Leader of the House of Commons
The Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Commons. Although at one time the position was usually held by the Prime Minister if he was an MP, in recent years, the post has usually been combined with that of Lord President of the Council (i.e. of the Privy Council).
As of June 2003, the Leader of the House is Peter Hain, who combines the job with those of Lord Privy Seal and Secretary of State for Wales.
The House of Commons devotes approximately three quarters of its time to "Government business" such as bills introduced by the government and ministerial statements. The Leader of the House is responsible for organising the use of this time, and making regular announcements to the House as to what business the government will put before it. When there is no Deputy Prime Minister, the Leader of the House may stand in for an absent Prime Minister at Prime Minister's Questions.
Robin Cook was appointed as Leader of the House after the 2001 UK general election. He resigned from the post on March 17, 2003, as he could not accept the government's position on military action against Iraq. During his period in office he chaired the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons, which proposed significant reforms of the sitting hours of the House.
Leaders of the House of Commons since 1721
- (presently incomplete)
See Also
Referenced By
Andrew Bonar Law | Ann Taylor | Anthony Eden | Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon | Antony Harold Newton | Arthour Balfour | Arthur Balfour | Arthur James Balfour | Baron Howe of Aberavon | Baron MacGregor of Pulham Market | Baron Newton of Braintree | Baron Prior | Baron Pym | Baron Wakeham | Bonar Law | British Cabinet | British House of Commons | Cabinet (UK) | Cabinet of the UK | Cabinet of the United Kingdom | Eric Forth | Francis Pym | Geoffrey Howe | Gillian Patricia Shephard | Gillian Shephard | Gillian Shepherd | Henry John Temple | Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston | Henry Temple | Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston | House of Commons (UK) | Incumbents | James Prior | John Charles Herries | John Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer | John MacGregor | John Major | John Reid | John Roddick Russell MacGregor | John Selwyn Brooke Lloyd | John Wakeham | List of Incumbents | Lists of Incumbents | Lists of incumbants | Lists of people by office held | Lord Howe of Aberavon | Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market | Lord Newton of Braintree | Lord Palmerston | Lord President of the Council | Lord Prior | Lord Pym | Lord Wakeham | Margaret Beckett | Margaret Mary Beckett | Michael Edward Hicks Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn | Michael Foot | Michael Hicks-Beach | Michael Hicks-Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn | Michael Hicks Beach | Peter Gerald Hain | Peter Hain | Pitt County, North Carolina | Privy Council | Privy Council Office | Privy Councillor | Privy Councilor | Privy Counsellor | Reading School | Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon | Robin Cook | Robin Finlayson Cook | Selwyn Lloyd | Spencer Perceval | Spencer Percival | Thomas Robinson, 1st Baron Grantham | Thomas Robinson, 1st Lord Grantham | Thomas Townshend | Thomas Townshend, 1st Baron Sydney | Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney | Tony Newton | UK House of Commons | UK cabinet | United Kingdom House of Commons | William Henry Smith | William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield | William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham | William Pitt the Elder | Winifred Ann Taylor
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