Ajay Kumar at 05:25, 29 August 2023

2023-08-29T05:25:18Z

New page

{{Short description|Executive authority of the United Kingdom}}
{{Redirect|His Majesty's Government|the use of the term|His Majesty's Government (term)}}
{{about|the way the UK is governed|the people in the current British administration|British Government frontbench}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{ Infobox executive government
| background_color = #24135f
| government_name = His Majesty's Government
| altname = Government of the United Kingdom
| nativename = {{lang-cy|Llywodraeth ei Fawrhydi}}<br/>{{lang-ga|Rialtas a Shoilse}}<br/>{{lang-gd|Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd}}
| image = HM Government logo.svg
| image_size = 220px
| image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg
| image_size2 = 180px
| caption = HM Government's logo and wordmark (top), and [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Arms]] (bottom)
| date_established = {{Start date|1707|df=y}}
| state = [[United Kingdom]]
| address = [[10 Downing Street]], [[London]]
| leader_title = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]
([[Rishi Sunak]])
| appointed = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Monarch of the United Kingdom]]
([[Charles III]])
| budget = {{GBP}}882 billion
| main_organ = [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]]
| ministries = 23 [[Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom#Ministerial departments|ministerial departments]], 20 [[Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom#Non-ministerial departments|non-ministerial departments]]
| responsible = [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]
| url = {{Official URL}}
}}
{{Politics of the United Kingdom}}

'''His Majesty's Government''' (abbreviated to ''' HM Government''', commonly known as the '''Government of the United Kingdom''', '''British Government''' or '''UK Government''') is the [[central government|central executive authority]] of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]].<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/government-and-opposition1/her-majestys-government/ His Majesty's Government] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117033306/https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/government-and-opposition1/her-majestys-government/ |date=17 November 2019 }} Retrieved 28 June 2010</ref><ref name="direct1">[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121015000000/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Centralgovernmentandthemonarchy/DG_073438 Overview of the UK system of government : Directgov – Government, citizens and rights]. Archived direct.gov.uk webpage. Retrieved on 29 August 2014.</ref> The government is led by the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]] (currently [[Rishi Sunak]], {{as of|2022|10|25|since=yes|lc=yes}}) who selects all the other [[British Government frontbench|ministers]]. The country has had a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]-led government since [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]], with successive prime ministers being the then [[Leader of the Conservative Party (UK)|leader of the Conservative Party]]. The prime minister and their most senior ministers belong to the supreme decision-making committee, known as the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]].<ref name="direct1" />

[[Minister of the Crown|Ministers of the Crown]] are [[responsible government|responsible]] to the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|House]] in which they sit; they make statements in that House and take questions from members of that House. For most senior ministers this is usually the elected [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] rather than the [[House of Lords]]. The government is [[Fusion of powers|dependent on Parliament]] to make [[primary legislation]],<ref>{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=Legislation |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/role/legislation/ |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=UK Parliament}}</ref> and [[Elections in the United Kingdom#General elections|general elections]] are held every five years (at most) to elect a new House of Commons, unless the prime minister advises the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|monarch]] to [[Royal prerogative in the United Kingdom#Legislature|dissolve Parliament]], in which case an election may be held sooner. After an election, the monarch selects as prime minister the leader of the party most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons, usually by possessing a majority of MPs.<ref name="parliament1">[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmjust/396/396we02.htm House of Commons – Justice Committee – Written Evidence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201152934/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmjust/396/396we02.htm |date=1 December 2020 }}. Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved on 19 October 2010.</ref>

Under the [[Uncodified constitution|uncodified]] [[Constitution of the United Kingdom|British constitution]], [[Executive (government)|executive authority]] lies with the sovereign, although this authority is exercised only after receiving the advice of the Privy Council.<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121015000000/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Centralgovernmentandthemonarchy/DG_073442 The monarchy : Directgov – Government, citizens and rights]. Archived direct.gov.uk webpage. Retrieved on 29 August 2014.</ref> The prime minister, the House of Lords, the Leader of the Opposition, and the police and military high command serve as members and advisers of the monarch on the [[His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council|Privy Council]]. In most cases the cabinet exercise power directly as leaders of the [[Departments of the United Kingdom Government|government departments]], though some Cabinet positions are [[sinecure]]s to a greater or lesser degree (for instance [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]] or [[Lord Privy Seal]]).

The government is sometimes referred to by the [[metonym]] "[[Westminster]]" or "[[Whitehall]]", as many of its offices are situated there. These metonyms are used especially by members of the [[Scottish Government]], [[Welsh Government]] and [[Northern Ireland Executive]] in order to differentiate their government from His Majesty's Government.

