The Right Honourable '''Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair''' (born [[6 May]] [[1953]]) became Leader of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in 1994 following the death of [[John Smith (UK politician)|John Smith]], and later became [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] in [[1997]], bringing the Labour Party into power after 18 consecutive years of [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] rule.
Blair's stated priorities on coming to office were "education, education, education". In his second term, he extended this list to include other public services, notably the [[National Health Service]]. However, like many Western leaders, since [[September 11, 2001 attacks|11 September 2001]] his agenda has been dominated by foreign affairs — chiefly the "[[War on Terror]]" and Britain's involvement in the [[2003 Iraq War]] and its aftermath.
Labour's electoral successes have been attributed to Blair's efforts to move the party towards the centre of British politics, a process which began under the leadership of [[Neil Kinnock]] and was continued by Blair's immediate predecessor [[John Smith (UK politician)|John Smith]]. Blair christened his modern European-styled democratic socialist party "[[New Labour]]". However, critics to the [[left-wing politics|left]] of the party feel that in the process he has compromised its founders' socialist principles, and that the government places insufficient emphasis on the [[income redistribution|redistribution]] of wealth.
==Political career==
Shortly after graduation in [[1975]] he joined the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]. During the early [[1980s]] he was involved in the [[Hackney]] South Labour Party, where he aligned himself with the "soft left" who appeared to be taking control of the party. However, his attempt to secure selection as a candidate for Hackney Borough Council was unsuccessful. In [[1982]] he was selected to stand for Parliament in a [[by-election]] held in the safe [[Tory]] seat of [[Beaconsfield]]. He won only 10% of the vote and lost his deposit, but impressed Labour Party leader [[Michael Foot]].
In [[1983]] Blair found that the newly-created seat of [[Sedgefield]], near where he had grown up in [[Durham]], had no Labour candidate. Several sitting MPs displaced by boundary changes were interested, but Blair managed to win the nomination. The seat was safely Labour despite the party's collapse in the [[1983 UK general election]].
===In opposition===
Once in Parliament, Blair's ascent was rapid. He was given his first shadow job in [[1984]], aligning himself firmly with the reforming tendencies in the party, headed by leader [[Neil Kinnock]]. He entered the [[Shadow Cabinet]] as Shadow Secretary of State for Energy in [[1989]], and worked to produce a more moderate and electable party. When Kinnock resigned after defeat by [[John Major]] in the [[1992 UK general election]], Blair became Shadow Home Secretary under [[John Smith (UK politician)|John Smith]].
In [[1994]] Smith died suddenly of a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]]. Blair and fellow Shadow Cabinet member [[Gordon Brown]] allegedly struck a deal at the [[Granita]] restaurant in [[Islington]] that would see Blair stand for the leadership, with Brown becoming Chancellor in the event of victory, and Blair resigning after an unspecified term as Prime Minister in favour of Brown.
Shortly after his election as Leader, Blair announced at the conclusion of his 1994 conference speech that he intended to propose a new statement of aims and values for the Labour Party to replace the charter originally drawn up in 1918. This involved the deletion of [[Clause IV]] which had committed the party to 'the common ownership of the means of production' (widely interpreted as wholescale [[nationalisation]]). A special conference of the party approved the change in March [[1995]].
While in opposition, Blair also revised party policy in a manner which enhanced the image of Labour as competent and modern. He used the term "[[New Labour]]" to distinguish his party's [[Christian Democrat]] leanings from the [[Socialist]] principles of "Old Labour". Although the transformation aroused much criticism (its alleged superficiality drawing fire both from political opponents and traditionalists within the "rank and file" of his own party), it was nevertheless successful in changing public perception.
Aided by disaffection with the Conservative government (who were dogged by allegations of corruption, and long running divisions over [[European Union|Europe]]), "New Labour" achieved a landslide victory over [[John Major]] in the [[1997 UK general election]].
===1997–2001===
[[Image:Clinton_Blair.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Blair and ''[[President of the United States|United States President]] [[Bill Clinton]] embrace.'']]
