William Stephen Ian Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw, KT, CH, MC, PC, DL (June 28, 1918 – July 1, 1999), commonly known as Willie Whitelaw, was a British Conservative politician. The Right Honourable (abbreviated as or ) is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and in other Commonwealth Realms, and elsewhere. ... A viscount is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl (in Britain) or a count (his continental equivalent). ... James VII ordained the modern Order. ... The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. ... The Military Cross (MC) is the third level military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... The Deputy Lieutenant is the deputy to the Lord Lieutenant of a county. ... Under its uncodified constitution, the United Kingdom possesses no formal permanent office of Deputy Prime Minister. ... is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (née Roberts; born 13 October 1925) served as British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 until 1990, being the first and only woman to hold either post. ... Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG, CH, PC, DL (9 December 1902 – 8 March 1982), who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British Conservative politician. ... Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, CH, PC, QC (born 20 December 1926), known until 1992 as Sir Geoffrey Howe, is a senior British Conservative politician. ... Leader of the House of Lords is a function in the British government that is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, most often Lord President of the Council, Lord Privy Seal or Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. ... The Office of Lord President of the Council is a British cabinet position, the holder of which acts as presiding officer of the Privy Council. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Janet Young, Baroness Young (23 October 1926 – 6 September 2002), was a British Conservative politician. ... John Julian Ganzoni, 2nd Baron Belstead (b. ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office and is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales, and for immigration and citizenship for the whole United Kingdom (including Scotland and Northern Ireland). ... is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Merlyn Rees, later Baron Merlyn-Rees of Cilfynydd, PC (18 December 1920 - 5 January 2006) was a British Labour party Member of Parliament from 1963 until 1992. ... Leon Brittan, Baron Brittan of Spennithorne, PC (born September 25, 1939), is a barrister, a British politician, and a former Conservative Member of Parliament and former member of the European Commission. ... In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Conservative Party is responsible for running the party machine, overseeing Conservative Central Office. ... is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lord Carrington wearing his robes as a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter, in procession to St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle for the annual service of the Order of the Garter. ... George Edward Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft CH PC (26 July 1909–4 June 1994), was a British Conservative politician. ... Minister of Labour re-directs here. ... is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... The Right Honourable Maurice Victor Macmillan, Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden (27 January 1921–10 March 1984) was a Conservative politician and Member of Parliament. ... Michael Mackintosh Foot (born 23 July 1913) is an English politician and writer. ... The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is the British cabinet minister who has responsibility for the government of Northern Ireland. ... is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Popular conservative British politician Francis Pym, during his Cambridge years Francis Leslie Pym, Baron Pym, MC and Bar, PC (born 13 February 1922) is a British Conservative Party politician and former member of the Cabinet. ... 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. ... The Office of Lord President of the Council is a British cabinet position, the holder of which acts as presiding officer of the Privy Council. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sir Edward Richard George Heath, KG, OBE (9 July 1916 – 17 July 2005) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. ... Fred Peart, Baron Peart (1914-1988) was a British Labour politician who served in the Labour governments of the 60s and 70s. ... For other people called Robert Carr please see Robert Carr (disambiguation). ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... For people named Nairn, see Nairn (surname). ... This article is about the country. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... Statistics Population: 14,756 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: NY515305 Administration District: Eden Shire county: Cumbria Region: North West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Cumbria Historic county: Cumberland Services Police force: Cumbria Constabulary Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: North West Post office and telephone... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The Conservative and Unionist Party, more commonly known as the Conservative Party, is currently the largest majortiy opposition party in the United Knigdom. ... The Church of Scotland (CofS; Scottish Gaelic: ), known informally by its pre-Union Scots name, The Kirk, is the national church of Scotland. ... James VII ordained the modern Order. ... The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. ... The Military Cross (MC) is the third level military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... The Deputy Lieutenant is the deputy to the Lord Lieutenant of a county. ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... The Conservative and Unionist Party, more commonly known as the Conservative Party, is currently the largest majortiy opposition party in the United Knigdom. ...

