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{{Short description|Position of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom}}

factoids

The Chairman of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom is responsible for party administration and overseeing the Conservative Campaign Headquarters, formerly Conservative Central Office.When the Conservatives are in government, the officeholder is usually a member of the Cabinet holding a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio. Deputy or Vice Chairmen of the Conservative Party may also be appointed, with responsibility for specific aspects of the party. The Chairman of the Conservative Party is Richard Holden who has been in the role since 13 November 2023. The role of Deputy Chairman is currently held by eight Members of Parliament, they are: Sara Britcliffe, James Daly, Angela Richardson, Rachel Maclean (Women), Jack Lopresti, Nickie Aiken (Party Board), Jonathan Gullis and Matt Vickers. The role was created in 1911 in response to the Conservative party's defeat in the second 1910 general election. The position is not subject to election, as it is given by the party leader.BOOK, The Conservatives - A History, Bantam Press, Harris, Robin, 2011, London, 9780593065112, (p. 249) After the second election defeat of 1910 there was an unstoppable pressure for an enquiry into the party's failures. A committee recommended that two new posts be created - that of party treasurer and that of chairman of the party (enjoying 'Cabinet rank'). ... Balfour accepted the changes but tried to reduce the status of the chairman, a position which he significantly (and permanently) re-titled 'chairman of the party organization'. He also concealed, as long as he could, the 'Cabinet rank' pledge. Finally he appointed a rather junior but, as it turned out, vigorous and assertive Birmingham member of parliament, Arthur Steel-Maitland, to the chairmanship.,