One of the major innovations of Tony Blair's first term in office was Chancellor Gordon Brown's decision to grant the [[Bank of England]] the power to set interest rates autonomously. The traditional tendency of governments to manipulate interest rates around the time of General Elections for political gain had been deleterious to the UK economy and helped reinforce a cyclical pattern of [[boom and bust]]. Brown's decision was thus popular with [[City of London|the City]]. Previous Labour governments left the party with a (possibly undeserved) reputation for imprudence after they presided over economic debacles such as the [[Winter of Discontent]]. Brown's decision, together with the government's avowed determination to remain within projected Tory spending limits, helped to reassure sceptics of New Labour's new-found fiscal prudence. Brown, who had his own following within the Labour Party, was a powerful and independent Chancellor who was given exceptional freedom to act by Blair, although later reports by Downing Street insiders have said that Blair grew to regret this as he was cut out of important fiscal decisions.
Another achievement of Blair's first term was the negotiation of the [[Belfast Agreement]], commonly called the Good Friday Agreement, in which the British and Irish Governments and most Northern Irish political parties established an "exclusively peaceful and democratic" framework for power-sharing in Northern Ireland. Negotiations for this accord had begun under the previous Prime Minister, [[John Major]]. The agreement was finally signed on [[10 April]] [[1998]], and on [[26 November]] [[1998]] Blair became the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to address the [[Republic of Ireland]]'s parliament. Though the agreement has yet to be implemented in full, the ceasefires and political structures it brought into being have increased the chances of a sustained peace.
[[Image:Chequersbb.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Blair welcomes US President [[George W. Bush]] to Chequers, a countryside retreat in England]]
Yet another achievement of Blair's first term was an extensive programme of constitutional reform. A [[Human Rights Act 1998|Human Rights Act]] was introduced in 1998, a [[Welsh Assembly]] and a [[Scottish Parliament]] were both set up, and most hereditary [[Peerage|peers]] were removed from the [[House of Lords]], in 1999, a [[London Assembly]] was set up in 2000, and a [[Freedom of Information Act]] was introduced in 2000.
In [[1999]], Blair presided over British involvement in the [[Kosovo War]]. The Labour Party in opposition had criticised the Conservative government for weakness over [[Bosnia]], and Blair was one of those urging a strong line by [[NATO]] against [[Slobodan Milosevic]]. He persuaded the US [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] administration to support the use of ground troops should aerial bombardment fail to win the war, although in the event they were not needed.
In the [[UK general election, 2001|2001 UK general election]], the Labour Party preserved its majority, and Blair became the first Labour Prime Minister to win a full second term. However the election was notable for a sudden and large fall in voter turnout. The leader of [[the Conservative Party (UK)|the Conservative Party]], [[William Hague]], resigned, becoming the first Conservative Party leader never to have served as Prime Minister; his successor [[Iain Duncan Smith]] became the second, and currently last, holder of this distinction (though [[Austen Chamberlain]] never became Prime Minister, he only led the Conservative MPs, and thus technically was never the leader of the Conservative Party).
===2001–present===
Following the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11]] attack on the [[World Trade Center]], Blair was quick to align the UK with the US, engaging in a round of shuttle diplomacy to help form and maintain the allied coalition prior to their [[2001 Attack on Afghanistan|attack on Afghanistan]] (in which British troops participated). He maintains this role to this day, showing a willingness to visit countries on diplomatic missions that other world leaders might consider too dangerous to visit.
Blair was a strong supporter of [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]]'s controversial plan to invade [[Iraq]] and overthrow dictator [[Saddam Hussein]]. Blair soon became the face of international support for the war, often clashing with [[President of France|French President]] [[Jacques Chirac]], who became the face of international opposition. Regarded by many in Europe as a more persuasive orator than Bush, Blair gave many speeches arguing for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in the days leading up to war.