==History==
{{Further|History of the constitution of the United Kingdom|History of monarchy in the United Kingdom}}
The United Kingdom is a [[constitutional monarchy]] in which the reigning monarch (that is, the king or queen who is the head of state at any given time) does not make any open political decisions. All political decisions are taken by the government and Parliament. This constitutional state of affairs is the result of a long history of constraining and reducing the political power of the monarch, beginning with [[Magna Carta]] in 1215.

Since the start of [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|Edward VII]]'s reign in 1901, by convention the prime minister has been an elected member of Parliament (MP) and thus answerable to the House of Commons, although there were two weeks in 1963 when [[Alec Douglas-Home]] was first a member of the House of Lords and then of neither house. A similar convention applies to the position of [[Chancellor of the Exchequer|chancellor of the exchequer]], as it would probably now be politically unacceptable for the budget speech to be given in the House of Lords, with members of Parliament unable to question the Chancellor directly. The last chancellor of the exchequer to be a member of the House of Lords was [[Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman|Lord Denman]], who served for one month in 1834.<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/parliamentacts/ The Parliament Acts – UK Parliament] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105230851/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/parliamentacts/ |date=5 November 2010 }}. Parliament.uk (21 April 2010). Retrieved on 12 October 2011.</ref>

==His Majesty's Government and the Crown==
{{Main|Royal Prerogative in the United Kingdom}}
The [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British monarch]] is the [[head of state]] and the [[sovereign]], but not the [[head of government]]. The monarch takes little direct part in governing the country and remains neutral in political affairs. However, the authority of the state that is vested in the sovereign, known as [[the Crown]], remains as the source of executive power exercised by the government.

In addition to [[Act of Parliament|explicit statutory authority]], the Crown also possesses a body of powers in certain matters collectively known as the [[Royal Prerogative|royal prerogative]]. These powers range from the authority to issue or withdraw passports to declarations of war. By long-standing convention, most of these powers are delegated from the sovereign to various ministers or other officers of the Crown, who may use them without having to obtain the consent of Parliament.

The prime minister also has weekly meetings with the monarch, who "has a right and a duty to express [their] views on Government matters{{nbsp}}... These meetings, as with all communications between the king and his Government, remain strictly confidential. Having expressed his views, the king abides by the advice of his ministers."<ref>{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=Queen and Prime Minister |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/QueenandGovernment/QueenandPrimeMinister.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414023100/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/QueenandGovernment/QueenandPrimeMinister.aspx |archive-date=14 April 2010 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=The British Monarchy}}</ref>

Royal prerogative powers include, but are not limited to, the following:

===Domestic powers===
* The power to appoint (and in theory, dismiss) a [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]]. This power is exercised by the monarch personally. By convention they appoint (and are expected to appoint) the individual most likely to be capable of commanding the confidence of a majority in the House of Commons.
* The power to appoint and dismiss other [[Minister of the Crown|ministers]]. This power is exercised by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister.
* The power to assent to and enact laws by giving [[royal assent]] to [[Bill (law)|bills]] passed by Parliament, which is required in order for a law to become effective (an [[Act (document)|act]]). This is exercised by the monarch, who also theoretically has the power to refuse assent, although no monarch has refused assent to a bill passed by Parliament since [[Anne, Queen of Great Britain|Queen Anne]] in 1708.
* The power to give and to issue commissions to [[commissioned officer]]s in the [[British Armed Forces|Armed Forces]].
* The power to command the Armed Forces. This power is exercised by the [[Defence Council of the United Kingdom|Defence Council]] in the King's name.
* The power to appoint members to the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]].
* The power to issue, suspend, cancel, recall, impound, withdraw or revoke British passports and the general power to provide or deny British passport facilities to British citizens and British nationals. This is exercised in the United Kingdom (but not necessarily in the [[Isle of Man]], [[Channel Islands]] or [[British Overseas Territories]]) by the [[Home Secretary]].
* The power to pardon any conviction (the [[royal prerogative of mercy]]).
* The power to grant, cancel and annul any [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom|honours]].
* The power to create corporations (including the status of being a city, with its own corporation) by [[Royal Charter|royal charter]], and to amend, replace and revoke existing charters.

===Foreign powers===
* The power to make and ratify [[Treaty|treaties]].
* The power to [[Declaration of war by the United Kingdom|declare war]] and [[Peace treaty|conclude peace]] with other nations.
* The power to deploy the Armed Forces overseas.
* The power to [[Diplomatic recognition|recognise states]].
* The power to credit and receive diplomats.

