# List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom

See WP:SDNONE for list articles
* Top left: Robert Walpole is considered the first prime minister of Great Britain.
* Top right: Winston Churchill was prime minister during much of World War II.
* Bottom left: Margaret Thatcher was the first female prime minister.
* Bottom right: Keir Starmer is the incumbent prime minister.
The prime minister of the United Kingdom is the principal minister of the crown of His Majesty's Government, and the head of the British Cabinet.
There is no specific date for when the office of prime minister first appeared, as the role was not created but rather evolved over time through a merger of duties. The term was regularly, if informally, used by Robert Walpole by the 1730s. It was used in the House of Commons as early as 1805, and it was certainly in parliamentary use by the 1880s, although did not become the official title until 1905, when Arthur Balfour was prime minister.
Historians generally consider Robert Walpole, who led the government of the Kingdom of Great Britain for over twenty years from 1721, to be the first prime minister. Walpole is also the longest-serving British prime minister by this definition. The first prime minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was William Pitt the Younger at its creation on 1 January 1801. The first to use the title in an official act was Benjamin Disraeli who signed the 1878 Treaty of Berlin as "Prime Minister of Her Britannic Majesty".
In 1905, the post of prime minister was officially given recognition in the order of precedence, with the incumbent Henry Campbell-Bannerman the first officially referred to as "prime minister". The first prime minister of the current United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland upon its creation in 1922 (when 26 Irish counties seceded and created the Irish Free State) was Andrew Bonar Law, although the country was not renamed officially until 1927, when Stanley Baldwin was the serving prime minister.
The incumbent prime minister is Keir Starmer, who assumed the office on 5 July 2024.

## Before the Kingdom of Great Britain

Before the Union of England and Scotland in 1707, the Treasury of England was led by the Lord High Treasurer. By the late Tudor period, the Lord High Treasurer was regarded as one of the Great Officers of State, and was often (though not always) the dominant figure in government: Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (lord high treasurer, 1547–1549), served as lord protector to his young nephew King Edward VI; William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (lord high treasurer, 1572–1598), was the dominant minister to Queen Elizabeth I; Burghley's son Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, succeeded his father as Chief Minister to Elizabeth (1598–1603) and was eventually appointed by King James I as lord high treasurer (1608–1612).
By the late Stuart period, the Treasury was often run not by a single individual (i.e., the lord high treasurer) but by a commission of lords of the Treasury, led by the first lord of the Treasury. The last lords high treasurer, Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin (1702–1710) and Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford (1711–1714), ran the government of Queen Anne.

## From 1707 to 1721

Following the succession of George I in 1714, the arrangement of a commission of lords of the Treasury (as opposed to a single lord high treasurer) became permanent. For the next three years, the government was headed by Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, who was appointed Secretary of State for the Northern Department. Subsequently, Lords Stanhope and Sunderland ran the government jointly, with Stanhope managing foreign affairs and Sunderland domestic. Stanhope died in February 1721 and Sunderland resigned two months later; Townshend and Robert Walpole were then invited to form the next government. From that point, the holder of the office of first lord also usually (albeit unofficially) held the status of prime minister. It was not until the Edwardian era that the title prime minister was constitutionally recognised. The prime minister still holds the office of first lord by constitutional convention, the only exceptions being the Earl of Chatham and the Marquess of Salisbury.