List

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| Non-parliamentarian

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! colspan="3" |Chairman! colspan=2|Term of office! Election! Ministerial offices!Leader!Ref75px)Arthur Steel-Maitland{{small>MP for Birmingham East}}| 1911| 1916| —Bonar LawPUBLISHER=BANTAM PRESS ISBN=9780593065112, London, (File:George Younger, Vanity Fair, 1910-01-06.jpg|75px) '''George Younger, 1st Viscount Younger of Leckie'''{{small>MP for Ayr Burghs}} 1916 1923 1918 United Kingdom general election1922 United Kingdom general election>19221923PUBLISHER=PHOENIX ISBN=9780753810606, London, Stanley Baldwin|75px)Stanley Jackson (cricketer)>Stanley Jackson{{smallHowdenshire (UK Parliament constituency)>Howdenshire}}| 1923| 19261924 United Kingdom general election>1924|75px)J. C. C. Davidson>John Davidson{{smallHemel Hempstead (UK Parliament constituency)>Hemel Hempstead}}| 1926| 19301929 United Kingdom general election>1929|100x100px)Neville Chamberlain{{small>MP for Birmingham Edgbaston}}23 June}}193015 April}}1931| —|75px)John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven>John BairdViscount Stonehaven| 1931| 19361931 United Kingdom general election>19311935| (File:DouglasHacking.jpg|75px) '''Douglas Hacking, 1st Baron Hacking'''{{small>MP for Chorley}} 1936 1942 —||Neville Chamberlain|Winston Churchill|75px)Thomas Dugdale, 1st Baron Crathorne>Thomas Dugdale{{smallRichmond (UK Parliament constituency)>Richmond}}| 194229 October}}1944| —|75px)Ralph Assheton, 1st Baron Clitheroe>Ralph Assheton{{smallCity of London (UK Parliament constituency)>City of London}}29 October}}19441 July}}19461945 United Kingdom general election>1945| (File:1st Earl of Woolton 1947.jpg|75px) Frederick MarquisEarl of Woolton {{small|1 July}}1946 {{small|1 November}}1955 1950 United Kingdom general election1951 United Kingdom general election>19511955 Lord President of the Council {{smallChancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster {{small>(1952–1955)}}Minister of Materials {{small|(1952–1954)}}|Anthony Eden| Oliver Poole {{small|1 November}}1955 {{small|18 September}}1957 —PUBLISHER=JOHN MURRAY ISBN=0719565642, London, Harold Macmillan|75px)Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone>Quintin HoggViscount Hailsham18 September}}195714 October}}19591959 United Kingdom general election>1959 Lord President of the Council {{small|(1957–1959)}}|75px)Rab Butler{{small>MP for Saffron Walden}}14 October}}195910 October}}1961| — Home Secretary {{smallLeader of the House of Commons {{small>(1955–1961)}}|75px)Iain Macleod{{small>MP for Saffron Walden}}10 October}}1961 {{small|21 October}}1963| — Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster {{smallLeader of the House of Commons {{small>(1961–1963)}}Iain Macleod and Oliver Poole, 1st Baron Poole jointly held the chairmanship from 17 April to 10 October 1961.>name=Macleod}}Oliver Poole, 1st Baron Poole>Oliver PooleBaron Poole17 April}}1963{{small|(Jointly)}}| —name=Macleod}} (File:John Hare 1929.jpg|75px) John HareViscount Blakenham {{small|21 October}}1963 {{small|21 January}}1965 1964Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster {{small|(1963–1964)}}|Alec Douglas-Home| (File:No image.svg|75px) Edward du Cann{{smallTaunton (UK Parliament constituency)>Taunton}} {{small|21 January}}1965 {{small|11 September}}1967 1966|Edward Heath|Anthony Barber{{small>MP for Altrincham and Sale}}11 September}}196731 July}}19701970 United Kingdom general election>1970|75px)Peter Thomas, Baron Thomas of Gwydir>Peter Thomas{{smallHendon South (UK Parliament constituency)>Hendon South}}31 July}}19707 April}}1972| — Secretary of State for Wales {{small|(1970–1974)}}|75px)Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington>Peter CaringtonBaron Carrington7 April}}197211 June}}1974February 1974 United Kingdom general election>Feb 1974 Secretary of State for Defence {{smallSecretary of State for Energy and Climate Change>Secretary of State for Energy {{small|(1974)}}|William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw>William Whitelaw{{smallPenrith and The Border (UK Parliament constituency)>Penrith and The Border}}11 June}}197427 February}}1975October 1974 United Kingdom general election>Oct 1974|Peter Thorneycroft>Peter ThorneycroftBaron Thorneycroft27 February}}197514 September}}19811979 United Kingdom general election>1979Margaret Thatcher|Cecil Parkinson{{small>MP for South Hertfordshire}}14 September}}198114 September}}19831983 United Kingdom general election>1983 Paymaster General {{smallChancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster {{small>(1982–1983)}}Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy {{small>(1983)}}|75px)John Gummer{{small>MP for Suffolk Coastal}}14 September}}19832 September}}1985| — Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Employment {{small(1983–1985)}}Paymaster General {{small|(1984–1985)}}|75px)Norman Tebbit{{small>MP for Chingford}}2 September}}19852 November}}19871987 United Kingdom general election>1987 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster {{small|(1985–1987)}}|75px)Peter Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville>Peter Brooke{{smallCities of London and Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)>City of Londonand Westminster South}}2 November}}198724 July}}1989| — Paymaster General {{small|(1987–1989)}}|75px)Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking>Kenneth Baker{{smallMole Valley (UK Parliament constituency)>Mole Valley}}24 July}}198928 November}}1990| — Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster|75px)Chris Patten{{small>MP for Bath}}28 November}}199010 May}}19921992 United Kingdom general election>1992 Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterJohn MajorPUBLISHER=ALLEN LANE ISBN=0713998555, London, 75px)Norman Fowler, Baron Fowler>Sir Norman Fowler{{smallSutton Coldfield (UK Parliament constituency)>Sutton Coldfield}}10 May}}199220 July}}1994| — Attended Cabinet|75px)Jeremy Hanley{{small>MP for Richmond and Barnes}}20 July}}19945 July}}1995| — Minister without portfolio|75px)Brian