Early life

Whitelaw was born in Nairn, in northeast Scotland. He never knew his father, who was killed in the First World War when he was a baby. He was educated at Winchester College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he won a blue for golf and joined the Officer Training Corps. For people named Nairn, see Nairn (surname). ... This article is about the country. ... For the university in Winchester of a similar name, see University of Winchester. ... Full name The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity Motto Virtus vera nobilitas Virtue is true Nobility Named after The Holy Trinity Previous names King’s Hall and Michaelhouse (until merged in 1546) Established 1546 Sister College(s) Christ Church Master The Lord Rees of Ludlow Location Trinity Street... The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University), located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and has a reputation as one of the most prestigious universities in the world. ... A University Sporting Blue is an award earned by sportsmen and sportswomen at Cambridge, Oxford, and some other universities for competing at the highest level of university sport. ... This article is about the sport. ...

By chance he was in a summer camp on the outbreak of war, and was granted a regular, not wartime, commission in the British Army, in the Scots Guards, later serving in the Guards Tank Brigade, a separate unit from the Guards Armoured Division. He commanded Churchill tanks in Normandy during the Second World War, and in the Battle of Caumont (late July 1944) his was the first Allied unit to encounter German Jagdpanther tank destroyers, being attacked by three out of the twelve of these vehicles which were in Normandy. The battalion second-in-command was killed when his tank was hit in front of Whitelaw's eyes, and Whitelaw succeeded to this position, holding it - with the rank of Major - throughout the advance through Holland into Germany and until the end of the war. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions at Caumont; a photograph of Field-Marshal Bernard Montgomery pinning the medal to his chest appears in his memoirs. After the end of the War in Europe, Whitelaw's unit was to have taken part in the invasion of Japan, but the Pacific War ended before this could happen. Instead he was posted to Palestine, before leaving the army in 1946 to take care of the family estates which he had inherited on the death of his great uncle. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Scots Guards are a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division, and have a long and proud history stretching back hundreds of years. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Major is a military rank the use of which varies according to country. ... The Military Cross (MC) is the third level military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries. ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. ...

Member of Parliament

After early defeats as a candidate for the constituency of East Dunbartonshire, he became Member of Parliament (MP) for Penrith and the Border at the 1955 general election, and represented that constituency for 28 years. After stints as a junior whip and as a parliamentary secretary, Alec Douglas-Home appointed him as Opposition Chief Whip in 1964, and Ted Heath promoted him to Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons in 1970. He was also appointed to the Privy Council during this time. East Dunbartonshire is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Penrith and The Border is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on May 26, 1955, four years after the previous general election. ... For other uses, see Whip (disambiguation). ... In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to appoint parliamentary secretaries (in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, parliamentary assistants) from their caucus to assist cabinet ministers with their work. ... Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel,[1] KT, PC (2 July 1903 - 9 October 1995) 14th Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963, was a British Conservative (actually SUP) politician, and served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom for a year from October 1963 to October... The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... You might be looking for: Edward Heath (1916–2005) — Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. ... The Office of Lord President of the Council is a British cabinet position, the holder of which acts as presiding officer of the Privy Council. ... 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. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ...

In government

Edward Heath appointed him as the first Secretary of State for Northern Ireland after the imposition of direct rule in March 1972 and he served in that capacity until November 1973. During his time in Northern Ireland he introduced 'Special Category Status for paramilitary prisoners. He left Northern Ireland to become Secretary of State for Employment shortly before the Sunningdale Agreement was reached, to confront the National Union of Mineworkers over pay demands. The dispute was followed by the Conservative party's losing the February 1974 general election. Also in 1974, Whitelaw became a Companion of Honour. Sir Edward Richard George Heath, KG, OBE (9 July 1916 – 17 July 2005) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. ... The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is the British cabinet minister who has responsibility for the government of Northern Ireland. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... In July 1972, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland William Whitelaw, granted Special Category Status to all prisoners convicted of scheduled terrorist crimes. ... Minister of Labour re-directs here. ... The Sunningdale Agreement on December 9, 1973, was an attempt to end the Northern Ireland troubles by forcing unionists to share power with nationalists. ... The National Union of Mineworkers is a trade union for coal miners in the United Kingdom. ... The UK general election of February 1974 was held on February 28, 1974. ... The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. ...

