# List of female leaders of British political parties

This is a list of female party leaders of British political parties.

## Parliamentary parties
### Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| Naomi Long (b. 1971) | Belfast East (NI Assembly) | 26 October 2016 | Incumbent | May |
| Naomi Long (b. 1971) | Belfast East (NI Assembly) | 26 October 2016 | Incumbent | Johnson |
| Naomi Long (b. 1971) | Belfast East (NI Assembly) | 26 October 2016 | Incumbent | Truss |
| Naomi Long (b. 1971) | Belfast East (NI Assembly) | 26 October 2016 | Incumbent | Sunak |
| Naomi Long (b. 1971) | Belfast East (NI Assembly) | 26 October 2016 | Incumbent | Starmer |
* ↑ Multi-member constituency

### Conservative Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) | Finchley | 11 February 1975 | 28 November 1990 | Wilson |
| Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) | Finchley | 11 February 1975 | 28 November 1990 | Callaghan |
| Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) | Finchley | 11 February 1975 | 28 November 1990 | Herself |
| Theresa May (b. 1956) | Maidenhead | 11 July 2016 | 7 June 2019 | Herself |
| Liz Truss (b. 1975) | South West Norfolk | 6 September 2022 | 24 October 2022 | Herself |
| Kemi Badenoch (b. 1980) | North West Essex | 2 November 2024 | Incumbent | Starmer |

### Democratic Unionist Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| Arlene Foster (b. 1970) | Fermanagh and South Tyrone (NI Assembly) | 17 December 2015 | 28 May 2021 | Cameron |
| Arlene Foster (b. 1970) | Fermanagh and South Tyrone (NI Assembly) | 17 December 2015 | 28 May 2021 | May |
| Arlene Foster (b. 1970) | Fermanagh and South Tyrone (NI Assembly) | 17 December 2015 | 28 May 2021 | Johnson |
* ↑ Foster served as First Minister of Northern Ireland from January 2016 to January 2017, and from January 2020 to June 2021
* ↑ Multi-member constituency

### Green Party of England and Wales

| Leader (Birth–death) | Title | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| Jean Lambert (b. 1950) | Female Principal Speaker | 1992 | 1993 | Major |
| Jan Clark | Female Principal Speaker | 1993 | 1995 | Major |
| Peg Alexander | Female Principal Speaker | 1995 | 1997 | Major |
| Jean Lambert (b. 1950) | Female Principal Speaker | 1998 | 1999 | Blair |
| Margaret Wright (1940–2012) | Female Principal Speaker | 1999 | 2003 | Blair |
| Caroline Lucas (b. 1960) | Female Principal Speaker | 2003 | 24 November 2006 | Blair |
| Siân Berry (b. 1974) | Female Principal Speaker | 24 November 2006 | 30 November 2007 | Blair |
| Siân Berry (b. 1974) | Female Principal Speaker | 24 November 2006 | 30 November 2007 | Blair Brown |
| Caroline Lucas (b. 1960) | Female Principal Speaker | 30 November 2007 | 5 September 2008 | Blair Brown |
| Caroline Lucas (b. 1960) | Leader of the Green Party | 5 September 2008 | 3 September 2012 | Blair Brown |
| Caroline Lucas (b. 1960) | Leader of the Green Party | 5 September 2008 | 3 September 2012 | Cameron |
| Natalie Bennett (b. 1966) | Leader of the Green Party | 3 September 2012 | 2 September 2016 | Cameron |
| Natalie Bennett (b. 1966) | Leader of the Green Party | 3 September 2012 | 2 September 2016 | Cameron May |
| Caroline Lucas (b. 1960) | Co-leader of the Green Party | 2 September 2016 | 4 September 2018 | Cameron May |
| Siân Berry (b. 1974) | Co-leader of the Green Party | 4 September 2018 | 1 October 2021 | Cameron May |
| Siân Berry (b. 1974) | Co-leader of the Green Party | 4 September 2018 | 1 October 2021 | May Johnson |
| Carla Denyer (b. 1985) | Co-leader of the Green Party | 1 October 2021 | Incumbent | May Johnson |
| Carla Denyer (b. 1985) | Co-leader of the Green Party | 1 October 2021 | Incumbent | Johnson Truss Sunak |
| Carla Denyer (b. 1985) | Co-leader of the Green Party | 1 October 2021 | Incumbent | Starmer |

