Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is a position in the United Kingdom's Shadow Cabinet that was created on 6 December 2005 by the then-Leader of the Opposition, David Cameron for his shadow cabinet. From 2005 to 2010, the office was known as Senior Member of the Shadow Cabinet, and from 2015 to 2023, the office was known as Shadow First Secretary of State, and from 2010 to 2015 and again from 2023 to 2024, the office was known as Shadow Deputy Prime Minister.

Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Incumbent
Oliver Dowden
since 5 July 2024
Shadow Cabinet
AppointerLeader of the Opposition
Formation6 December 2005
First holderWilliam Hague
(as Senior Member of the Shadow Cabinet)
WebsiteShadow Cabinet

Even though the role has no specific responsibilities attached to it, the holder of the position shadows the First Secretary of State and/or Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and deputises for the Leader of the Opposition in Prime Minister's Questions when the First Secretary or Deputy PM is deputising for the Prime Minister.[1] The position is currently vacant after Angela Rayner, the most recent officeholder, became Deputy Prime Minister in July 2024. Oliver Dowden currently serves as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

List of Shadow Deputy Prime Ministers

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Senior Member of the Shadow Cabinet

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Senior Member Term of Office Political Party Leader of the Opposition
William Hague   6 December 2005 11 May 2010 Conservative David Cameron

Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

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Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Term of Office Political Party Leader of the Opposition
Jack Straw
Acting
  11 May 2010 25 September 2010 Labour Harriet Harman
Harriet Harman   7 October 2010 8 May 2015 Labour Ed Miliband

Shadow First Secretary of State

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Shadow First Secretary Term of Office Political Party Leader of the Opposition
Hilary Benn
Acting
  11 May 2015 13 September 2015 Labour Harriet Harman
Angela Eagle   13 September 2015 27 June 2016 Labour Jeremy Corbyn
Office not in use from June 2016 to June 2017.
Emily Thornberry   14 June 2017 5 April 2020 Labour Jeremy Corbyn
Angela Rayner   9 April 2020 4 September 2023 Labour Keir Starmer

Shadow Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

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Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Term of Office Political Party Leader of the Opposition
Angela Rayner   4 September 2023 5 July 2024 Labour Keir Starmer
Oliver Dowden
 
5 July 2024 Present Conservative Rishi Sunak

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Brexit: Green and Thornberry Prime Minister's Questions clash". BBC News Online. Retrieved 12 July 2017.