List of female cabinet members of the United Kingdom
Sixty-seven women have been appointed to positions in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom, with three female Prime Ministers serving in cabinet. Since, by convention, members of the cabinet must be a member of either the House of Commons or House of Lords,[1] the Prime Minister could not appoint women to the cabinet until the Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918 allowed women to stand for MP, and could not appoint peeresses to it until the Life Peerages Act 1958.[a]
Female prime ministers
[edit]Three women have led the cabinet as prime minister.
denotes the first female minister of that particular department.
Image | Prime Minister | Party | Constituency | Year appointed[b] |
Roles held concurrently |
Ministry | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Margaret Thatcher | Conservative | Finchley | 1979 | Thatcher I | |||
Thatcher II | |||||||
Thatcher III | |||||||
Theresa May | Conservative | Maidenhead | 2016 | May I | |||
May II | |||||||
Liz Truss | Conservative | South West Norfolk | 2022 | Truss |
Female cabinet members
[edit]denotes the first female minister of that particular department.
Female ministers also attending cabinet
[edit]Some roles, such as the Attorney General, can attend cabinet meetings without being a member of the cabinet.
denotes the first female minister of that particular department.
Notable members
[edit]Baroness Amos became the first black woman to be appointed to the cabinet in 2003.[87] In 2011, Justine Greening became the first member of the cabinet who was publicly known to be a lesbian, although she was not openly lesbian until 2016.[88][89]
References
[edit]- ^ Although around 90 hereditary peerages can be inherited by women,[2] it was not until the Peerage Act 1963 that a woman who had inherited a peerage could receive a writ of summons to the House of Lords.[3]
- ^ The prime minister is appointed by the monarch, through the exercise of the royal prerogative.[4]
- ^ Minister on Leave from 28 April 2023 to 20 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g First woman to serve in cabinet in the position.
- ^ Appointed in 2013, but did not attend cabinet until 2014.
- ^ Minister on Leave from 2 March 2021 to 10 September 2021.
- ^ "Ministers in the House of Lords" (PDF). House of Commons Library. 22 April 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ Evennett, Heather. "Women, hereditary peerages and gender inequality in the line of succession". House of Lords Library. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ Scolari, Federico. "Why are there still hereditary peers in the House of Lords?". www.electoral-reform.org.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ Public Administration Select Committee. "Taming the Prerogative: Strengthening Ministerial Accountability to Parliament. Fourth Report of Session 2003–04" (PDF). Parliament of the United Kingdom. p. 5.
- ^ Claytor, Martin. "Margaret Bondfield - The first woman minister in Parliament". Historic UK. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ "Ellen Wilkinson - Later career". UK Parliament. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ Watton, Cherish (8 March 2021). "Remembering Florence Horsbrugh on International Women's Day". Churchill College. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Perkins, Anne (3 May 2002). "Barbara Castle: Obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ Zeigler, Philip.'Wilson: The Authorised Life'. Weidenfeld & Nicolson (20 Sept. 1993). ISBN 978-0297812760
- ^ Harris, Robin (2014). Not for turning : the life of Margaret Thatcher. London: Corgi. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-55215-579-3.
- ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Baroness Williams of Crosby". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "No. 48741". The London Gazette. 18 September 1981. p. 11857.
- ^ "No. 48952". The London Gazette. 16 April 1982. p. 5169.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Baroness Shephard of Northwold". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Parliamentary career for Margaret Beckett". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Harriet Harman". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Dr Mo Mowlam". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Jay". Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "Baroness Jay's Political Progress". Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Clare Short". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Baroness Taylor of Bolton". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Morris of Yardley". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Ms Patricia Hewitt". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Baroness Jowell". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Baroness Amos". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Ruth Kelly". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Hazel Blears". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Ashton of Upholland". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Jacqui Smith". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Yvette Cooper". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Baroness Royall of Blaisdon". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Cheryl Gillan". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Mrs Theresa May". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Caroline Spelman". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Baroness Warsi". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Mrs Justine Greening". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Dame Maria Miller". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Theresa Villiers". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Baroness Morgan of Cotes". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Baroness Stowell of Beeston". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Parliamentary career for Elizabeth Truss". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Amber Rudd". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Karen Bradley". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Andrea Leadsom". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Priti Patel". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Parliamentary career for Penny Mordaunt". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Esther McVey". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Dr Thérèse Coffey". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Amanda Milling". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Anne-Marie Trevelyan". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Nadine Dorries". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Michelle Donelan". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Kemi Badenoch". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Suella Braverman". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Chloe Smith". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Gillian Keegan". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Lucy Frazer". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Claire Coutinho". UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Victoria Atkins". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Louise Haigh". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Liz Kendall". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Shabana Mahmood". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Lisa Nandy". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Bridget Phillipson". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Lucy Powell". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Angela Rayner". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Rachel Reeves". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Smith of Basildon". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Jo Stevens". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Hughes of Stretford". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Scotland of Asthal". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Caroline Flint". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Baroness Primarolo". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Baroness Anelay of St Johns". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Anna Soubry". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Anna Soubry". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Claire Perry". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Vicky Ford". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Wendy Morton". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Victoria Prentis". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Laura Trott". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Anneliese Dodds". UK Parliament. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Watt, Nicholas; White, Michael (13 May 2003). "Amos is first black woman in cabinet". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ Saul, Heather (25 June 2016). "Tory MP announces she's in a same-sex relationship". The Independent. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ Parsons, Vic (25 June 2020). "Justine Greening, the UK's first openly lesbian cabinet minister, launches campaign to save LGBT+ venues after lockdown". PinkNews. Retrieved 16 August 2022.