### Labour Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| Margaret Beckett (acting) (b. 1943) | Derby South | 12 May 1994 | 21 July 1994 | Major |
| Harriet Harman (acting) (b. 1950) | Camberwell and Peckham | 11 May 2010 | 25 September 2010 | Cameron |
| Harriet Harman (acting) (b. 1950) | Camberwell and Peckham | 8 May 2015 | 12 September 2015 | Cameron |

### Liberal Democrats

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| The Baroness Brinton (acting) (b. 1955) | N/A | 8 May 2015 | 16 July 2015 | Cameron |
| Jo Swinson (b. 1980) | East Dunbartonshire | 22 July 2019 | 13 December 2019 | May |
| Jo Swinson (b. 1980) | East Dunbartonshire | 22 July 2019 | 13 December 2019 | Johnson |
| The Baroness Brinton (acting) (b. 1955) | N/A | 13 December 2019 | 31 December 2019 | Johnson |

### Plaid Cymru

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| Leanne Wood (b. 1971) | | Rhondda (Senedd) | 16 March 2012 | 28 September 2018 | | Cameron |
| Leanne Wood (b. 1971) | | Rhondda (Senedd) | 16 March 2012 | 28 September 2018 | | May |

### Scottish National Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| Nicola Sturgeon (b. 1970) | Glasgow Southside (Scottish Parliament) | 14 November 2014 | 27 March 2023 | Cameron |
| Nicola Sturgeon (b. 1970) | Glasgow Southside (Scottish Parliament) | 14 November 2014 | 27 March 2023 | May |
| Nicola Sturgeon (b. 1970) | Glasgow Southside (Scottish Parliament) | 14 November 2014 | 27 March 2023 | Johnson |
| Nicola Sturgeon (b. 1970) | Glasgow Southside (Scottish Parliament) | 14 November 2014 | 27 March 2023 | Truss |
| Nicola Sturgeon (b. 1970) | Glasgow Southside (Scottish Parliament) | 14 November 2014 | 27 March 2023 | Sunak |
* ↑ Nicola Sturgeon was First Minister of Scotland from 20 November 2014 to 29 March 2023

### Sinn Féin

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| Margaret Buckley (1879–1962) | N/A | 1937 | 1950 | Chamberlain |
| Margaret Buckley (1879–1962) | N/A | 1937 | 1950 | Churchill |
| Margaret Buckley (1879–1962) | N/A | 1937 | 1950 | Attlee |
| Mary Lou McDonald (b. 1969) | Dublin Central (Assembly of Ireland) | 10 February 2018 | Incumbent | May |
| Mary Lou McDonald (b. 1969) | Dublin Central (Assembly of Ireland) | 10 February 2018 | Incumbent | Johnson |
| Mary Lou McDonald (b. 1969) | Dublin Central (Assembly of Ireland) | 10 February 2018 | Incumbent | Truss |
| Mary Lou McDonald (b. 1969) | Dublin Central (Assembly of Ireland) | 10 February 2018 | Incumbent | Sunak |
| Mary Lou McDonald (b. 1969) | Dublin Central (Assembly of Ireland) | 10 February 2018 | Incumbent | Starmer |
* ↑ Multi-member constituency

### Social Democratic and Labour Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Prime Minister |
| Margaret Ritchie (b. 1958) | South Down | 7 February 2010 | 5 November 2011 | Brown |
| Margaret Ritchie (b. 1958) | South Down | 7 February 2010 | 5 November 2011 | Cameron |
| Claire Hanna (b. 1980) | Belfast South and Mid Down | 5 October 2024 | Incumbent | Starmer |
* ↑ Also MLA of South Down until 31 March 2012