[[Image:BushBlairIraqSov.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Blair shakes hands with President Bush moments after "[[Full sovereignty for Iraq|sovereignty]]" was returned to [[Iraq]] on [[28 June]] [[2004]]]]
The main case against Saddam centered around his alleged possession of illegal [[weapons of mass destruction]], and Blair used what he perceived as Iraqs breach of UN resolutions as justification for [[regime change]]. Subsequently, thousands of British troops were deployed to assist with the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. The fact that, since Saddam's overthrow, no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq continues to be a source of great domestic controversy for the Prime Minister, including among members of his own party, many of whom were opposed to the Iraq war. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, has since stated the invasion was "illegal".
Along with George W. Bush, Tony Blair was nominated in [[2004]] for the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] by [[Norway|Norwegian]] lawmaker [[Jan Simonsen]], although their chances of winning are widely believed to be small. Contrarily several anti-war pressure groups want to try Blair for war crimes in Iraq at the [[International Criminal Court]] (Bush could not be tried because the USA is not a signatory to the treaty) [http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1058215.htm] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1079225,00.html] [http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1007915,00.html].
On [[1 August]] [[2003]] he became the longest sitting Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, surpassing [[Harold Wilson]]'s 1964–1970 term. However, because of the crisis around the death of Dr [[David Kelly]], there were no celebrations.
Between [[27 January]] and [[28 January]] [[2004]], Blair was expected to have to endure "twenty-four hours in hell". He was widely predicted to lose the crucial ''[[second reading]]'' vote on the [[Higher Education Bill]] due to a Labour rebellion — this would have been his first such defeat while in office. The next day the [[Hutton Inquiry]] was due to report on its investigation of the [[David Kelly|Kelly Affair]]. The Inquiry was widely expected to criticise Blair and his government. In the event, the tuition fees vote was won by a margin of 5 and [[Lord Hutton]] absolved Blair and his government of deliberately inserting false intelligence into a controversial [[September Dossier|dossier]]. Instead Hutton focused his criticism on the [[BBC]] editorial process which had allowed the "unfounded" allegation to be broadcast.
Although vindicated by the Hutton Report, the evidence presented to the Inquiry shed light on the assessment and use of intelligence in the run up to the war in Iraq. The picture that emerged was not one of unalloyed good practice. Perhaps in part to head off criticism about the narrow scope of Hutton's findings (see [[Hutton Inquiry#Media reaction to the report]]), and almost certainly influenced by a similar decision taken by the US President, Blair initiated another inquiry (the [[Butler Inquiry]]) — this time into the validity of the intelligence. Blair's critics said that this new inquiry would not look at the use of the intelligence by the government, and was thus still unsatisfactory.
In April [[2004]], Blair announced in the [[House of Commons]] that a [[referendum]] would be held on the ratification of the future [[EU Constitution]]. This represents a significant change in British politics (the last referendum, which took place in [[1975]], was on whether Britain should remain in the EU) and a dramatic U-turn for Blair. He had previously repeatedly dismissed calls for a referendum on the issue from opposition politicans, calling the constitution a "tidying-up exercise". [[Michael Howard]] eagerly seized on the "EU-turn", reminding Blair that he had insisted just the previous year that "[he] hadn't got a reverse gear" (see also [[British referendum on EU constitution]]).
On [[19 May]] [[2004]], Blair was hit by two [[condoms]] filled with purple [[flour]] while answering the [[Leader of the Opposition]] in the [[House of Commons]]. ''For details on the incident see [[Fathers 4 Justice House of Commons protest]].''
On [[25 August]] [[2004]], it was announced that [[Plaid Cymru]] MP [[Adam Price]] would soon be initiating an attempt to [[impeach]] Blair [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3600438.stm]. Price argues that Blair has "caused injury to the state" and "breached his constitutional duties" by "lying" to Parliament. The attempted impeachment is supported by all Welsh and [[SNP|Scottish]] nationalist MPs. Price and his colleagues also claim that a number of Labour backbenchers have expressed support, though only one ([[Peter Kilfoyle]]) has publicly endorsed the impeachment. The [[Impeach Blair campaign|campaign]] is supported by the right-wing [[Spectator]] magazine and its editor, Conservative MP [[Boris Johnson]], and has its own web site ''ImpeachBlair.org'' [http://www.impeachblair.org/].
