Theresa May formed the first May ministry in the United Kingdom on 13 July 2016, after having been invited by Queen Elizabeth II to form a new government. Then the Home Secretary, May's appointment followed the resignation of then Prime Minister David Cameron. The ministry, a Conservative majority government, succeeded the second Cameron ministry which had been formed following the 2015 general election. Cameron's government was dissolved as a result of his resignation in the immediate aftermath of the June 2016 referendum on British withdrawal from the European Union.
After the 2017 snap general election resulted in a hung parliament, May formed a new minority government with support from the Democratic Unionist Party.
History May announced her choices for Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary in the evening of 13 July: Philip Hammond, Amber Rudd, and Boris Johnson were respectively appointed to the first three posts, while Michael Fallon continued as Defence Secretary. David Davis was appointed to the new post of Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, while Liam Fox became Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade. Greg Clark, who was made business secretary, was mistakenly appointed as President of the Board of Trade by the Privy Council, and held the appointment for four days before the mistake was corrected.
May's choices for the remaining cabinet posts were announced on 14 July. Justine Greening, previously international development secretary, was promoted to education secretary, and the vacancy left by Greening was filled by Priti Patel. Liz Truss, formerly environment secretary, was given the justice portfolio. Andrea Leadsom, previously a junior energy minister, and also the final opponent of Theresa May in the 2016 Conservative leadership election, was made environment secretary. James Brokenshire and Karen Bradley, both formerly junior ministers at the Home Office, were given the posts of Northern Ireland and culture, media and sport respectively. Damian Green took the post of work and pensions secretary, and Chris Grayling was made transport secretary. Finally, Sajid Javid was given the communities and local government brief, The Baroness Evans of Bowes Park became Lords Leader and David Lidington became Commons Leader.
Jeremy Hunt, Alun Cairns, and David Mundell retained the posts of health secretary, Welsh secretary, and Scottish secretary, respectively, which they had held during the second Cameron ministry. In contrast, May sacked six ministers from Cameron's Cabinet: Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Justice Secretary Michael Gove, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Letwin and Leader of the House of Lords Baroness Stowell of Beeston.
In addition, May appointed Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy as Downing Street Chiefs of Staff. Both had been political advisers to her at the Home Office, then worked outside government for a brief period before coming back to work on her leadership campaign.
Cabinet + First May cabinetPortfolioPortrait Minister TermCabinet ministersPrime MinisterFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceTheresa May2016–2019Chancellor of the ExchequerSecond Lord of the TreasuryPhilip Hammond2016–2019Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentAmber Rudd2016–2018Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsBoris Johnson2016–2018Secretary of State for DefenceMichael Fallon2014–2017Lord High Chancellor of Great BritainSecretary of State for JusticeLiz Truss2016–2017Secretary of State for EducationMinister for Women and EqualitiesJustine Greening2016–2018Secretary of State for Exiting the European UnionDavid Davis2016–2018Secretary of State for International TradePresident of the Board of TradeLiam Fox2016–2019Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial StrategyGreg Clark2016–2019Secretary of State for HealthJeremy Hunt2012–2018Secretary of State for Work and PensionsDamian Green2016–2017Leader of the House of LordsLord Keeper of the Privy SealNatalie EvansBaroness Evans of Bowes Park2016–2022Secretary of State for TransportChris Grayling2016–2019Secretary of State for Communities and Local GovernmentSajid Javid2016–2018Leader of the House of CommonsLord President of the CouncilDavid Lidington2016–2017Secretary of State for ScotlandDavid Mundell2015–2019Secretary of State for WalesAlun Cairns2016–2019Secretary of State for Northern IrelandJames Brokenshire2016–2018Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsAndrea Leadsom2016–2017Secretary of State for International DevelopmentPriti Patel2016–2017Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportKaren Bradley2016–2018Also attending cabinet meetingsChief Secretary to the TreasuryDavid Gauke2016–2017Minister for the Cabinet OfficePaymaster GeneralBen Gummer2016–2017Attorney GeneralJeremy Wright2014–2018Chief Whip in the House of CommonsParliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryGavin Williamson2016–2017Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterChairman of the Conservative Party (Unpaid)Patrick McLoughlin2016–2018
List of ministers Minister in the House of Commons Minister in the House of Lords
