Who Makes Up the UK Cabinet?

The Cabinet is the senior decision-making body of the UK Government, chaired by the Prime Minister. Its composition is governed by convention, not statute.

Core Members (Always Attend)

• Prime Minister (First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service)
• Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Foreign Secretary
• Home Secretary
• Lord Chancellor / Secretary of State for Justice
• Secretary of State for Defence
• Secretary of State for Health & Social Care
• Secretary of State for Education
• Secretary of State for Business & Trade
• Secretary of State for Work & Pensions
• Secretary of State for Energy Security & Net Zero
• Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Secretary of State for Transport
• Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
• Secretary of State for Science, Innovation & Technology
• Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport
• Secretary of State for Northern Ireland / Scotland / Wales (territorial secretaries)
• Leader of the House of Commons / Lord Privy Seal
• Leader of the House of Lords / Lord President of the Council
• Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)
• Attorney General (attends when legal advice needed)

Other Attendees

• Ministers of State / Ministers without Portfolio invited for relevant agenda items.
• National Security Adviser, Cabinet Secretary, Downing Street Chief of Staff (officials, not ministers).

Key Points

• All Cabinet ministers are Privy Counsellors (sworn to secrecy).
• Collective responsibility binds all members to public support for Cabinet decisions.
• Reshuffles can change composition at any time.