The impeachment can be summarised into four specific charges laid against Blair, all relating to the Iraq war:
* Misleading Parliament and the country
* Incompetence and negligence
* Undermining the constitution
* Entering into a secret agreement with the [[President of the United States]]
The "impeachment" is based on archaic methods of bringing to trial those who cannot or should not be tried by a lesser court than Parliament. An impeachment process could be initiated by a single MP, but must be voted for by a majority of MPs in the (currently Labour-dominated) House of Commons. If this manoeuvre proves successful, impeachment advocates claim that Blair could be brought to trial before the House of Lords and, if again found guilty, could be removed from office. The impeachment may fall at the first hurdle, however, if — as is very likely — the Speaker of the House of Commons refuses to allow a debate. An impeachment has not been attempted in Parliament for one hundred and fifty years, and has not been successful since [[1806]]. It's also at odds with the prevailing constitutional conventions surrounding the roles of the Crown and Parliament.
On [[15th September]] [[2004]] Tony Blair delivered a speech on the environment and the 'urgent issue' of [[climate change]]. In unusually direct language he concluded that ''If what the science tells us about climate change is correct, then unabated it will result in catastrophic consequences for our world... The science, almost certainly, is correct.'' The action he proposed to take appeared to be based on business and investment rather than any tax or legislative attempts to reduce [[CO2]] emissions: ''...it is possible to combine reducing emissions with economic growth... investment in science and technology and in the businesses associated with it... The G8 next year, and the EU presidency provide a great opportunity to push this debate to a new and better level that, after the discord over Kyoto, offers the prospect of agreement and action.'' [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/green/story/0,9061,1305030,00.html]. If he does press the issue at the G8, this would be expected to lead to conflict with the United States, which has opposed the [[Kyoto Protocol]].
==Private life==
[[Image:Tonyblairiraq.jpg|right|Tony Blair]]
Blair married noted [[barrister]] and [[Queen's Counsel|QC]] [[Cherie Booth]] on [[March 29]], [[1980]]. They met in [[1976]] whilst both were pupil barristers in the same Chambers. They have three sons ([[Euan Blair|Euan]], [[Nicky Blair|Nicky]], and [[Leo Blair|Leo]]) and one daughter ([[Kathryn Blair|Kathryn]]).
Leo holds the distinction of being the first child born to a sitting Prime Minister in 150 years. While the Blairs have been keen to shield their children from the media spotlight, this has not always been possible. Leo became a focal point for a debate over the [[MMR vaccine]] when Tony Blair refused to confirm whether his son had received the controversial treatment.
Euan Blair hit the headlines after police found him "drunk and incapable" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/822238.stm] in [[Leicester Square]], [[London]] while out celebrating the end of his [[GCSE]] exams in July [[2000]], just days after his father had proposed on-the-spot fines for drunken and yobbish behaviour.
Blair has twice lodged complaints about press stories concerning his children. However, the fact that the family have occasionally held photocalls together has led some to accuse him of exploitation, and such photographs have been used [http://www.ugandandiscussions.co.uk/1030/ on ''Private Eye'' covers].
Blair is an [[Anglican]] of the [[High Church]] or [[Anglo-Catholic]] tendency, while his wife is [[Roman Catholic]] and his children are (according to Catholic doctrine) brought up in that faith. Blair has not sought to make a political issue of his faith, though biographers agree that his political beliefs have been profoundly influenced by it. One name often mentioned as a theological influence is the Scottish Christian philosopher [[John Macmurray]]. Some have suggested Tony Blair is the most devout Prime Minister since [[William Gladstone]].