Bid for Conservative Leadership, Home Secretary and Peerage

Soon after Harold Wilson's Labour Party returned to government, Heath appointed Whitelaw as Deputy Leader of the Opposition. After a second defeat in the October 1974 general election - during which Whitelaw had accused Harold Wilson of going "round and round the country stirring up apathy", Heath was forced to call a leadership election in 1975. Whitelaw loyally refused to run against Heath; however, and to widespread surprise, Margaret Thatcher knocked Heath out of the contest in the first round. Despite standing, and losing convincingly, against Thatcher in the second round, Whitelaw managed to maintain his position as Deputy Leader until the 1979 general election, when he was appointed Home Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister in Thatcher's new government. James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 – 24 May 1995) was one of the most prominent British politicians of the 20th century. ... Harold Wilson Edward Heath The United Kingdom general election of October 1974 took place on 10 October 1974. ... James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 – 24 May 1995) was one of the most prominent British politicians of the 20th century. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (née Roberts; born 13 October 1925) served as British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 until 1990, being the first and only woman to hold either post. ... The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 and is regarded as a pivotal point in 20th century British politics. ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department (the Home Secretary) is the chief United Kingdom government minister responsible for law and order in England and Wales; his or her remit includes policing, the criminal justice system, the prison service, internal security, and matters of citizenship and immigration. ... Under its uncodified constitution, the United Kingdom possesses no formal permanent office of Deputy Prime Minister. ...

As Home Secretary, Whitelaw adopted a hardline approach to law and order, but struggled to contain spiralling crime rates, overcrowded prisons and growing civil unrest across the United Kingdom. He was also embarrassed when an unhinged man named Michael Fagan managed to climb into the Queen's bedroom at Buckingham Palace. A prison is a place in which people are confined and deprived of a range of liberties. ...

Two days after the 1983 general election, Whitelaw received a hereditary peerage (the first created for 18 years) in order to become Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lords. In the resulting Penrith and The Border by-election, the Conservative candidate David Maclean narrowly held the seat against a strong challenge from the SDP-Liberal Alliance. The UK general election, 1983 was held on June 9, 1983 and gave the Conservatives and Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945. ... Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-06-08, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... Leader of the House of Lords is a function in the British government that is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, most often Lord President of the Council, Lord Privy Seal or Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. ... The Penrith and The Border by-election, 1983 was a parliamentary by-election held on 28 July 1983 for the British House of Commons constituency of Penrith and The Border in Cumbria. ... David John MacLean (born May 16, 1953, Scotland) is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. ... The SDP-Liberal Alliance was an electoral alliance of the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party in the UK that ran from 1981 to 1988, when the bulk of the two parties merged to form the Social and Liberal Democrats, later referred to as simply the Liberal Democrats. ...

Leader of the House of Lords

Whitelaw faced many challenges in attempting to manage the House of Lords, facing a major defeat over abolition of the Greater London Council within a year of taking over. However, his patrician and moderate style appealed to Conservative peers and his tenure is considered a success. This article is about the British House of Lords. ... Arms of the Greater London Council The Greater London Council (GLC) was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. ...

During his period as Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Lords, Margaret Thatcher relied on Whitelaw heavily, famously announcing that "every Prime Minister needs a Willie". He chaired the "star chamber" committee that settled the annual disputes between the limited resources made available by Treasury and the spending demands of other government departments. It was Whitelaw who managed to dissuade Thatcher in November 1980 from going to Leeds to take charge of the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry personally. Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Leeds (disambiguation) and Leeds City (disambiguation). ... Peter Sutcliffe (born June 2, 1946), infamous as the Yorkshire Ripper, was convicted in 1981 of the murders of thirteen women and attacks on seven more from 1975 to 1980. ...

Whitelaw was usually portrayed on the satirical TV show Spitting Image wearing his dressing gown and pyjamas to cabinet meetings. Spitting Image was a British satirical puppet show that ran on the ITV television network from 1984 to 1996. ...

