# Ministerial broadcast

A Ministerial Broadcast, also known as a Prime Ministerial Broadcast or Ministerial Statement is a televised address to the British public, usually given by the incumbent Prime Minister or other senior Cabinet Minister in times of national crisis. The BBC and other public service broadcasters must give the government air time if the circumstances are seen to be of sufficient importance, and requests from opposition leaders must also be considered.

## History
### 1950s

The first Ministerial Broadcast was made by Prime Minister Anthony Eden on 27 April 1956, and broadcast on the BBC. It came several months after Eden's Conservative Party won the 1955 general election, which was the first time an election had received significant coverage on television. The address was different to a Party Political Broadcast, as the opposition parties were not allocated air-time as well. This was acceptable for non-controversial topics – the broadcast in April addressed the visit of Soviet leaders Nikita Khrushchev and Nikolai Bulganin – but in October 1956 Eden made a second televised speech relating to the Suez Crisis, to which the Leader of the Opposition Hugh Gaitskell demanded a reply. The BBC's guidelines on Ministerial Broadcasts had been published in 1947, and stated that:
   They should deal with facts, explain legislation approved by parliament, or appeal for public co-operation.
If the opposition disagreed in any way with the government's broadcast (as Gaitskell did), they could ask permission to air a reply. In the case of the Suez Crisis, Eden refused to let Gaitskell give a reply, as he believed that the country should be united in times of conflict, and it would damage troops' morale if the government's efforts were put into question. The BBC Governors were then required to intervene, siding with Gaitskell, who was given permission to broadcast a reply. The Government were angry with the BBC's decision (especially as the BBC had earlier refused to let Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies make a radio address in support of Eden due to fears of bias), and Eden threatened to cut the BBC's funding by £1 million, but after a protest from the Director-General of the BBC Ian Jacob and Chairman of the BBC Alexander Cadogan, the threat was eventually dropped.
Eden resigned as Prime Minister in January 1957 due to his poor handling of the Suez Crisis, and was succeeded by fellow Conservative Harold Macmillan. On 31 August 1959, Macmillan was joined by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower for a live television debate, the first of its kind. Eisenhower was on a tour of Europe, and discussed the need for global peace, as well as the Anglo-US relationship. There were initial concerns from Labour that the broadcast would affect their chances at the next general election, but these were withdrawn and the broadcast went ahead as planned.

### 1960s

After Labour defeated the Conservatives (then led by Alec Douglas-Home) in the 1964 general election, the new Prime Minister Harold Wilson inherited a large deficit. Combined with a less-competitive economy, and a move away from using the pound as a reserve currency, the decision was taken in 1967 to reduce the exchange rate for the US dollar (which was at that time fixed) by 14% from $2.80 to $2.40 per pound. A statement was released on 18 November 1967 by Chancellor of the Exchequer James Callaghan explaining the reduction, as well as outlining a 2.5% rise in interest rates and cuts to the defence budget. The next day, Wilson made a televised broadcast to defend his decision, stating that:
   From now on, the pound abroad is worth 14% or so less in terms of other currencies. That doesn't mean, of course, that the pound here in Britain, in your pocket or purse or in your bank, has been devalued.
Wilson was widely mocked for his statement, and met fierce opposition by parliamentarians, including members of his own cabinet, such as Callaghan (who resigned from his post soon after), and his deputy George Brown.
Conservative leader Edward Heath later gave a reply, accusing the government of failing to safeguard the nation's money.