On [[October 19]], [[2003]] it emerged that Blair had received treatment for an irregular heartbeat. Having felt ill the previous day, he went to hospital and was diagnosed with supraventricular [[tachycardia]]. He was given a small electric shock to correct the heartbeat and returned home that night. He took the following day ([[October 20]]) a little more gently than usual and returned to a full schedule on [[October 21]]. Downing Street aides later suggested that the palpitations had been brought on by Blair drinking lots of strong coffee at an [[European Union|EU]] summit and then working out vigorously in the gym [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,9061,1100573,00.html]. However, former Armed Forces minister [[Lewis Moonie]], a doctor, said that the treatment was more serious than Number 10 had admitted: "Anaesthetising somebody and giving their heart electric shocks is not something you just do in the routine run of medical practice", he claimed. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/latestnewsstory.cfm?storyID=3552335&thesection=news&thesubsection=world]
On [[October 1]], [[2004]] Blair underwent a [[catheter ablation]] to correct his irregular heartbeat. The planned procedure was carried out at [[London]]'s [[Hammersmith]] hospital.
==Satirical caricature==
As is usually the fate with British Prime Ministers, he has become the central focal point of [[satire]] in the magazine [[Private Eye]]. A regular feature is the [[St Albion Parish News]] (incumbent: Rev. A.R.P. Blair MA (Oxon)), in which recent political events and Blair's penchant for [[spin (politics)|spin]] and his zealous enthusiasms are relentlessly pilloried. His name is commonly deliberately mis-spelled as [[Tony Bliar]] (or simply "B. Liar") by people who don't like what he has done, what they think he has done, his policies (particularly his stance on Iraq — something opposed by many people who otherwise would support him), or who simply dislike him personally.
It is traditional to demonise leaders in the UK as establishment toffs, [[Paul Foot|"wets"]], insane radicals (both [[James Callaghan|left]] and [[Margaret Thatcher|right]]), [[John Major|dullards]], etc. Blair has studiously avoided these traditional pigeon holes, so he has been labelled as insincere ("King of Spin", "Phoney Tony") and accused of "cronyism" due to his perceived penchant for promoting his friends (cronies) to top jobs. This label was not applied to [[Margaret Thatcher]], though she was said to have "performing poodles" in her [[cabinet]]. One Tory advertising agency tried to call him a "chameleon" (this was shown on a British TV documentary which placed different animal heads over his face (perched on top of one of his suits), a concept borrowed from [[The Sun]] newspaper), though this hasn't really stuck. In the last couple of years, he has been called "[[George W. Bush|Bush]]'s poodle" due to his co-operation with the Republican government in the USA — an alliance somewhat upsetting to many supporters of his party, to which that government has historically been diametrically opposed.
He has also been successfully parodied in the popular comic [[2000 AD]] in the series B.L.A.I.R 1 where he acts as a sort of futuristic crime fighter controlled by an Artificial Intelligence known as "Doctor Spin".
