This is the full list of members of John Major’s government, as of April 1992.
Major became Prime Minister on November 28, 1990, following the departure of Margaret Thatcher. He secured re-election on April 9, 1992.
HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
MEMBERS OF THE CABINET
(Formed by the Rt. Hon. John Major, MP, April 1992)
- Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service – The Rt. Hon. John Major, MP
- First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister – The Rt. Hon. Michael Heseltine, MP
- Lord Chancellor – The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mackay of Clashfern
- Chancellor of the Exchequer – The Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke, QC, MP
- Secretary of State for the Home Department – The Rt. Hon. Michael Howard, QC, MP
- Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Rifkind, MP
- President of the Board of Trade (Secretary of State for Trade and Industry) – The Rt. Hon. Ian Lang, MP
- Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons – The Rt. Hon. Tony Newton, OBE, MP
- Secretary of State for the Environment (Minister for London) – The Rt. Hon. John Gummer, QC, MP
- Secretary of State for Social Security – The Rt. Hon. Peter Lilley, MP
- Chief Secretary to the Treasury – The Rt. Hon. William Waldegrave, MP
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – The Rt. Hon. Sir Patrick Mayhew, QC, MP
- Secretary of State for National Heritage – The Rt. Hon. Virginia Bottomley, MP
- Secretary of State for Education and Employment – The Rt. Hon. Gillian Shephard, MP
- Secretary of State for Defence – The Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo, MP
- Minister without Portfolio – The Rt. Hon. Dr. Brian Mawhinney, MP
- Secretary of State for Health – The Rt. Hon. Stephen Dorrell, MP
- Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords – The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Cranborne, DL
- Secretary of State for Transport – The Rt. Hon. Sir George Young, Bt. MP
- Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food – The Rt. Hon. Douglas Hogg, QC, MP
- Secretary of State for Scotland – The Rt. Hon. Michael Forsyth, MP
- Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Public Service – The Rt. Hon. Roger Freeman, MP
- Secretary of State for Wales – The Rt. Hon. William Hague, MP
LAW OFFICERS
– Attorney-General – The Rt. Hon. Sir Nicholas Lyell, QC, MP
– Lord-Advocate – The Rt. Hon. The Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, QC
– Solicitor-General – Sir Derek Spencer, QC, MP
– Solicitor-General for Scotland – Donald Mackay, Esq. QC
DEPARTMENTS OF STATE AND MINISTERS
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food—
– Minister – The Rt. Hon. Douglas Hogg, QC, MP
– Minister of State – Tony Baldry, Esq. MP
– Parliamentary Secretaries – Tim Boswell, Esq. MP
Defence—
– Secretary of State – The Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo, MP
– Ministers of State –
—The Hon. Nicholas Soames, MP (Armed Forces)
—James Arbuthnot, Esq. MP (Defence Procurement)
– Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State – Earl Howe
Education and Employment—
– Secretary of State – The Rt. Hon. Gillian Shephard, MP
– Ministers of State –
—Eric Forth, Esq. MP
—The Lord Henley
-Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State –
—Robin Squire, Esq. MP
—Mrs. Cheryl Gillan, MP
—James Paice, Esq. MP
—The Hon. Phillip Oppenheim, MP
Environment—
– Secretary of State (Minister for London) – The Rt. Hon. John Gummer, QC, MP
– Ministers of State –
—David Curry, Esq. MP
—The Rt. Hon. The Earl Ferrers, DL
—Robert Jones, Esq. MP
-Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State –
—Sir Paul Beresford, MP
—James Clappison, Esq. MP
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs—
– Secretary of State – The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Rifkind, QC, MP
– Ministers of State –
—Minister for Overseas Development – The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
—The Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hanley, MP
—Sir Nicholas Bonsor, Bt., MP
—David Davis, Esq. MP
Health—
– Secretary of State – The Rt. Hon. Stephen Dorrell, MP
– Minister of State –
—Minister for Health – Gerald Malone, Esq. MP
-Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State –
—The Hon. Tom Sackville, MP
—John Bowis, Esq. OBE, MP
—The Baroness Cumberlege, CBE
Home Office—
– Secretary of State for the Home Department – The Rt. Hon. Michael Howard, QC, MP
– Ministers of State –
—The Rt. Hon. David Maclean, MP
—The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Blatch, CBE
—Miss Ann Widdecombe, MP
-Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State – Nicholas Baker, Esq. MP
Law Officers’ Department—
– Attorney-General – The Rt. Hon. Sir Nicholas Lyell, QC, MP
– Solicitor-General – Sir Derek Spencer, QC, MP
Lord Advocate’s Department—
– Lord-Advocate – The Rt. Hon. The Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, QC
– Solicitor-General for Scotland – Donald Mackay, Esq. QC
Lord Chancellor’s Department—
– Lord Chancellor – The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mackay of Clashfern
– Parliamentary Secretary – John M. Taylor, Esq. MP
