Blair ministry

Tony Blair originally formed the Blair Ministry in May 1997 after being invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a new government following the resignation of the previous Prime Minister, John Major of the Conservative Party, as a result of the Labour Party's landslide victory at the 1997 general election. He would serve as the Prime Minister for three successive ministries and parliamentary terms until his resignation on 27 June 2007. His Cabinet was reshuffled for each new parliament along with a few minor changes during each term.

"Cabinet of Tony Blair" redirects here. It is not to be confused with the Shadow Cabinet of Tony Blair.

Blair ministries
  • 1997–2001
  • 2001–2005
  • 2005–2007
Blair (2002)
Date formed
  • First: 2 May 1997 (1997-05-02)
  • Second: 7 June 2001 (2001-06-07)
  • Third: 5 May 2005 (2005-05-05)
Date dissolved
  • First: 7 June 2001 (2001-06-07)
  • Second: 5 May 2005 (2005-05-05)
  • Third: 27 June 2007 (2007-06-27)
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTony Blair
Prime Minister's history1997–2007
Deputy Prime MinisterJohn Prescott
Total no. of ministers209 appointments
Member partyLabour Party
Status in legislatureMajority
Opposition cabinet
Opposition partyConservative Party
Opposition leader
History
Election(s)
Legislature term(s)
Budget(s)
PredecessorSecond Major ministry
SuccessorBrown ministry

Formation

After eighteen years in opposition, Labour ousted the Conservatives at the May 1997 election with a 179-seat majority. The Prime Minister Tony Blair, who turned 44 years old days after leading Labour to victory, was the youngest Prime Minister of the twentieth century. He was surpassed as the youngest Prime Minister by David Cameron who in 2010 became Prime Minister at the age of 43.

Blair quickly wiped away memories of the troubled Labour governments led by Harold Wilson and James Callaghan in the 1960s and 70's as the economic recovery continued and unemployment continued to fall. While other developed countries, notably Japan, were hit by a financial crisis during Blair's first term in office, the British economy remained strong.

In September 2000, however, protests against fuel prices intensified across the country and the new Leader of the Conservative Party William Hague exploited the situation by pointing out to voters just how much fuel prices had risen under Labour. This sparked a brief Conservative lead in the opinion polls – the first time in eight years – but once the fuel shortages and consequent protests ended, Labour led the opinion polls once more. Blair was so confident of re-election that he called a general election for 3 May, but this was postponed until 7 June due to the foot and mouth crisis. This led to a brief crisis in the agricultural and tourism industries, but did little to shake a still-strong economy and the electorate responded by re-electing Blair with an only slightly-reduced majority.

Following the financial crisis in Japan at the end of the 1990s, there was a brief recession in other parts of the developed world including Germany,[1] Italy and France in the early-2000s, but once again, the UK avoided recession and continued to enjoy a strong economy and low unemployment.[2]

By the time the next general election was on the horizon, Labour were looking well positioned for a record third successive term in government. Unemployment remained low and the economy remained strong with more than a decade of unbroken growth, and education and healthcare had changed for the better as a result of expenditure by Labour.

However, the Labour government had attracted controversy by sending British troops to fight in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, and even more so when it joined the American-led invasion of Iraq eighteen months later – particularly when it emerged that the ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction were never found, and serious questions were raised about the issue of going to war. Although the regimes in both of these countries were swiftly ended by British and American troops, the remaining British forces were not withdrawn from Iraq until 2009 and not from Afghanistan until 2014.

Soon after the controversial invasion of Iraq in 2003, Labour support in the opinion polls fell and the Conservatives drew level with them in at least one poll during 2003. However, this did little to end speculation about the future of their unpopular leader Iain Duncan Smith and in October 2003, he lost a vote of no confidence and was replaced by Michael Howard, who stood unopposed for the leadership role and took control without a leadership contest.

The election on 5 May 2005 saw Labour win a historic third successive term in power, though their majority now stood at 66 seats – compared to 167 four years earlier – and they failed to gain any new seats. Blair had already declared that the new term in parliament would be his last.

Ministries

These are the cabinets under Prime Minister Tony Blair (from May 1997 to June 2007).