==Quotations==
*''"But what has come home to me more than anything else is the utter futility of Opposition. I did not join the Labour Party to protest. I joined it as a party of government and I will make sure that it is a party of government."'' — From Tony Blair's speech to the [[Trades Union Congress|TUC]], September [[1995]]
*''"Ask me my three main priorities for government, and I will tell you: Education, education, and education"'' — From Tony Blair's speech to the [[Labour Party Conference]], [[October 1]], [[1996]]
*''"She was the people's princess and that is how she will stay, how she will remain in our hearts and minds forever."'' — Remarks in [[Sedgefield]] on the death of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]], [[August 31]], [[1997]]
*''"As Britain knows, all predominant power seems for a time invincible, but, in fact, it is transient. The question is: What do you leave behind? And what you can bequeath to this anxious world is the light of liberty"'' — From Tony Blair's speech to the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]], [[18 July]] [[2003]]
*''"I can only go one way. I've not got a reverse gear."'' — From Tony Blair's speech to the [[Labour Party Conference]], [[30 September]] [[2003]]
*''"My prediction that he would be a disaster has turned out to be wrong and I think when that happens in politics you should just be open about it..."'' — On London Mayor [[Ken Livingstone]]'s readmission to the Labour Party
*''"A day like today isn't time for [[soundbite|soundbites]] — we can leave them at home, but I feel that the hand of history is on our shoulder, I really do."'' — On negotiating the [[Good Friday Agreement]]
== Tony Blair's First Cabinet, May 1997–June 2001 ==
*Tony Blair — [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[First Lord of the Treasury]], and [[Minister for the Civil Service]]
*[[John Prescott]] — [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions]]
*[[Gordon Brown]] — [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] and [[Second Lord of the Treasury]]
*[[Derry Irvine|Lord Irvine of Lairg]] — [[Lord Chancellor]]
*[[Ann Taylor]] — [[Leader of the House of Commons]]
*[[Ivor Richard|Lord Richard]] — [[Leader of the House of Lords]]
*[[Alistair Darling]] — [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]]
*[[David Clark]] — [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]] and [[Cabinet Office Minister]]
*[[Robin Cook]] — [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs]]
*[[Jack Straw (politician)|Jack Straw]] — [[Secretary of State for the Home Department]]
*[[Jack Cunningham]] — [[Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]]
*[[Frank Dobson]] — [[Secretary of State for Health]]
*[[George Robertson]] — [[Secretary of State for Defence]]
*[[Harriet Harman]] — [[Secretary of State for Social Security]] and [[Minister for Women and Equality]]
*[[David Blunkett]] — [[Secretary of State for Education and Employment]]
*[[Margaret Beckett]] — [[Secretary of State for Trade and Industry]] and [[President of the Board of Trade]]
*[[Chris Smith (UK politician)|Chris Smith]] — [[Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport]]
*[[Clare Short]] — [[Secretary of State for International Development]]
*[[Mo Mowlam]] — [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]]
*[[Donald Dewar]] — [[Secretary of State for Scotland]]
*[[Ron Davies]] — [[Secretary of State for Wales]]
*[[Gavin Strang]] — [[Minister for Transport]]
*[[Peter Mandelson]] — [[Minister without Portfolio]]
===Changes===
*[[July]] [[1998]] — [[Margaret Beckett]] becomes Leader of the House of Commons. [[Margaret Jay|Baroness Jay of Paddington]] becomes Leader of the House of Lords and Minister for Women. [[Stephen Byers]] becomes Chief Secretary to the Treasury. [[Ann Taylor]] becomes [[Chief Whip]], which is now a cabinet position. [[Jack Cunningham]] becomes Cabinet Office Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. [[Nick Brown]] becomes Agriculture Minister. [[Alistair Darling]] becomes Social Security Secretary. [[Peter Mandelson]] becomes Trade Secretary. [[Alun Michael]] becomes Welsh Secretary. [[John Reid]] becomes Transport Minister, which is no longer a cabinet position (although Dr Reid will continue attending cabinet meetings). [[Ivor Richard|Lord Richard]], [[Harriet Harman]], [[Margaret Beckett]], [[Ron Davies]], [[David Clark]], and [[Gavin Strang]] leave the cabinet. The President of the Board of Trade is no longer a title used by the Trade Secretary. There is no longer a Minister without Portfolio.
*[[December]] [[1998]] — [[Stephen Byers]] becomes Trade Seretary. [[Alan Milburn]] becomes Chief Secretary to the Treasury. [[Peter Mandelson]] leaves the cabinet.
*[[October]] [[1999]] — [[Andrew Smith]] becomes Chief Secretary of the Treasury. [[Geoff Hoon]] becomes Defence Secretary. [[Alan Milburn]] becomes Health Secretary. [[Peter Mandelson]] returns to the cabinet as Northern Ireland Secretary. [[Mo Mowlam]] becomes Cabinet Office Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. [[John Reid]] becomes Scottish Secretary. [[Paul Murphy (politician)|Paul Murphy]] becomes as Welsh Secretary. [[George Robertson]], [[Frank Dobson]], [[Donald Dewar]], and [[Alun Michael]] leave the cabinet.
