted for any actions carried out in pursuit of their official duties, and foreign country diplomats (though not their employees) and foreign members of the European Parliament[22] are immune from prosecution in EU states under any circumstance. As a consequence, neither EU bodies nor diplomats have to pay taxes, since it would not be possible to prosecute them for tax evasion. When the UK was a member of the EU, this caused a dispute when the US ambassador to the UK claimed that London's congestion charge was a tax, and not a charge (despite the name), and therefore he did not have to pay it—a claim the Greater London Authority disputed.

Similarly, the monarch is immune from criminal prosecution and may only be sued with his permission (this is known as sovereign immunity). The sovereign, by law, is not required to pay income tax, but Queen Elizabeth II voluntarily paid it from 1993 until the end of her reign in 2022, and also paid local rates voluntarily. However, the monarchy also received a substantial grant from the government, the Sovereign Support Grant, and Queen Elizabeth II's inheritance from her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, was exempt from inheritance tax.

In addition to legislative powers, His Majesty's Government has substantial influence over local authorities and other bodies set up by it, through financial powers and grants. Many functions carried out by local authorities, such as paying out housing benefits and council tax benefits, are funded or substantially part-funded by the central government.

Neither the central government nor local authorities are permitted to sue anyone for defamation. Individual politicians are allowed to sue people for defamation in a personal capacity and without using government funds, but this is relatively rare (although George Galloway, who was a backbench MP for a quarter of a century, has sued or threatened to sue for defamation several times). However, it is a criminal offence to make a false statement about any election candidate during an election, to reduce the number of votes they receive (as with libel, opinions do not count).

## Terminology

[edit]

A meeting of the cabinet in the Cabinet Room, 10 Downing Street

While the government is the current group of ministers (the British Government frontbench), the government is also sometimes seen more broadly as including people or organisations that work for the ministers. The civil service, while 'independent of government',[23] is sometimes described as being part of the government,[24][25][26][27] due to the closeness of its working with ministers, in advising them, supporting them, and implementing their executive decisions. Some individuals who work for ministers even have the word 'Government' in their titles, such as the Government Actuary and the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, as do civil service organisations such as the Government Statistical Service, the Government Legal Profession, and the Government Office for Science. Companies owned by the government can also be seen as parts of the government, such as UK Government Investments[28] and HS2 Ltd.[29]

Similarly, Parliamentary Private Secretaries are not ministers and so not part of the government.[30] However, they are bound by parts of the ministerial code, are part of the payroll vote, and can be seen as being on the 'first rung of the ministerial ladder'.[31][32] They are sometimes described as being part of the government.[33][34][35]

## Symbols

[edit]

Main article: Coat of arms of the United Kingdom

Lesser arms used since 2024 The logo is used on government communication projects outside the UK

The UK Government uses a simplified form of the Royal Arms as a logo called the lesser arms. It typically omits the helm and mantling, reduces the crest to the crown alone, and has no compartment.[36] Although the blazon of the arms has not changed since 1837, a new depiction of the Royal Arms is created for each new reign.[36]

Use of the Royal Arms by government departments and agencies is governed by the Cabinet Office.[37] The Royal Arms feature on all Acts of Parliament, in the logos of government departments, on the cover of all UK passports (and passports issued in other British territories and dependencies), as an inescutcheon on the diplomatic flags of British Ambassadors, and on The London Gazette. It is also used in the British Overseas Territories, namely on all acts of the Anguilla House of Assembly and by the administrations of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, the Pitcairn Islands, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Some departments use a different symbol as their logo historic reasons, including the Scotland Office, Home Office, Ministry of Defence and Department for Business and Trade.[37]

## Devolved governments

[edit]

Main article: Devolution in the United Kingdom

Further information: Scottish Government, Northern Ireland Executive, and Welsh Government

Since 1999, certain areas of central government have been devolved to accountable governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These are not part of His Majesty's Government, and are directly accountable to their institutions, with their authority under the Crown; in contrast, there is no devolved national government for England, although certain powers of central government are devolved to the Greater London Authority and combined authorities.

