David Cameron formed the second Cameron ministry, the first Conservative majority government since 1996, following the 2015 general election. Prior to the election Cameron had led his first ministry, the Cameron–Clegg coalition, a coalition government that consisted of members of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, with Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg as deputy prime minister.
Following the vote to leave at the EU referendum on the morning of 24 June, Cameron said that he would resign as prime minister after a new Leader of the Conservative Party was chosen after the party conference in the autumn. It was announced on 11 July 2016 that he would resign on 13 July and be succeeded by Home Secretary, Theresa May.
History Cameron announced his choice for Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary on the afternoon of 8 May 2015, with George Osborne, Theresa May, Philip Hammond and Michael Fallon retaining their posts. Osborne was also given the honorific title of First Secretary of State, which had been held by William Hague in the preceding ministry.Election 2015: Prime Minister and ministerial appointments (press release), Prime Minister's Office (8 May 2015).Nicolas Watts, George Osborne made first secretary of state in cabinet reshuffle , The Guardian (8 May 2015).
Cameron's choices for other ministers were announced through the week.BBC News election liveblog . Eric Pickles, previously the Communities Secretary left the Cabinet and received a knighthood, being replaced by Greg Clark. Michael Gove moved to the position of Justice Secretary, replacing Chris Grayling, who became the new Leader of the House of Commons.
Several vacant Cabinet posts previously held by Liberal Democrats were subsequently filled by Conservative ministers – the positions of Business Secretary, Energy Secretary, Scottish Secretary and Chief Secretary to the Treasury were given to Sajid Javid, Amber Rudd, David Mundell and Greg Hands respectively, with John Whittingdale replacing Javid as Culture Secretary.
Mark Harper replaced Gove as Chief Whip, whilst Matthew Hancock became the new Minister for the Cabinet Office, being replaced by Anna Soubry as Minister of State for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise. Priti Patel became the new Minister of State for Employment and Robert Halfon became a Minister without Portfolio.
The Minister of State for Social Care portfolio was downgraded to a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in 2016 under this ministry. It would not regain its former stature until 24 January 2018, under the Second May ministry's 2018 British cabinet reshuffle.
Cabinet + Second Cameron CabinetPortfolio PortraitMinister TermCabinet ministersPrime MinisterFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service David Cameron2010–16First Secretary of StateChancellor of the Exchequer Second Lord of the TreasuryGeorge Osborne2010–16Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentTheresa May2010–16Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsPhilip Hammond2014–16Secretary of State for Justice Lord High Chancellor of Great BritainMichael Gove2015–16Secretary of State for DefenceMichael Fallon2014–16Secretary of State for Work and PensionsIain Duncan Smith2010–16Stephen Crabb2016Secretary of State for HealthJeremy Hunt2012–16Leader of the House of CommonsLord President of the CouncilChris Grayling2015–16Secretary of State for International DevelopmentJustine Greening2012–16Secretary of State for EducationMinister for Women and EqualitiesNicky Morgan2014–16Leader of the House of LordsLord Keeper of the Privy SealTina StowellBaroness Stowell of Beeston2014–16Secretary of State for TransportPatrick McLoughlin2012–16Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and SkillsPresident of the Board of TradeSajid Javid2015–16Secretary of State for Northern IrelandTheresa Villiers2012–16Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsLiz Truss2014–16Secretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentGreg Clark2015–16Secretary of State for WalesStephen Crabb2014–16Alun Cairns2016Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterOliver Letwin2014–16Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportJohn Whittingdale2015–16Secretary of State for ScotlandDavid Mundell2015–16Secretary of State for Energy and Climate ChangeAmber Rudd2015–16Also attending cabinet meetingsMinister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsJoyce AnelayBaroness Anelay of St John's2014–16Minister without PortfolioRobert Halfon2015–16Minister for the Cabinet OfficePaymaster GeneralMatthew Hancock2015–16Chief Secretary to the TreasuryGreg Hands2015–16Chief Whip in the House of CommonsParliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryMark Harper2015–16Minister of State for EmploymentPriti Patel2015–16Minister of State for Small Business, Industry and EnterpriseAnna Soubry2015–16Attorney GeneralJeremy Wright2014–16
Changes On 19 March 2016, Iain Duncan Smith resigned from his post of Secretary of State for Work and Pensions over plans by Chancellor George Osborne to cut disability benefits. He was replaced by Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb. Alun Cairns filled the vacancy left by Crabb's promotion. His post was filled by Guto Bebb.