## Parties with representation in devolved parliaments
### Green Party in Northern Ireland

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Lindsay Whitcroft | None | 2004 | 2005 | 0 / 90 (Northern Ireland Assembly) |
| Kelly Andrews | None | 2005 | 2009 | 0 / 90 (Northern Ireland Assembly) |
| Karly Greene | None | 2009 | 2011 | 0 / 90 (Northern Ireland Assembly) |
| Clare Bailey (b. 1970) | Belfast South (Northern Ireland Assembly) | 21 November 2018 | 15 August 2022 | 0 / 90 (Northern Ireland Assembly) |
* ↑ Multi-member constituency

### Liberal Vannin Party

| Leader | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Kate Costain | Douglas South (House of Keys) | 24 February 2014 | Incumbent | 1 / 24 (House of Keys) |
* ↑ Until 14 July 2020

### Scottish Green Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency / Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Marian Coyne | None | 1999 | 1999 | 7 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Eleanor Scott (b. 1951) | Highlands and Islands (Scottish Parliament) | 2002 | 2004 | 7 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Shiona Baird (b. 1946) | North East Scotland (Scottish Parliament) | 2004 | 2007 | 7 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Alison Johnstone (b. 1965) | Lothian (Scottish Parliament) | 2007 | 2008 | 7 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Eleanor Scott (b. 1951) | N/A | 2008 | 2011 | 7 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Martha Wardrop (b. 1951) | Hillhead (council ward) | 2011 | November 2013 | 7 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Maggie Chapman (b. 1979) | Leith Walk (council ward) | November 2013 | 1 August 2019 | 7 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Lorna Slater (b. 1974/5) | Lothian (Scottish Parliament) | 1 August 2019 | Incumbent | 7 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
* 1 2 3 4 Multi-member constituency
* ↑ Until June 2015
* ↑ From May 2021

### Regional branches of parliamentary parties
#### London Conservatives

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Angie Bray (b. 1953) | | West Central (London Assembly) | 2006 | 2007 | 9 / 25 (London Assembly) |
| Susan Hall | | Londonwide (London Assembly) | 17 December 2019 | Incumbent | 9 / 25 (London Assembly) |

#### Scottish Conservatives

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Annabel Goldie (b. 1950) | | West Scotland (Scottish Parliament) | 31 October 2005 | 4 November 2011 | 31 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Ruth Davidson (b. 1978) | | Glasgow (Scottish Parliament) Edinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament) | 4 November 2011 | 29 August 2019 | 31 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
* 1 2 Multi-member constituency
* ↑ Until 2016
* ↑ From 2016

#### Scottish Labour

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Cathy Jamieson (acting) (b. 1956) | Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Scottish Parliament) | 8 November 2001 | 22 November 2001 | 22 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Cathy Jamieson (acting) (b. 1956) | Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Scottish Parliament) | 15 August 2007 | 14 September 2007 | 22 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Wendy Alexander (b. 1963) | Paisley North (Scottish Parliament) | 14 September 2007 | 28 June 2008 | 22 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Cathy Jamieson (acting) (b. 1956) | Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Scottish Parliament) | 28 June 2008 | 3 September 2008 | 22 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Johann Lamont (b. 1957) | Glasgow Pollok (Scottish Parliament) | 17 December 2011 | 24 October 2014 | 22 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Kezia Dugdale (b. 1981) | Lothian (Scottish Parliament) | 15 August 2015 | 29 August 2017 | 22 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Jackie Baillie (acting) (b. 1964) | Dumbarton (Scottish Parliament) | 15 November 2017 | 18 November 2017 | 22 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
| Jackie Baillie (acting) (b. 1964) | Dumbarton (Scottish Parliament) | 14 January 2021 | 27 February 2021 | 22 / 129 (Scottish Parliament) |
* ↑ Multi-member constituency

#### Welsh Labour

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Eluned Morgan (b. 1967) | | Mid and West Wales (Senedd) | 24 July 2024 | Incumbent | 30 / 60 (Senedd) |

#### Welsh Liberal Democrats

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Kirsty Williams (b. 1971) | Brecon and Radnorshire (Senedd) | 8 December 2008 | 6 May 2016 | 1 / 60 (Senedd) |
| Kirsty Williams (b. 1971) | Brecon and Radnorshire (Senedd) | 16 June 2017 (acting) | 3 November 2017 | 1 / 60 (Senedd) |
| Jane Dodds (b. 1963) | Brecon and Radnorshire (House of Commons, August 2019 – December 2019) | 3 November 2017 | Incumbent | 1 / 60 (Senedd) |

