445:
487:. The adoption of this additional position was directly linked to reforms to HM Treasury, being created when responsibilities for the pay and management of the civil service was transferred from the Treasury to a new Civil Service Department. Since the Prime Minister was a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, prior to the reform he had had
496:
in 1982, the title was retained. Whereas the First
Lordship of the Treasury has been a complete sinecure for some time, the functions of the Minister for the Civil Service have at times required the Prime Minister to discharge policy and be held accountable for it. For instance, it was occupying this
387:
position on the commission as First Lord, even if through constitutional convention he couldn't serve as the
Chancellor, who was otherwise First Lord by virtue of his office. The office of First Lord thus became strongly intertwined with the (legally non-existent) Premiership was particularly strong
491:
oversight of these portfolios, but it was felt more proper for the civil service to be held outside of a particularised department. Nevertheless, in recognition of the primary authority of the Prime
Minister over the Civil Service, it is a constitutional convention that the Ministry would always be
432:
Since the evolution of the position, the Prime
Minister has also served as First Lord of the Treasury in all but two cases. The initial linkage of the two offices is not surprising, since at the formation of the office the First Lord of the Treasury did indeed take part in running the Treasury, and
330:
Historically, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer was also the First Lord of the Treasury, and usually by extension Prime Minister as well. However the increasing sophistication of government spending led to the development of the chancellorship into a more refined position of finance minister, and so
284:
The lords of the
Treasury nominally head HM Treasury. They do so by virtue of office and as a matter of law, acting in the office of Treasurer of the Exchequer. The Chancellor does so in reality, consulting the Prime Minister, and delegating parliamentary-level work to the other ministers in the
366:
during vacancies, and who were often peers). That notwithstanding, the constitutional convention mandating that the Prime
Minister reside in the Commons became embedded much later, with a Prime Minister serving without difficulty from the Lords as late as 1902. That
382:
Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Prime
Ministers would continue to be drawn regularly from the upper house. In circumstances where the Prime Minister was a peer it was felt appropriate for the head of the ministry overall to take the
540:
Accordingly, the First Lord of the
Treasury is the title most associated with the Prime Ministership. Seven Prime Ministers saw fit to occupy the post of First Lord of the Treasury only, and held no other subsidiary office. Those Prime Ministers were
433:
as First Lord was the most senior person so tasked. Since control of money usually granted most power, it is not surprising that such a person would head the government as a whole. Indeed, even after decades of the emergence of the
Premiership,
138:
As an office in commission, technically all Lords Commissioners of the Treasury are of equal rank, with their ordinal numbers connoting seniority rather than authority over their fellow Lords Commissioners. However, from at least the reign of
268:
None of the other lords of the Treasury work for the Treasury in a substantive sense. Rather they are government whips, given nominal positions in the Treasury to enable them to be suitably remunerated for facilitating the function of
468:, is in fact the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, which title is named on the letter box. Salisbury, as a marquess of vast independent wealth, had no use of an official residence, instead living in his grander
416:, became the first Chancellor to be Second Lord of the Treasury whilst the First Lord was also in the Commons. From that point onwards, the Second Lordship, save on the rare occasion that the Prime Minister holds both
396:, had been First Lords. Accordingly, when the Prime Minister sat in the Lords, the Chancellor assumed the Second Lordship. The constitutional entrenchment of this principle began in 1841 with the appointment of the
404:(the outgoing Prime Minister) had not been able to be Chancellor as well, but nevertheless assumed the First Lordship pursuant to his premiership in the usual way for premiers from the peerage. However, when
499:
460:
instead. Lord Salisbury became First Lord neither during his first term (1885–1886) nor his third (1895–1902), though he did become First Lord for the first two years of his second ministry (1886–1892).
576:
525:
had made himself Minister of Defence, a title Prime Ministers would hold for thirteen years thereafter, but with the decline of defence as an urgent policy area this was abandoned by
92:
resumed the office). These offices (excluding Lord High Treasurer of Ireland, which went into commission in 1817) have continually been in commission since the resignation in 1714 of
285:
Treasury, none of whom are Lords of the Treasury, who negotiate and formulate the rest of Treasury business. These junior ministerial positions are, in descending order of rank:
1046:
542:
1205:
1200:
546:
389:
537:, which he created to display his commitment to strengthening the bond of the four nations of the United Kingdom. This role was retained by his successor Liz Truss.
