List of female cabinet members of the United Kingdom

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Fifty-six 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.

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[a]		 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.

Image Member Party Constituency Position Year
Appointed		 Ministry Ref
Margaret Bondfield Labour Wallsend Minister of Labour 1929 MacDonald II [3]
Ellen Wilkinson Labour Jarrow Minister of Education 1945 Attlee I [4]
Florence Horsbrugh Conservative Manchester Moss Side Minister of Education 1951 Churchill II [5]
Barbara Castle Labour Blackburn Minister of Overseas Development 1964 Wilson I [6]
Minister of Transport 1965 [6]
Wilson II [6]
Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity 1968 [6]
First Secretary of State 1968 [6]
Secretary of State for Health and Social Services 1974 Wilson III [6]
Wilson IV [6]
Judith Hart Labour Clydesdale Paymaster General 1968 Wilson II [7]
Margaret Thatcher Conservative Finchley Secretary of State for Education and Science 1970 Heath [8]
Shirley Williams Labour Hertford and Stevenage Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection 1974 Wilson III [9]
Wilson IV [9]
Callaghan [9]
Secretary of State for Education and Science 1976 [9]
Baroness Young Conservative N/A (peeress) Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1981 Thatcher I [10]
Lord Privy Seal 1982 [11]
Virginia Bottomley Conservative South West Surrey Secretary of State for Health 1992 Major II [12]
Secretary of State for National Heritage 1995 [12]
Gillian Shephard Conservative South West Norfolk Secretary of State for Employment 1992 Major II [13]
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1993 [13]
Secretary of State for Education 1994 [13]
Secretary of State for Education and Employment 1995 [13]
Margaret Beckett Labour Derby South Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 1997 Blair I [14]
Lord President of the Council 1998 [14]
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2001 Blair II [14]
Blair III [14]
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 2006 [14]
Harriet Harman Labour Camberwell and Peckham Secretary of State for Social Security 1997 Blair I [15]
Lord Privy Seal 2007 Brown [15]
Mo Mowlam Labour Redcar Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 1997 Blair I [16]
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1999 [16]
Baroness Jay Labour N/A (peeress) Leader of the House of Lords 1998 Blair I [17]
Lord Privy Seal 1998 [18]
Clare Short Labour Birmingham Ladywood Secretary of State for International Development 1997 Blair I [19]
Blair II [19]
Ann Taylor Labour Dewsbury Lord President of the Council 1997 Blair I [20]
Helen Liddell Labour Airdrie and Shotts Secretary of State for Scotland 2001 Blair I [21]
Blair II [21]
Estelle Morris Labour Birmingham Yardley Secretary of State for Education and Skills 2001 Blair II [22]
Patricia Hewitt Labour Leicester West Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 2001 Blair II [23]
Secretary of State for Health 2005 Blair III [23]
Tessa Jowell Labour Dulwich and West Norwood Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 2001 Blair II [24]
Blair III [24]
Baroness Amos Labour N/A (peeress) Secretary of State for International Development 2003 Blair II [25]
Lord President of the Council 2003 Blair II [25]
Blair III [25]
Ruth Kelly Labour Bolton West Secretary of State for Education and Skills 2004 Blair II [26]
Blair III [26]
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 2006 [26]
Secretary of State for Transport 2007 Brown [26]
Hilary Armstrong Labour North West Durham Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 2006 Blair III [27]
Hazel Blears Labour Salford and Eccles Minister without portfolio 2006 Blair III [28]
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 2007 Brown [28]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland Labour N/A (peeress) Lord President of the Council 2007 Brown [29]
Jacqui Smith Labour Redditch Secretary of State for the Home Department 2007 Brown [30]
Yvette Cooper Labour Pontefract and Castleford Chief Secretary to the Treasury 2008 Brown [31]
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2009 [31]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Labour N/A (peeress) Lord President of the Council 2008 Brown [32]
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 2009 [32]
Cheryl Gillan Conservative Chesham and Amersham Secretary of State for Wales 2010 Cameron–Clegg [33]
Theresa May Conservative Maidenhead Secretary of State for the Home Department 2010 Cameron–Clegg [34]
Cameron II [34]
Caroline Spelman Conservative Meriden Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2010 Cameron–Clegg [35]
