| Leader of the House of Commons | |
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| Incumbent: Harriet Harman MP Took office: 28 June 2007 |
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| Style: | The Right Honourable |
| Appointed by: | Gordon Brown as Prime Minister |
| First : | Robert Walpole |
| Formation: | (1721) |
| United Kingdom |
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The Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Commons. Although at one time the position was usually held by the Prime Minister, in recent years, the post has usually been combined with that of Lord President of the Council (i.e. of the Privy Council); from 2003 it has been combined instead with the office of Lord Privy Seal.
Harriet Harman was appointed Leader of the House of Commons by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown on June 28, 2007, following on from her cousins Austen Chamberlain (1921-22) and Neville Chamberlain (1937-1940).
The House of Commons devotes approximately three quarters of its time to "Government business" such as bills introduced by the government and ministerial statements. The Leader of the House is responsible for organizing the use of this time, and making regular announcements to the House as to what business the government will put before it. When there is no Deputy Prime Minister, or the Deputy Prime Minister is unavailable, the Leader of the House may stand in for an absent Prime Minister at Prime Minister's Questions (as the current Leader, Harriet Harman, did on 17 December 2008[1] and the 8 July 2009).
Jointly administered by the 'Office of the Leader of the House of Commons and the Cabinet Office are the Osmotherly Rules, which set out guidance on how civil servants should respond to Parliamentary select committees.[2]
Robin Cook was appointed as Leader of the House after the 2001 UK general election. He resigned from the post on 17 March 2003, as he could not accept the government's position on military action against Iraq. During his period in office he chaired the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons, which proposed significant reforms of the sitting hours of the House.
Contents |
Leaders of the House of Commons since 1721
At times the nominal leadership was held by the Prime Minister but the day to day work was done by a Deputy. At other times a Deputy was appointed merely to enhance an individual politician's standing within the government.
18th century
19th century
20th century
21st century
| Name | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Offices held in conjunction | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Cook |  |
2001 | 2003 | Lord President of the Council | Labour |
| John Reid |  |
2003 | 2003 | Lord President of the Council | Labour |
| Peter Hain |  |
2003 | 2005 | Lord Privy Seal | Labour |
| Geoff Hoon |  |
2005 | 2006 | Lord Privy Seal | Labour |
| Jack Straw |  |
2006 | 2007 | Lord Privy Seal | Labour |
| Harriet Harman | |
2007 | present | Lord Privy Seal Minister for Women and Equality |
Labour |
See also
- Leader of the House of Lords
- Speaker of the British House of Commons
- Minister for Parliamentary Business, the equivalent cabinet post in the Scottish Government
External links
References
- ^ Engagements: 2 Apr 2008: House of Commons debates
- ^ Gay, Oonagh (2005-08-04). "The Osmotherly Rules (Standard Note: SN/PC/2671)" (in English). Parliament and Constitution Centre, House of Commons Library. http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-02671.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
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