376:
412:
wherein he had also served as Chancellor. But despite being a Member of Parliament (i.e. not a Lord), Peel did not assume the Chancellorship. Thus the Chancellor,
1210:
518:
depending on the chamber in which they sat. As the power of the executive swelled, the need to have a legislative-oriented office receded. In 1942 during the
616:
570:
273:. The Commission of the Treasury is suitably flexible for the government's whip operation because it has no fixed number of office-holders. However, the
1041:
944:
359:
278:
85:
342:
A more immediately significant trend though was the rebalancing of the powers of the Houses of Parliament in favour of the lower house. From the
913:
93:
408:
returned to office for his non-consecutive second term he elected to be First Lord of Treasury, a title he had naturally assumed in his first
346:
and onwards it had become increasingly constitutionally untenable for the person setting fiscal policy (i.e. the Chancellor) to reside in the
1100:
1010:
894:
820:
975:
309:
120:
81:
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969:
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gradually particularised the office in a way less suitable for headship of the ministry overall. The last Chancellor-Prime Minister was
319:
299:
1058:
1018:
960:
351:
314:
355:
261:
is the Second Lord, as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Since the formation of the office of Prime Minister (including in the case of
1079:
1053:
1023:
132:
939:
289:
235:
162:
69:, however this is not true. The confusion arises because both offices used to be held by the same individual at the same time.
479:
Other positions have been linked to the Prime Ministership as well. Continuously since 1968, when the position was created by
992:
642:
511:
484:
77:
464:
Since Salisbury, the two roles have become completely concomitant, so much so that the Prime Minister's official residence,
265:
as the inaugural holder), it has been typical for the incumbent to assume also the position of First Lord of the Treasury.
293:
1136:
1069:
515:
140:
97:
934:
193:
124:
51:
448:
The door of 10 Downing Street, with "First Lord of the Treasury" inscribed on the letterbox as the addressee for post
270:
929:
179:
47:
1115:
887:
582:
434:
104:
336:
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561:(1963–1964), and Harold Wilson (1964–1968, at which point he also became Minister for the Civil Service).
534:
453:
393:
742:
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476:, and could instead bestow it as a perquisite to other ministers, along with the First Lordship itself.
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73:
66:
43:
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member, as the incumbent always has the right to attend meetings if not a full, statutory member)
262:
632:
281:, which is also a sinecure used to procure paid membership among the members of the Government.
277:
is not personally a lord of the Treasury, instead having the similar, but discrete, position of
765:
506:
Other offices have historically been linked to the Prime Ministership but are no longer. Until
950:
816:
638:
522:
493:
465:
421:
417:
368:
303:
112:
39:
257:
Of all the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, typically the only one who actually works in
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526:
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372:
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55:
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17:
457:
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401:
347:
219:
31:
1189:
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227:
199:
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and Lord Salisbury. During Chatham's ministry of 1766–68 he occupied the office of
185:
89:
666:
492:
held by the Prime Minister. Though the Civil Service Department was abolished by
921:
903:
258:
243:
62:
371:, the last to assume the Premiership from the Lords in 1963, felt compelled to
103:
Until the 19th century, this commission made most of the economic decisions of
1175:
1141:
1110:
732:
720:
469:
274:
620:. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 228–229.
813:
The Executive in the Constitution: Structure, Autonomy, and Internal Control
211:
579:– includes a list of former lords commissioners of the Treasury until 1714
510:
became Prime Minister, the vast majority of premiers had served as either
428:
Relationship between the First Lord of the Treasury and the Prime Minister
1167:
116:
865:
Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 1: Treasury Officials 1660–1870
634:
Office-Holders in Modern Britain: Volume 1, Treasury Officials 1660–1870
335:
in 1923, and then only very briefly – the last substantive overlap was
108:
379:
shows that the convention had, by that time, become well-entrenched.