## Local government

[edit]

Main articles: Local government in England, in Scotland, in Wales, and in Northern Ireland

Up to three layers of elected local authorities (such as county, district and parish Councils) exist throughout all parts of the United Kingdom, in some places merged into unitary authorities. They have limited local tax-raising powers. Many other authorities and agencies also have statutory powers, generally subject to some central government supervision.

## See also

[edit]

* Politics portal
* United Kingdom portal

* Constitutional reform in the United Kingdom
* Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom
* Disestablishmentarianism
* Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
* Gov.uk
* Government spending in the United Kingdom
* British Government frontbench
* His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition
* List of British governments
* Northern Ireland Executive
* Office for Veterans' Affairs
* Scottish Government
* Welsh Government
* Whole of Government Accounts

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ or Her Majesty's Government when a queen reigns
2. ^ sometimes shortened further to HMG,[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Keep, Matthew (17 January 2025). "The budget deficit: a short guide". House of Commons Library. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
2. ^ "Departments, agencies and public bodies". GOV.UK. HM Government. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
3. ^ "HMG". Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
4. ^ His Majesty's Government Archived 17 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 June 2010
5. ^ a b Overview of the UK system of government : Directgov – Government, citizens and rights. Archived direct.gov.uk webpage. Retrieved on 29 August 2014.
6. ^ "Legislation". UK Parliament. 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
7. ^ House of Commons – Justice Committee – Written Evidence Archived 1 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved on 19 October 2010.
8. ^ The monarchy : Directgov – Government, citizens and rights. Archived direct.gov.uk webpage. Retrieved on 29 August 2014.
9. ^ The Parliament Acts – UK Parliament Archived 5 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Parliament.uk (21 April 2010). Retrieved on 12 October 2011.
10. ^ "Queen and Prime Minister". The British Monarchy. 2013. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
11. ^ "The Queen and Boris Johnson: Why do the monarch and PM meet every week?". BBC Newsround. 24 June 2021.
12. ^ "The Cabinet Manual: A guide to laws, conventions and rules on the operation of government" (PDF). UK Government. October 2011. p. 14.
13. ^ Dyer, Clare (21 October 2003). "Mystery lifted on Queen's powers". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
14. ^ Maer, Lucinda; Kelly, Richard (31 March 2021). "Limitations on the number of Ministers". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021 - via The House of Commons Library.
15. ^ "Civil Service Statistics" (PDF). Understanding the UK Civil Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 November 2013.
16. ^ "Departments, agencies and public bodies", UK Government.
17. ^ Maer, Lucinda (4 September 2017). "Ministers in the House of Lords". The House of Commons Library.
18. ^ "Committees" – UK Parliament. Archived 7 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 12 October 2011.
19. ^ "Ministerial Code" (PDF). Cabinet Office. May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2010.
20. ^ "Speakers' statements on ministerial policy announcements made outside the House" (PDF). UK Parliament. Department of Information Services. 16 July 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
21. ^ "Secretary of State sends in commissioners to Tower Hamlets". Gov.uk. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
22. ^ "The Immunity of Members of the European Parliament" (PDF). European Union. October 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
23. ^ "Civil Service: About us". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 October 2021. "We're politically impartial and independent of government"
24. ^ The Comptroller and Auditor General (5 June 2015). Central government staff costs (Report). National Audit Office. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
25. ^ "Civil service". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 29 October 2021. "civil service, the body of government officials..."
26. ^ "UK government action to reduce the HGV driver shortage". GOV.UK. Retrieved 23 October 2021. "The government... have sent nearly one million letters to thank HGV drivers"
27. ^ "HMG personnel security controls". GOV.UK. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
28. ^ "What we do". UKGI.ORG.UK. Retrieved 27 October 2021. "UKGI's purpose is to be the government's centre of excellence in corporate governance and corporate finance"
29. ^ "Government provides construction sector certainty by confirming 'Notice to proceed' on High Speed 2". GOV.UK. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2021. "HS2 Ltd today marks the next step for the project, issuing a 'Notice to proceed' on Britain's new railway."
30. ^ S Priddy (22 October 2021). Parliamentary Private Secretaries to Prime Ministers since 1906 (Report). House of Commons Library. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021. "Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPSs) are not members of the Government although they do have responsibilities and restrictions as defined by the Ministerial Code"
31. ^ "Back to the future: PPS role for mid Wales MP". BBC News. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2021. "Montgomeryshire Tory MP Glyn Davies is about to put his foot on the first rung of the ministerial ladder, rejoining the government as a parliamentary private secretary."
32. ^ "The female power base that helped Theresa May win her day". Financial Times. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2021. "A handful of other alumni who won their seats in 2015, including Victoria Atkins, Lucy Frazer and Victoria Prentis have just set foot on the first rung of the ministerial ladder, being appointed this week as parliamentary private secretaries."
33. ^ "Tory MP Caroline Ansell resigns from government over free school meals rebellion". SKY NEWS. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2021. "A Tory MP has quit her junior government role... Caroline Ansell resigned as a parliamentary private secretary to the environment secretary"
34. ^ "Six MPs could quit Government in Covid restrictions rebellion". Daily Telegraph. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2021. "As many as six MPs could quit as members of the Government next week... The Telegraph has learned that at least six parliamentary private secretaries are preparing to defy Boris Johnson and vote against elements of his "Plan B" restrictions"
35. ^ "Chris Green quits as junior government member over Bolton local lockdown". LBC NEWS. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2021. "A junior government member has resigned over the local lockdown in Bolton... Bolton West Conservative MP Chris Green has stepped down as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS)"
36. ^ a b "New Coat of Arms artwork unveiled". Cabinet Office. UK Government. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
37. ^ a b "HM Government Identity Guidelines 2022" (PDF). Civil Service. February 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Official website of 10 Downing Street
* UK Government list of ministers from gov.uk
* How Government works overview from gov.uk