Mawhinney{{small>MP for Peterborough (UK Parliament constituency) →North West Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)>North West Cambridgeshire}}5 July}}199520 June}}19971997 United Kingdom general election>1997 Minister without portfolio|Cecil Parkinson>Cecil ParkinsonBaron Parkinson20 June}}19972 December}}1998| —William Hague|75px)Michael Ancram>Michael AncramEarl of Ancram{{smallDevizes (UK Parliament constituency)>Devizes}}2 December}}199818 September}}20012001 United Kingdom general election>2001|75px)David Davis (British politician)>David Davis{{smallHaltemprice and Howden (UK Parliament constituency)>Haltemprice and Howden}}18 September}}200123 July}}2002| —Iain Duncan Smith|75px)Theresa May{{small>MP for Maidenhead}}23 July}}20026 November}}2003| —|75px)Liam Fox{{small>MP for Woodspring}}6 November}}2003 {{small|6 May}}20052005|Michael HowardLiam Fox and Maurice Saatchi, Baron Saatchi jointly held the chairmanship from 11 November 2003 to 6 May 2005.>name=Fox}}75px)Maurice Saatchi, Baron Saatchi>Maurice SaatchiBaron Saatchi10 November}}2003{{small|(Jointly)}}| Liam Fox and Maurice Saatchi, Baron Saatchi jointly held the chairmanship from 11 November 2003 to 6 May 2005.>name=Fox}} (File:Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office.jpg|75px) Francis Maude{{smallHorsham (UK Parliament constituency)>Horsham}} {{small|6 May}}2005 {{small|2 July}}2007 —|David Cameron|75px)Caroline Spelman{{small>MP for Meriden}}2 July}}200719 January}}2009| —||75px)Eric Pickles{{small>MP for Brentwood and Ongar}}19 January}}200912 May}}20102010 United Kingdom general election>2010| |75px)Andrew Feldman, Baron Feldman of Elstree>Andrew FeldmanBaron Feldman of Elstree12 May}}2010{{small|(Jointly 2010–15)}}14 July}}20162015 United Kingdom general election>2015| Andrew Feldman, Baron Feldman of Elstree and Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Warsi>Baroness Warsi jointly held the chairmanship from 12 May 2010 to 4 September 2012.Andrew Feldman, Baron Feldman of Elstree and Grant Shapps jointly held the chairmanship from 4 September 2012 to 11 May 2015.>name=Shapps}}75px)Sayeeda Warsi, Baroness Warsi>Sayeeda WarsiBaroness Warsi12 May}}2010{{small|(Jointly)}}2012 British cabinet reshuffle}}2012 British cabinet reshuffle>2012| —Minister without portfolioACCESS-DATE=27 JULY 2021 name=Warsi}}75px)Grant Shapps{{small>MP for Welwyn Hatfield}}2012 British cabinet reshuffle}}2012 British cabinet reshuffle>2012{{small|(Jointly)}}11 May}}20152015 United Kingdom general election>2015Minister without portfolioname=Shapps}}75px)Patrick McLoughlin>Sir Patrick McLoughlin{{smallDerbyshire Dales (UK Parliament constituency)>Derbyshire Dales}}14 July}}20162018 British cabinet reshuffle}}2018 British cabinet reshuffle>20182017 United Kingdom general election>2017Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterTheresa May|75px)Brandon Lewis{{small>MP for Great Yarmouth}}2018 British cabinet reshuffle}}2018 British cabinet reshuffle>201824 July}}2019|—Minister without portfolioACCESS-DATE=26 JULY 2021, UK Parliament, 100x100px)| Ben Elliot {{small(Jointly)}}5 September}}20222019| Boris JohnsonBen Elliot and James Cleverly jointly held the chairmanship from 24 July 2019 to 13 February 2020.Ben Elliot and Amanda Milling jointly held the chairmanship from 13 February 2020 to 15 September 2021.Ben Elliot and Oliver Dowden jointly held the chairmanship from 15 September 2021 to 24 June 2022.Ben Elliot and Andrew Stephenson jointly held the chairmanship from 7 July 2022 to 5 September 2022.|name=Stephenson}}75px)James Cleverly{{small>MP for Braintree}}2020 British cabinet reshuffle}}2020 British cabinet reshuffle>2020Minister without portfolioACCESS-DATE=26 JULY 2021 name=Cleverly}}75px)Amanda Milling{{small>MP for Cannock Chase}}2020 British cabinet reshuffle}}2020 British cabinet reshuffle>2020{{small|(Jointly)}}15 September}}2021| —Minister without portfolioACCESS-DATE=26 JULY 2021 name=Milling}}75px)Oliver Dowden{{small>MP for Hertsmere}}15 September}}2021{{small|(Jointly)}}24 June}}2022|—Minister without portfolioname=Dowden}}frameless|100x100px)Andrew Stephenson{{small>MP for Pendle}}7 July}}2022{{small|(Jointly)}}6 September}}2022|—Minister without portfolioname=Stephenson}}frameless|100x100px)Jake Berry>Sir Jake Berry{{smallRossendale and Darwen (UK Parliament constituency)>Rossendale and Darwen}}6 September}}202225 October}}2022|—Minister without portfolio|Liz Truss|frameless|99x99px)Nadhim Zahawi{{small>MP for Stratford-on-Avon}}25 October}}202229 January}}2023|—Minister without portfolioRishi Sunak|frameless|99x99px)Greg Hands{{small>MP for Chelsea and Fulham}}7 February}}202313 November}}2023|—Minister without portfolio|frameless|99x99px)Richard Holden (British politician)>Richard Holden{{smallNorth West Durham (UK Parliament constituency)>North West Durham}}13 November}}2023| Incumbent|—Minister without portfolio|{{Notelist}}

Timeline

{{#tag:timeline|ImageSize=width:1100 height:auto barincrement:13TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalAlignBars = latePlotArea = width:90% left:15 top:10 bottom:80Legend = columns:1 left:100 top:50 columnwidth:160DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyyPeriod = from:1910 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalColors = ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:10 start:1910ScaleMinor = gridcolor:liteline unit:year increment:2 start:1910Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}TextData = BarData = PlotData=

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See also

• 1922 Committee – the parliamentary body of the Conservative Party, which has its own Chairman

References

Notes

{{Reflist}}

Bibliography

• Ball, Stuart, ed. (1998) The Conservative Party Since 1945, Manchester: Manchester University Press. {{isbn|9780719040139}}
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161005230159weblink">Conservatives Party Structure and Organisation

External links

• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110604030339weblink">Meet the Chairmen – conservatives.com

{{Chairman of the Conservative Party}}