Resignation

After Whitelaw suffered a stroke in December 1987, he was forced to resign. Some have said that Thatcher's dependence on him could have caused his stroke at the end of 1987, as he was taking on five jobs at the same time. Many others aftewards believed, Nicholas Ridley among them, that Whitelaw's retirement spelt the beginning of the end of the Thatcher premiership, as he was no longer around to give sensible advice. Up to 1987, after listening to his advice, Thatcher often have moderated her stance on several issues. Certainly, after the 1987 General Election, she dropped her caution and became more reckless. Whitelaw himself privately thought Thatcher should have resigned on the 10th anniversary of becoming Prime Minister.^{[citation needed]} During the 1987 General Election campaign, after listening to a tantrum by Thatcher at a meeting, Whitelaw correctly forecast that "that woman will never fight another election": she was toppled three and a half years later. Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Nicholas Ridley (February 17, 1929 - March 4, 1993) was a British politician. ...

Retirement and Death

During his retirement and up to his death he was the Chairman of the Board of Governors at St Bees School, Cumbria. He was created a Knight of the Thistle in 1990, and died of natural causes at the age of 81 in 1999, survived by Cecilia, his wife of 56 years, and four daughters. St Bees School, Cumbria, situated in a rural location on the edge of the Lake District in the village of St Bees on the Cumbrian coast, is an independent school. ... James VII ordained the modern Order. ...

Although Whitelaw was given a hereditary peerage, the title became extinct on his death as his daughters were unable to inherit. However, his eldest daughter married and divorced the heir presumptive to the Earl of Swinton, and her two sons by that marriage are in line to inherit that title, so a special remainder to the Viscounty would have seen it submerged in the earldom in any event. The title of Earl of Swinton was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1955 for Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Viscount Swinton, a Conservative politician. ...

His home for many years was the mansion of Ennim just outside the village of Great Blencow near Penrith, Cumbria. On his death, he was buried at St. Andrew's Parish Church, Dacre. Blencow or Blencowe is a small village near Penrith it is divided by the River Petteril into Great Blencow to the south and Little Blencow to the north. ... Statistics Population: 14,756 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: NY515305 Administration District: Eden Shire county: Cumbria Region: North West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Cumbria Historic county: Cumberland Services Police force: Cumbria Constabulary Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: North West Post office and telephone...

References

• Burke's Peerage
• Guardian Unlimited Books (review) - The killing suit
• Obituary (The Guardian, July 2, 1999)

v • d • e Deputy Prime Ministers and First Secretaries of State of the United Kingdom

