How many Cabinet ministers are there and what do they do? Tory party members deliver scathing verdict
Conservative party members are more dissatisfied than ever with Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet, a new survey has revealed.
The ConservativeHome website poll has ranked just under half (12 out of 32) of the UK Cabinet negatively. Illegal Migration Minister Michael Tomlinson, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have received the lowest ratings.
“Last month, we saw an unhappy record broken in the history of the Cabinet League Table with 11 ministers in negative ratings. Well, [it] turns out that record stood for only a month: this time it’s 12,” the report says.
The Tory poll also suggests the Cabinet league table scores are a useful indicator of overall feelings about the Government.
“Five months into the Prime Minister’s post-conference fightback, it’s looking as bleak as ever it has,” the report continues.
Following Mr Sunak’s reshuffle in November 2023, the Cabinet has dealt with a wave of policy challenges linked to immigration, the economy, and health care.
However, slumping ratings among even loyal Tory voters paint a dire outlook for the leadership, especially in the run-up to a general election.
So how many Cabinet ministers are there and what are their roles?
How many Cabinet ministers are there?
There are 23 ministers in the Cabinet, including Prime Minister Mr Sunak.
He has chosen the most senior ministers in the Government to lead on specific policy areas such as health, transport, and foreign affairs.
Who are the Cabinet ministers?
The current Cabinet ministers and their titles are the following:
Rishi Sunak MP, Prime Minister
Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Deputy PM
Jeremy Hunt MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Lord David Cameron, Foreign Secretary
James Cleverly MP, Home Secretary
Grant Shapps MP, Defence Secretary
Alex Chalk KC MP, Justice Secretary
Michelle Donelan MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Victoria Atkins MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Steve Barclay MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Penny Mordaunt MP, Lord President of the Council, Leader of the House of Commons
Lord True CBE, Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords
Kemi Badenoch MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, President of the Board
Claire Coutinho MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Mel Stride MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Gillian Keegan MP, Secretary of State for Education
Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport
Lucy Frazer KC MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Richard Holden MP, Minister without Portfolio
Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Alister Jack MP, Secretary of State for Scotland
David TC Davies MP, Secretary of State for Wales
Who else also attends the Cabinet?
As well as the 23 ministers, nine other politicians attend the Cabinet. They are:
The Rt Hon Simon Hart MP, Chief Whip
Laura Trott MBE MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP, Attorney General
The Rt Hon John Glen MP, Paymaster General, Minister for the Cabinet Office (Unpaid)
The Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, Minister without Portfolio
The Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MBE VR MP, Minister of State (Minister for Security)
The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Minister of State (Development and Africa), Deputy Foreign Secretary (Unpaid)
The Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP, Minister of State (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs)
The Rt Hon Michael Tomlinson KC MP, Minister of State for Countering Illegal Migration.