List of political families in the United Kingdom

During its history, the United Kingdom (and previously the Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Scotland and Kingdom of Ireland) has seen many families who have repeatedly produced notable politicians, and consequently such families have had a significant impact on politics in the British Isles.

Certain families, such as the Cecils, owe their long-standing political influence to the composition and role of the House of Lords, which was still mainly composed of hereditary legislators until the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999. Other families, such as the Longs, have had a long tradition of standing for elected office, usually in the House of Commons. Many such families were part of the landed gentry, who often exerted political control in a certain locality over many generations.

Aitkens

Atkins

Attlees

Amerys

  • Leo Amery (1873–1955), Conservative MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook 1911–1945, Secretary of State
    • Julian Amery (1919–1996), Conservative MP for Preston North 1950–1966, Brighton Pavilion 1969–1992, Secretary of State for Air; son of Leo; also son-in-law of Harold Macmillan (see below)
    • John Amery (1912–1945), anti-communist and pro-Hitler activist, executed for treason; son of Leo

Armstrongs

Astors

  • Waldorf Astor (1879–1952), Conservative MP for Plymouth, Sutton 1910–1919, later 2nd Viscount Astor; husband of Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor
  • Nancy Astor (1879–1964), Conservative MP for Plymouth, Sutton 1919–1945, first female MP to take her seat; Waldorf's wife
    • William Astor (1907–1966), Conservative MP for East Fulham 1935–1945, Wycombe 1951–1952; Waldorf and Nancy's son
      • William Astor (born 1951), excepted hereditary peer; William's son
        • David Cameron (born 1966), Conservative Prime Minister; stepson-in-law of William Waldorf
    • Michael Astor (1916–1979), Conservative MP for Surrey East 1945–1951; Waldorf and Nancy's son
  • John Jacob Astor (1886–1971), Conservative MP for Dover 1922–1945, later 1st Baron Astor of Hever; Waldorf's brother
    • Hon. John Astor (1923–1987), Conservative MP for Newbury 1964–1974; John Jacob's son

Asquiths and Bonham Carters

There are numerous notable figures descendant from Asquith, including diplomats, judges and actors. Listed below are some of the members who were in Westminster politics or prominent positions within the Liberal party.

  • H. H. Asquith (1852–1928), Liberal MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1905–1908, Prime Minister 1908–1916, later 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith
    • Violet Bonham Carter (1887–1969), Governor of the BBC 1941–1946, President of the Liberal Party 1945–1947, created a life peer in 1964; daughter of H. H. Asquith
    • Maurice Bonham Carter (1880–1960), Principal Private Secretary to H. H. Asquith; married to Violet, daughter of H. H. Asquith.

Baldwins

Beaumonts

Beggses

Benns

Billinghams and Skinners

Blennerhassetts

Boswells

Bottomleys

Brookes

  • Henry Brooke, Member of Parliament and Home Secretary, later life peer
    • Peter Brooke, MP and Secretary of State, life peer, son of Henry Brooke

Callaghans

Cavendishes (Dukes of Devonshire)

Cecils (Earls/Marquesses of Salisbury)

Chamberlains

Cromwells

Cryers

Dickinsons – Davidsons

Dunnes

Dunwoodys

  • Morgan Phillips (General Secretary of the Labour Party (1944–1961))
  • Norah Phillips, Baroness Phillips, Labour life peer, wife of Morgan
    • Gwyneth Dunwoody, their daughter, a member of parliament (Exeter 1966–1970), Crewe 1974–1983, Crewe & Nantwich 1983–2008)
    • Dr John Dunwoody, Gwyneth's husband, a member of parliament (Falmouth & Camborne 1966–1970)
      • Tamsin Dunwoody, Welsh Assembly Member (2003–2007), Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks (January 2005 – 2007), Deputy Minister for Environment, Planning & Countryside (October 2005 – 2007) Welsh Assembly Government, their daughter

Durkans

Eccleses

Ewings

Fieldens

Finnies

Foots

Fosters

Galbraiths

Garniers

Guests

Guinness/Channon

Gummers

Hardies

Hoggs (Viscounts Hailsham)

Hoosons

  • Tom Hooson, Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnor
    • his cousin and political opponent, Emlyn Hooson, Baron Hooson, Liberal MP for Montgomeryshire

Howarths

Hoyles

Hurds

Janners

Jenkins

Joneses

Kinnocks

Lindsays (Earls of Crawford)

Lloyd Georges

All of the Longs in this list are related to each other, sharing a common ancestor. Walter, the 1st Viscount Long stated in his autobiography in 1923, that there was an unbroken line of Longs serving Parliament in the House of Commons for about 300 years. This list spans 555 years.

Mallalieus

Martins

Maudes

McAteers

Eddie McAteer, one-time leader of the Nationalist Party, was the brother of Hugh McAteer, a Sinn Féin and IRA activist, and the father of Fergus McAteer, a leader of the Irish Independence Party

McCreas

McGuinnesses

McMahons

Milibands

Millars

Mitchells

Morrises

  • Alf Morris, Labour MP for Manchester Wythenshawe from 1964 until 1997
  • Charles Morris, Labour MP for Manchester Openshaw 1963–83, Alf's brother

Morrisons

Morrison and Mandelson

  • Herbert Morrison (1888–1965), Labour MP 1920s – 1950s, held various senior positions including Chair of the Labour Party and Leader of London County Council, later Cabinet Minister 1940–1951, as Deputy Prime Minister 1945–1951 and spells as variously Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons

Mundells

Notts

Overends

Robert Overend, Vanguard Unionist member of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention

Sandra Overend, Ulster Unionist MLA and daughter-in-law of Robert Overend
Billy Armstrong, Ulster Unionist MLA and father of Sandra Overend

Paisleys

Peases

Perrys

Pitts (Earls of Chatham), Grenvilles and Stanhopes

Three prominent political dynasties of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, interrelated through several marriages.

Pootses

Priors

Russells

Samuels and Montagus

Silkins

Sinclairs

Smiles

  • Sir Walter Smiles, Conservative MP for Blackburn 1931–45, Ulster Unionist MP for Down, then North Down 1945–53
    • Patricia Ford, née Smiles, Ulster Unionist MP for North Down; Walter Smiles' daughter, took over seat upon his death
      • Michael Grylls, son-in-law of Patricia Ford, Conservative MP for Chertsey and then North West Surrey
    • Nigel Fisher, Conservative MP for Hitchin and then Surbiton, husband of Patricia Ford
      • Mark Fisher, son of Nigel Fisher and stepson of Patricia Ford, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central

Springs and Spring Rices

Stanleys (Earls of Derby)

Sainsburys

Todds

Walkers

Watts

Wiggins

Williams/Breese

Wolfsons

Married couples

Siblings

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