Prime Minister of the United Kingdom | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Incumbent | Oliver Howard |
| Style | The Right Honourable |
| Member of | Cabinet |
| Reports to | Parliament |
| Residence | 10 Downing Street |
| Appointed by | The Sovereign |
| Term length | No fixed term; while they keep the confidence of the Commons |
| Deputy | Chancellor of the Exchequer (by custom, the second most senior minister) |
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of His Majesty's Government and the most senior minister in UKOGB. The Prime Minister chairs the Cabinet, chooses and dismisses its members, sets the direction of government policy and leads the government's business in the House of Commons. The office is based at 10 Downing Street, which is both the Prime Minister's office and official residence.
The current Prime Minister is Sir Oliver Howard KG KC MP, Leader of the Labour Party and Member of Parliament for Cities of London and Westminster. He took office on 6 May 2022, the day after Labour won the 2022 general election.
History
The office of Prime Minister grew up by convention rather than by law. For centuries the title was informal, used for the minister who led the King's government and held the confidence of the House of Commons, and the holder was formally styled First Lord of the Treasury, a title Prime Ministers still hold. Over time the role became the centre of British government: the Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet, leads the governing party at elections and speaks for the country abroad.
Appointment
The Prime Minister is appointed by The Sovereign, who by convention asks the person most able to command the confidence of the House of Commons to form a government. In practice this is the leader of the party that wins most seats at a general election run by the Electoral Commission.
Where no party has a majority and the rules call for one, party leaders negotiate a coalition, and the leader of the largest party in it becomes Prime Minister. If talks fail, the Electoral Commission can allow a minority government. A Prime Minister who loses a motion of no confidence in the Commons must resign or seek a new general election.
Powers and duties
The Prime Minister's powers come mostly from convention and from the right to advise The Sovereign. They include:
- appointing and dismissing the members of the Cabinet and other ministers, and deciding what each department does;
- setting the government's legislative programme and steering its bills through Parliament;
- answering to the House of Commons every week at Prime Minister's Questions, where the Leader of the Opposition leads the questioning;
- advising the Sovereign on appointments and on the honours lists;
- leading the government's response in a crisis, and representing the United Kingdom at home and abroad.
On the UKOGB website the Prime Minister can manage the Cabinet, appoint ministers and post as 10 Downing Street, and gets the Prime Minister role in the Discord server.
Residence and staff
The Prime Minister lives and works at 10 Downing Street, next door to the Chancellor of the Exchequer at Number 11. The Cabinet Office supports the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, and makes sure decisions taken at the Cabinet table are carried out across government.
List of Prime Ministers
- Richard Ashworth (Conservative), until 6 May 2022
- Sir Oliver Howard (Labour), 6 May 2022 to present
See also
This page was last edited on 3 November 2026.