Minister without Portfolio—
– Minister without Portfolio – The Rt. Hon. Dr. Brian Mawhinney, MP
National Heritage—
– Secretary of State for National Heritage – The Rt. Hon. Virginia Bottomley, JP, MP
– Minister of State – Iain Sproat, Esq. MP
– Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State – The Lord Inglewood, DL
Northern Ireland Office—
– Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – The Rt. Hon. Sir Patrick Mayhew, QC, MP
– Ministers of State –
—Michael Ancram, Esq. MP (The Earl of Ancram)
—The Rt. Hon. Sir John Wheeler, JP, DL, MP
-Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State –
—The Baroness Denton of Wakefield, CBE
—Malcolm Moss, Esq. MP
Paymaster General – David Heathcoat-Amory, Esq. MP
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service – The Rt. Hon. John Major, MP
Deputy Prime Minister, First Secretary of State – The Rt. Hon. Michael Heseltine, MP
Privy Council Office—
– Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons – The Rt. Hon. Tony Newton, OBE, MP
– Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords – The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Cranborne, DL (sits as Lord Cecil of Essenden)
Public Service, Office of—
– Minister of Public Servce – The Rt. Hon. Roger Freeman, MP
– Parliamentary Secretary – John Horam, Esq. MP
Scottish Office—
– Secretary of State for Scotland – The Rt. Hon. Michael Forsyth, MP
– Minister of State – Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MP
– Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State –
—George Kynoch, Esq. MP
—The Earl of Lindsay
—Raymond Robertson, Esq. MP
Social Security—
– Secretary of State for Social Security – The Rt. Hon. Peter Lilley, MP
– Ministers of State –
—Minister for disabled people – Alistair Burt, Esq. MP
—The Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
– Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State –
—Roger Evans, Esq. MP
—Andrew Mitchell, Esq. MP
—Oliver Heald, Esq. MP
Trade and Industry—
– President of the Board of Trade and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry – The Rt. Hon. Ian Lang, MP
– Ministers of State –
—The Rt. Hon. Tim Eggar, MP
—The Rt. Hon. The Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, QC
—Anthony Nelson, Esq. MP
– Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State –
—Johnathan Evans, Esq. MP
—Richard Page, Esq. MP
—Ian Taylor, MBE, MP
Transport—
– Secretary of State for Transport – The Rt. Hon. Sir George Young, Bt. MP
– Minister of State –
—Minister for Railways and Roads – John Watts, Esq. MP
-Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State –
—Steve Norris, Esq. MP (Minister for Transport in London, Local Transport and Road Safety)
—The Viscount Goschen (Minister for Aviation and Shipping)
Treasury—
– Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service – The Rt. Hon. John Major, MP
– Chancellor of the Exchequer – The Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke, QC, MP
– Chief Secretary – The Rt. Hon. William Waldegrave, MP
– Financial Secretary – Michael Jack, Esq. MP
– Paymaster General – David Heathcoat-Amory, Esq. MP
– Economic Secretary – Mrs. Angela Knight, MP
– Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) – The Rt. Hon. Alastair Goodlad, MP
– Lords Commissioners –
—Andrew Mackay, Esq. MP
—Derek Conway, Esq. MP
—Bowen Wells, Esq. MP
—Simon Burns, Esq. MP
—David Willetts, Esq. MP
– Assistant Whips –
—Michael Bates, Esq. MP
—Dr. Liam Fox, MP
—Patrick McLoughlin, Esq. MP
—Roger Knapman, Esq. MP
—Gary Streeter, Esq. MP
Welsh Office—
– Secretary of State for Wales – The Rt. Hon. William Hague, MP
– Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State –
—Rod Richards, Esq. MP
—Gwilym Jones, Esq. MP
Her Majesty’s Household—
– Lord Chamberlain – The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Airlie, KT, GCVO
– Lord Steward – The Viscount Ridley, KG, TD
– Master of the Horse – The Lord Somerleyton
– Treasurer (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons) – The Rt. Hon. Greg Knight, MP
– Comptroller (Whip, House of Commons) – Timothy Wood, Esq. MP
– Vice-Chamberlain (Whip, House of Commons) – Timothy Kirkhope, Esq. MP
– Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentleman-at-Arms (Chief Whip, House of Lords) – The Rt. Hon. The Lord Strathclyde
– Captain of the Queen’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords) – The Lord Chesham
– Lords in Waiting –
—The Viscount Long, CBE
—The Lord Lucas of Crudwell
—The Earl of Courtown
-Baroness in Waiting –
—The Rt. Hon. The Baroness Trumpington
—Baroness Miller of Hendon, MBE
Second Church Estates Commissioner, Representing Church Commissioners – The Rt. Hon. Michael Alison, MP
OLDEST AND YOUNGEST: The oldest current member of the government is Hector Monro, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (b. October 4th, 1922). The youngest current member is Viscount Goschen, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (b. November 16th, 1965). The youngest Cabinet Member is William Hague, Secretary of State for Wales (b. March 26th, 1961) who joined the Cabinet aged 34 years 101 days, the youngest Cabinet member since Harold Wilson in 1947.