Government

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* Aristocracy
* Bureaucracy
* Capitalism
* Confederation
* Colonialism
* Communism
* Electocracy
* Ergatocracy
* Federalism
* Feudalism
* Geniocracy
* Kleptocracy
* Meritocracy
* Military dictatorship
* Monarchy
* Oligarchy
* Plutocracy
* Republicanism
* Socialism
* Statism
* Technocracy
* Theocracy
* Totalitarianism

* Democracy:
* Parliamentary system
* Presidential system
* Cellular
* Collaborative
* Consensus
* Conservative
* Cosmopolitan
* Direct democracy
* Representative democracy
* Republic

Philosophies|

* Agrarianism
* Anarchism
* Authoritarianism
* Centrism
* Christian democracy
* Collectivism
* Communalism
* Communitarianism
* Conservatism
* Constitutionalism
* Corporatism
* Distributism
* Egalitarianism
* Environmentalism
* Extremism
* Familialism
* Fanaticism
* Fascism
* Feminism
* Fundamentalism
* Liberalism
* Progressivism
* Theoreticians:
* John Locke

Functions|

* Social insurance
* Law enforcement
* Unemployment benefits
* National healthcare
* Public education
* Military
* Espionage
* Regulation:
* Environmental regulation
* Banking regulation
* Food inspection
* Municipal:
* Traffic lights
* Sanitation
* Street cleaning

Components|

* Documents
* Constitution
* Charter
* Uncodified constitution
* Roles:
* Head of state
* Head of government
* Monarch
* President
* Prime minister
* Bodies:
* Cabinet
* Ministry
* Judiciary
* Legislature
* Legislative bodies
* Congress
* Parliament
* Council
* Assembly
* Legislative council