362:, who historically assumed the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer
115:). However, starting during the 19th century, these positions became
715:
Stuart Handley, ‘Talbot, Charles, duke of Shrewsbury (1660–1718)’,
935:
Chancellor of the Exchequer / Second Lord of the Treasury
443:
161:
The current Lords Commissioners of the Treasury were appointed by
500:
Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service
876:
609:
872:
836:
David Wood (17 October 1968). "Ministers in merger dilemma".
72:
Strictly they are commissioners for exercising the office of
119:
positions, with the First Lord serving almost invariably as
497:
role which saw the Prime Minister sued for her policies in
863:'Treasurers and Commissioners of the Treasury 1660—1870',
719:(Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008)
577:
List of lord high treasurers of England and Great Britain
671:. Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press. pp. 163–164
61:
It is commonly thought that the Lords Commissioners of
54:, and four or more junior lords acting as whips in the
36:
Lords (or Lady) Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury
1047:
Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt
350:, a principle which was embedded permanently in the
65:
serve as commissioners for exercising the office of
1129:
1088:
1067:
1032:
1009:
991:
920:
804:Daintith, Terence; Page, Alan C. (26 August 1999).
437:proffered that the Prime Minister "ought to be the
424:, has been permanently vested in the Chancellor.
637:. London: University of London. pp. 16–25.
358:(note this excepts the brief tenures of certain
306:, which is not always allocated to the Treasury)
326:Relationship between the First and Second Lords
668:The Law and Custom of the Constitution, Part 2
147:power has rested with the top-numbered Lords.
888:
8:
764:Blick, Andrew; Jones, George (7 June 2010).
571:List of lords commissioners of the Treasury
74:Treasurer of the Exchequer of Great Britain
895:
881:
873:
253:Relationship with Ministers of HM Treasury
1206:Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom
1201:Ceremonial officers in the United Kingdom
553:(1916–1922), Sir Anthony Eden (1955–57),
600:
598:
483:, the Prime Minister has also served as
167:
1170:nominally associated with the Treasury
945:Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
717:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
594:
279:Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
58:to whom this title is usually applied.
27:Political office in the United Kingdom
1101:Infrastructure and Projects Authority
96:, who was appointed to the office by
7:
1211:1714 establishments in Great Britain
976:Commercial Secretary to the Treasury
840:. No. 57384. London. p. 1.
310:Commercial Secretary to the Treasury
82:Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
1001:Permanent Secretary to the Treasury
982:Lords Commissioners of the Treasury
970:Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
956:Financial Secretary to the Treasury
665:Anson, Sir William Reynell (1892).
320:Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
300:Financial Secretary to the Treasury
1059:National Infrastructure Commission
961:Economic Secretary to the Treasury
697:. UK Government. p. Section 2
439:person at the head of the finances
388:because all Prime Ministers up to
354:from 1718 with the resignation of
315:Economic Secretary to the Treasury
127:, and the junior lords serving as
25:
766:"The power of the Prime Minister"
631:Sainty, John Christopher (1972).
302:(often paired with the office of
1080:Office for Budget Responsibility
1054:Government Internal Audit Agency
1024:National Savings and Investments
529:when he came to office in 1955.
123:, the Second Lord invariably as
1019:Government Actuary's Department
940:Chief Secretary to the Treasury
852:The Changing Anatomy of Britain
290:Chief Secretary to the Treasury
512:Leader of the House of Commons
485:Minister for the Civil Service
80:(similar to the status of the
78:Lord High Treasurer of Ireland
1:
458:Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
377:take up a seat in the Commons
691:"Consolidated Fund Act 1816"
516:Leader of the House of Lords
46:. The board consists of the
1011:Non-ministerial departments
815:. Oxford University Press.
194:Second Lord of the Treasury
125:Chancellor of the Exchequer
94:Charles, Duke of Shrewsbury
52:Second Lord of the Treasury
18:Junior Lord of the Treasury
1227:
930:First Lord of the Treasury
792:Salisbury: Victorian Titan
472:at 20 Arlington Street in
180:First Lord of the Treasury
154:
48:First Lord of the Treasury
44:Treasurer of the Exchequer
42:for the ancient office of
1155:
1116:UK Government Investments
910:
583:Secretary to the Treasury
206:
84:exercising the office of
1162:are not currently in use
452:The two exceptions were
435:William Pitt the Younger
271:His Majesty's Government
722:, accessed 19 Aug 2008.