### 1970s

Heath subsequently won the 1970 general election, but by 1973 he was facing constant industrial action by coal miners over pay. This led to measures to ration electricity, including implementing a three-day week. He was unable to resolve the mineworkers' dispute, and announced his intent to call a general election in a televised broadcast on 7 February 1974, stating:
   This time the strife has got to stop. Only you can stop it. It is time for you to speak, with your vote.
Heath encouraged the mineworkers to pause the strike for the three-week campaign period, but he was not able to persuade them and they continued the strike as planned. Harold Wilson was re-elected at the February election, and agreed a 'National Plan for Coal' to invest more in coalfields, stopping further industrial action.
Former Chancellor James Callaghan succeeded Wilson as Prime Minister in 1976, but lost the government's majority on his first day in office. Amid rising inflation and unemployment, Callaghan made a televised broadcast on 7 September 1978. It was widely expected that he would call an early general election, but in reality he chose to stay on for the full five-year term. He said that:
   The government must and will continue to carry out policies that are consistent, determined, that don't chop or change and that brought about the present recovery in our fortunes.
His speech was strongly criticised by opposition leaders, with Liberal leader David Steel and Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher accusing Callaghan of "running scared".
Callaghan was eventually forced to call an election on 28 March 1979, after he lost a vote of no confidence in the House of Commons by a margin of one vote. This came after a series of strikes and economic unrest dubbed the Winter of Discontent, which severely damaged the government's popularity. The next day, he made a second statement defending the government's record, and officially announcing the general election. Opposition leader Margaret Thatcher made a response on 2 April (rescheduled from 31 March after the death of Airey Neave), ridiculing Callaghan's speech and encouraging the public to vote for her party at the election, which she went on to win.

### 1980s

Margaret Thatcher did not give any further Ministerial Broadcasts in her time as Prime Minister, even in times of national crisis such as the Falklands War. In 1987 she was encouraged to give a broadcast about the spread of HIV/AIDS by Health Secretary Norman Fowler, but refused on the grounds of "bad taste".

### 1990s

On 17 January 1991, John Major (who had succeeded Thatcher as Prime Minister the previous year) gave a broadcast about the decision to send British troops to fight in the Gulf War as part of Operation Desert Storm.
Major also gave a broadcast after signing the Downing Street Declaration on 15 December 1993, which affirmed the right of self-determination for the island of Ireland. In his statement, he said that Northern Ireland needed to:
   Put the poison of history behind us. We cannot go on spilling blood in the name of the past. We must all have the courage to look to the future. The time to choose peace is long overdue. But only the men of violence can decide whether they will talk instead of bomb, discuss instead of murder.

## Recent broadcasts
### Iraq War

There have been three ministerial broadcasts since the turn of the century. After Labour's landslide victory in the 1997 general election, Tony Blair became Prime Minister. Blair made his first and only televised broadcast at 10.00pm on 20 March 2003. In his address, he announced that British troops had been sent to fight in the Iraq War:
   On Tuesday night I gave the order for British forces to take part in military action in Iraq.
   Tonight British servicemen and women are engaged from air, land and sea.
   Their mission: to remove Saddam Hussein from power and disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction.
   I know that this course of action has produced deep divisions of opinion in our country but I know also the British people will now be united in sending our armed forces our thoughts and prayers – they are the finest in the world and their families and all of Britain can have great pride in them.

### COVID-19 pandemic

The next broadcast was made 17 years later by Boris Johnson, on 23 March 2020. In his speech, Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the public ordered to stay at home and only leave for essential purposes:
   From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction – you must stay at home.
   Because the critical thing we must do is stop the disease spreading between households...
   ...The people of this country will rise to that challenge.
   And we will come through it stronger than ever.
   We will beat the coronavirus and we will beat it together.
   And therefore I urge you at this moment of national emergency to stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives.
His broadcast was shown at 8.30pm on BBC One, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky News and the BBC News Channel, as well as on streaming service Amazon Prime, and attained overnight viewing figures of over 27 million, making one of the most watched programmes in the history of British television.
Johnson made a second broadcast on 10 May 2020 to announce the easing of lockdown measures in England, but this was met by a chorus of disapprovals from the leaders of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