List of ministers
Prime Minister and the Cabinet Office Minister in the House of Commons Minister in the House of Lords
Prime Minister and Cabinet Office Post Minister Term Prime Minister of the United KingdomFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service David Cameron May 2015 – July 2016 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Letwin May 2015 – July 2016 Minister for the Cabinet OfficePaymaster General Matthew Hancock May 2015 – July 2016 Lord President of the Council Chris Grayling May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Civil Society Rob Wilson May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Secretary for Constitutional Reform (unpaid) (also Government Whip) John Penrose May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office George Bridges, Baron Bridges of Headley May 2015 – July 2016 Minister without Portfolio (also Chairman of the Conservative Party) Robert Halfon May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Gavin Williamson May 2015 – July 2016
Departments of State Business, Innovation and Skills Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and SkillsPresident of the Board of Trade Sajid Javid May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise Anna Soubry May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Universities and Science Jo Johnson May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Trade and Investment (jointly with Foreign Office) Francis Maude, Baron Maude of Horsham May 2015 – Mar 2016 Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St John's Mar 2016 – April 2016 (Acting) Mark Price, Baron Price April 2016 – July 2016 Minister of State for Skills (jointly with Education) Nick Boles May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy (jointly with Culture) Ed Vaizey May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Life Sciences (jointly with Health) George Freeman May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Intellectual Property (jointly with Culture) Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Baroness Neville-Rolfe May 2015 – July 2016
Communities and Local Government Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Greg Clark May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Communities and ResilienceMinister for Portsmouth Mark Francois May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Housing and Planning Brandon Lewis May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Local Government Marcus Jones May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Local GrowthMinister for the Northern Powerhouse James Wharton May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Syrian Refugees(jointly with Home Office & International Development) Richard Harrington Sep 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Susan Williams, Baroness Williams of Trafford May 2015 – July 2016
Culture, Media and Sport Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport John Whittingdale May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy (jointly with Business) Ed Vaizey May 2015 – July 2016Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport and Tourism Tracey Crouch May 2015 – Feb 2016 July 2016 David Evennett Feb 2016 – July 2016 (Acting while Tracey Crouch was on Maternity Leave) Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Intellectual Property (jointly with Business) Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Baroness Neville-Rolfe May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Internet Safety and Security ( jointly with the Home Office since Dec 2015) Joanna Shields, Baroness Shields May 2015 – July 2016
Defence Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Defence ProcurementPhilip Dunne May 2015 – July 2016Minister of State for the Armed ForcesPenny Mordaunt May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Defence Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and VeteransMark Lancaster May 2015 – July 2016Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for ReservesJulian Brazier May 2015 – July 2016
Education and Equalities Secretary of State for EducationMinister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Schools Nick Gibb May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Skills (jointly with Business) Nick Boles May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Children and Families Edward Timpson May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Childcare and Education Sam Gyimah May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women and Equalities (jointly with Justice) Caroline Dinenage May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools (unpaid) John Nash, Baron Nash May 2015 – July 2016
Energy and Climate Change Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Energy Andrea Leadsom May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Climate Change (jointly with Wales Office) Nick Bourne, Baron Bourne of Aberystwyth May 2015 – July 2016
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Liz Truss May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Farming, Food and Marine Environment George Eustice May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Water, Forestry, Rural Affairs and Resource Management Rory Stewart May 2015 – July 2016
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip Hammond May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Europe and NATO David Lidington May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for the Commonwealth, the Americas, Asia Pacific and South Asia Hugo Swire May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Africa and the Caribbean Grant Shapps July 2015 – Oct 2015 (Standing in for James Duddridge due to ill health) Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St John's May 2015 – July 2016 Minister of State for Trade and Investment (jointly with Business) Francis Maude, Baron Maude of Horsham May 2015 – Mar 2016 Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St John's Mar 2016 – April 2016 (Acting) Mark Price, Baron Price April 2016 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia Tobias Ellwood May 2015 – July 2016 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Africa and the Caribbean James Duddridge May 2015 – Jul 2015 Oct 2015 – July 2016