The Cabinet
The Cabinet is the committee at the centre of the British political system and is the supreme decision-making body in government.
Every Tuesday during Parliament, Secretaries of State from all departments and some other ministers meet in the Cabinet room in Downing Street to discuss the big issues of the day. Meetings are currently attended by 22 paid ministers and one unpaid minister appointed to Cabinet, and six other invited ministers and peers.
Government Cabinets have met in the same room since 1856, when it was called the Council Chamber.
The Prime Minister chairs the meetings, selects its members, and also recommends their appointment as ministers by the Monarch. The Secretary of the Cabinet is responsible for preparing records of its discussions and decisions.
Cabinet attendees:
- Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service – The Rt Hon David Cameron MP
- Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council (with special responsibility for political and constitutional reform) – The Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP
- First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – The Rt Hon William Hague MP
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Chancellor of the Exchequer – The Rt Hon George Osborne MP
- Chief Secretary to the Treasury – The Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP
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Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice – The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP
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Secretary of State for the Home Department; and Minister for Women and Equalities – The Rt Hon Theresa May MP
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Secretary of State for Defence – The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP
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Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and President of the Board of Trade – The Rt Hon Dr Vincent Cable MP
- Minister of State (Minister for Universities and Science) – The Rt Hon David Willetts MP
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Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP
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Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change – The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP
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Secretary of State for Health – The Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE MP
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Secretary of State for Education – The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
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Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP
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Secretary of State for Transport – Justine Greening MP
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Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – The Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP
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Secretary of State for International Development – The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP
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Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport – The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP
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Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – The Rt Hon Owen Paterson MP
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Secretary of State for Scotland – The Rt Hon Michael Moore MP
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Secretary of State for Wales – The Rt Hon Cheryl Gillan MP
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Minister without Portfolio (Minister of State) – The Rt Hon Baroness Warsi
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Leader of the House of Lords, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster – The Rt Hon Lord Strathclyde
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Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal – The Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP
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Minister for the Cabinet Office, Paymaster General – The Rt Hon Francis Maude MP
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Minister of State (providing policy advice to the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office) – The Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP
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Attorney General – The Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP (attends Cabinet when Ministerial responsibilities are on the agenda)
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Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) – The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP
Read more: Further information on how Government works (Cabinet Office website)