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.[2][3] 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.

First May ministry

Cabinet of the United Kingdom
20162017
May holding her first cabinet meeting
Date formed13 July 2016 (2016-07-13)
Date dissolved11 June 2017 (2017-06-11)
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Prime Minister's historyPremiership of Theresa May
Member party
  •   Conservative Party
Status in legislature
  • 330 / 650 (51%)
    (2016–2017)
  • 317 / 650 (49%)
    (June 2017)
Opposition cabinetCorbyn Shadow Cabinet
Opposition party
Opposition leaderJeremy Corbyn
History
Outgoing election2017 general election
Legislature terms2015–2017[note 1]
BudgetMarch 2017 budget
PredecessorSecond Cameron ministry
SuccessorSecond May ministry

After the 2017 snap general election resulted in a hung parliament, May formed a new minority government with support from the Democratic Unionist Party.[4]

History

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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.[5][6] 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.[5] 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.[7]

May's choices for the remaining cabinet posts were announced on 14 July.[8] 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.[8]

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.[8] 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.[8]

In addition, May appointed Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy as Downing Street Chiefs of Staff.[9] 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.[10][11]

Cabinet

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First May cabinet [12][13][14]
Portfolio Portrait Minister Term
Cabinet ministers
Prime Minister
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
  The Rt Hon Theresa May MP 2016–2019
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Second Lord of the Treasury
  The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP 2016–2019
Secretary of State for the Home Department   The Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP 2016–2018
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs   The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP 2016–2018
Secretary of State for Defence   The Rt Hon Michael Fallon KCB MP 2014–2017
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
Secretary of State for Justice
  The Rt Hon Liz Truss MP 2016–2017
Secretary of State for Education
Minister for Women and Equalities
  The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP 2016–2018
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union   The Rt Hon David Davis MP 2016–2018
Secretary of State for International Trade
President of the Board of Trade
  The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP 2016–2019
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy   The Rt Hon Dr Greg Clark MP 2016–2019
Secretary of State for Health   The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP 2012–2018
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions   The Rt Hon Damian Green MP 2016–2017
Leader of the House of Lords
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
  The Rt Hon The Baroness Evans of Bowes Park PC 2016–2022
Secretary of State for Transport   The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP 2016–2019
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government   The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP 2016–2018
Leader of the House of Commons
Lord President of the Council
  The Rt Hon Dr David Lidington CBE MP 2016–2017
Secretary of State for Scotland   The Rt Hon David Mundell MP 2015–2019
Secretary of State for Wales   The Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP 2016–2019
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland   The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP 2016–2018
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs   The Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP 2016–2017
Secretary of State for International Development   The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP 2016–2017
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport   The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP 2016–2018
Also attending cabinet meetings
Chief Secretary to the Treasury   The Rt Hon David Gauke MP 2016–2017
Minister for the Cabinet Office
Paymaster General
  The Rt Hon Ben Gummer MP 2016–2017
Attorney General   The Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP 2014–2018
Chief Whip in the House of Commons
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
  The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP 2016–2017
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chairman of the Conservative Party (Unpaid)
  The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP 2016–2018

List of ministers

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Minister in the House of Commons Minister in the House of Lords
Ministers that attend cabinet are listed in bold

Prime Minister and the Cabinet Office

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Prime Minister and Cabinet Office
Post Minister Term
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister for the Civil Service
The Rt Hon Theresa May MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister George Hollingbery MP July 2016–June 2017
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chairman of the Conservative Party (unpaid)
The Rt Hon Sir Patrick McLoughlin MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister for the Cabinet Office
Paymaster General
The Rt Hon Ben Gummer MP July 2016–June 2017
Leader of the House of Commons
Lord President of the Council
The Rt Hon David Lidington CBE MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office
Minister for the Constitution
Chris Skidmore MP July 2016–June 2017