## Since 1721
### Prime ministers

* 18th century 19th century 20th century 21st century
* George I George II George III George IV William IV Victoria Edward VII George V Edward VIII George VI Elizabeth II Charles III
* Conservative (20)  Whig (16)  Tory (10)  Labour (7)  Liberal (7)  Scottish Unionists (2)  National Labour (1)  Peelite (1)
List of prime ministers of Great Britain or the United Kingdom since 1721 :
| Portrait | Portrait | Prime ministerOffice(Lifespan) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Mandate | Ministerial offices held as prime minister | Party | Government | MonarchReign |
| Portrait | Portrait | Prime ministerOffice(Lifespan) | Start | End | Duration | Mandate | Ministerial offices held as prime minister | Party | Government | MonarchReign |
| ​ | | Robert WalpoleMP for King's Lynn(1676–1745) | 3 April 1721 | 11 February 1742 | 20 years, 315 days | 1722 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Whig | Walpole–Townshend | George Ir. 1714–1727 |
| ​ | | Robert WalpoleMP for King's Lynn(1676–1745) | 3 April 1721 | 11 February 1742 | 20 years, 315 days | 1727 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Whig | Walpole–Townshend | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | Robert WalpoleMP for King's Lynn(1676–1745) | 3 April 1721 | 11 February 1742 | 20 years, 315 days | 1734 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Whig | Walpole | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | Robert WalpoleMP for King's Lynn(1676–1745) | 3 April 1721 | 11 February 1742 | 20 years, 315 days | 1741 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Whig | Walpole | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | Spencer Compton1st Earl of Wilmington(1673–1743) | 16 February 1742 | 2 July 1743 | 1 year, 137 days | — | First Lord of the Treasury | Whig | Carteret | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | Henry PelhamMP for Sussex(1694–1754) | 27 August 1743 | 6 March 1754 | 10 years, 192 days | — | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Whig | Broad Bottom I | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | Henry PelhamMP for Sussex(1694–1754) | 27 August 1743 | 6 March 1754 | 10 years, 192 days | 1747 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Whig | Broad Bottom II | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | Thomas Pelham-Holles1st Duke of Newcastle(1693–1768) | 16 March 1754 | 11 November 1756 | 2 years, 241 days | 1754 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig | Newcastle I | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | William Cavendish4th Duke of Devonshire(1720–1764) | 16 November 1756 | 29 June 1757 | 226 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of LordsLord Treasurer of Ireland | Whig | Pitt–Devonshire | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | William Cavendish4th Duke of Devonshire(1720–1764) | 16 November 1756 | 29 June 1757 | 226 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of LordsLord Treasurer of Ireland | Whig | 1757 Caretaker | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | Thomas Pelham-Holles1st Duke of Newcastle(1693–1768) | 29 June 1757 | 26 May 1762 | 4 years, 332 days | 1761 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig | Pitt–Newcastle | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | Thomas Pelham-Holles1st Duke of Newcastle(1693–1768) | 29 June 1757 | 26 May 1762 | 4 years, 332 days | 1761 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig | Bute–Newcastle(Tory–Whig) | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | John Stuart3rd Earl of Bute(1713–1792) | 26 May 1762 | 8 April 1763 | 318 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Tory | Bute | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | George GrenvilleMP for Buckingham(1712–1770) | 16 April 1763 | 10 July 1765 | 2 years, 86 days | — | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Whig(Grenvillite) | Grenville(mainly Whig) | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | Charles Watson-Wentworth2nd Marquess of Rockingham(1730–1782) | 13 July 1765 | 30 July 1766 | 1 year, 18 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig(Rockinghamite) | Rockingham I | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | William Pitt the Elder1st Earl of Chatham(1708–1778) | 30 July 1766 | 14 October 1768 | 2 years, 77 days | 1768 | Lord Privy Seal | Whig(Chathamite) | Chatham | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | Augustus FitzRoy3rd Duke of Grafton(1735–1811) | 14 October 1768 | 28 January 1770 | 1 year, 107 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig(Chathamite) | Grafton | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | Frederick NorthLord NorthMP for Banbury(1732–1792) | 28 January 1770 | 27 