## List of Prime Ministerial Broadcasts, Statements and Speeches

| Prime Minister | Date | Subject |
| Keir Starmer | 5 July 2024 | On the goals of the premiership |
| Rishi Sunak | 5 July 2024 | Farewell address |
| Rishi Sunak | 22 May 2024 | Announcing a general election to be held on 4 July |
| Rishi Sunak | 1 March 2024 | On political and religious extremism |
| Rishi Sunak | 25 Oct. 2022 | On the goals of the premiership |
| Liz Truss | 25 Oct. 2022 | Farewell address |
| Liz Truss | 20 Oct. 2022 | Announcing the resignation of the premiership |
| Liz Truss | 8 Sep. 2022 | On the death of Queen Elizabeth II |
| Liz Truss | 6 Sep. 2022 | On the goals of the premiership |
| Boris Johnson | 6 Sep. 2022 | Farewell address |
| Boris Johnson | 7 July 2022 | Announcing the resignation of the premiership |
| Boris Johnson | 24 Feb. 2022 | On the Russian Invasion of Ukraine |
| Boris Johnson | 12 Dec. 2021 | On the coronavirus vaccination booster program |
| Boris Johnson | 9 April 2021 | On the death of HRH, Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh |
| Boris Johnson | 4 Jan. 2021 | Announcing a national lockdown over a new coronavirus strain |
| Boris Johnson | 22 Sep. 2020 | Announcing a new coronavirus strategy for the upcoming winter season |
| Boris Johnson | 10 May 2020 | Announcing a national lockdown exit strategy for the coronavirus pandemic |
| Boris Johnson | 27 April 2020 | On returning from hospital following a coronavirus infection |
| Boris Johnson | 23 March 2020 | On the coronavirus pandemic |
| Boris Johnson | 31 Jan. 2020 | On the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union |
| Boris Johnson | 13 Dec. 2019 | On the results of the general election |
| Boris Johnson | 6 Nov. 2019 | Announcing a general election on 12 December |
| Boris Johnson | 2 Sep. 2019 | On the Suspension of Parliament |
| Boris Johnson | 24 July 2019 | On the goals of the premiership |
| Theresa May | 24 July 2019 | Farewell address |
| Theresa May | 24 May 2019 | Announcing the resignation of the Premiership |
| Theresa May | 2 April 2019 | Announcing an extension of the Brexit deadline |
| Theresa May | 20 March 2019 | On the Brexit negotiations |
| Theresa May | 16 Jan. 2019 | On the results of the vote of no confidence |
| Theresa May | 12 Dec. 2018 | On the results of the vote of no confidence |
| Theresa May | 11 Dec. 2018 | Announcing a vote of no confidence |
| Theresa May | 14 Nov. 2018 | Announcing a Brexit Deal |
| Theresa May | 21 Sep. 2018 | On the Brexit Negotiations (Chequers Agreement) |
| Theresa May | 14 April 2018 | Allied Airstrikes on Damascus and Homs |
| Theresa May | 19 June 2017 | On the Finsbury Park terrorist attack |
| Theresa May | 9 June 2017 | On the results of the general election |
| Theresa May | 4 June 2017 | On the London Bridge terrorist attack |
| Theresa May | 24 May 2017 | Announcing the raising of the UK terror threat level to critical |
| Theresa May | 23 May 2017 | On the Manchester Arena terrorist attack |
| Theresa May | 18 April 2017 | Announcing a general election to be held on 8 June |
| Theresa May | 22 March 2017 | On the Westminster terrorist attack |
| Theresa May | 13 July 2016 | On the goals of the premiership |
| David Cameron | 13 July 2016 | Farewell address |
| David Cameron | 24 June 2016 | Announcing the resignation of the premiership over the results of the Brexit referendum |
| David Cameron | 20 Feb. 2016 | Announcing a referendum on whether or no to leave the European Union |
| David Cameron | 14 Nov. 2015 | On the Paris attacks |
| David Cameron | 13 Nov. 2015 | On the killing of Jihadi John |
| David Cameron | 8 May 2015 | On the results of the general election |
| David Cameron | 19 Sep. 2014 | On the results of the Scottish independence referendum |
| David Cameron | 6 Dec. 2013 | On the death of Nelson Mandela |
| David Cameron | 29 May 2013 | On the murder of Lee Rigby |
| David Cameron | 8 April 2013 | On the death of Margaret Thatcher |
| David Cameron | 22 August 2011 | On the situation in Libya |
| David Cameron | 9 August 2011 | On the riots and general unrest |
| David Cameron | 11 May 2010 | On the goals of the premiership |