Departments of state

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Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
(President of the Board of Trade 15–19 July 2016)
The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Jo Johnson MP
(jointly with Education)
May 2015–June 2017
Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry The Hon Nick Hurd MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property The Rt Hon The Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG July 2016 – Dec 2016
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Intellectual Property The Rt Hon The Lord Prior of Brampton PC Dec 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility
Margot James MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Minister for Industry and Energy
Jesse Norman MP July 2016–June 2017
Communities and Local Government
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Housing and Planning
Minister for London
The Rt Hon Gavin Barwell MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Minister for Local Government
Marcus Jones MP May 2015–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Minister for the Northern Powerhouse
Andrew Percy MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities The Rt Hon The Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, (also with Wales) July 2016–June 2017
Culture, Media and Sport
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Digital and Culture The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Minister for Sport, Heritage, and Tourism
Tracey Crouch MP May 2015–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Minister for Civil Society
Rob Wilson MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State The Rt Hon The Lord Ashton of Hyde
(also Lord-in-Waiting)
July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Minister for Internet Safety and Security
The Rt Hon The Baroness Shields OBE
(with Home Office until Dec 2016) (unpaid)
May 2015 – Dec 2016
Defence
Secretary of State for Defence The Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon KCB MP July 2014–June 2017
Minister of State for the Armed Forces The Rt Hon Mike Penning MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Defence The Rt Hon The Earl Howe PC
(also Deputy Lords Leader) (unpaid)
May 2015–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Veterans, Reserves and Personnel Lt Col Mark Lancaster TD MP May 2015–June 2017
Education and Equalities
Secretary of State for Education
Minister for Women and Equalities
The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills The Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Jo Johnson MP
(jointly with BEIS)
July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for School Standards The Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP July 2014–June 2017
Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families Edward Timpson MP May 2015–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Early Years Caroline Dinenage MP May 2015–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School System The Rt Hon The Lord Nash (unpaid) Oct 2013–June 2017
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food George Eustice MP October 2013–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Life Opportunities Dr Thérèse Coffey MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity The Rt Hon The Lord Gardiner of Kimble July 2016–June 2017
Exiting the European Union
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union The Rt Hon David Davis MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State The Rt Hon David Jones MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State The Hon. Robin Walker MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State The Rt Hon The Lord Bridges of Headley MBE July 2016–June 2017
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Europe and the Americas The Rt Hon Sir Alan Duncan KCMG MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN The Rt Hon The Baroness Anelay of St John's DBE PC
(with International Development until October 2016)
July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Minister for Asia and the Pacific
Alok Sharma MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Minister for the Middle East and Africa
The Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP July 2016–June 2017
Government Equalities Office
Minister for Women and Equalities
(Jointly with Education)
The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP July 2016-June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Early Years
(Jointly with Education)
Caroline Dinenage MP May 2015-June 2017
Health
Secretary of State for Health The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP September 2012–June 2017
Minister of State for Health Philip Dunne MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Innovation Nicola Blackwood MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Community Health and Care David Mowat MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State The Rt Hon The Lord Prior of Brampton PC May 2015 – Dec 2016
The Rt Hon The Lord O'Shaughnessy (also a whip) Dec 2016–June 2017
Home Office
Secretary of State for the Home Department The Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Security The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Services Brandon Lewis MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Immigration Robert Goodwill MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Countering Extremism The Rt Hon The Baroness Williams of Trafford July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism Sarah Newton MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Internet Safety and Security The Rt Hon The Baroness Shields OBE
(with Culture until Dec 2016) (unpaid)
July 2016–June 2017
International Development
Secretary of State for International Development The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State Rory Stewart OBE MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State The Rt Hon The Baroness Anelay of St John's DBE PC
(with Foreign Office)
July–October 2016
The Rt Hon The Lord Bates PC October 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State James Wharton MP July 2016–June 2017
International Trade
Secretary of State for International Trade
President of the Board of Trade (19 July-
The Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Trade and Investment The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Trade Policy The Rt Hon The Lord Price CVO July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Mark Garnier MP July 2016–June 2017
Justice
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain
Secretary of State for Justice
The Rt Hon Liz Truss MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Courts and Justice Sir Oliver Heald QC MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prisons and Probation Sam Gyimah MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Victims, Youth and Family Justice Dr Phillip Lee MP July 2016–June 2017
MoJ Spokesperson for the Lords The Rt Hon The Lord Keen of Elie QC July 2016–June 2017
Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Kris Hopkins MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State The Rt Hon The Lord Dunlop
(with Scotland)
July 2016–June 2017
Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland The Rt Hon David Mundell MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State The Rt Hon The Lord Dunlop
(with Northern Ireland)
July 2016–June 2017
Transport
Secretary of State for Transport The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State The Rt Hon John Hayes CBE MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Paul Maynard MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Andrew Jones MP May 2015–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State The Rt Hon The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon May 2015–June 2017
Treasury
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Second Lord of the Treasury
The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP July 2016–June 2017
Chief Secretary to the Treasury The Rt Hon David Gauke MP July 2016–June 2017
Financial Secretary to the Treasury Jane Ellison MP July 2016–June 2017
Economic Secretary to the Treasury (City Minister) Simon Kirby MP July 2016–June 2017
Commercial Secretary to the Treasury The Rt Hon The Lord O'Neill of Gatley
(unpaid)
July 2016 – Sept 2016
The Rt Hon The Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG Dec 2016–June 2017
Wales
Secretary of State for Wales The Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP March 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Guto Bebb MP
(also a Whip) (unpaid)
March 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State The Rt Hon The Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
(also with Communities & Local Government)
May 2015–June 2017
Work and Pensions
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions The Rt Hon Damian Green MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health Penny Mordaunt MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Employment Damian Hinds MP July 2016–June 2017
Minister of State for Welfare Reform The Rt Hon The Lord Freud PC
(unpaid)
May 2015–31 Dec 2016
Parliamentary under-Secretary of State The Rt Hon The Lord Henley PC (also a whip) (unpaid) 21 Dec 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Delivery Caroline Nokes MP July 2016–June 2017
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions Richard Harrington MP July 2016–June 2017

