Conservative Government
4 May 1979 - 28 November 1990
The Conservatives came to power with 339 seats, Labour with 269 and other parties totalling 27. Painful economic reforms, a deep recession, the Falklands War and bitter disputes with trade unions dominated the first term of the Thatcher government.
| Position | Name | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | M. Thatcher | 4 May 79 -9 Jun 83 |
| Lord President | Lord Soames | 5 May 79 - 14 Sep 81 |
| F. Pym | 14 Sep 81 - 7 Apr 82 | |
| J. Biffin | 7 Apr 82 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Lord Chancellor | Lord Hailsham | 5 May 79 - 9 Jun 83 |
| Lord Privy Seal | Sir I. Gilmour | 4 May 79 - 14 Sep 81 |
| H. Atkins | 14 Sep 81 - 6 Apr 82 | |
| Lady Young | 6 Apr 82 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Sir G. Howe | 5 May 79 - 9 Jun 83 |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | J. Biffin | 5 May 79 - 5 Jan 81 |
| L. Brittan | 5 Jan 81 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Lord Carrington | 5 May 79 - 6 Apr 82 |
| F. Pym | 6 Apr 82 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Secretary of State for Home Affairs | W. Whitelaw | 5 May 79 - 9 Jun 83 |
| Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | P. Walker | 5 May 79 - 9 Jun 83 |
| Minister for the Arts | N. St John-Stevas | 5 May 79 - 5 Jan 81 |
| Minister for Defence | F. Pym | 5 May 79 - 5 Jan 81 |
| J. Nott | 5 Jan 81 - 6 Jan 83 | |
| M. Heseltine | 6 Jan 83 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | M. Carlisle | 5 May 79 - 14 Sep 81 |
| Sir K. Joseph | 14 Sep 81 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Secretary of State for Employment | J. Prior | 5 May 79 - 14 Sep 81 |
| N. Tebbit | 14 Sep 81 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Secretary of State for Energy | D. Howell | 5 May 79 - 14 Sep 81 |
| N. Lawson | 14 Sep 81 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Minister for the Environment | M. Heseltine | 5 May 79 - 6 Jan 83 |
| T. King | 6 Jan 83 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Secretary of State for Health and Social Security | P. Jenkin | 5 May 79 - 14 Sep 81 |
| N. Fowler | 10 Feb 47 - 26 Oct 51 | |
| Secretary of State for Industry | Sir K. Jospeh | 7 May 79 - 14 Sep 81 |
| P. Jenkin | 14 Sep 81 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | N. St John-Stevas | 5 May 79 - 5 Jan 81 |
| F. Pym | 5 Jan 81 - 27 Oct 81 | |
| Lady Young | 27 Oct 81 - 6 Apr 82 | |
| C. Parkinson | 6 Apr 82 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | H. Atkins | 5 May 79 - 14 Sep 81 |
| J. Prior | 14 Sep 81 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | G. Younger | 5 May 79 - 9 Jun 83 |
| Secretary of State for Trade | J. Nott | 5 May 79 - 5 Jan 81 |
| J. Biffin | 5 Jan 81 - 6 Apr 82 | |
| Lord Cockfield | 6 Apr 82 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Secretary of State for Transport | N. Fowler | 5 Jan 81 - 14 Sep 81 |
| D. Howell | 14 Sep 81 - 9 Jun 83 | |
| Secretary of State for Wales | N. Edwards | 5 May 79 -9 Jun 83 |
Note:
Under the thirty year rule, Cabinet records for this government are not yet available to the public.