Baroness Warsi Conservative N/A (peeress) Minister without portfolio 2010 Cameron–Clegg [36]
Justine Greening Conservative Putney Secretary of State for Transport 2011 Cameron–Clegg [37]
Secretary of State for International Development 2012 [37]
Cameron II [37]
Secretary of State for Education 2016 May I [37]
May II [37]
Maria Miller Conservative Basingstoke Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 2012 Cameron–Clegg [38]
Theresa Villiers Conservative Chipping Barnet Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 2012 Cameron–Clegg [39]
Cameron II [39]
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2019 Johnson I [39]
Johnson II [39]
Nicky Morgan Conservative Loughborough Secretary of State for Education 2014 Cameron–Clegg [40]
Cameron II [40]
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 2019 Johnson I [40]
N/A (peeress) Johnson II [40]
Baroness Stowell of Beeston Conservative N/A (peeress) Lord Privy Seal 2014 Cameron–Clegg [41]
Cameron II [41]
Liz Truss Conservative South West Norfolk Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2014 Cameron–Clegg [42]
Cameron II [42]
Secretary of State for Justice 2016 May I [42]
Secretary of State for International Trade 2019 Johnson I [42]
Johnson II [42]
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs 2021 [42]
Amber Rudd Conservative Hastings and Rye Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 2015 Cameron II [43]
Secretary of State for the Home Department 2016 May I [43]
May II [43]
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2018 [43]
Johnson I [43]
Karen Bradley Conservative Staffordshire Moorlands Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 2016 May I [44]
May II [44]
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 2017 [44]
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 2018 [44]
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Conservative N/A (peeress) Lord Privy Seal 2016 May I [45]
May II [45]
Johnson I [45]
Johnson II [45]
Andrea Leadsom Conservative South Northamptonshire Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2016 May I [46]
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 2019 Johnson I [46]
Johnson II [46]
Priti Patel Conservative Witham Secretary of State for International Development 2016 May I [47]
May II [47]
Secretary of State for the Home Department 2019 Johnson I [47]
Johnson II [47]
Penny Mordaunt Conservative Portsmouth North Secretary of State for International Development 2017 May II [48]
Secretary of State for Defence 2019 [48]
Lord President of the Council 2022 Truss [48]
Sunak [48]
Leader of the House of Commons 2022 Truss [48]
Sunak [48]
Esther McVey Conservative Tatton Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2018 May II [49]
Thérèse Coffey Conservative Suffolk Coastal Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2019 Johnson I [50]
Johnson II [50]
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 2022 Truss [50]
Deputy Prime Minister [50]
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2022 Sunak [50]
Amanda Milling Conservative Cannock Chase Minister without portfolio 2020 Johnson II [51]
Anne-Marie Trevelyan Conservative Berwick-upon-Tweed Secretary of State for International Development 2020 Johnson II [52]
Secretary of State for International Trade 2021 [52]
Secretary of State for Transport 2022 Truss [52]
Nadine Dorries Conservative Mid Bedfordshire Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 2021 Johnson II [53]
Michelle Donelan Conservative Chippenham Secretary of State for Education 2022 Johnson II [54]
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 2022 Truss [54]
Sunak [54]
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology[b] 2023 [54]
Kemi Badenoch Conservative Saffron Walden Secretary of State for International Trade 2022 Truss [55]
Sunak [55]
Secretary of State for Business and Trade 2023 [55]
Suella Braverman Conservative Fareham Secretary of State for the Home Department 2022 Truss [56]
2022 Sunak [56]
Chloe Smith Conservative Norwich North Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2022 Truss [57]
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology 2023 Sunak [57]
Gillian Keegan Conservative Chichester Secretary of State for Education 2022 Sunak [58]
Lucy Frazer Conservative South East Cambridgeshire Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 2023 Sunak [59]
Claire Coutinho Conservative East Surrey Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero 2023 Sunak [60]
Victoria Atkins Conservative Louth and Horncastle Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 2023 Sunak [61]

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.