Law officers

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Attorney General's Office
Attorney General for England and Wales The Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP July 2014–June 2017
Solicitor General for England and Wales Robert Buckland QC MP July 2014–June 2017
Office of the Advocate General for Scotland
Advocate General for Scotland The Rt HonThe Lord Keen of Elie QC May 2015–June 2017

Parliament

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House Leaders
Leader of the House of Lords
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
The Rt Hon The Baroness Evans of Bowes Park PC July 2016 – June 2017
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords The Rt Hon The Earl Howe PC
(unpaid; also with Defence)
May 2015 – June 2017
Leader of the House of Commons
Lord President of the Council
The Rt Hon David Lidington CBE MP July 2016 – June 2017
Parliamentary Secretary
Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
(also a Whip)
Michael Ellis MP (unpaid) July 2016 – June 2017
House of Commons Whips
Chief Whip of the House of Commons
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP July 2016 – June 2017
Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Commons
Treasurer of the Household
The Rt Hon Anne Milton MP May 2015 – June 2017
Comptroller of the Household
Whip
The Rt Hon Mel Stride MP July 2016 – June 2017
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Whip
Julian Smith MP July 2016 – June 2017
Lords Commissioners of the Treasury
Whips
The Rt Hon David Evennett MP September 2012 – June 2017
Steve Barclay MP July 2016 – June 2017
Guto Bebb MP
(also with Wales Office)
March 2016 – June 2017
Guy Opperman MP July 2016 – June 2017
Andrew Griffiths MP (unpaid) July 2016 – June 2017
Robert Syms MP July 2016 – June 2017
Assistant Whips Chris Heaton-Harris MP July 2016 – June 2017
Heather Wheeler MP July 2016 – June 2017
Graham Stuart MP July 2016 – June 2017
Steve Brine MP (unpaid) July 2016 – June 2017
Mark Spencer MP July 2016 – June 2017
Christopher Pincher MP July 2016 – June 2017
Jackie Doyle-Price MP May 2015 – June 2017
Michael Ellis MP
(also Deputy Commons Leader)
July 2016 – June 2017
House of Lords Whips
Chief Whip of the House of Lords
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms
The Rt Hon The Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE PC August 2014 – June 2017
Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Lords
Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Rt Hon The Earl of Courtown July 2016 – June 2017
Lords and Baronesses in Waiting
Whips
The Rt Hon The Lord Ashton of Hyde July 2014 – June 2017
The Rt Hon The Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen (unpaid) May 2015 – December 2016
The Rt Hon The Baroness Goldie DL (unpaid from Dec 2016) July 2016 – June 2017
The Rt Hon The Baroness Buscombe (unpaid) December 2016 – June 2017
The Rt Hon The Baroness Vere of Norbiton (unpaid) December 2016 – June 2017
The Rt Hon The Baroness Mobarik CBE (unpaid) July 2016 – April 2017
The Rt Hon The Viscount Younger of Leckie Bt May 2015 – June 2017
The Rt Hon The Lord Young of Cookham Bt CH PC July 2016 – June 2017
The Rt Hon The Lord Henley PC (also with Work & Pensions from Dec 2016) November 2016 – June 2017
The Rt Hon The Lord O'Shaughnessy (also with Health) December 2016 – June 2017

Notes

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  1. ^ Although the 56th Parliament was due to last until 2020, May successfully sought the backing of Parliament for a snap election on 19 April 2017.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "General election campaigning begins as MPs back June poll". BBC News. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  2. ^ "David Cameron says being PM 'the greatest honour' in final Downing Street speech". BBC News. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  3. ^ Stewart, Heather (13 July 2016). "Theresa May becomes Britain's prime minister". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  4. ^ "May to form 'government of certainty' with DUP backing". BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Boris Johnson made foreign secretary by Theresa May". BBC News. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Ministerial appointments: July 2016". gov.uk. Prime Minister's Office. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  7. ^ May, Callum (22 July 2016). "Minister Greg Clark was briefly given wrong job". BBC News. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d "Theresa May shakes up government with new-look cabinet". BBC News. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  9. ^ Parker, George (14 July 2016). "Nick Timothy: Theresa May's political 'brain'". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 17 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  10. ^ Hardman, Isabel (16 July 2016). "Beware the aides of May! The people who'll really run the new government". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 29 September 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Downing Street political advisers". Gov.uk (Press release). 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  12. ^ "Full list of new ministerial and government appointments: July 2016". gov.uk. Prime Minister's Office. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Her Majesty's Government". www.parliament.uk. Parliament of the United Kingdom. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  14. ^ "Theresa May shakes up government with new-look cabinet". BBC News. 14 July 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
Preceded by Government of the United Kingdom
2016–2017
Succeeded by