MOST EXPERIENCED: The following Ministers have been in government office continuously since May 1979:
- Baroness Chalker (Minister of State, Foreign Office – Overseas Development)
- Kenneth Clarke (Chancellor of the Exchequer)
- Sir Patrick Mayhew (Secretary of State for Northern Ireland)
- Anthony Newton (Lord President of the Council)
- Malcolm Rifkind (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)
The following Ministers served in the Governments of Edward Heath or other former Conservative Prime Ministers:
- Kenneth Clarke (Chancellor of the Exchequer) – Assistant Whip 13/4/72-8/1/74; Lord of the Treasury 8/1/74-4/3/74.
- Earl Ferrers (Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry – Minister for Industry) – Lord in Waiting 3/12/62-10/10/64 and 5/1/71-8/1/74; Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 8/1/74-4/3/74.
- Michael Heseltine (First Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister) – Parliamentary Secretary, Minister for Industrial Development 24/6/70-15/10/70; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment 15/10/70-7/4/72; Minister of State, Department of Trade – Minister for Aerospace and Shipping 7/4/72-4/3/74.
RESIGNATIONS: The following Ministers have resigned since Margaret Thatcher was elected in 1979:
- 18/5/81 Keith Speed (opposition to Government Defence Estimates)
- 21/1/82 Nicholas Fairbairn (Glasgow rape case non-prosecution)
- 5/4/82 Lord Carrington, Humphrey Atkins, Richard Luce (Invasion of the Falkland Islands)
- 8/5/82 Nicholas Budgen (opposition to Government plans for devolution to Northern Ireland)
- 11/10/83 Cecil Parkinson (revalation of affair out of wedlock and pregnancy of mistress)
- 16/11/85 Ian Gow (opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement)
- 7/1/86 Michael Heseltine (failure of Government to support european bid for Westland Helicopters)
- 22/1/86 Leon Brittan (complicity in leak of Solicitor-General’s letter on Westland Helicopters scandal)
- 16/12/88 Edwina Currie (inaccurate remarks on risk of salmonella from eggs)
- 29/10/89 Nigel Lawson (role of Prime Minister’s Economic Adviser)
- 13/7/90 Nicholas Ridley (offensive remarks about Germany)
- 1/11/90 Geoffrey Howe (Government policy on Europe)
- 22/9/92 David Mellor (revelations in a libel case of acceptance of hospitality from PLO officials)
- 24/6/93 Michael Mates (giving a watch to corrupt businessman)
- 7/1/94 Tim Yeo (revalation of extra-marital affair and pregnancy of mistress)
- 11/1/94 Earl of Caithness (suicide of wife)
- 7/5/94 Michael Brown (revalation of affair with man under the age of consent)
- 20/10/94 Tim Smith (acceptance of money for asking Parliamentary Questions)
- 25/10/94 Neil Hamilton (allegations of acceptance of money for asking Parliamentary Questions)
- 7/2/95 Allan Stewart (confrontation with anti-road campaigners)
- 11/2/95 Charles Wardle (opposition to Government policy on immigration)
- 6/3/95 Robert Hughes (revalation of extra-marital affair)
- 26/6/95 John Redwood (decision to challenge John Major for Leadership of the Conservative Party)
