Who’s who in the Government
The Government
The party that wins the most MPs in a general election forms the Government. The Government manages the country and makes important decisions about the way the country is run.
Many of the Government’s decisions about law and policy have to be approved by Parliament.
The Prime Minister is in charge of the Government and decides which MPs will become Ministers. Ministers are in charge of particular things for the Government, like children, health, schools, equality, and environmental issues.
The Cabinet
The Cabinet is a small group of MPs and Peers that run the main departments of the Government. They often hold the title of Minister, or Secretary of State. The Cabinet decides Government policy (what the Government thinks about different issues).
The main ministers in the Government:
Prime Minister
Gordon Brown MP
The Prime Minister is the leader of the Government.
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Alistair Darling MP
The Chancellor sets taxes and decides how the Government spends public money. The Chancellor prepares and presents the Government’s Budget, which sets out what the Government will spend each year.
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
David Miliband MP
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is responsible for protecting the UK’s interests abroad.
Secretary of State for Health
Andy Burnham MP
The Secretary of State for Health is responsible for health care and trying to make sure people lead healthy lives.
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Alan Johnson MP
Alan Johnson is in charge of the Home Department, which is the Government department responsible for immigration, the police, community safety and preventing terrorism.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Ben Bradshaw MP
Ben Bradshaw MP runs the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This department is in charge of Government action on the arts, sport and the Olympics, tourism, the media, and the film and music industry.
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
Ed Balls MP
Ed Balls is in charge of the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which works on issues around children, young people and families. This includes education, child poverty and the health of children. This department co-ordinates children’s issues across the whole Government, and helps the Ministry of Justice make policy on youth offending.
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
John Denham MP
John Denham is in charge of the Department for Communities and Local Government. This department tries to make sure communities are strong and healthy, and that local councils are doing all they can to build such communities.
Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor
Jack Straw MP
The Ministry for Justice helps the Government to make decisions about youth justice, the courts, prisons, democracy and electoral reform.
Secretary of State for Transport
Lord Adonis
Secretary of State for Defence
Bob Ainsworth MP
Bob Ainsworth is in charge of decisions relating to the defence of our country and whether or not we get involved in wars abroad.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Shaun Woodward MP
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
Lord Mandelson
Secretary of State for International Development
Douglas Alexander MP
Minister for the Cabinet Office
Tessa Jowell MP
Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal
Harriet Harman MP
Leader of the House of Lords
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Hilary Benn MP
Hilary Benn looks after the Government’s decisions on climate change, the countryside and sustainable development (making sure how we live now is good for us and is good for the generations that come after us).
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Yvette Cooper MP
The Department for Work and Pensions makes decisions about benefits and support for parents.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Liam Byrne MP
Junior Ministers
There are senior ministers and junior ministers. The senior ministers usually decide on the responsibilities of the junior ministers. There are lots of ministers in the Government. Beverley Hughes MP, the Minister for Children, Young People and Families is a junior minister (not a member of the Cabinet). Click here for a full list