March 1782 | 12 years, 59 days | 1774 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Tory(Northite) | North | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | Frederick NorthLord NorthMP for Banbury(1732–1792) | 28 January 1770 | 27 March 1782 | 12 years, 59 days | 1780 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Tory(Northite) | North | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | Charles Watson-Wentworth2nd Marquess of Rockingham(1730–1782) | 27 March 1782 | 1 July 1782 | 97 days | — | First Lord of the Treasury | Whig(Rockinghamite) | Rockingham II | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | William Petty2nd Earl of Shelburne(1737–1805) | 4 July 1782 | 26 March 1783 | 266 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig(Chathamite) | Shelburne | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | William Cavendish-Bentinck3rd Duke of Portland(1738–1809) | 2 April 1783 | 18 December 1783 | 261 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig | Fox–North | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | William Pitt the YoungerMP for Appleby, later Cambridge University(1759–1806) | 19 December 1783 | 14 March 1801 | 17 years, 86 days | 1784 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Tory(Pittite) | Pitt I | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | William Pitt the YoungerMP for Appleby, later Cambridge University(1759–1806) | 19 December 1783 | 14 March 1801 | 17 years, 86 days | 1790 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Tory(Pittite) | Pitt I | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | William Pitt the YoungerMP for Appleby, later Cambridge University(1759–1806) | 19 December 1783 | 14 March 1801 | 17 years, 86 days | 1796 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Tory(Pittite) | Pitt I | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | Henry AddingtonMP for Devizes(1757–1844) | 17 March 1801 | 10 May 1804 | 3 years, 55 days | 1801 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Tory(Addingtonian) | Addington | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | Henry AddingtonMP for Devizes(1757–1844) | 17 March 1801 | 10 May 1804 | 3 years, 55 days | 1802 | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Tory(Addingtonian) | Addington | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | William Pitt the YoungerMP for Cambridge University(1759–1806) | 10 May 1804 | 23 January 1806 | 1 year, 259 days | — | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Tory(Pittite) | Pitt II | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | William Grenville1st Baron Grenville(1759–1834) | 11 February 1806 | 25 March 1807 | 1 year, 43 days | 1806 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig | All the Talents(Whig–Tory) | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | William Cavendish-Bentinck3rd Duke of Portland(1738–1809) | 31 March 1807 | 4 October 1809 | 2 years, 188 days | 1807 | First Lord of the Treasury | Tory(Pittite) | Portland II | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | Spencer PercevalMP for Northampton(1762–1812) | 4 October 1809 | 11 May 1812 | 2 years, 221 days | — | Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterChancellor of the ExchequerCommissioner of the Treasury for Ireland (1810–1812)First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Tory(Pittite) | Perceval | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | Robert Jenkinson2nd Earl of Liverpool(1770–1828) | 8 June 1812 | 9 April 1827 | 14 years, 306 days | 1812 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Tory(Pittite) | Liverpool | George IIIr. 1760–1820 |
| | | Robert Jenkinson2nd Earl of Liverpool(1770–1828) | 8 June 1812 | 9 April 1827 | 14 years, 306 days | 1818 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Tory(Pittite) | Liverpool | George IVr. 1820–1830 |
| | | Robert Jenkinson2nd Earl of Liverpool(1770–1828) | 8 June 1812 | 9 April 1827 | 14 years, 306 days | 1820 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Tory(Pittite) | Liverpool | George IVr. 1820–1830 |
| | | Robert Jenkinson2nd Earl of Liverpool(1770–1828) | 8 June 1812 | 9 April 1827 | 14 years, 306 days | 1826 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Tory(Pittite) | Liverpool | George IVr. 1820–1830 |
| | | George CanningMP for Seaford(1770–1827) | 12 April 1827 | 8 August 1827 | 119 days | — | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Tory(Canningite) | Canning(Canningite–Whig) | George IVr. 1820–1830 |
| | | Frederick John Robinson1st Viscount Goderich(1782–1859) | 31 August 1827 | 8 January 1828 | 131 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Tory(Canningite) | Goderich | George IVr. 1820–1830 |