Even though the United Kingdom has no single constitutional document, the government published the above list in October 2003 to increase transparency, as some of the powers exercised in the name of the monarch are part of the [[Royal Prerogative|royal prerogative]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/oct/21/uk.freedomofinformation Mystery lifted on Queen's powers | Politics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204103616/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/oct/21/uk.freedomofinformation |date=4 December 2020 }}. The Guardian. Retrieved on 12 October 2011.</ref> However, the complete extent of the royal prerogative powers has never been fully set out, as many of them originated in ancient custom and the period of [[absolute monarchy]], or were modified by later constitutional practice.

==Ministers and departments==
[[File:Open House, Foreign Office, London-6159194985.jpg|thumb|Foreign Office, London]]
{{Main|List of government ministers of the United Kingdom|Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom}}
As of 2019, there are around 120 government ministers<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn03378/|title=Limitations on the number of Ministers|first1=Lucinda|last1=Maer|first2=Richard|last2=Kelly|date=31 March 2021|via=commonslibrary.parliament.uk|access-date=31 March 2021|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509051044/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn03378/|url-status=dead}}</ref> supported by 560,000<ref>[http://www.civilservant.org.uk/numbers.pdf Civil Service Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110004532/http://www.civilservant.org.uk/numbers.pdf |date=10 November 2013 }}. civilservant.org.uk. September 2011</ref> [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|civil servants]] and other staff working in the 25 [[British government departments#Ministerial departments|ministerial departments]]<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090729153748/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/212617/lmr2009.pdf LIST OF MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES Including Executive Agencies and NonMinisterial Departments]. Cabinet Office 2009</ref> and their [[Executive agency|executive agencies]]. There are also an additional 20 [[British government departments#Non-ministerial departments|non-ministerial departments]] with a range of further responsibilities.

In theory a government minister does not have to be a member of either House of Parliament. In practice, however, convention is that ministers must be members of either the House of Commons or House of Lords in order to be accountable to Parliament. From time to time, prime ministers appoint non-parliamentarians as ministers. In recent years such ministers have been appointed to the House of Lords.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Maer |first=Lucinda |date=2017-09-04 |title=Ministers in the House of Lords |url=https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN05226}}</ref>

==Government in Parliament==
Under the British system, the government is required by convention and for practical reasons to maintain the confidence of the House of Commons. It requires the support of the House of Commons for the maintenance of [[Loss of supply|supply]] (by voting through the government's budgets) and to pass [[primary legislation]]. By convention, if a government [[Motion of no confidence|loses the confidence]] of the House of Commons it must either resign or a general election is held. The support of the Lords, while useful to the government in getting its legislation passed without delay, is not vital. A government is not required to resign even if it loses the confidence of the Lords and is defeated in key votes in that House. The House of Commons is thus the [[responsible house]].

The prime minister is held to account during [[Prime Minister's Questions]] (PMQs) which provides an opportunity for MPs from all parties to question the PM on any subject. There are also departmental questions when ministers answer questions relating to their specific departmental brief. Unlike PMQs both the cabinet ministers for the department and junior ministers within the department may answer on behalf of the government, depending on the topic of the question.

During debates on legislation proposed by the government, ministers—usually with departmental responsibility for the [[Bill (proposed law)|bill]]—will lead the debate for the government and respond to points made by MPs or Lords.

Committees<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/committees/ Committees – UK Parliament] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207113534/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/committees/ |date=7 December 2017 }}. Parliament.uk (21 April 2010). Retrieved on 12 October 2011.</ref> of both the House of Commons and House of Lords hold the government to account, scrutinise its work and examine in detail proposals for legislation. Ministers appear before committees to give evidence and answer questions.

Government ministers are also required by convention and the [[Ministerial Code (United Kingdom)|Ministerial Code]],<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20101125173150/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/409215/ministerialcodemay2010.pdf Ministerial Code]. Cabinet Office 2010</ref> when Parliament is sitting, to make major statements regarding government policy or issues of national importance to Parliament. This allows MPs or Lords to question the government on the statement. When the government instead chooses to make announcements first outside Parliament, it is often the subject of significant criticism from MPs and the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|speaker of the House of Commons]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Speakers' statements on ministerial policy announcements made outside the House |url=http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-05647.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716034414/http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snpc-05647.pdf |archive-date=16 July 2011 |access-date=2010-11-29 |df=dmy-all}}. Parliamentary Information List. Department of Information Services. www.parliament.uk. 16 July 2010</ref>

==Location==
[[File:Larry the cat outside 10 Downing St.jpg|alt=|thumb|The main entrance of [[10 Downing Street]], the official residence and office of the [[First Lord of the Treasury]], who is by law nowadays also the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]]]]
The prime minister is based at [[10 Downing Street]] in [[City of Westminster|Westminster]], London. Cabinet meetings also take place here. Most [[Ministry (government department)|government departments]] have their headquarters nearby in [[Whitehall]].