Governance
processes|

* Process:
* Hearing
* Committee
* Town meeting
* Outcomes:
* Legislation
* Regulation
* Zoning
* Law:
* Precedent

Politics|

* Elections:
* Voting
* Campaigns
* Groups:
* Political parties
* Advocacy groups
* Issues:
* Civil rights
* Environmentalism

Academic|

* Fields of study
* Political science
* Urban planning
* Sociology

History|

* Overviews:
* Political history of the world
* History of political thought
* Reforms
* Suffrage
* Documents:
* Magna Carta
* U.S. Constitution

International|

* Diplomacy
* Embassy
* Treaty
* International law
* World:
* World government
* United Nations
* European Union
* World Court

Related|

* Human history
* History of philosophy
* Civilization
* Templates:
* {{Political ideologies}}
* {{Political culture}}
* {{Political spectrum}}
* {{Social and political philosophy}}
* {{liberalism}}
* {{Conservatism navbox}}
* {{aspects of capitalism}}
* {{Western culture}}
* {{Autonomous types of first-tier administration}}
* {{World government}}

Categories|

* Forms of government
* Types of democracy
* Political parties

* v
* t
* e

Common types of government ministers and ministries

Leadership|

* President
* Vice president
* Prime minister
* Deputy prime minister
* First minister
* Deputy First Minister
* Premier
* Office of the president
* Cabinet department / Office of the prime minister
* Speaker / President of the assembly
* Minister

Titles|

* Secretary of state
* Minister of state
* Deputy minister
* Undersecretary
* Assistant minister/Parliamentary secretary
* Associate Minister

Defence /
foreign affairs /
public safety|

* Ministry of defence
* Ministry of foreign affairs
* Immigration minister
* Interior minister
* Interior ministry
* International development minister
* Europe

Economics/
infrastructure|

* Commerce minister
* Ministry of the economy
* Ministry of finance
* Minister of industry
* Ministry of infrastructure
* Ministry of trade and industry
* Ministry of transport

Environment /
natural resources|

* Energy minister
* Ministry of energy
* Environment minister
* Ministry of electricity
* Ministry of petroleum
* Ministry of water resources

Social|

* Culture minister
* Ministry of culture
* Education minister
* Ministry of education and culture
* Health minister
* Ministry of health
* Information minister
* Housing minister
* Ministry of housing
* Ministry of justice
* Minister of labour
* Ministry of labour
* Regional minister
* Ministry of sports
* Tourism minister
* Ministry of home affairs
* Ministry of religious affairs
* Ministry of science
* Ministry of social affairs
* Ministry of social security
* Minister for Veterans
* Ministry of women
* Minister for women

Other|

* Minister without portfolio

Lists|

* Presidents
* Vice presidents
* Prime ministers
* Deputy prime ministers
* Presidents of assembly
* Agriculture ministries
* Climate change ministers
* Communications ministries
* Defence ministers
* Education ministries
* Environment ministers
* Environment ministries
* Finance ministers
* Foreign ministers
* Forest ministries
* Health ministries (mental health)
* Interior ministers
* Public works ministries

* Government ministers by portfolio
* Ministries by portfolio

* v
* t
* e

Public services

* Municipalization
* Nationalization
* Progressive tax

Concepts|

* Common good
* Free-culture movement
* Free newspaper
* Product sample
* Public administration
* Public bad
* Public domain
* Public good (economics)
* Public health
* Public interest
* Public land
* Public ownership
* Public policy
* Public rights
* Public sphere
* Public procurement
* Public trust
* Public value
* Universal access to education
* Universal basic services

Basic services|

* Civil service
* Fire department
* Housing First
* Law enforcement
* Postal service
* Savings system
* Public broadcasting
* Public transport
* Universal basic services