| Gordon Brown | 11 May 2010 | Announcing the resignation of the Premiership/Farewell address |
| Gordon Brown | 7 May 2010 | On the results of the general election |
| Gordon Brown | 27 June 2007 | On the goals of the premiership |
| Tony Blair | 7 July 2005 | On the London Underground bombings |
| Tony Blair | 20 March 2003 | On the war in Iraq |
| Tony Blair | 7 Oct. 2001 | Beginning of military operations in Afghanistan |
| Tony Blair | 11 Sep. 2001 | On the terrorist attacks in the United States |
| Tony Blair | 26 March 1999 | On the war in Kosovo |
| Tony Blair | 16 Dec. 1998 | Start of a US and British Bombing Campaign against Iraq |
| Tony Blair | 2 May 1997 | On the goals of the Premiership |
| John Major | 2 May 1997 | Farewell address |
| John Major | 29 April 1997 | On the eve of the general election |
| John Major | 25 April 1997 | On the upcoming general election |
| John Major | 12 Feb. 1996 | On the situation in Northern Ireland |
| John Major | 17 Jan. 1991 | On the war in the Gulf |
| Margaret Thatcher | 8 June 1983 | On the eve of the general election |
| James Callaghan | 29 March 1979 | Announcing a snap election |
| James Callaghan | 7 Sep. 1978 | On the Winter of Discontent |
| Harold Wilson | 14 Oct. 1974 | On the Labour Party manifesto |
| Edward Heath | 7 Feb. 1974 | On the eve of the general election |
| Edward Heath | 13 Dec. 1973 | On the three-day week |
| Edward Heath | 31 Dec. 1972 | On the entering of the UK into the European Common Market (European Union) |
| Edward Heath | 27 Feb. 1972 | On Inflation and the Miners strike |
| Harold Wilson | 19 Nov. 1967 | On the devaluing of the UK Pound Sterling |
| Harold Wilson | 14 Feb. 1967 | On the war in Vietnam |
| Harold Wilson | 6 Dec. 1966 | On the situation in Rhodesia |
| Alec Douglas-Home | 22 Nov. 1963 | On the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy |
| Alec Douglas-Home | 19 Oct. 1963 | On the goals of the premiership |
| Harold Macmillan | 10 Jan. 1957 | On the goals of the premiership |
| Anthony Eden | 31 Oct. 1956 | On the Suez Crisis |
| Anthony Eden | 27 April 1956 | On leaving for a trip to France |
| Winston Churchill | 7 Feb. 1952 | On the death of King George VI |
| Clement Attlee | 28 July 1948 | Observance of the Opening of the Games of the XIV Olympiad |
| Clement Attlee | 4 July 1948 | Announcing the establishment of the National Health Service |
| Clement Attlee | 15 August 1945 | On the surrender of Japan |
| Winston Churchill | 13 May 1945 | On the five year anniversary of becoming Prime Minister |
| Winston Churchill | 8 May 1945 | On the surrender of Germany |
| Winston Churchill | 26 March 1944 | Report on the war |
| Winston Churchill | 31 August 1943 | On the First Quebec Conference |
| Winston Churchill | 14 May 1943 | On the Home Guard |
| Winston Churchill | 21 March 1943 | On the state of the Union |
| Winston Churchill | 29 Nov. 1942 | On recent victories at Stalingrad and El Alemein |
| Winston Churchill | 10 May 1942 | On the Progress of the War |
| Winston Churchill | 15 Feb. 1942 | On the Fall of Singapore |
| Winston Churchill | 8 Dec. 1941 | On the Japanese declaration of war against the United States and Great Britain |
| Winston Churchill | 24 August 1941 | On meeting with United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Atlantic Charter) |
| Winston Churchill | 22 June 1941 | On the German invasion of Russia |
| Winston Churchill | 27 April 1941 | Report on the war |
| Winston Churchill | 9 Feb. 1941 | On the Progress of the War |
| Winston Churchill | 23 Dec. 1940 | Message to the people of Italy |
| Winston Churchill | 21 Oct. 1940 | Message to the people of France |
| Winston Churchill | 11 Sep. 1940 | On the Blitz |
| Winston Churchill | 14 July 1940 | On the Battle of Britain |
| Winston Churchill | 19 May 1940 | On the Fall of France |
| Neville Chamberlain | 10 May 1940 | Announcing the resignation of the Premiership |
| Neville Chamberlain | 26 Nov. 1939 | On the Progress of the War |
| Neville Chamberlain | 3 Sep. 1939 | On the declaration of war against Germany |
| Neville Chamberlain | 27 Sep. 1938 | On the Munich Agreement |