== Limits of government power ==
{{See also|Act of Parliament (UK)|Powers of the prime minister of the United Kingdom}}
The government's powers include general executive and [[statutory powers]], [[delegated legislation]], and numerous powers of appointment and patronage. However, some powerful officials and bodies, (e.g. HM judges, [[local authorities]], and the charity commissions) are legally more or less independent of the government, and government powers are legally limited to those retained by the Crown under [[Common Law|common law]] or granted and limited by act of Parliament. Both substantive and procedural limitations are enforceable in the courts by [[judicial review]].

Nevertheless, magistrates and mayors can still be arrested for and put on trial for corruption, and the government has powers to insert commissioners into a local authority to oversee its work, and to issue directives that must be obeyed by the local authority, if the local authority is not abiding by its statutory obligations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 December 2014 |title=Secretary of State sends in commissioners to Tower Hamlets |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/secretary-of-state-sends-in-commissioners-to-tower-hamlets |access-date=10 April 2015 |website=[[Gov.uk]]}}</ref>

By contrast, as in [[European Union]] (EU) member states, EU officials cannot be prosecuted for any actions carried out in pursuit of their official duties, and foreign country diplomats (though not their employees) and foreign [[members of the European Parliament]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2014 |title=The Immunity of Members of the European Parliament |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2014/509981/IPOL_IDA%282014%29509981_EN.pdf |access-date=10 April 2015 |publisher=[[European Union]]}}</ref> are immune from prosecution in EU states under any circumstance. As a consequence, neither EU bodies nor diplomats have to pay taxes, since it would not be possible to prosecute them for tax evasion. When the UK was a member of the EU, this caused a dispute when the US ambassador to the UK claimed that London's [[congestion charge]] was a tax, and not a charge (despite the name), and therefore he did not have to pay it—a claim the [[Greater London Authority]] disputed.

Similarly, the monarch is totally immune from criminal prosecution and may only be sued with his permission (this is known as [[sovereign immunity]]). The sovereign, by law, is not required to pay income tax, but [[Queen Elizabeth II]] voluntarily paid it from 1993 until the end of her reign in 2022, and also paid local rates voluntarily. However, the monarchy also receives a substantial grant from the government, the [[Sovereign Support Grant]], and Queen Elizabeth II's inheritance from her mother, [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]], was exempt from [[inheritance tax]].

In addition to legislative powers, His Majesty's Government has substantial influence over local authorities and other bodies set up by it, by financial powers and grants. Many functions carried out by local authorities, such as paying out housing benefit and council tax benefit, are funded or substantially part-funded by central government.

Neither the central government nor local authorities are permitted to sue anyone for [[defamation]]. Individual politicians are allowed to sue people for defamation in a personal capacity and without using government funds, but this is relatively rare (although [[George Galloway]], who was a [[backbench]] MP for a quarter of a century, has sued or threatened to sue for defamation a number of times). However, it is a criminal offence to make a false statement about any election candidate during an election, with the purpose of reducing the number of votes they receive (as with libel, opinions do not count).