| | | Arthur Wellesley1st Duke of Wellington(1769–1852) | 22 January 1828 | 16 November 1830 | 2 years, 299 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Tory | Wellington–Peel | George IVr. 1820–1830 |
| | | Arthur Wellesley1st Duke of Wellington(1769–1852) | 22 January 1828 | 16 November 1830 | 2 years, 299 days | (1830) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Tory | Wellington–Peel | William IVr. 1830–1837 |
| | | Charles Grey2nd Earl Grey(1764–1845) | 22 November 1830 | 9 July 1834 | 3 years, 230 days | 1831 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig | Grey | William IVr. 1830–1837 |
| | | Charles Grey2nd Earl Grey(1764–1845) | 22 November 1830 | 9 July 1834 | 3 years, 230 days | 1832 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig | Grey | William IVr. 1830–1837 |
| | | William Lamb2nd Viscount Melbourne(1779–1848) | 16 July 1834 | 14 November 1834 | 122 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig | Melbourne I | William IVr. 1830–1837 |
| | | Arthur Wellesley1st Duke of Wellington(1769–1852) | 17 November 1834 | 9 December 1834 | 23 days | (—) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of LordsSec. of State for Foreign AffairsSec. of State for the Home DeptSec. of State for War & Colonies | Tory | Wellington Caretaker | William IVr. 1830–1837 |
| | | Robert PeelMP for Tamworth(1788–1850) | 10 December 1834 | 8 April 1835 | 120 days | (—) | Chancellor of the ExchequerFirst Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Peel I | William IVr. 1830–1837 |
| | | William Lamb2nd Viscount Melbourne(1779–1848) | 18 April 1835 | 30 August 1841 | 6 years, 135 days | 1835 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig | Melbourne II | William IVr. 1830–1837 |
| | | William Lamb2nd Viscount Melbourne(1779–1848) | 18 April 1835 | 30 August 1841 | 6 years, 135 days | 1837 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Whig | Melbourne II | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Robert PeelMP for Tamworth(1788–1850) | 30 August 1841 | 29 June 1846 | 4 years, 304 days | 1841 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Peel II | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | John RussellMP for City of London(1792–1878) | 30 June 1846 | 21 February 1852 | 5 years, 237 days | (1847) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Whig | Russell I | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Edward Smith-Stanley14th Earl of Derby(1799–1869) | 23 February 1852 | 17 December 1852 | 299 days | 1852 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Who? Who? | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | George Hamilton-Gordon4th Earl of Aberdeen(1784–1860) | 19 December 1852 | 30 January 1855 | 2 years, 43 days | (—) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Peelite | Aberdeen(Peelite–Whig–others) | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Henry John Temple3rd Viscount PalmerstonMP for Tiverton(1784–1865) | 6 February 1855 | 19 February 1858 | 3 years, 14 days | 1857 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Whig | Palmerston I | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Edward Smith-Stanley14th Earl of Derby(1799–1869) | 20 February 1858 | 11 June 1859 | 1 year, 112 days | (—) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Derby–Disraeli II | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Henry John Temple3rd Viscount PalmerstonMP for Tiverton(1784–1865) | 12 June 1859 | 18 October 1865 | 6 years, 129 days | 1859 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Liberal | Palmerston II | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Henry John Temple3rd Viscount PalmerstonMP for Tiverton(1784–1865) | 12 June 1859 | 18 October 1865 | 6 years, 129 days | 1865 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Liberal | Palmerston II | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | John Russell1st Earl Russell(1792–1878) | 29 October 1865 | 26 June 1866 | 241 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Liberal | Russell II | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Edward Smith-Stanley14th Earl of Derby(1799–1869) | 28 June 1866 | 25 February 1868 | 1 year, 243 days | (—) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Lords | Conservative | Derby–Disraeli III | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Benjamin DisraeliMP for Buckinghamshire(1804–1881)Premierships | 27 February 1868 | 1 December 1868 | 279 days | (—) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Derby–Disraeli III | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | William Ewart GladstoneMP for Greenwich(1809–1898)Premierships | 3 December 1868 | 17 February 1874 | 5 years, 77 days | 1868 | Chancellor of the Exchequer (1873–1874)First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Liberal | Gladstone I | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Benjamin DisraeliMP for Buckinghamshire (to 1876)Earl of Beaconsfield (from 1876)(1804–1881)Premierships | 20 February 1874 | 21 April 1880 | 6 years, 62 days | 1874 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons (1874–1876)Leader of the House of Lords (1876–1880)Lord Privy Seal (1876–1878) | Conservative | Disraeli II | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | William Ewart GladstoneMP for Midlothian(1809–1898)Premierships | 23 April 1880 | 9 June 1885 | 5 years, 48 days | 1880 | Chancellor of the Exchequer (1880–1882)First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Liberal | Gladstone II | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil3rd Marquess of Salisbury(1830–1903) | 23 June 1885 | 28 January 1886 | 220 days | (—) | Leader of the House of LordsSec. of State for Foreign Affairs | Conservative | Salisbury I | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | William Ewart GladstoneMP for Midlothian(1809–1898)Premierships | 1 February 1886 | 20 July 1886 | 170 days | (1885) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of CommonsLord Privy Seal | Liberal | Gladstone III | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil3rd Marquess of Salisbury(1830–1903) | 25 July 1886 | 11 August 1892 | 6 years, 18 days | (1886) | First Lord of the Treasury (1886–1887)Leader of the House of LordsSec. of State for Foreign Affairs (1887–1892) | Conservative | Salisbury II | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | William Ewart GladstoneMP for Midlothian(1809–1898)Premierships | 15 August 1892 | 2 March 1894 | 1 year, 200 days | (1892) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of CommonsLord Privy Seal | Liberal | Gladstone IV | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Archibald Primrose5th Earl of Rosebery(1847–1929) | 5 March 1894 | 22 June 1895 | 1 year, 110 days | (—) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of LordsLord President of the Council | Liberal | Rosebery | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil3rd Marquess of Salisbury(1830–1903) | 25 June 1895 | 11 July 1902 | 7 years, 17 days | 1895 | Leader of the House of LordsLord Privy Seal (1900–1902)Sec. of State for Foreign Affairs (1895–1900) | Conservative | Salisbury III(Con–Lib.U) | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil3rd Marquess of Salisbury(1830–1903) | 25 June 1895 | 11 July 1902 | 7 years, 17 days | 1900 | Leader of the House of LordsLord Privy Seal (1900–1902)Sec. of State for Foreign Affairs (1895–1900) | Conservative | Salisbury IV(Con–Lib.U) | Victoriar. 1837–1901 |
| | | Robert Gascoyne-Cecil3rd Marquess of Salisbury(1830–1903) | 25 June 1895 | 11 July 1902 | 7 years, 17 days | 1900 | Leader of the House of LordsLord Privy Seal (1900–1902)Sec. of State for Foreign Affairs (1895–1900) | Conservative | Salisbury IV(Con–Lib.U) | Edward VIIr. 1901–1910 |
| | | Arthur BalfourMP for Manchester East(1848–1930) | 12 July 1902 | 4 December 1905 | 3 years, 146 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of CommonsLord Privy Seal (1902–1903) | Conservative | Balfour(Con–Lib.U) | Edward VIIr. 1901–1910 |
| | | Henry Campbell-BannermanMP for Stirling Burghs(1836–1908) | 5 December 1905 | 3 April 1908 | 2 years, 121 days | 1906 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Liberal | Campbell-Bannerman | Edward VIIr. 1901–1910 |
| | | H. H. AsquithMP for East Fife(1852–1928) | 8 April 1908 | 5 December 1916 | 8 years, 243 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of CommonsSec. of State for War (1914) | Liberal | Asquith I | Edward VIIr. 1901–1910 |
| | | H. H. AsquithMP for East Fife(1852–1928) | 8 April 1908 | 5 December 1916 | 8 years, 243 days | ($^{Jan.}$1910) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of CommonsSec. of State for War (1914) | Liberal | Asquith II | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | H. H. AsquithMP for East Fife(1852–1928) | 8 April 1908 | 5 December 1916 | 8 years, 243 days | ($^{Dec.}$1910) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of CommonsSec. of State for War (1914) | Liberal | Asquith III | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | H. H. AsquithMP for East Fife(1852–1928) | 8 April 1908 | 5 December 1916 | 8 years, 243 days | (—) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of CommonsSec. of State for War (1914) | Liberal | Asquith Coalition(Lib–Con–others) | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | David Lloyd GeorgeMP for Caernarvon Boroughs(1863–1945) | 6 December 1916 | 19 October 1922 | 5 years, 318 days | (—) | First Lord of the Treasury | Liberal | Lloyd George War | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | David Lloyd GeorgeMP for Caernarvon Boroughs(1863–1945) | 6 December 1916 | 19 October 