## Other Broadcasts

In addition to those listed above, other ministerial broadcasts were given by Cabinet ministers concerning matters such as civil defence and employment rights. Details of broadcasts are taken from the BBC's Genome Project.
| Subject | Date | Minister |
| First Month of War | 1 Oct. 1939 | Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty |
| First Twelve Weeks of War | 12 Nov. 1939 | Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty |
| Sinking of the Graf Spee | 18 Dec. 1939 | Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty |
| Formation of the Home Guard | 14 May 1940 | Anthony Eden, Secretary of State for War |
| Meeting with Joseph Stalin | 4 Jan. 1942 | Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary |
| The Unquiet World | 6 March 1958 | Duncan Sandys, Minister of Defence |
| Under Way | 22 January 1959 | Duncan Sandys, Minister of Defence |
| Civil Defence in the Sixties | 20 September 1961 | Henry Brooke, Home Secretary |
| Civil Defence 1962 | 19 September 1962 | R. A. Butler, Home Secretary |
| Civil Defence Today | 16 September 1963 | Henry Brooke, Home Secretary |
| One Million Babies | 2 June 1964 | Anthony Barber, Minister of Health |
| The Parliamentary Commissioner | 6 April 1967 | Richard Crossman, Leader of the House of Commons |
| Resettlement of Indian Refugees from Uganda | 31 August 1972 | Alec Douglas-Home, Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary |
| Implementation of the Equal Pay Act | 29 December 1975 | Michael Foot, Secretary of State for Employment |
| The New Pension Scheme | 30 March 1978 | David Ennals, Secretary of State for Social Services |
| Brexit Referendum | 24 June 2016 | Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England |
| Reversal of the Mini-Budget | 17 October 2022 | Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer |

## Budget Broadcasts

The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave a broadcast each year from 1953 to explain the budget, an economic plan that sets out the government's spending and taxation plans for the year. A representative of the main opposition party (usually the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer) would air a reply the next day, and from 1984 a spokesperson from the third-largest party in Parliament also made a response.
The broadcasts were scrapped by the BBC Trust in 2012, in favour of additional Party Political Broadcasts. The BBC defended its decision, saying that they originated from a time where filming the Budget Statement from inside the House of Commons was not possible, and the public would be able to access the information from various other outlets.