Prime Minister and the Cabinet Office Prime Minister and Cabinet Office Post Minister Term Prime Minister of the United KingdomFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service Theresa May July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister George Hollingbery July 2016–June 2017 Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterChairman of the Conservative Party (unpaid) Sir Patrick McLoughlin July 2016–June 2017 Minister for the Cabinet OfficePaymaster General Ben Gummer July 2016–June 2017 Leader of the House of CommonsLord President of the Council David Lidington July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office Minister for the Constitution Chris Skidmore July 2016–June 2017
Departments of state Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (President of the Board of Trade 15–19 July 2016) Greg Clark July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Jo Johnson (jointly with Education) May 2015–June 2017 Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry Nick Hurd July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Baroness Neville-Rolfe July 2016 – Dec 2016 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Intellectual Property David Prior, Baron Prior of Brampton Dec 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate ResponsibilityMargot James July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Minister for Industry and Energy Jesse Norman July 2016–June 2017 Communities and Local Government Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for Housing and Planning Minister for London Gavin Barwell July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Minister for Local Government Marcus Jones May 2015–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Minister for the Northern Powerhouse Andrew Percy July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities Nick Bourne, Baron Bourne of Aberystwyth, (also with Wales) July 2016–June 2017 Culture, Media and Sport Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Karen Bradley July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport, Heritage, and Tourism Tracey Crouch May 2015–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Civil Society Rob Wilson July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Henry Ashton, 4th Baron Ashton of Hyde(also Lord-in-Waiting) July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Minister for Internet Safety and Security Joanna Shields, Baroness Shields(with Home Office until Dec 2016) (unpaid) May 2015 – Dec 2016
Defence Secretary of State for Defence Sir Michael Fallon July 2014–June 2017 Minister of State for the Armed Forces Mike Penning July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for Defence Frederick Curzon, 7th Earl Howe (also Deputy Lords Leader) (unpaid) May 2015–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Veterans, Reserves and Personnel Mark Lancaster May 2015–June 2017 Education and Equalities Secretary of State for EducationMinister for Women and Equalities Justine Greening July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills Robert Halfon July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Jo Johnson (jointly with BEIS) July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for School Standards Nick Gibb July 2014–June 2017 Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families Edward Timpson May 2015–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Early Years Caroline Dinenage May 2015–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School System John Nash, Baron Nash (unpaid) Oct 2013–June 2017
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Andrea Leadsom July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food George Eustice October 2013–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Life Opportunities Thérèse Coffey July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity John Gardiner, Baron Gardiner of Kimble July 2016–June 2017 Exiting the European Union Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis July 2016–June 2017Minister of StateDavid JonesJuly 2016–June 2017Parliamentary Under-Secretary of StateRobin WalkerJuly 2016–June 2017Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State George Bridges, Baron Bridges of HeadleyJuly 2016–June 2017 Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for Europe and the Americas Sir Alan Duncan July 2016–June 2017 Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St John's(with International Development until October 2016) July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of StateMinister for Asia and the Pacific Alok Sharma July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of StateMinister for the Middle East and Africa Tobias Ellwood July 2016–June 2017 Government Equalities Office Minister for Women and Equalities (Jointly with Education) Justine Greening July 2016-June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Early Years (Jointly with Education) Caroline Dinenage May 2015-June 2017 Health Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt September 2012–June 2017 Minister of State for Health Philip Dunne July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Innovation Nicola Blackwood July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Community Health and Care David Mowat July 2016–June 2017 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State David Prior, Baron Prior of Brampton May 2015 – Dec 2016 James O'Shaughnessy, Baron O'Shaughnessy (also a whip) Dec 2016–June 2017