1922 | 5 years, 318 days | 1918 | First Lord of the Treasury | Liberal | Lloyd George II(Lib–Con) | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | Bonar LawMP for Glasgow Central(1858–1923) | 23 October 1922 | 20 May 1923 | 210 days | 1922 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative(Scot.U.) | Law | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | Stanley BaldwinMP for Bewdley(1867–1947) | 22 May 1923 | 22 January 1924 | 246 days | — | Chancellor of the Exchequer (1923)First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Baldwin I | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | Ramsay MacDonaldMP for Aberavon(1866–1937) | 22 January 1924 | 4 November 1924 | 288 days | (1923) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of CommonsSec. of State for Foreign Affairs | Labour | MacDonald I | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | Stanley BaldwinMP for Bewdley(1867–1947) | 4 November 1924 | 4 June 1929 | 4 years, 213 days | 1924 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Baldwin II | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | Ramsay MacDonaldMP for Seaham(1866–1937) | 5 June 1929 | 7 June 1935 | 6 years, 3 days | (1929) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Labour | MacDonald II | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | Ramsay MacDonaldMP for Seaham(1866–1937) | 5 June 1929 | 7 June 1935 | 6 years, 3 days | (—) | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | National Labour | National I(Nat.Lab–Con–others) | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| | | Ramsay MacDonaldMP for Seaham(1866–1937) | 5 June 1929 | 7 June 1935 | 6 years, 3 days | 1931 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | National Labour | National II | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| ​ | | Stanley BaldwinMP for Bewdley(1867–1947) | 7 June 1935 | 28 May 1937 | 1 year, 356 days | 1935 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative | National III | George Vr. 1910–1936 |
| ​ | | Stanley BaldwinMP for Bewdley(1867–1947) | 7 June 1935 | 28 May 1937 | 1 year, 356 days | 1935 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative | National III | Edward VIIIr. 1936 |
| ​ | | Stanley BaldwinMP for Bewdley(1867–1947) | 7 June 1935 | 28 May 1937 | 1 year, 356 days | 1935 | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative | National III | George VIr. 1936–1952 |
| ​ | | Neville ChamberlainMP for Birmingham Edgbaston(1869–1940) | 28 May 1937 | 10 May 1940 | 2 years, 349 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative | National IV | George VIr. 1936–1952 |
| ​ | | Neville ChamberlainMP for Birmingham Edgbaston(1869–1940) | 28 May 1937 | 10 May 1940 | 2 years, 349 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons | Conservative | Chamberlain War | George VIr. 1936–1952 |
| ​ | | Winston ChurchillMP for Epping(1874–1965) | 10 May 1940 | 26 July 1945 | 5 years, 78 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons (1940–1942)Minister of Defence | Conservative | Churchill War | George VIr. 1936–1952 |
| ​ | | Winston ChurchillMP for Epping(1874–1965) | 10 May 1940 | 26 July 1945 | 5 years, 78 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryLeader of the House of Commons (1940–1942)Minister of Defence | Conservative | Churchill Caretaker(Con–Nat.Lib) | George VIr. 1936–1952 |
| | | Clement AttleeMP for Limehouse(1883–1967) | 26 July 1945 | 26 October 1951 | 6 years, 93 days | 1945 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister of Defence (1945–1946) | Labour | Attlee I | George VIr. 1936–1952 |
| | | Clement AttleeMP for Limehouse(1883–1967) | 26 July 1945 | 26 October 1951 | 6 years, 93 days | 1950 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister of Defence (1945–1946) | Labour | Attlee II | George VIr. 1936–1952 |
| | | Winston ChurchillMP for Woodford(1874–1965) | 26 October 1951 | 5 April 1955 | 3 years, 162 days | 1951 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister of Defence (1951–1952) | Conservative | Churchill III | George VIr. 1936–1952 |