### List of Budget Broadcasts

1950s :
| Budget | Date | Chancellor | Party | Date | Shadow Chancellor | Party |
| 1953 | 16 April | R. A. Butler | Conservative | 17 April | Hugh Gaitskell | Labour |
| 1954 | 8 April | R. A. Butler | Conservative | 9 April | Hugh Gaitskell | Labour |
| 1955 | 21 April | R. A. Butler | Conservative | 22 April | Hugh Gaitskell | Labour |
| 1956 | 18 April | Harold Macmillan | Conservative | 19 April | Harold Wilson | Labour |
| 1957 | 9 April | Peter Thorneycroft | Conservative | 10 April | Harold Wilson | Labour |
| 1958 | 15 April | Derick Heathcoat-Amory | Conservative | 16 April | Harold Wilson | Labour |
| 1959 | 7 April | Derick Heathcoat-Amory | Conservative | 8 April | Harold Wilson | Labour |
1960s :
| Budget | Date | Chancellor | Party | Date | Shadow Chancellor | Party |
| 1960 | 4 April | Derick Heathcoat-Amory | Conservative | 5 April | Harold Wilson | Labour |
| 1961 | 17 April | Selwyn Lloyd | Conservative | 18 April | Harold Wilson | Labour |
| 1962 | 9 April | Selwyn Lloyd | Conservative | 10 April | James Callaghan | Labour |
| 1963 | 3 April | Reginald Maudling | Conservative | 4 April | James Callaghan | Labour |
| 1964 | 14 April | Reginald Maudling | Conservative | 15 April | James Callaghan | Labour |
| 1965 | 6 April | James Callaghan | Labour | 7 April | Edward Heath | Conservative |
| 1966 | 3 May | James Callaghan | Labour | 4 May | Ian Macleod | Conservative |
| 1967 | 11 April | James Callaghan | Labour | 12 April | Ian Macleod | Conservative |
| 1968 | 19 March | Roy Jenkins | Labour | 20 March | Ian Macleod | Conservative |
| 1969 | 15 April | Roy Jenkins | Labour | 16 April | Ian Macleod | Conservative |
1970s :
| Budget | Date | Chancellor | Party | Date | Shadow Chancellor | Party |
| 1970 | 14 April | Roy Jenkins | Labour | 15 April | Ian Macleod | Conservative |
| 1971 | 30 March | Anthony Barber | Conservative | 31 March | Roy Jenkins | Labour |
| 1972 | 21 March | Anthony Barber | Conservative | 22 March | Roy Jenkins | Labour |
| 1973 | 6 March | Anthony Barber | Conservative | 7 March | Denis Healey | Labour |
| Mar 1974 | 26 March | Denis Healey | Labour | 27 March | Robert Carr | Conservative |
| Nov 1974 | 12 November | Denis Healey | Labour | 13 November | Robert Carr | Conservative |
| 1975 | 15 April | Denis Healey | Labour | 16 April | Geoffrey Howe | Conservative |
| 1976 | 6 April | Denis Healey | Labour | 7 April | Geoffrey Howe | Conservative |
| 1977 | 29 March | Denis Healey | Labour | 30 March | Geoffrey Howe | Conservative |
| 1978 | 11 April | Denis Healey | Labour | 12 April | Geoffrey Howe | Conservative |
| Apr 1979 | 3 April | Denis Healey | Labour | 4 April | Geoffrey Howe | Conservative |
| Jun 1979 | 12 June | Geoffrey Howe | Conservative | 13 June | Denis Healey | Labour |
1980s :
| Budget | Date | Chancellor | Party | Party | Date | Shadow Chancellor | Party | Party | Ref |
| 1980 | 26 March | Geoffrey Howe | | Conservative | 27 March | Denis Healey | | Labour | |
| 1981 | 10 March | Geoffrey Howe | | Conservative | 11 March | Peter Shore | | Labour | |
| 1982 | 9 March | Geoffrey Howe | | Conservative | 10 March | Peter Shore | | Labour | |
| 1983 | 15 March | Geoffrey Howe | | Conservative | 16 March | Peter Shore | | Labour | |
| Budget | Date | Chancellor | Party | Party | Date | Shadow Chancellor | Party | Party | Date | Spokesperson | Party | Party | Ref |
| 1984 | 13 March | Nigel Lawson | | Conservative | 14 March | Roy Hattersley | | Labour | 15 March | Roy Jenkins | | SDP-Liberal Alliance | |
| 1985 | 19 March | Nigel Lawson | | Conservative | 20 March | Roy Hattersley | | Labour | 21 March | David Steel | | SDP-Liberal Alliance | |
| 1986 | 18 March | Nigel Lawson | | Conservative | 19 March | Roy Hattersley | | Labour | 20 March | Roy Jenkins | | SDP-Liberal Alliance | |
| 1987 | 17 March | Nigel Lawson | | Conservative | 18 March | Roy Hattersley | | Labour | 19 March | Roy Jenkins | | SDP-Liberal Alliance | |
| 1988 | 15 March | Nigel Lawson | | Conservative | 16 March | John Smith | | Labour | 17 March | Alan Beith | | SDP-Liberal Alliance | |
| 1989 | 14 March | Nigel Lawson | | Conservative | 15 March | John Smith | | Labour | 16 March | Alan Beith | | Social and Liberal Democrats | |
1990s :
| Budget | Date | Chancellor | Party | Date | Shadow Chancellor | Party | Date | Spokesperson | Party |
| 1990 | 20 March | John Major | Conservative | 21 March | John Smith | Labour | 22 March | Alan Beith | Liberal Democrats |
