Who is the deputy prime minister of the UK? Who will step in for Boris Johnson after he tested positive for coronavirus?
PAST deputy Prime Ministers have included political heavyweights such as Clement Atlee, Rab Butler and John Prescott. But does Boris Johnson have a second in command, and will somebody step in now the Prime Minister has tested positive for coronavirus? ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates Who is the […]
PAST deputy Prime Ministers have included political heavyweights such as Clement Atlee, Rab Butler and John Prescott.
But does Boris Johnson have a second in command, and will somebody step in now the Prime Minister has tested positive for coronavirus?
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Who is the deputy prime minister of the UK?
Like many Prime Ministers, Johnson appears to have decided against appointing a deputy. However, Dominic Raab is the highest ranking cabinet minister.
The role of Deputy Prime Minister is always appointed at the discretion of the sitting PM.
David Cameron was the last to have one. His appointment of the then Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg from 2010-2015 worked to cement the coalition partnership.
The position is always given to a high-ranking Cabinet member, and first came about with Clement Atlee in 1942.
Of the nine deputy PMs, only Atlee and Anthony Eden have ever gone on to become Prime Minister.
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Usually the office holder will have a separate ministerial office to carry out at the same time.
The role does hold similarities with First Secretary of State. Under Theresa May this office was held first by Damian Green, before the de facto deputy PM responsibility was carried out by David Lidington.
Dominic Raab was appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office in 2019 – also said to have a similar functionality.
LATEST IN POLITICS
Who will stand in for Boris Johnson after he contracted coronavirus?
Boris Johnson announced on Twitter that he had tested positive for coronavirus.
However, the Prime Minister added that he will continue leading the government’s fight against Covid-19 from home.
Should Boris Johnson be unable to fulfil his duties, it will be Dominic Raab who will take over as Prime Minister on a temporary basis.
When asked who would take charge if the Prime Minister became incapacitated, Downing Street stated: “The foreign secretary [Raab] is the first secretary of state.”
But as he has not appointed a deputy, Boris Johnson does have the power to delegate responsibility for running the country to any member of the cabinet if he so chooses.
Who has held the office?
- Clement Attlee (1942-1945)
- Herbert Morrison (1945-1951)
- Anthony Eden (1951-1955)
- Rab Butler (1962-1963)
- William Whitelaw (1979-1988)
- Geoffrey Howe (1989-1990)
- Michael Heseltine (1995-1997)
- John Prescott (1997-2007)
- Nick Clegg (2010-2015)
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