| | | Winston ChurchillMP for Woodford(1874–1965) | 26 October 1951 | 5 April 1955 | 3 years, 162 days | 1951 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister of Defence (1951–1952) | Conservative | Churchill III | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Anthony EdenMP for Warwick and Leamington(1897–1977) | 6 April 1955 | 9 January 1957 | 1 year, 279 days | 1955 | First Lord of the Treasury | Conservative | Eden | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Harold MacmillanMP for Bromley(1894–1986) | 10 January 1957 | 18 October 1963 | 6 years, 282 days | — | First Lord of the Treasury | Conservative | Macmillan I | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Harold MacmillanMP for Bromley(1894–1986) | 10 January 1957 | 18 October 1963 | 6 years, 282 days | 1959 | First Lord of the Treasury | Conservative | Macmillan II | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Alec Douglas-HomeMP for Kinross and Western Perthshire(1903–1995) | 18 October 1963 | 16 October 1964 | 365 days | — | First Lord of the Treasury | Conservative(Scot.U.) | Douglas-Home | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Harold WilsonMP for Huyton(1916–1995) | 16 October 1964 | 19 June 1970 | 5 years, 247 days | 1964 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service (1968–1970) | Labour | Wilson I | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Harold WilsonMP for Huyton(1916–1995) | 16 October 1964 | 19 June 1970 | 5 years, 247 days | 1966 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service (1968–1970) | Labour | Wilson II | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Edward HeathMP for Bexley(1916–2005) | 19 June 1970 | 4 March 1974 | 3 years, 259 days | 1970 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Conservative | Heath | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Harold WilsonMP for Huyton(1916–1995) | 4 March 1974 | 5 April 1976 | 2 years, 33 days | ($^{Feb.}$1974) | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Labour | Wilson III | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Harold WilsonMP for Huyton(1916–1995) | 4 March 1974 | 5 April 1976 | 2 years, 33 days | $^{Oct.}$1974 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Labour | Wilson IV | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | James CallaghanMP for Cardiff South East(1912–2005) | 5 April 1976 | 4 May 1979 | 3 years, 30 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Labour | Callaghan | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Margaret ThatcherMP for Finchley(1925–2013)Premiership | 4 May 1979 | 28 November 1990 | 11 years, 209 days | 1979 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Conservative | Thatcher I | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Margaret ThatcherMP for Finchley(1925–2013)Premiership | 4 May 1979 | 28 November 1990 | 11 years, 209 days | 1983 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Conservative | Thatcher II | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Margaret ThatcherMP for Finchley(1925–2013)Premiership | 4 May 1979 | 28 November 1990 | 11 years, 209 days | 1987 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Conservative | Thatcher III | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | John MajorMP for Huntingdon(born 1943)Premiership | 28 November 1990 | 2 May 1997 | 6 years, 156 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Conservative | Major I | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | John MajorMP for Huntingdon(born 1943)Premiership | 28 November 1990 | 2 May 1997 | 6 years, 156 days | 1992 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Conservative | Major II | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Tony BlairMP for Sedgefield(born 1953)Premiership | 2 May 1997 | 27 June 2007 | 10 years, 57 days | 1997 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Labour | Blair I | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Tony BlairMP for Sedgefield(born 1953)Premiership | 2 May 1997 | 27 June 2007 | 10 years, 57 days | 2001 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Labour | Blair II | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Tony BlairMP for Sedgefield(born 1953)Premiership | 2 May 1997 | 27 June 2007 | 10 years, 57 days | 2005 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Labour | Blair III | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Gordon BrownMP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath(born 1951)Premiership | 27 June 2007 | 11 May 2010 | 2 years, 319 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Labour | Brown | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | David CameronMP for Witney(born 1966)Premiership | 11 May 2010 | 13 July 2016 | 6 years, 64 days | (2010) | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Conservative | Cameron–Clegg(Con–Lib.Dem) | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | David CameronMP for Witney(born 1966)Premiership | 11 May 2010 | 13 July 2016 | 6 years, 64 days | 2015 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Conservative | Cameron II | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Theresa MayMP for Maidenhead(born 1956)Premiership | 13 July 2016 | 24 July 2019 | 3 years, 12 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Conservative | May I | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Theresa MayMP for Maidenhead(born 1956)Premiership | 13 July 2016 | 24 July 2019 | 3 years, 12 days | (2017) | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil Service | Conservative | May II (DUP confidence & supply) | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Boris JohnsonMP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip(born 1964)Premiership | 24 July 2019 | 6 September 2022 | 3 years, 45 days | (—) | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceMinister for the Union | Conservative | Johnson I (DUP confidence & supply) | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Boris JohnsonMP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip(born 1964)Premiership | 24 July 2019 | 6 September 2022 | 3 years, 45 days | 2019 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceMinister for the Union | Conservative | Johnson II | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Liz TrussMP for South West Norfolk(born 1975)Premiership | 6 September 2022 | 25 October 2022 | 50 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceMinister for the Union | Conservative | Truss | Elizabeth IIr. 1952–2022 |
| | | Liz TrussMP for South West Norfolk(born 1975)Premiership | 6 September 2022 | 25 October 2022 | 50 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceMinister for the Union | Conservative | Truss | Charles IIIr. 2022–present |
| | | Rishi SunakMP for Richmond (Yorks)(born 1980)Premiership | 25 October 2022 | 5 July 2024 | 1 year, 255 days | — | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceMinister for the Union | Conservative | Sunak | Charles IIIr. 2022–present |
| | | Keir StarmerMP for Holborn and St Pancras (born 1962)Premiership | 5 July 2024 | Incumbent | 258 days | 2024 | First Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceMinister for the Union | Labour | Starmer | Charles IIIr. 2022–present |

## Disputed prime ministers

Due to the gradual evolution of the post of prime minister, the title is applied to early prime ministers only retrospectively; this has sometimes given rise to academic dispute. William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath and James Waldegrave, 2nd Earl Waldegrave are sometimes listed as prime ministers. Bath was invited to form a ministry by George II when Henry Pelham resigned in 1746, as was Waldegrave in 1757 after the dismissal of William Pitt the Elder, who dominated the affairs of government during the Seven Years' War. Neither was able to command sufficient parliamentary support to form a government; Bath stepped down after two days and Waldegrave after four. Modern academic consensus does not consider either man to have held office as prime minister; they are therefore listed separately.
* Whig (2)
List of disputed prime ministers of the United Kingdom since 1721 :
| Portrait | Portrait | Prime ministerOffice(Lifespan) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Mandate | Ministerial offices held as prime minister | Party | Government | MonarchReign |
| Portrait | Portrait | Prime ministerOffice(Lifespan) | Start | End | Duration | Mandate | Ministerial offices held as prime minister | Party | Government | MonarchReign |
| ​ | | William Pulteney 1st Earl of Bath(1684–1764) | 10 February 1746 | 12 February 1746 | 3 days | – | First Lord of the Treasury | Whig | Short Lived | George IIr. 1727–1760 |
| ​ | | James Waldegrave 2nd Earl Waldegrave(1715–1763) | 8 June 1757 | 12 June 1757 | 5 days | – | First Lord of the Treasury | Whig | Waldegrave | George IIr. 1727–1760 |

### List notes

* 1 2 Legend for the Mandate column: 1722 a yearindicates a general election won by the government or that led to the formation of a government (the year links to the election's article); (1830) a parenthesised yearindicates an election resulting in no single party winning a Commons majority (the year links to the election's article); — a dashindicates the formation of a majority government without an election; (—) a parenthesised dashindicates the formation of a minority or coalition government during a hung parliament.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Died in office
* 1 2 Resigned on 10 February 1746, reappointed by George II on 12 February 1746.
* ↑ Pitt served as a Member of Parliament for Bath for the first five days of his premiership (30 July – 4 August 1766). He relinquished his Commons seat in order to take the office of Lord Privy Seal, which required his elevation to the House of Lords.
* ↑ Pitt contested a different constituency in the 1784 British general election.
* ↑ Lord Melbourne was the only prime minister to be dismissed by William IV.
* ↑ Disraeli was elevated to the House of Lords in 1876, two years into his second premiership. Consequently, he relinquished his Commons seat as MP for Buckinghamshire.
* ↑ Douglas Home disclaimed his peerage as the Earl of Home on 23 October 1963. He was elected an MP on 7 November 1963.