Political Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The political secretary to the prime minister of the United Kingdom is a senior official in the United Kingdom Civil Service who advises the prime minister. Established by Harold Wilson, but continued by subsequent prime ministers, the political secretary was originally not a civil servant, but was later incorporated into the Civil Service. The role was not in use between July 2024 and July 2026. In September 2025, the role of Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister was established, which partly covers this role alongside duties of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

List of political secretaries to the prime minister of the United Kingdom Political secretaryYears Prime MinisterMarcia Williams1964–1970Harold WilsonDouglas Hurd1970–1974Edward HeathMarcia Williams1974–1976Harold WilsonTom McNally1976–1979James CallaghanRichard Ryder1979–1981Margaret ThatcherDerek Howe1981–1983Stephen Sherbourne1983–1988John Whittingdale1988–1990Judith Chaplin1990–1992John MajorJonathan Hill1992–1994Howell James1994–1997Sally Morgan1997–2001Tony BlairRobert Hill2001–2002Pat McFadden2002–2005John McTernan2005–2007Joe Irvin2007–2010Gordon BrownStephen Gilbert2010–2015David CameronLaurence Mann2015–2016Stephen Parkinson2016–2019Theresa MayDanny Kruger2019–2019Boris JohnsonBenjamin Gascoigne2019–2021Declan Lyons2021–2022Sophie Jarvis2022Liz TrussJames Forsyth2022–2024Rishi SunakHayden Munro2026–presentAndy Burnham

Timeline

See also Politics of the United Kingdom Secretary (title)

References