Current affairs

Key figures in UK politics. Prime Minister and Conservative Leader: Rishi Sunak, Conservative Party. Chancellor of the Exchequer: Jeremy Hunt, Conservative Party; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary: Lord Cameron, Conservative Party; Home Secretary: James Cleverly, Conservative Party. Keir Starmer, Labour Party. Labour Deputy Leader and Shadow LUHC Secretary: Angela Rayner, Labour Party. Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer: Rachel Reeves, Labour Party. Liberal Democrat Leader: Ed Davey, Liberal Democrats. First Minister of Scotland and SNP Leader: Humza Yousaf, Scottish National Party. First Minister of Wales: Mark Drakeford, Labour Party. Sinn Féin Deputy President: Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Féin. DUP Leader: Jeffrey Donaldson, Democratic Unionist Party. Sadiq Khan, Labour Party. Mayor of the West Midlands: Andy Street, Conservative Party. Mayor of Greater Manchester: Andy Burnham, Labour and Co-op Party.
UK general elections since 1945. 2019 (67.3% turnout): the Conservative party under Boris Johnson won 365 (56.2%) seats and 14.0 million (43.6%) votes and the Labour party under Jeremy Corbyn won 202 (31.0%) seats and 10.3 million (32.1%) votes; 2017 (68.8% turnout): the Conservative party under Theresa May won 317 (48.8%) seats and 13.6 million (42.3%) votes and the Labour party under Jeremy Corbyn won 262 (40.3%) seats and 12.9 million (40.0%) votes; 2015 (66.4% turnout): the Conservative party under David Cameron won 330 (50.8%) seats and 11.3 million (36.8%) votes and the Labour party under Ed Miliband won 232 (35.7%) seats and 9.3 million (30.4%) votes; 2010 (65.1% turnout): the Conservative party under David Cameron won 306 (47.1%) seats and 10.7 million (36.1%) votes and the Labour party under Gordon Brown won 258 (39.7%) seats and 8.6 million (29.0%) votes; 2005 (61.4% turnout): the Conservative party under Michael Howard won 198 (30.5%) seats and 8.8 million (32.6%) votes and the Labour party under Tony Blair won 355 (54.6%) seats and 9.6 million (35.2%) votes; 2001 (59.4% turnout): the Conservative party under William Hague won 166 (25.2%) seats and 8.4 million (31.7%) votes and the Labour party under Tony Blair won 412 (62.5%) seats and 10.7 million (40.7%) votes; 1997 (71.3% turnout): the Conservative party under John Major won 165 (25.0%) seats and 9.6 million (30.7%) votes and the Labour party under Tony Blair won 418 (63.4%) seats and 13.5 million (43.2%) votes; 1992 (77.7% turnout): the Conservative party under John Major won 336 (51.6%) seats and 14.1 million (41.9%) votes and the Labour party under Neil Kinnock won 271 (41.6%) seats and 11.6 million (34.4%) votes; 1987 (75.3% turnout): the Conservative party under Margaret Thatcher won 376 (57.8%) seats and 13.8 million (42.3%) votes and the Labour party under Neil Kinnock won 229 (35.2%) seats and 10.0 million (30.8%) votes; 1983 (72.7% turnout): the Conservative party under Margaret Thatcher won 397 (61.1%) seats and 13.0 million (42.4%) votes and the Labour party under Michael Foot won 209 (32.2%) seats and 8.5 million (27.6%) votes; 1979 (76.0% turnout): the Conservative party under Margaret Thatcher won 339 (53.4%) seats and 13.7 million (43.9%) votes and the Labour party under James Callaghan won 269 (42.4%) seats and 11.5 million (36.9%) votes; October 1974 (72.8% turnout): the Conservative party under Edward Heath won 277 (43.6%) seats and 10.5 million (35.8%) votes and the Labour party under Harold Wilson won 319 (50.2%) seats and 11.5 million (39.3%) votes; February 1974 (78.8% turnout): February 1974 (78.8% turnout): the Conservative party under Edward Heath won 297 (46.8%) seats and 11.9 million (37.9%) votes and the Labour party under Harold Wilson won 301 (47.4%) seats and 11.6 million (37.2%) votes; 1970 (72.0% turnout): the Conservative party under Edward Heath won 330 (52.4%) seats and 13.1 million (46.4%) votes and the Labour party under Harold Wilson won 288 (45.7%) seats and 12.2 million (43.1%) votes; 1966 (75.8% turnout): the Conservative party under Edward Heath won 253 (40.2%) seats and 11.4 million (41.9%) votes and the Labour party under Harold Wilson won 364 (57.8%) seats and 13.1 million (57.8%) votes; 1964 (77.1% turnout): the Conservative party under Alec Douglas-Home won 304 (48.3%) seats and 12.0 million (43.4%) votes and the Labour party under Harold Wilson won 317 (50.3%) seats and 12.2 million (44.1%) votes; 1959 (78.7% turnout): the Conservative party under Harold Wilson won 365 (57.9%) seats and 13.8 million (49.4%) votes and the Labour party under Hugh Gaitskell won 258 (41.0%) seats and 12.2 million (43.8%) votes; 1955 (76.8% turnout): the Conservative party under Anthony Eden won 345 (54.8%) seats and 13.3 million (49.7%) votes and the Labour party under Clement Attlee won 277 (44.0%) seats and 12.4 million (46.4%) votes; 1951 (82.6% turnout): the Conservative party under Winston Churchill won 321 (51.4%) seats and 13.7 million (48.0%) votes and the Labour party under Clement Attlee won 295 (47.2%) seats and 13.9 million (48.8%) votes; 1950 (83.9% turnout): the Conservative party under Winston Churchill won 298 (47.7%) seats and 12.5 million (43.4%) votes and the Labour party under Clement Attlee won 315 (50.4%) seats and 13.2 million (46.1%) votes; 1945 (72.8% turnout): the Conservative party under Winston Churchill won 210 (32.8%) seats and 10.0 million (39.6%) votes and the Labour party under Clement Attlee won 393 (61.4%) seats and 12.0 million (47.7%) votes. Note: Party totals before the 1997 general election include the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Senior ministers since 1945. Prime Ministers: Rishi Sunak (2022–), Liz Truss (2022), Boris Johnson (2019–22), Theresa May (2016–19), David Cameron (2010–16), Gordon Brown (2007–10), Tony Blair (1997–07), John Major (1990–97), Margaret Thatcher (1979–90), James Callaghan (1976–79), Harold Wilson (1974–76), Edward Heath (1970–74), Harold Wilson (1964–70), Alec Douglas-Home (1963–64), Harold Macmillan (1957–63), Anthony Eden (1955–57), Winston Churchill (1951–55) and Clement Attlee (1945–51). Chancellors of the Exchequer: Jeremy Hunt, Kwasi Kwarteng, Nadhim Zahawi, Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid, Philip Hammond, George Osborne, Alistair Darling, Gordon Brown, Ken Clarke, Norman Lamont, John Major, Nigel Lawson, Geoffrey Howe, Denis Healey, Anthony Barber, Ian Macleod, Roy Jenkins, James Callaghan, Reginald Maudling, Selwyn Lloyd, Derick Heathcoat-Amory, Peter Thorneycroft, Harold Macmillan, Rab Butler, Hugh Gaitskell, Stafford Cripps and Hugh Dalton. Foreign Secretaries: James Cleverly, Liz Truss, Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Boris Johnson, Philip Hammond, William Hague, David Miliband, Margaret Beckett, Jack Straw, Robin Cook, Malcolm Rifkind, Douglas Hurd, John Major, Geoffrey Howe, Francis Pym, Lord Carrington, David Owen, Anthony Crosland, James Callaghan, Alec Douglas-Home, Michael Stewart, George Brown, Michael Stewart, Patrick Gordon Walker, Rab Butler, Lord Home, Selwyn Lloyd, Harold Macmillan, Anthony Eden, Herbert Morrison and Ernest Bevin. Home Secretaries: Suella Braverman, Grant Shapps, Suella Braverman, Priti Patel, Sajid Javid, Amber Rudd, Theresa May, Alan Johnson, Jacqui Smith, John Reid, Charles Clarke, David Blunckett, Jack Straw, Michael Howard, Ken Clarke, Kenneth Baker, David Waddington, Douglas Hurd , Leon Brittan, William Whitelaw, Merlyn Rees, Roy Jenkins, Robert Carr, Reginald Maudling, James Callaghan, Roy Jenkins, Frank Soskice, Henry Brooke, Rab Butler, Gwilym Lloyd George, David Maxwell Fyfe and James Chuter Ede.