Member Party Constituency Position Year
Appointed		 Ministry Ref
Ann Taylor Labour Dewsbury Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury 1998 Blair I [20]
Hilary Armstrong Labour North West Durham Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury 2001 Blair II [20]
Blair III [20]
Jacqui Smith Labour Redditch Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury 2006 Blair III [30]
Yvette Cooper Labour Pontefract and Castleford Minister of State for Housing and Planning[c] 2007 Brown [31]
Beverley Hughes Labour Stretford and Urmston Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families[c] 2007 Brown [62]
Tessa Jowell Labour Dulwich and West Norwood Minister for the Olympics 2007 Brown [24]
Paymaster General[c] 2007 [24]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal Labour N/A (peeress) Attorney General for England and Wales 2007 Brown [63]
Caroline Flint Labour Don Valley Minister of State for Housing and Planning 2008 Brown [64]
Minister of State for Europe[c] 2008 [64]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Labour N/A (peeress) Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms 2008 Brown [32]
Margaret Beckett Labour Derby South Minister of State for Housing and Planning 2008 Brown [14]
Dawn Primarolo Labour Bristol South Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families 2009 Brown [65]
Rosie Winterton Labour Bristol South Minister of State for Regional Economic Development and Coordination 2009 Brown [65]
Minister of State for Local Government[c] 2009 [65]
Baroness Warsi Conservative N/A (peeress) Senior Minister of State for Faith and Communities 2012 Cameron–Clegg [36]
Senior Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 2012 [36]
Nicky Morgan Conservative Loughborough Financial Secretary to the Treasury[c] 2014 Cameron–Clegg [40]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns Conservative N/A (peeress) Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 2014 Cameron–Clegg [66]
Cameron II [66]
Esther McVey Conservative Wirral West Minister of State for Employment[c] 2014[d] Cameron–Clegg [49]
Tatton Minister of State for Housing and Planning 2019 Johnson I [49]
Johnson II [49]
Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office 2023 Sunak [49]
Priti Patel Conservative Witham Minister of State for Employment 2015 Cameron II [47]
Anna Soubry Conservative Broxtowe Minister of State for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise 2015 Cameron II [67]
Andrea Leadsom Conservative South Northamptonshire Lord President of the Council 2017 May II [46]
Leader of the House of Commons 2017 [46]
Liz Truss Conservative South West Norfolk Chief Secretary to the Treasury 2017 May II [42]
Caroline Nokes Conservative Romsey and Southampton North Minister of State for Immigration 2018 May II [68]
Claire Perry Conservative Devizes Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth 2018 May II [69]
Suella Braverman Conservative Fareham Attorney General for England and Wales 2020[e] Johnson II [56]
Michelle Donelan Conservative Chippenham Minister of State for Higher and Further Education 2021 Johnson II [54]
Vicky Ford Conservative Chelmsford Minister of State for Development 2022 Truss [70]
Wendy Morton Conservative Aldridge-Brownhills Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury 2022 Truss [71]
Victoria Prentis Conservative Banbury Attorney General for England and Wales 2022 Sunak [72]
Laura Trott Conservative Sevenoaks Chief Secretary to the Treasury 2023 Sunak [73]

Notable members[edit]