Public utility|

* Electric utility
* Oil & gas
* Telecommunication
* Municipal broadband
* Public infrastructure
* Public water system
* Waste management

Public works|

* Drinking fountain
* Drug checking
* Free clinic
* Free education
* Infrastructure
* Needle and syringe programmes
* Public art
* Public bank
* Public bookcase
* Public computer
* Public hospital
* Public library
* Public open space
* Public school
* Public space
* Public toilet
* Public university
* Reagent testing
* Supervised injection site
* Urban park

Social services|

* Publicly funded health care
* Public housing
* Job creation
* Job guarantee
* Single-payer health care
* National health insurance
* Social insurance
* Social pension
* Social security
* Youth services

See also|

* Commons
* Free public transport
* Government auction
* Public float
* Public holiday
* Public offering
* Public sector
* Public security
* Public use
* Public viewing area

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom

His Majesty's Government|

| Majority|

Labour

|

Prime Minister|

Keir Starmer (Labour)

Northern Ireland Executive|

| Power-sharing|

DUP / Sinn Féin / SDLP / UUP / APNI

|

First Minister|

Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin)

Deputy First Minister|

Emma Little-Pengelly (DUP)

Scottish Government|

| Minority|

Scottish National Party

|

First Minister|

John Swinney (SNP)

Welsh Government|

| Minority|

Labour

|

First Minister|

Eluned Morgan (Labour)

Heads of governments of British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies

* v
* t
* e

Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom

Ministerial|

* Advocate General for Scotland
* Attorney General's Office
* Business and Trade
* Cabinet Office
* Culture, Media and Sport
* Defence
* Education
* Energy Security and Net Zero
* Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
* Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
* Health and Social Care
* Home
* Housing, Communities and Local Government
* Justice
* Leader of the House of Commons
* Leader of the House of Lords
* Northern Ireland
* Science, Innovation and Technology
* Scotland
* Transport
* Treasury
* UK Export Finance
* Wales
* Work and Pensions

Non-ministerial|

* Charity Commission for England and Wales
* Competition and Markets Authority
* Crown Prosecution Service
* Food Standards Agency
* Forestry Commission
* Government Actuary's Department
* Government Legal Department
* HM Land Registry
* HM Revenue and Customs
* National Crime Agency
* National Savings and Investments
* Office of Rail and Road
* Ofgem
* Ofqual
* Ofsted
* Ofwat
* Serious Fraud Office
* Supreme Court
* The National Archives
* UK Statistics Authority

* v
* t
* e

British–Irish Council

Good Friday Agreement

Member jurisdictions|

* United Kingdom
* Ireland
* Guernsey
* Isle of Man
* Jersey
* Northern Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales

Member bodies|

* Government of the United Kingdom
* Government of Ireland
* Policy and Resources Committee of Guernsey
* Isle of Man Government
* Government of Jersey
* Northern Ireland Executive
* Scottish Government
* Welsh Government

Work areas|

* Demography
* eHealth
* Environment
* Indigenous, minority and lesser-used languages
* Knowledge economy
* Misuse of drugs
* Social inclusion
* Tourism
* Transport

Representatives of states|

* Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
* Taoiseach (of Ireland)
* President of the Policy and Resources Committee of Guernsey
* Chief Minister of the Isle of Man
* Chief Minister of Jersey
* First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
* First Minister of Scotland
* First Minister of Wales

* v
* t
* e

Governments of Europe

Sovereign states|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
*   * Italy
* Kazakhstan
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Northern Ireland
* Scotland
* Wales
* Vatican City

States with limited
recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* South Ossetia
* Transnistria