617:Encyclopædia Britannica
34:there are at least six
1121:UK Infrastructure Bank
1042:Debt Management Office
535:Minister for the Union
449:
559:Sir Alec Douglas-Home
533:held the position of
447:
151:Current officeholders
914:1, Horse Guards Road
770:History & Policy
400:. Being a viscount,
398:Second Peel ministry
373:disclaim his peerage
165:dated 16 July 2024.
1174:held by Government
360:Lord Chief Justices
344:Glorious Revolution
67:Lord High Treasurer
1034:Executive agencies
738:The London Gazette
695:legislation.gov.uk
551:David Lloyd George
450:
385:primus inter pares
263:Sir Robert Walpole
1183:
1182:
1178:
1163:
951:Paymaster General
867:(1972), pp. 16–25
850:Anthony Sampson,
822:978-0-19-826870-3
523:Winston Churchill
494:Margaret Thatcher
466:10 Downing Street
422:11 Downing Street
369:Alec Douglas-Home
337:William Gladstone
304:Paymaster General
250:
249:
113:Act of Union 1707
100:on her deathbed.
88:until 1964, when
86:Lord High Admiral
16:(Redirected from
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1168:Sinecure offices
1165:
1157:
1147:Spring Statement
1070:non-departmental
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772:. United Kingdom
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611:"Treasury"
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555:Harold Macmillan
527:Sir Anthony Eden
520:Second World War
184:The Rt Hon. Sir
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157:Starmer ministry
56:House of Commons
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333:Stanley Baldwin
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292:(effectively a
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38:, serving as a
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806:"Introduction"
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745:. 19 July 2024
733:"Crown Office"
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682:
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623:
608:, ed. (1911).
606:Chisholm, Hugh
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508:Clement Attlee
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414:Henry Goulburn
402:Lord Melbourne
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348:House of Lords
339:in 1880–1882.
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32:United Kingdom
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557:(1957–1963),
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547:Lord Portland
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531:Boris Johnson
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1089:Other bodies
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774:. Retrieved
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747:. Retrieved
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699:. Retrieved
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685:
673:. Retrieved
667:
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648:. Retrieved
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463:
454:Lord Chatham
451:
431:
394:Lord Chatham
381:
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198:The Rt Hon.
186:Keir Starmer
160:
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71:
60:
35:
29:
1196:HM Treasury
1158:Offices in
904:HM Treasury
364:pro tempore
259:HM Treasury
244:Anna Turley
63:HM Treasury
1190:Categories
1142:Budget day
1111:Royal Mint
1068:Executive
776:9 December
701:17 October
675:19 October
650:19 October
644:0485171414
589:References
573:since 1714
489:ex officio
474:St James's
470:town house
275:Chief Whip
236:Jeff Smith
188:KCB KC MP
155:See also:
141:Queen Anne
133:Parliament
98:Queen Anne
40:commission
922:Ministers
838:The Times
212:Nic Dakin
171:Portfolio
90:the Queen
1172:de facto
565:See also
545:(1782),
410:ministry
145:de facto
117:sinecure
1160:italics
749:19 July
294:Cabinet
109:England
30:In the
1130:Topics
963:&
854:(1982)
819:
794:(2000)
641:
50:, the
1176:Whips
809:(PDF)
174:Name
129:whips
817:ISBN
778:2010
751:2024
703:2021
677:2021
652:2021
639:ISBN
420:and
375:and
210:Sir
76:and
743:TSO
514:or
441:."
246:MP
238:MP
230:MP
222:MP
214:MP
202:MP
131:in
1192::
1166:*
811:.
768:.
741:.
735:.
693:.
614:.
597:^
503:.
418:10
143:,
135:.
984:*
947:*
896:e
889:t
882:v
869:.
825:.
780:.
753:.
705:.
679:.
654:.
107:(
20:)
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