First Blair Ministry

The First Blair Ministry lasted from May 1997 to June 2001.

Portfolio Minister Term
Cabinet ministers
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service		 Tony Blair MP 1997–2007
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott MP 1997–2007
Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 1997–2001
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Second Lord of the Treasury		 Gordon Brown MP 1997–2007
Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine, Lord Irvine of Lairg PC QC 1997–2003
Lord President of the Council
Leader of the House of Commons		 Ann Taylor MP 1997–1998
Margaret Beckett MP 1998–2001
Lord Privy Seal
Leader of the House of Lords		 Ivor Richard, Lord Richard PC QC 1997–1998
Margaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington PC 1998–2001
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Alistair Darling MP 1997–1998
Stephen Byers MP 1998
Alan Milburn MP 1998–1999
Andrew Smith MP 1999–2002
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Cabinet Office Minister		 David Clark MP 1997–1998
Jack Cunningham MP DL 1998–1999
Mo Mowlam MP 1999–2001
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Robin Cook MP 1997–2001
Secretary of State for the Home Department Jack Straw MP 1997–2001
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Jack Cunningham MP DL 1997–1998
Nick Brown MP 1998–2001
Secretary of State for Health Frank Dobson MP 1997–1999
Alan Milburn MP 1999–2003
Secretary of State for Defence George Robertson MP 1997–1999
Geoff Hoon MP 1999–2005
Secretary of State for Social Security Harriet Harman MP 1997–1998
Alistair Darling MP 1998–2001
Secretary of State for Education and Employment David Blunkett MP 1997–2001
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
President of the Board of Trade		 Margaret Beckett MP 1997–1998
Peter Mandelson MP 1998
Stephen Byers MP 1998–2001
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Chris Smith MP 1997–2001
Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short MP 1997–2003
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam MP 1997–1999
Peter Mandelson MP 1999–2001
John Reid MP 2001–2002
Secretary of State for Scotland Donald Dewar MP 1997–1999
John Reid MP 1999–2001
Helen Liddell MP 2001–2003
Secretary of State for Wales Ron Davies 1997–1998
Alun Michael MP JP 1998–1999
Paul Murphy MP 1999–2002
Minister for Transport Gavin Strang MP 1997–1998
Also attending cabinet meetings
Chief Whip Nick Brown MP 1997–1998
Ann Taylor MP 1998–2001
Attorney General John Morris QC MP 1997–1999
Gareth Williams, Lord Williams of Mostyn PC QC 1999–2001

Changes

Second Blair Ministry

The Second Blair Ministry lasted from June 2001 to May 2005.

Also attending Cabinet:

Changes

Third Blair Ministry

The Third Blair Ministry lasted from May 2005 to June 2007.

Also attending Cabinet:

Changes
Further information: 2006 British cabinet reshuffle

List of Ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

Office Name Date Notes
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service		 Tony Blair 2 May 1997 – 27 June 2007 
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott 2 May 1997 – 27 June 2007 
Lord Chancellor Derry Irvine 2 May 1997 – 12 June 2003 
Charlie Falconer 12 June 2003 – 27 June 2007 Also Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs until 9
May 2007 and Secretary of State for Justice from 9 May 2007
Lord President of the Council Ann Taylor 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Margaret Beckett 27 July 1998 – 8 June 2001 
Robin Cook 8 June 2001 – 18 March 2003 
John Reid 18 March 2003 – 13 June 2003 
Gareth Williams 13 June 2003 – 20 September 2003 
Valerie Amos 20 September 2003 – 27 June 2007 
Leader of the House of Commons Ann Taylor 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Margaret Beckett 27 July 1998 – 8 June 2001 
Robin Cook 8 June 2001 – 18 March 2003 
John Reid 18 March 2003 – 13 June 2003 
Peter Hain 13 June 2003 – 6 May 2005 
Geoff Hoon 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 
Jack Straw 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Leader of the House of Lords Ivor Richard 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Margaret Jay 27 July 1998 – 8 June 2001 
Gareth Williams 8 June 2001 – 20 September 2003 
Valerie Amos 20 September 2003 – 27 June 2007 
Lord Privy Seal Ivor Richard 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Margaret Jay 27 July 1998 – 8 June 2001 
Gareth Williams 8 June 2001 – 13 June 2003 
Peter Hain 13 June 2003 – 6 May 2005 
Geoff Hoon 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 
Jack Straw 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Minister for the Cabinet Office		 David Clark 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Jack Cunningham 27 July 1998 – 11 October 1999 
Mo Mowlam 11 October 1999 – 11 June 2001 
The Lord Macdonald of Tradeston 11 June 2001 – 13 June 2003 
Douglas Alexander 13 June 2003 – 8 September 2004 
Alan Milburn 8 September 2004 – 6 May 2005 
John Hutton 6 May 2005 – 2 November 2005 
Jim Murphy 5 November 2005 – 5 May 2006Acting
Hilary Armstrong 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Minister of State for the Cabinet Office Derek Foster 2 May 1997 – 6 May 1997Minister of State at the Office of Public Service
Peter Kilfoyle 6 May 1997 – 28 July 1999 Minister of State at the Office of Public Service
Ian McCartney 28 July 1999 – 11 June 2001 
Barbara Roche 11 June 2001 – 29 May 2002 
Douglas Alexander 29 May 2002 – 13 June 2003 
Government Chief Whip
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury		 Nick Brown 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Ann Taylor 27 July 1998 – 8 June 2001 
Hilary Armstrong 8 June 2001 – 5 May 2006 
Jacqui Smith 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown 2 May 1997 – 27 June 2007 
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Alistair Darling 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Stephen Byers 27 July 1998 – 23 December 1998 
Alan Milburn 23 December 1998 – 11 October 1999 
Andrew Smith 11 October 1999 – 29 May 2002 
Paul Boateng 29 May 2002 – 6 May 2005 
Des Browne 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 
Stephen Timms 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Paymaster General Geoffrey Robinson 2 May 1997 – 23 December 1998 
Dawn Primarolo 4 January 1999 – 27 June 2007 
Financial Secretary to the Treasury Dawn Primarolo 2 May 1997 – 4 January 1999 
Barbara Roche 4 January 1999 – 29 July 1999 
Stephen Timms 29 July 1999 – 8 June 2001 
Paul Boateng 8 June 2001 – 28 May 2002 
Ruth Kelly 28 May 2002 – 9 September 2004 
Stephen Timms 9 September 2004 – 6 May 2005 
John Healey 6 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 
Economic Secretary to the Treasury Helen Liddell 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Patricia Hewitt 27 July 1998 – 17 May 1999 
Melanie Johnson 17 May 1999 – 8 June 2001 
Ruth Kelly 8 June 2001 – 15 May 2002 
John Healey 15 May 2002 – 6 May 2005 
Ivan Lewis 6 May 2005 – 6 May 2006 
Ed Balls 6 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Robin Cook 2 May 1997 – 8 June 2001 
Jack Straw 8 June 2001 – 6 May 2006 
Margaret Beckett 6 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Derek Fatchett 2 May 1997 – 9 May 1999 
Tony Lloyd 2 May 1997 – 28 July 1999 
Geoff Hoon 9 May 1999 – 28 July 1999 
John Battle 28 July 1999 – 11 June 2001 
Peter Hain 28 July 1999 – 24 January 2001 
Brian Wilson 24 January 2001 – 11 June 2001 