## Parties with representation in local government
### Alliance for Local Living

| Leader | Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Felicity Rice | Oakdale (BCP Council) | 1 April 2019 | Incumbent | 4 councillors |

### Animal Welfare Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Vanessa Hudson (b. 1972) | | N/A | October 2010 | Incumbent | None |

### Reform UK

| Leader (Birth–death) | Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Catherine Blaiklock (b. 1963) | N/A | 20 January 2019 | 20 March 2019 | 1 MP and 9 councillors |

### Guildford Greenbelt Group

| Leader | Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Susan Parker | Send (Guildford borough council) | 2013 | Incumbent | 3 councillors |

### Horwich and Blackrod First

| Leader | Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Marie Brady | Horwich North East (Bolton Council) | 8 February 2019 | Incumbent | 2 councillors |

### Independence for Scotland Party

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Colette Walker | 7 May 2020 | Incumbent | 1 councillor |

### Lincolnshire Independents

| Leader (Birth–death) | Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Marianne Overton (b. 1959) | Cliff Villages (North Kesteven district council) | 2008 | Incumbent | 1 councillor |

### Mebyon Kernow

| Leader (Birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Helena Sanders (1911–1997) | January 1951 | 1957 | 5 councillors |
| Loveday Carlyon | 1986 | 1989 | 5 councillors |
| Loveday Jenkin | 1990 | 1997 | 5 councillors |

### Orkney Manifesto Group

| Leader | Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Rachael King | West Mainland (Orkney Islands Council) | March 2013 | Incumbent | None |

### Progressive Unionist Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Dawn Purvis (b. 1967) | | Belfast East (NI Assembly) | 23 January 2007 | 2 June 2010 | 1 councillor |
* ↑ Multi-member constituency, from 7 March 2007

### The Rubbish Party

| Leader | Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Sally Cogley | Irvine Valley (East Ayrshire council) | March 2017 | Incumbent | 1 councillor |

### UK Independence Party (UKIP)

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Diane James (b. 1959) | | South East England (European Parliament) | 16 September 2016 | 4 October 2016 | None |
| Pat Mountain (acting) | | N/A | 30 October 2019 | 25 April 2020 | None |

### Women's Equality Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Ward | Took office | Left office | Current representation |
| Sophie Walker (b. 1971) | | N/A | 22 July 2015 | 22 January 2019 | 1 councillor |
| Mandu Reid (b. 1981) | | N/A | April 2019 | Incumbent | 1 councillor |
* ↑ Acting until January 2020

## Parties with no elected UK representation
### Advance Together

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Annabel Mullin | September 2018 | Incumbent | 2019 general election |

### Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Ella Rule | 24 October 2018 | Incumbent | None |

### Freedom Alliance

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Carol Dobson (acting) | 27 January 2021 | Incumbent | 2021 Scottish Parliament election 2021 United Kingdom local elections |

### Left Unity

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Sharon McCourt | 25 March 2017 | Incumbent | None |

### National Health Action Party

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Veronika Wagner | c. August 2019 | Incumbent | 2021 local elections |

### Renew Party

| Leader | Portrait | Seat | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Annabel Mullin | | N/A | 20 September 2018 | 7 June 2019 | 2019 European Parliament election |
| Julie Girling | | South West England (European Parliament) | 7 June 2019 | 7 July 2020 | 2019 general election |
* ↑ Multi-member constituency, until 1 July 2019

### Scottish Socialist Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Frances Curran (b. 1961) | c.2007 | 2012 | 2009 European Parliament election 2010 general election 2011 Scottish Parliament election |
| Sandra Webster | 2012 | 2016 | 2015 general election 2016 Scottish Parliament election |
| Katie Bonnar | 2016 | 2018 | None |
| Róisín McLaren (b. 1994) | 2018 | Incumbent | None |

### Socialist Party (England and Wales)

| Leader (Birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Hannah Sell (b. 1971) | 11 March 2020 | Incumbent | None |