Dependencies and
other entities|

* Åland
* Faroe Islands
* Gibraltar
* Guernsey
* Isle of Man
* Jersey
* Svalbard

Other entities|

* European Union

* v
* t
* e

United Kingdom articles

History|

| Chronology|

* Formation
* Union of England and Scotland Act 1603
* Treaty of Union
* Acts of Union 1707
* Union with Scotland (Amendment) Act 1707
* Georgian era
* Victorian era
* Edwardian era
* First World War
* Interwar
* Second World War
* civilian
* military
* Postwar
* political
* social
* Since 1979
* political
* social
* Membership of the European Union (1973–2020)

|

By topic|

* Economic
* Empire
* Foreign relations
* 1814–1919
* Law enforcement
* Maritime
* Mass surveillance
* Military
* Taxation
* Women's history

Geography|

| Administrative|

* Counties of the United Kingdom
* Countries of the United Kingdom
* Crown Dependencies
* Overseas territories
* City status
* Towns
* Former colonies

|

Physical|

* British Isles
* terminology
* Great Britain
* Climate
* change
* Coastline
* Geology
* Lakes and lochs
* Mountains
* Rivers
* Volcanoes

Resources|

* Agriculture
* Energy
* biodiesel
* coal
* geothermal
* hydraulic frac.
* hydroelectricity
* marine
* North Sea oil
* Renewable energy
* solar
* wind
* Fishing
* English
* Scottish
* Welsh
* Hunting
* Materials
* forestry
* mining
* Wildlife
* fauna
* flora

Politics|

* Constitution
* Corruption
* Devolution
* Elections
* By-elections
* Foreign relations
* Human rights
* LGBT
* Judiciary
* Law
* Law enforcement
* Local government
* Monarchy
* monarchs
* republicanism
* Nationality
* Parliament
* House of Commons
* House of Lords
* Political parties
* Female party leaders
* Political scandals
* Shadow Cabinet

Government|

* Cabinet
* list
* Civil service
* Departments
* Ministers
* list
* Prime Minister
* list

Military|

* His Majesty's Naval Service
* Royal Navy
* Royal Marines
* British Army
* Royal Air Force
* Weapons of mass destruction

Economy|

* Banks
* Bank of England
* Budget
* Economic geography
* Free trade agreements
* Income
* Manufacturing
* Pound sterling (currency)
* Science and technology
* Stock exchanges (London Exchange)
* Taxation
* Telecommunications
* Tourism

Transport|

* Air transport
* Bus transport
* Driving
* Roads
* Rail transport

Society|

* Cannabis
* Crime
* Demography
* Drug policy
* Education
* Environmental inequality
* Environmental issues
* Ethnic groups
* Health
* Homelessness
* England
* Scotland
* Housing
* Hunger
* Immigration
* Innovation
* Languages
* Life expectancy
* Mental health
* Poverty
* Prostitution
* Public holidays
* Racism
* Social care
* Social class
* Suicide
* Universal basic income (UBI)
* Water supply and sanitation
* Waste
* Welfare state

Culture|

* Art
* Anthem
* Cinema
* Cuisine
* Wine
* Identity
* Literature
* Media
* Music
* Religion
* Sport
* Symbols
* Theatre
* Stereotypes of the British
* World Heritage Sites
* Anglosphere

Countries of the United Kingdom

| England|

* History
* social
* timeline
* Geography
* Politics
* Law
* Economy
* tourism
* Education
* Health care
* Homelessness
* Culture
* Religion
* Symbols

|

Northern Ireland|

* History
* Geography
* Politics
* Assembly
* Executive
* First Minister and deputy
* Law
* Economy
* tourism
* Education
* Health care
* Culture
* Religion
* Symbols

Scotland|

* History
* timeline
* Geography
* Politics
* Parliament
* Government
* First Minister
* Law
* Economy
* tourism
* Education
* Health care
* Homelessness
* Culture
* Religion
* Symbols

Wales|

* History
* Geography
* Politics
* Senedd
* Government
* First Minister
* Law
* Economy
* tourism
* Education
* Health care
* Culture
* Religion
* Symbols

* Outline
* Index

* Category
* Portal

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States

Other|

* Te Papa (New Zealand)
* Yale LUX

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