Denis MacShane 11 June 2001 – 3 April 2002 
Elizabeth Symons 11 June 2001 – 11 May 2005 Minister of State for Middle East
Kim Howells 11 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 
Minister of State for Europe Doug Henderson 2 May 1997 – 28 July 1998 
Joyce Quin 28 July 1998 – 28 July 1999 
Geoff Hoon 28 July 1999 – 11 October 1999 
Keith Vaz 11 October 1999 – 11 June 2001 
Peter Hain 11 June 2001 – 24 October 2002 
Denis MacShane 24 October 2002 – 11 May 2005 
Douglas Alexander 11 May 2005 – 8 May 2006 
Geoff Hoon 8 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Secretary of State for the Home Department Jack Straw 2 May 1997 – 8 June 2001 
David Blunkett 8 June 2001 – 15 December 2004 
Charles Clarke 15 December 2004 – 5 May 2006 
John Reid 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Minister of State for Home Affairs Alun Michael 2 May 1997 – 27 October 1998 
Paul Boateng 27 October 1998 – 8 June 2001 Minister of State for Policing
John Denham 8 June 2001 – 12 June 2003 
Hazel Blears 12 June 2003 – 5 May 2006 Minister of State for Crime Reduction, Policing,
Community Safety and Counter-Terrorism
Tony McNulty 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 Minister of State for Security, Counterterrorism, Crime and Policing
Minister of State for Prisons Joyce Quin 2 May 1997 – 28 July 1998 
Gareth Williams28 July 1998 – 29 July 1999 
Charles Clarke 29 July 1999 – 8 June 2001 
Keith Bradley 8 June 2001 – 29 May 2002 
Hilary Benn 29 May 2002 – 13 May 2003 
Patricia Scotland 13 June 2003 – 6 May 2005 Minister of State for the Criminal Justice System and Law Reform
Under-Secretary of State for Immigration Mike O'Brien 5 May 1997 – 29 July 1999 
Minister of State for Asylum and Immigration Barbara Roche 29 July 1999 – 11 June 2001 
Jeff Rooker 11 June 2001 – 29 May 2002 
Beverley Hughes 29 May 2002 – 1 April 2004 Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Counterterrorism
Des Browne 1 April 2004 – 6 May 2005 Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Counterterrorism
Tony McNulty 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality
Liam Byrne 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 Minister of State for Borders and Immigration
Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions John Prescott 2 May 1997 – 8 June 2001 Office Abolished 8 June 2001
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Margaret Beckett 8 June 2001 – 5 May 2006 Office Created 8 June 2001
David Miliband 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Minister for the Environment Michael Meacher 2 May 1997 – 13 June 2003 
Elliot Morley 13 June 2003 – 5 May 2006 
Ian Pearson 6 June 2006 – 27 June 2007
Minister for Rural Affairs Alun Michael 8 June 2001 – 6 May 2005
Minister for Housing and Planning Richard Caborn 2 May 1997 – 20 October 1999 Minister for Regions, Regeneration & Planning
Nick Raynsford 20 October 1999 – 8 June 2001Minister for Housing, Planning, Construction and the Regions
Charlie Falconer 11 June 2001 – 29 May 2002
Jeff Rooker 29 May 2002 – 13 June 2003
Keith Hill 13 June 2003 – 6 May 2005
Yvette Cooper 10 May 2005 – 27 June 2007
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Jack Cunningham 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Nick Brown 27 July 1998 – 8 June 2001 
Margaret Beckett 8 June 2001 – 27 March 2002 Office merged with Secretary of State for the Environment
on 8 June 2001 and formally abolished on 27 March 2002
Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Jeff Rooker 2 May 1997 – 28 July 1999 
Joyce Quin 28 July 1999 – 11 June 2001 
Secretary of State for Defence George Robertson 2 May 1997 – 11 October 1999 
Geoff Hoon 11 October 1999 – 6 May 2005 
John Reid 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 
Des Browne 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Minister of State for the Armed Forces John Reid 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Doug Henderson 27 July 1998 – 29 July 1999 
John Spellar 29 July 1999 – 11 June 2001 
Adam Ingram 11 June 2001 – 27 June 2007 
Minister of State for Defence Procurement John Gilbert 2 May 1997 – 29 July 1999 
Elizabeth Symons 29 July 1999 – 8 June 2001 
Willy Bach 8 June 2001 – 6 May 2005 
Paul Drayson 6 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 
Secretary of State for Education and Employment David Blunkett 2 May 1997 – 8 June 2001 
Secretary of State for Education and Skills Estelle Morris 8 June 2001 – 24 October 2002 
Charles Clarke 24 October 2002 – 15 December 2004 
Ruth Kelly 15 December 2004 – 5 May 2006 
Alan Johnson 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Minister for Schools Stephen Byers Minister for School Standards