### UK Independence Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Constituency | Took office | Left office |
| Diane James (b. 1959) | South East England (European Parliament) | 16 September 2016 | 4 October 2016 |
| Pat Mountain (acting) | N/A | 30 October 2019 | 25 April 2020 |
| Lois Perry | N/A | 13 May 2024 | 15 June 2024 |

### Workers' Party (Ireland)

| Leader (Birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Marian Donnelly (b. 1938) | March 1992 | 1994 | 1993 Northern Ireland local elections |

### Regional branches of parties without elected representation
#### Reform UK Scotland

| Leader | Portrait | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Michelle Ballantyne | | South Scotland (Scottish Parliament) | 11 January 2021 | 16 February 2022 | 2021 Scottish Parliament election |
* ↑ Multi-member constituency, until 6 May 2021

## Defunct parties
### Change UK / The Independent Group for Change

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Heidi Allen (Acting) (b. 1975) | | South Cambridgeshire | 29 March 2019 | 4 June 2019 | 2019 European Parliament election |
| Anna Soubry (b. 1956) | | Broxtowe | 4 June 2019 | 19 December 2019 | 2019 general election |

### Communist Party of Great Britain

| Leader (Birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Nina Temple (b. 1956) | 13 January 1990 | 23 November 1991 | None |

### For Britain Movement

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Ward | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Anne Marie Waters (b. 1977) | | N/A | October 2017 | 13 July 2022 | 2019 local elections 2021 local elections 2022 local elections |

### Highlands and Islands Alliance

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Lorraine Mann | Autumn 1998 | 24 August 2004 | 1999 Scottish Parliament election |

### Independent Labour Party

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Annie Maxton | 1953 | 1958 | 1955 United Kingdom general election |

### Jersey Democratic Alliance

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Christine Papworth | April 2005 | October 2011 | 2005 Jersey general election 2008 Jersey general election |

### Nationalist Alliance

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Catherine Parker-Brown | 2005 | 2008 | None |

### No Candidate Deserves My Vote!

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Amanda Ringwood | November 2000 | 2012 | 2001 local elections 2002 local elections 2010 general election |

### Northern Ireland Women's Coalition

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Monica McWilliams (b. 1954) | | Belfast South (Northern Ireland Assembly) | April 1996 | 11 May 2006 | 1996 NI Forum election 1997 general election 1998 NI Assembly election 2001 NI local elections 2001 general election 2003 NI Assembly election 2005 NI local elections |
| Pearl Sagar (b. 1958) | | Belfast East (Northern Ireland Forum) | April 1996 | 11 May 2006 | 1996 NI Forum election 1997 general election 1998 NI Assembly election 2001 NI local elections 2001 general election 2003 NI Assembly election 2005 NI local elections |
* 1 2 Multi-member constituency
* ↑ Until 26 November 2003
* ↑ Until 25 June 1998

### Respect Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Linda Smith | | 2004 | 2005 | N/A |
| Salma Yaqoob (b. 1971) | | 2005 | September 2012 | 2005 general election 2006 local elections 2010 general election 2010 local elections |

### Unionist Party of Northern Ireland

| Leader (Birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Anne Dickson (b. 1928) | 1976 | Autumn 1981 | 1977 United Kingdom local elections 1979 United Kingdom general election 1981 Northern Ireland local elections |

### Veritas

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Therese Muchewicz | 15 June 2008 | 19 September 2015 | None |
* ↑ Acting until October 2008

### We Demand a Referendum Now

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Constituency | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Nikki Sinclaire (b. 1968) | | West Midlands (European Parliament) | June 2012 | 30 June 2014 | 2014 European Parliament election |
* ↑ Multi-member constituency

### Women's Party

| Leader (Birth–death) | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Christabel Pankhurst (1880–1958) | | November 1917 | June 1919 | 1918 general election |
| Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928) | | November 1917 | June 1919 | 1918 general election |

### Active groups which were deregistered by the Electoral Commission
#### Britain First

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Elections contested as leader |
| Jayda Fransen (acting) | December 2016 | June 2017 | 2016 London mayoral election |