Leader of the House of Commons

Information about 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, in recent years, the post has usually been combined with that of Lord President of the Council (i.e. of the Privy Council), though under the current government it is combined instead with the office of Lord Privy Seal.

Harriet Harman was appointed Leader of the House of Commons by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown on June 28, 2007, following on from her cousins Austen Chamberlain (1921-22) and Neville Chamberlain (1937-1940).

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, or the Deputy Prime Minister is unavailable, the Leader of the House may stand in for an absent Prime Minister at Prime Minister's Questions (Geoff Hoon was the most recent person to do this).

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

At times the nominal leadership was held by the Prime Minister but the day to day work was done by a Deputy. At other times a Deputy was appointed merely to enhance an individual politician's standing within the government.

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See also

In the politics of the United Kingdom, the Cabinet is a formal body composed of the most senior government ministers chosen by the Prime Minister. Most members are heads of government departments with the title "Secretary of State".
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The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled

Type Lower House

Speaker Michael Martin, (Non-affiliated)
since October 23, 2000
Leader Harriet Harman, (Labour)
since June 28, 2007
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A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. The position is usually held by, but need not always be held by, a politician.
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The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President has the responsibility of presiding over meetings of the Privy Council.
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A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically in a monarchy.

The word "privy" means "private" or "secret" thus a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on affairs of state.
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Lord Privy Seal or Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state.
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Harriet Ruth Harman QC MP (born 30 July 1950) is a British solicitor and Labour politician. Since 24 June 2007, she has been the Deputy Leader and Party Chair of the Labour Party.
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Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain, KG (October 16, 1863 – March 17, 1937) was a British statesman, politician, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Early life and career


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Arthur Neville Chamberlain, known as Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 – 9 November 1940), was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 to 1940.
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Under its uncodified constitution, the United Kingdom possesses no formal permanent office of Deputy Prime Minister. However in special circumstances in the 20th and 21st centuries British Prime Ministers have chosen to designate one of their cabinet colleagues to possess such a
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Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Logo of Her Majesty's Government
Incumbent:
The Right Honourable Gordon Brown, MP.

Origins:
gradual.

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Robert Finlayson Cook (28 February 1946 – 6 August 2005) was a politician in the British Labour Party. He was known as Robin Cook. He was Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2001.
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March 17 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

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Motto
الله أكبر    (Arabic)
"Allahu Akbar"   (transliteration)
"God is the Greatest"
Anthem

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He was the second son of Sir Stephen Fox and his second wife Christiana Hope, and inherited a large share of his father's wealth.
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Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland of Foxley PC (28 September 1705 – 1 July 1774 in Holland House) was an English statesman.

He was the second son of Sir Stephen Fox and his second wife Christiana Hope, and inherited a large share of his father's wealth.
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