The first Blair ministry lasted from May 1997 to June 2001. Following eighteen years in opposition, Labour ousted the Conservatives at the May 1997 election with a 179-seat majority, thus ending the Conservatives' long period in office under the various ministries of Margaret Thatcher and John Major. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who turned 44 years old days after leading Labour to victory, was the youngest prime minister of the twentieth century and the first Labour Prime Minister since James Callaghan.
Cabinet Portfolio Minister TermCabinet ministersPrime MinisterFirst Lord of the TreasuryMinister for the Civil ServiceTony Blair 1997–2007Deputy Prime MinisterJohn Prescott 1997–2007Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions 1997–2001Chancellor of the ExchequerSecond Lord of the TreasuryGordon Brown 1997–2007Lord High Chancellor of Great BritainDerry Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg 1997–2003Leader of the House of CommonsLord President of the CouncilAnn Taylor 1997–1998Margaret Beckett 1998–2001Leader of the House of LordsLord Keeper of the Privy SealIvor Richard 1997–1998Margaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington 1998–2001Chief Secretary to the TreasuryAlistair Darling 1997–1998Stephen Byers 1998Alan Milburn 1998–1999Andrew Smith 1999–2002Minister for the Cabinet OfficeChancellor of the Duchy of LancasterDavid Clark 1997–1998Jack Cunningham 1998–1999Mo Mowlam 1999–2001Foreign SecretaryRobin Cook 1997–2001Home SecretaryJack Straw 1997–2001Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodJack Cunningham 1997–1998Nick Brown 1998–2001Secretary of State for HealthFrank Dobson 1997–1999Alan Milburn 1999–2003Secretary of State for DefenceGeorge Robertson 1997–1999Geoff Hoon 1999–2005Secretary of State for Social SecurityHarriet Harman 1997–1998Alistair Darling 1998–2001Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentDavid Blunkett 1997–2001Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryPresident of the Board of TradeMargaret Beckett 1997–1998Peter Mandelson 1998Stephen Byers 1998–2001Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportChris Smith 1997–2001Secretary of State for International DevelopmentClare Short 1997–2003Secretary of State for Northern IrelandMo Mowlam 1997–1999Peter Mandelson 1999–2001John Reid 2001–2002Secretary of State for ScotlandDonald Dewar 1997–1999John Reid 1999–2001Helen Liddell 2001–2003Secretary of State for WalesRon Davies 1997–1998Alun Michael 1998–1999Paul Murphy 1999–2002Minister of State for TransportGavin Strang 1997–1998Minister Without PortfolioPeter Mandelson1997–1998Also attending cabinet meetingsChief WhipNick Brown 1997–1998Ann Taylor 1998–2001Attorney General for England and WalesJohn Morris 1997–1999Gareth Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn 1999–2001
Changes July 1998 – 1999 British cabinet reshuffle October 1998 – Alun Michael becomes Welsh Secretary. Ron Davies leaves the Cabinet. December 1998 – Peter Mandelson is dismissed from the cabinet over a secret home loan he received from Geoffrey Robinson. Stephen Byers becomes Trade & Industry Secretary. Alan Milburn becomes Chief Secretary to the Treasury. May 1999 – John Reid becomes Scottish Secretary. Donald Dewar leaves the cabinet. July 1999 – Paul Murphy becomes Welsh Secretary. Alun Michael leaves the cabinet. October 1999 – Andrew Smith becomes Chief Secretary to 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. Gareth Williams becomes Attorney General. John Morris, George Robertson, Jack Cunningham and Frank Dobson leave the cabinet. January 2001 – Peter Mandelson is dismissed as Northern Ireland Secretary and is succeeded by John Reid. Helen Liddell enters the cabinet and succeeds John Reid as Scottish Secretary.
List of ministers
Prime Minister, the Cabinet Office and non-departmental ministers Cabinet Office Tony Blair May 1997 – June 2001Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott May 1997 – June 2001 David Clark May 1997 – July 1998 Jack Cunningham July 1998 – October 1999 Mo Mowlam October 1999 – June 2001Derek Foster May 1997Peter Kilfoyle May 1997 – July 1999Ian McCartney July 1999 – June 2001Charlie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton July 1998 - June 2001Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet OfficeGraham Stringer November 1999 - June 2001Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain Derry Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg May 1997 – June 2001Minister Without Portfolio Peter MandelsonMay 1997 – July 1998Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime MinisterAnn Coffey May 1997 – July 1998Bruce Grocott May 1997 – June 2001
Departments of state
TreasuryChancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown May 1997 – June 2001Chief Secretary to the Treasury Alistair Darling May 1997 – July 1998 Stephen Byers July 1998 – December 1998 Alan Milburn December 1998 – October 1999 Andrew Smith October 1999 – June 2001Paymaster GeneralGeoffrey Robinson May 1997 – December 1998Dawn Primarolo January 1999 – June 2001Financial Secretary to the TreasuryDawn Primarolo May 1997 – January 1999Barbara Roche January 1999 – July 1999Stephen Timms July 1999 – June 2001Economic Secretary to the TreasuryHelen Liddell May 1997 – July 1998Patricia Hewitt July 1998 – May 1999Melanie Johnson May 1999 – June 2001 Minister of State for Trade & Competitiveness in Europe, (jointly with Trade & Industry)David Simon, Baron Simon of Highbury May 1997 - July 1999
Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeForeign Secretary Robin Cook May 1997 – June 2001Minister of State for Foreign AffairsTony Lloyd May 1997 – July 1999John Battle July 1999 – June 2001Minister of State for EuropeDoug Henderson May 1997 – July 1998Joyce Quin July 1998 – July 1999Geoff Hoon July 1999 – October 1999Keith Vaz October 1999 – June 2001Minister of State for AfricaDerek Fatchett May 1997 – May 1999Geoff Hoon May 1999 – July 1999Peter Hain July 1999 – January 2001Brian Wilson January 2001 – June 2001Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsElizabeth Symons, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean May 1997 – June 1999Patricia Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal June 1999 – June 2001
Home OfficeHome Secretary Jack Straw May 1997 – June 2001Minister of State for Home AffairsAlun Michael May 1997 – October 1998Paul Boateng October 1998 – June 2001Minister of State for PrisonsJoyce Quin May 1997 – July 1998Gareth Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn July 1998 – July 1999Charles Clarke July 1999 – June 2001Minister of State for Asylum and ImmigrationBarbara Roche July 1999 – June 2001Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home AffairsGareth Williams, Baron Williams of Mostyn May 1997 – July 1998Kate HoeyJuly 1998 – July 1999Steve Bassam, Baron Bassam of BrightonJuly 1999 – June 2001Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for ImmigrationMike O'Brien May 1997 – June 2001Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Prisons, Drugs & ElectionsGeorge Howarth May 1997 - July 1999
Department of Environment, Transport and the RegionsSecretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions John Prescott May 1997 – June 2001Minister of State for the EnvironmentMichael Meacher May 1997 – June 2001Minister of State for Transport Gavin Strang May 1997 – June 1998 John Reid June 1998 – May 1999Helen Liddell May 1999 – July 1999 Gus Macdonald, Baron Macdonald of Tradeston July 1999 – June 2001Minister of State for Housing and PlanningHilary Armstrong May 1997 – July 1999Nick Raynsford July 1999 – June 2001Minister of State for the RegionsRichard Caborn May 1997 – July 1999Nick Raynsford July 1999 – June 2001Minister for LondonNick Raynsford May 1997 – July 1999Keith HillJuly 1999 – June 2001 Minister of State for Local Government, RegionsHilary Armstrong May 1997 - June 2001Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for TransportGlenda Jackson May 1997 – July 1999Keith Hill July 1999 – June 2001Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for RoadsHelene Hayman, Baroness Hayman May 1997 – July 1998Larry Whitty, Baron Whitty July 1998 – June 2001Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for ConstructionNick Raynsford May 1997 – July 1999Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy, Environment & the RegionsAngela Eagle May 1997 - July 1998Alan Meale July 1998 - July 1999Parliamentary Under Secretary of StateChris Mullin July 1999 - January 2001Bob Ainsworth January - June 2001Beverley Hughes July 1999 - June 2001
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodMinister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Jack Cunningham May 1997 – July 1998 Nick Brown July 1998 – June 2001Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodJeff Rooker May 1997 – July 1999Joyce Quin July 1999 – June 2001Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Fisheries and the CountrysideElliot Morley May 1997 – June 2001Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming & the Food IndustryBernard Donoughue, Baron Donoughue May 1997 - July 1999Helene Hayman, Baroness Hayman July 1999 - June 2001
DefenceSecretary of State for Defence George Robertson May 1997 – October 1999 Geoff Hoon October 1999 – June 2001Minister of State for the Armed ForcesJohn Reid May 1997 – July 1998Doug Henderson July 1998 – July 1999John Spellar July 1999 – June 2001Minister of State for Defence ProcurementJohn Gilbert, Baron Gilbert May 1997 – July 1999Elizabeth Symons, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean July 1999 – June 2001Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for DefenceJohn Spellar May 1997 – July 1999Peter Kilfoyle July 1999 – January 2000Lewis Moonie January 2000 – June 2001
Department for Education and EmploymentSecretary of State for Education and Employment David Blunkett May 1997 – June 2001Minister of State for School StandardsStephen Byers May 1997 – July 1998Estelle Morris July 1998 – June 2001Minister of State for Employment and Disability Rights *Deputy Minister for Women, also Minister for the New DealAndrew Smith May 1997 – October 1999Tessa Jowell* October 1999 – June 2001 Minister of StateTessa Blackstone, Baroness Blackstone May 1997 - June 2001 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment & Equal OpportunitiesAlan Howarth, Baron Howarth of Newport May 1997 - July 1998Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentEstelle Morris May 1997 – July 1998George Mudie July 1998 – July 1999Jacqui Smith July 1999 – June 2001 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Lifelong LearningKim Howells May 1997 - July 1998Parliamentary Under Secretary of StateMargaret Hodge July 1998 - June 2001Charles Clarke July 1998 - July 1999Malcolm Wicks July 1999 - June 2001Michael Wills July 1999 - June 2001
HealthSecretary of State for Health Frank Dobson May 1997 – October 1999 Alan Milburn October 1999 – June 2001Minister of State for Health ServicesAlan Milburn May 1997 – December 1998John Denham December 1998 – June 2001Minister of State for Public HealthTessa Jowell (Deputy Minister for Women July 1998 - October 1999) May 1997 – October 1999John Hutton October 1999 – June 2001 Minister of StateMargaret Jay, Baroness Jay of Paddington May 1997 - July 1998Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for HealthHelene Hayman, Baroness Hayman July 1998 – July 1999Gisela Stuart July 1999 – June 2001Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Social Care & Mental HealthPaul Boateng May 1997 - October 1998John Hutton October 1998 - October 1999Yvette Cooper October 1999 - June 2001 Parliamentary Under Secretary of StatePhilip Hunt, Baron Hunt of Kings Heath January 1998 - June 2001