Clement Attlee† · Herbert Morrison† · Anthony Eden† · Rab Butler · George Brown‡ · Michael Stewart‡ · Barbara Castle‡ · William Whitelaw, Viscount Whitelaw† · Geoffrey Howe† · Michael Heseltine · John Prescott †only served as Deputy Prime Minister, ‡only served as First Secretary of State For other uses, see Guardian. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... Fred Peart, Baron Peart (1914-1988) was a British Labour politician who served in the Labour governments of the 60s and 70s. ... The Office of Lord President of the Council is a British cabinet position, the holder of which acts as presiding officer of the Privy Council. ... For other people called Robert Carr please see Robert Carr (disambiguation). ... 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. ... The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is the British cabinet minister who has responsibility for the government of Northern Ireland. ... Popular conservative British politician Francis Pym, during his Cambridge years Francis Leslie Pym, Baron Pym, MC and Bar, PC (born 13 February 1922) is a British Conservative Party politician and former member of the Cabinet. ... The Right Honourable Maurice Victor Macmillan, Viscount Macmillan of Ovenden (27 January 1921–10 March 1984) was a Conservative politician and Member of Parliament. ... Minister of Labour re-directs here. ... Michael Mackintosh Foot (born 23 July 1913) is an English politician and writer. ... Merlyn Rees, later Baron Merlyn-Rees of Cilfynydd, PC (18 December 1920 - 5 January 2006) was a British Labour party Member of Parliament from 1963 until 1992. ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office and is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales, and for immigration and citizenship for the whole United Kingdom (including Scotland and Northern Ireland). ... Sir Leon Brittan, Rt. ... Barbara Castle, Baroness Castle of Blackburn PC (October 6, 1910 – May 3, 2002) was a British left-wing politician, born Barbara Anne Betts in Chesterfield, Derbyshire (and brought up in Pontefract and Bradford, Yorkshire), who adopted her familys politics, joining the Labour Party. ... First Secretary of State is a title within the British government, principally regarded as purely honorific, currently held by the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott. ... Under its uncodified constitution, the United Kingdom possesses no formal permanent office of Deputy Prime Minister. ... Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, CH, PC, QC (born 20 December 1926), known until 1992 as Sir Geoffrey Howe, is a senior British Conservative politician. ... William John Biffen, Baron Biffen, PC (3 November 1930 - 14 August 2007), was a Conservative member of the House of Lords, who previously spent 36 years in the House of Commons. ... The Office of Lord President of the Council is a British cabinet position, the holder of which acts as presiding officer of the Privy Council. ... John Wakeham, Baron Wakeham, PC (born 1932), is a businessman and British Conservative politician. ... Janet Young, Baroness Young (23 October 1926 – 6 September 2002), was a British Conservative politician. ... Leader of the House of Lords is a function in the British government that is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, most often Lord President of the Council, Lord Privy Seal or Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. ... John Julian Ganzoni, 2nd Baron Belstead (b. ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin MP Speaker of the House of Lords Hélène Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist... Robert Donald Scott (13 November 1901 – 18 June 1974) was a British Conservative politician. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Penrith and The Border is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on May 26, 1955, four years after the previous general election. ... The Penrith and The Border by-election, 1983 was a parliamentary by-election held on 28 July 1983 for the British House of Commons constituency of Penrith and The Border in Cumbria. ... David John MacLean (born May 16, 1953, Scotland) is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. ... Peter Alexander Rupert Carington, 6th Baron Carrington, KG, GCMG, CH, MC, PC, JP, DL (born June 6, 1919), was British Foreign Secretary (1979–1982) and Secretary-General of NATO (1984–1988). ... In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Conservative Party is responsible for running the party machine, overseeing Conservative Central Office. ... George Edward Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft (1909-1994) was a British Conservative politician. ... The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801. ... Viscount Whitelaw was the first hereditary peerage title created in the United Kingdom for eighteen years, in 1983. ... Under its uncodified constitution, the United Kingdom possesses no formal permanent office of Deputy Prime Minister. ... First Secretary of State is a title within the British government, principally regarded as purely honorific, currently held by the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott. ... “UK” redirects here. ... Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC (3 January 1883 – 8 October 1967) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951. ... Herbert Morrison For others named Herbert Morrison, see Herbert Morrison (disambiguation). ... For the eponymous hat, see Anthony Eden hat. ... Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG, CH, PC, DL (9 December 1902 – 8 March 1982), who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British Conservative politician. ... George Alfred Brown, later George Alfred George-Brown, Baron George-Brown, PC (2 September 1914 – 2 June 1985) was a British politician who served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1960 to 1970, and was a senior Cabinet minister (including as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) in... The Right Honourable Captain Robert Maitland Michael Stewart, Baron Stewart of Fulham, PC (November 6, 1906, Bromley - March 13, 1990) was a British Labour politician who served twice as Foreign Secretary in the first cabinet of Harold Wilson. ... Barbara Castle, Baroness Castle of Blackburn PC (October 6, 1910 – May 3, 2002) was a British left-wing politician, born Barbara Anne Betts in Chesterfield, Derbyshire (and brought up in Pontefract and Bradford, Yorkshire), who adopted her familys politics, joining the Labour Party. ... Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, CH, PC, QC (born 20 December 1926), known until 1992 as Sir Geoffrey Howe, is a senior British Conservative politician. ... Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC (born 21 March 1933) is a British businessman and Conservative Party politician. ... For other persons named John Prescott, see John Prescott (disambiguation). ...