== Tony Blair's Second Cabinet, June 2001–present ==
*Tony Blair — [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[First Lord of the Treasury]], and [[Minister for the Civil Service]]:
*[[John Prescott]] — [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Deputy Prime Minister]]
*[[Gordon Brown]] — [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] and [[Second Lord of the Treasury]]
*[[Derry Irvine|Lord Irvine of Lairg]] — [[Lord Chancellor]]
*[[Robin Cook]] — [[Leader of the House of Commons]]
*[[Gareth Wyn Williams|Lord Williams of Mostyn]] — [[Leader of the House of Lords]]
*[[Andrew Smith]] — [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]]
*[[Jack Straw (politician)|Jack Straw]] — [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs]]
*[[David Blunkett]] — [[Secretary of State for the Home Department]]
*[[Margaret Beckett]] — [[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]]
*[[Stephen Byers]] — [[Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions]]
*[[Alan Milburn]] — [[Secretary of State for Health]]
*[[Geoff Hoon]] — [[Secretary of State for Defence]]
*[[Alistair Darling]] — [[Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]]
*[[Patricia Hewitt]] — [[Secretary of State for Trade and Industry]] and [[Minister for Women and Equality]]
*[[Tessa Jowell]] — [[Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport]]
*[[Clare Short]] — [[Secretary of State for International Development]]
*[[John Reid]] — [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]]
*[[Helen Liddell]] — [[Secretary of State for Scotland]]
*[[Paul Murphy (politician)|Paul Murphy]] — [[Secretary of State for Wales]]
*[[Charles Clarke]] — [[Minister without Portfolio]]
===Changes===
*[[May]] [[2002]] — [[Alistair Darling]] becomes the newly-renamed [[Secretary of State for Transport]]. [[Andrew Smith]] becomes Work & Pensions Secretary. [[Paul Boateng]] becomes Chief Secretary to the Treasury. [[Stephen Byers]] leaves the Cabinet. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2014837.stm Complete list of changes]
*[[March]] [[2003]] — [[John Reid]] becomes Leader of the House of Commons. [[Ian McCartney]] becomes Minister without Portfolio. [[Robin Cook]] leaves the Cabinet.
*[[May]] [[2003]] — [[Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos|The Baroness Amos]] becomes International Development Secretary, replacing [[Clare Short]].
*[[June]] [[2003]] — [[John Reid]] becomes Health Secretary. [[Charlie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton|Lord Falconer of Thoroton]] assumes the new position of [[Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs]], also becoming Lord Chancellor. [[Alistair Darling]] becomes as Scottish Secretary. [[Peter Hain]] becomes Leader of the House of Commons, remaining also Welsh Secretary. [[Alan Milburn]], [[Derry Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg|Lord Irvine of Lairg]], and [[Helen Liddell]] leave the Cabinet. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2989070.stm Complete list of changes]
*[[October]] [[2003]] — [[Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos|The Baroness Amos]] becomes Leader of the House of Lords, following the death of [[Gareth Wyn Williams|Lord Williams of Mostyn]]. [[Hilary Benn]] becomes International Development Secretary.
*[[September]] [[2004]] — [[Andrew Smith]] resigns as [[Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]] and is succeeded by [[Alan Johnson]]. [[Alan Milburn]] returns to government with a seat in the Cabinet as [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]]; he replaces [[Douglas Alexander]], who was not in the Cabinet.
==See also==
* [[UK general election, 2001]]
* [[UK general election, 1997]]
* [[UK general election, 1992]]
* [[UK general election, 1987]]
* [[UK general election, 1983]]
{| border="2" align="center"
|-
|width="30%" align="center"|Preceded by:<br/>'''[[John Smith (UK politician)|John Smith]]'''
|width="30%" align="center"|'''[[Labour Party (UK)|Leader of the British Labour Party]]'''<br/>1994–