| 1991 | 19 March | Norman Lamont | Conservative | 20 March | John Smith | Labour | 21 March | Alan Beith | Liberal Democrats |
| 1992 | 10 March | Norman Lamont | Conservative | 11 March | John Smith | Labour | 12 March | Alan Beith | Liberal Democrats |
| Mar 1993 | 16 March | Norman Lamont | Conservative | 17 March | Gordon Brown | Labour | 18 March | Alan Beith | Liberal Democrats |
| Nov 1993 | 30 November | Kenneth Clarke | Conservative | 1 December | Gordon Brown | Labour | 2 December | Alan Beith | Liberal Democrats |
| 1994 | 29 November | Kenneth Clarke | Conservative | 30 November | Gordon Brown | Labour | 1 December | Malcolm Bruce | Liberal Democrats |
| 1995 | 28 November | Kenneth Clarke | Conservative | 29 November | Gordon Brown | Labour | 30 November | Malcolm Bruce | Liberal Democrats |
| 1996 | 26 November | Kenneth Clarke | Conservative | 27 November | Gordon Brown | Labour | 28 November | Malcolm Bruce | Liberal Democrats |
| 1997 | 2 July | Gordon Brown | Labour | 3 July | Michael Heseltine | Conservative | 4 July | Malcolm Bruce | Liberal Democrats |
| 1998 | 17 March | Gordon Brown | Labour | 18 March | Peter Lilley | Conservative | 19 March | Malcolm Bruce | Liberal Democrats |
| 1999 | 9 March | Gordon Brown | Labour | 10 March | Francis Maude | Conservative | 11 March | Malcolm Bruce | Liberal Democrats |
2000s :
| Budget | Date | Chancellor | Party | Date | Shadow Chancellor | Party | Date | Spokesperson | Party |
| 2000 | 21 March | Gordon Brown | Labour | 22 March | Michael Portillo | Conservative | 23 March | Matthew Taylor | Liberal Democrats |
| 2001 | 7 March | Gordon Brown | Labour | 8 March | Michael Portillo | Conservative | 9 March | Matthew Taylor | Liberal Democrats |
| 2002 | 17 April | Gordon Brown | Labour | 18 April | Michael Howard | Conservative | 19 April | Matthew Taylor | Liberal Democrats |
| 2003 | 9 April | Gordon Brown | Labour | 10 April | Michael Howard | Conservative | 11 April | Matthew Taylor | Liberal Democrats |
| 2004 | 17 March | Gordon Brown | Labour | 18 March | Oliver Letwin | Conservative | 19 March | Vince Cable | Liberal Democrats |
| 2005 | 16 March | Gordon Brown | Labour | 17 March | Oliver Letwin | Conservative | 18 March | Vince Cable | Liberal Democrats |
| 2006 | 22 March | Gordon Brown | Labour | 23 March | George Osborne | Conservative | 24 March | Vince Cable | Liberal Democrats |
| 2007 | 21 March | Gordon Brown | Labour | 22 March | George Osborne | Conservative | 23 March | Vince Cable | Liberal Democrats |
| 2008 | 12 March | Alistair Darling | Labour | 13 March | George Osborne | Conservative | 14 March | Vince Cable | Liberal Democrats |
| 2009 | 22 April | Alistair Darling | Labour | 23 April | George Osborne | Conservative | 24 April | Vince Cable | Liberal Democrats |
2010s :
| Budget | Date | Chancellor | Party | Date | Shadow Chancellor | Party | Date | Spokesperson | Party | Party |
| March 2010 | 24 March | Alistair Darling | Labour | 25 March | George Osborne | Conservative | 26 March | Vince Cable | | Liberal Democrats |
| June 2010 | 22 June | George Osborne | Conservative | 23 June | Alistair Darling | Labour | The Liberal Democrats served in the coalition government, and did not broadcast a response to the budget during their time in office. | The Liberal Democrats served in the coalition government, and did not broadcast a response to the budget during their time in office. | The Liberal Democrats served in the coalition government, and did not broadcast a response to the budget during their time in office. | The Liberal Democrats served in the coalition government, and did not broadcast a response to the budget during their time in office. |
| 2011 | 23 March | George Osborne | Conservative | 23 March | Ed Balls | Labour | The Liberal Democrats served in the coalition government, and did not broadcast a response to the budget during their time in office. | The Liberal Democrats served in the coalition government, and did not broadcast a response to the budget during their time in office. | The Liberal Democrats served in the coalition government, and did not broadcast a response to the budget during their time in office. | The Liberal Democrats served in the coalition government, and did not broadcast a response to the budget during their time in office. |

## In popular culture

An episode of the BBC satirical comedy Yes, Prime Minister ("The Ministerial Broadcast") features the main character Jim Hacker preparing for his first ministerial broadcast as Prime Minister.