Baroness Amos became the first black woman to be appointed to the cabinet in 2003.[74] 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.[75][76]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The prime minister is appointed by the monarch, through the exercise of the royal prerogative.[2]
  2. ^ Minister on Leave from 28 April 2023 to 20 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g First woman to serve in cabinet in the position.
  4. ^ Appointed in 2013, but did not attend cabinet until 2014.
  5. ^ Minister on Leave from 2 March 2021 to 10 September 2021.
  1. ^ "Ministers in the House of Lords" (PDF). House of Commons Library. 22 April 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Claytor, Martin. "Margaret Bondfield - The first woman minister in Parliament". Historic UK. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Ellen Wilkinson - Later career". UK Parliament. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  5. ^ Watton, Cherish (8 March 2021). "Remembering Florence Horsbrugh on International Women's Day". Churchill College. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Perkins, Anne (3 May 2002). "Barbara Castle: Obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  7. ^ Zeigler, Philip.'Wilson: The Authorised Life'. Weidenfeld & Nicolson (20 Sept. 1993). ISBN 978-0297812760
  8. ^ Harris, Robin (2014). Not for turning : the life of Margaret Thatcher. London: Corgi. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-55215-579-3.
  9. ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Baroness Williams of Crosby". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  10. ^ "No. 48741". The London Gazette. 18 September 1981. p. 11857.
  11. ^ "No. 48952". The London Gazette. 16 April 1982. p. 5169.
  12. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  13. ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Baroness Shephard of Northwold". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Parliamentary career for Margaret Beckett". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Harriet Harman". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  16. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Dr Mo Mowlam". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Jay". Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Baroness Jay's Political Progress". Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  19. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Clare Short". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  20. ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Baroness Taylor of Bolton". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Morris of Yardley". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Ms Patricia Hewitt". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Baroness Jowell". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  25. ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Baroness Amos". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  26. ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Ruth Kelly". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Hazel Blears". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  29. ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Ashton of Upholland". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Jacqui Smith". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  31. ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Yvette Cooper". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  32. ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Baroness Royall of Blaisdon". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  33. ^ "Parliamentary career for Cheryl Gillan". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  34. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Mrs Theresa May". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  35. ^ "Parliamentary career for Caroline Spelman". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  36. ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Baroness Warsi". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  37. ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Mrs Justine Greening". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  38. ^ "Parliamentary career for Dame Maria Miller". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  39. ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Theresa Villiers". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  40. ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Baroness Morgan of Cotes". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  41. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Baroness Stowell of Beeston". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g "Parliamentary career for Elizabeth Truss". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  43. ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Amber Rudd". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  44. ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Karen Bradley". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  45. ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  46. ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Andrea Leadsom". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  47. ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Priti Patel". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  48. ^ a b c d e f "Parliamentary career for Penny Mordaunt". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  49. ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Esther McVey". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  50. ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Dr Thérèse Coffey". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  51. ^ "Parliamentary career for Amanda Milling". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  52. ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Anne-Marie Trevelyan". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  53. ^ "Parliamentary career for Nadine Dorries". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  54. ^ a b c d e "Parliamentary career for Michelle Donelan". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  55. ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Kemi Badenoch". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  56. ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Suella Braverman". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  57. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Chloe Smith". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  58. ^ "Parliamentary career for Gillian Keegan". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  59. ^ "Parliamentary career for Lucy Frazer". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  60. ^ "Parliamentary career for Claire Coutinho". UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  61. ^ "Parliamentary career for Victoria Atkins". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  62. ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Hughes of Stretford". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  63. ^ "Parliamentary career for Baroness Scotland of Asthal". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  64. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Caroline Flint". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  65. ^ a b c "Parliamentary career for Baroness Primarolo". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  66. ^ a b "Parliamentary career for Baroness Anelay of St Johns". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  67. ^ "Parliamentary career for Anna Soubry". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  68. ^ "Parliamentary career for Anna Soubry". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  69. ^ "Parliamentary career for Claire Perry". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  70. ^ "Parliamentary career for Vicky Ford". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  71. ^ "Parliamentary career for Wendy Morton". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  72. ^ "Parliamentary career for Victoria Prentis". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  73. ^ "Parliamentary career for Laura Trott". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  74. ^ Watt, Nicholas; White, Michael (13 May 2003). "Amos is first black woman in cabinet". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  75. ^ Saul, Heather (25 June 2016). "Tory MP announces she's in a same-sex relationship". The Independent. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  76. ^ 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.
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