Estelle Morris 18 July 1998 – 11 June 2001 
Stephen Timms 11 June 2001 – 24 October 2002 
David Miliband 24 October 2002 – 16 December 2004 
Stephen Twigg 16 December 2004 – 6 May 2005 
Jacqui Smith 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 
Jim Knight 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 Minister of State for Schools and Learners
Minister of State for Employment and Disability Rights Andrew Smith 2 May 1997 – 11 October 1999 
Tessa Jowell 11 October 1999 – 11 June 2001 
Minister for Higher Education Margaret Hodge 11 June 2001 – 13 June 2003 Minister for Universities
Alan Johnson 13 June 2003 – 8 September 2004 
Kim Howells 8 September 2004 – 11 May 2005 
Bill Rammell 11 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 
Minister for Children Margaret Hodge 13 June 2003 – 11 May 2005
Maria Eagle 11 May 2005 – 8 May 2006 
Beverley Hughes 8 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Secretary of State for Health Frank Dobson 2 May 1997 – 11 October 1999 
Alan Milburn 11 October 1999 – 13 June 2003 
John Reid 13 June 2003 – 6 May 2005 
Patricia Hewitt 6 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 
Minister of State for Health Alan Milburn 2 May 1997 – 23 December 1998 
John Denham 23 December 1998 – 11 June 2001 Minister of State for Health Services
Jacqui Smith 11 June 2001 – 13 June 2003 
Rosie Winterton 13 June 2003 Minister of State for Health Services;
John Hutton 13 June 2003 – 6 May 2005 
Jane Kennedy 6 May 2005 – 8 May 2006 
Andy Burnham 8 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Minister for Public Health Tessa Jowell 2 May 1997 – 11 October 1999 
John Hutton 11 October 1999 – 13 June 2003 
Melanie Johnson 13 June 2003 – 6 May 2005 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Caroline Flint 6 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Until 8 May 2006)
Secretary of State for Social Security Harriet Harman 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 
Alistair Darling 27 July 1998 – 8 June 2001 Office Abolished 8 June 2001
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Alistair Darling 8 June 2001 – 29 May 2002 Office Created 8 June 2001
Andrew Smith 29 May 2002 – 8 September 2004 
Alan Johnson 8 September 2004 – 6 May 2005 
David Blunkett 6 May 2005 – 2 November 2005 
John Hutton 2 November 2005 – 27 June 2007 
Minister of State for Pensions Frank Field 2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998 Minister for Welfare Reform
John Denham 27 July 1998 – 23 December 1998 
Stephen Timms 23 December 1998 – 29 July 1999 
Jeff Rooker 29 July 1999 – 11 June 2001 
Ian McCartney 11 June 2001 – 4 April 2003 
Malcolm Wicks 13 June 2003 – 10 May 2005 
Stephen Timms 10 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 
James Purnell 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 Minister for Pensions Reform
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Chris Smith 2 May 1997 – 8 June 2001 
Tessa Jowell 8 June 2001 – 27 June 2007 
Minister for the Arts Mark Fisher 2 May 1997 – 14 June 1998 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Alan Howarth 14 June 1998 – 8 June 2001 
Tessa Blackstone 8 June 2001 – 13 June 2003 
Estelle Morris 13 June 2003 – 10 May 2005 
David Lammy 10 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 Minister of State for Culture
Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions Stephen Byers 8 June 2001 – 29 May 2002 Formed after Department for the Environment, Transport
and the Regions was Dissolved in 2001
Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling 29 May 2002 – 5 May 2006 Formed after Department for Transport, Local
Government and the Regions was Dissolved in 2002
Douglas Alexander 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 
Minister of State for Transport Gavin Strang 2 May 1997 – 18 June 1998 
John Reid 18 June 1998 – 17 May 1999 Attended Cabinet
Helen Liddell 17 May 1999 – 29 July 1999 
The Lord Macdonald of Tradeston 29 July 1999 – 8 June 2001 Attended Cabinet
John Spellar 8 June 2001 – 12 June 2003 Attended Cabinet
Kim Howells 12 June 2003 – 10 September 2004 
Tony McNulty 10 September 2004 – 9 May 2005 
Stephen Ladyman 9 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 

References
  1. "Germany's recession ends". BBC News. 23 May 2002.
  2. "French economy in trouble". BBC News. 20 August 2003.

General

  • D. Butler and G. Butler (ed.), Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900–2000
Preceded by
Second Major ministry		 Government of the United Kingdom
1997–2007		 Succeeded by
Brown ministry
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.