==Terminology==
While the government is the current group of ministers (the [[British Government frontbench]]), the government is also sometimes seen more broadly as including people or organisations that work for the ministers. The [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|civil service]], while 'independent of government',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service/about |title=Civil Service: About us |work=GOV.UK |date=|access-date=26 October 2021 |quote=We’re politically impartial and independent of government}}</ref> is sometimes described as being part of the government,<ref>{{cite report |author=[[The Comptroller and Auditor General]] |date=5 June 2015 |title=Central government staff costs |url=https://www.nao.org.uk/report/central-government-staff-costs/ |publisher=National Audit Office |access-date=26 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=civil service |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/civil-service |access-date=29 October 2021 |quote=civil service, the body of government officials...}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/hgv-driver-shortage-uk-government-response/about |title=UK government action to reduce the HGV driver shortage |work=GOV.UK |date= |access-date=23 October 2021 |quote=The government... have sent nearly one million letters to thank HGV drivers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmg-personnel-security-controls |title=HMG personnel security controls |work=GOV.UK |date=1 April 2013 |access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref> due to the closeness of its working with ministers, in advising them, supporting them, and implementing their executive decisions. Some individuals who work for ministers even have the word 'Government' in their title, such as the [[Government Actuary]] and the [[Government Chief Scientific Adviser (United Kingdom)|Government Chief Scientific Adviser]], as do civil service organisations such as the [[Government Statistical Service]], the [[Government Legal Profession]], and the [[Government Office for Science]]. Companies owned by the government can also be seen as parts of the government, such as [[UK Government Investments]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ukgi.org.uk/what-we-do/ |title=What we do |work=UKGI.ORG.UK |date= |access-date=27 October 2021 |quote=UKGI’s purpose is to be the government’s centre of excellence in corporate governance and corporate finance}}</ref> and [[HS2|HS2 Ltd]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-provides-construction-sector-certainty-by-confirming-notice-to-proceed-on-high-speed-2 |title=Government provides construction sector certainty by confirming 'Notice to proceed' on High Speed 2 |work=GOV.UK |date=15 April 2020 |access-date=27 October 2021 |quote=HS2 Ltd today marks next step for the project, issuing ‘Notice to proceed’ on Britain’s new railway.}}</ref>

Similarly, [[Parliamentary Private Secretaries]] are not ministers and so not part of the government.<ref>{{cite report |author=S Priddy |publisher=[[House of Commons Library]] |date=22 October 2021 |title=Parliamentary Private Secretaries to Prime Ministers since 1906 |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06579/ |access-date=11 December 2021 |quote=Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPSs) are not members of the Government although they do have responsibilities and restrictions as defined by the Ministerial Code |archive-date=11 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211114321/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06579/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, they are bound by parts of the [[ministerial code]], are part of the [[payroll vote]], and can be seen as being on the 'first rung of the ministerial ladder'.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-37289503 |title=Back to the future: PPS role for mid Wales MP |work=BBC News |date=6 September 2016 |access-date=11 December 2021 |quote=Montgomeryshire Tory MP Glyn Davies is about to put his foot on the first rung of the ministerial ladder, rejoining the government as a parliamentary private secretary.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2e9cae72-7b42-11e6-ae24-f193b105145e |title=The female power base that helped Theresa May win her day |work=Financial Times |date=18 September 2016 |access-date=11 December 2021 |quote=A handful of other alumni who won their seats in 2015, including Victoria Atkins, Lucy Frazer and Victoria Prentis have just set foot on the first rung of the ministerial ladder, being appointed this week as parliamentary private secretaries.}}</ref> They are sometimes described as being part of the government.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.sky.com/story/tory-mp-caroline-ansell-resigns-from-government-over-free-school-meals-rebellion-12111057 |title=Tory MP Caroline Ansell resigns from government over free school meals rebellion |work=SKY NEWS |date=22 October 2020 |access-date=11 December 2021 |quote=A Tory MP has quit her junior government role... Caroline Ansell resigned as a parliamentary private secretary to the environment secretary}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/12/10/six-mps-could-quit-members-government-covid-restrictions/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/12/10/six-mps-could-quit-members-government-covid-restrictions/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Six MPs could quit Government in Covid restrictions rebellion |work=Daily Telegraph |date=10 December 2021 |access-date=11 December 2021 |quote=As many as six MPs could quit as members of the Government next week... The Telegraph has learned that at least six parliamentary private secretaries are preparing to defy Boris Johnson and vote against elements of his "Plan B" restrictions}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/junior-government-member-quits-local-lockdow-curse-worse-disease/ |title=Chris Green quits as junior government member over Bolton local lockdown |work=LBC NEWS |date=13 October 2020 |access-date=11 December 2021 |quote=A junior government member has resigned over the local lockdown in Bolton... Bolton West Conservative MP Chris Green has stepped down as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS)}}</ref>

==Devolved governments==
{{Main|Devolution in the United Kingdom}}
Since 1999, certain areas of central government have been devolved to accountable governments in [[Scotland]], [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]]. These are not part of His Majesty's Government, and are directly accountable to their own institutions, with their own authority under the Crown; in contrast, there is no devolved government in England.

==Local government==
[[File:Old Fire Station Oxford 1.jpg|thumb|right|Refurbishment notice at Old Fire Station, [[Oxford]], showing government support]]
{{Main|Local government in England|Local government in Scotland|Local government in Wales|Local government in Northern Ireland}}

Up to three layers of elected local authorities (such as county, district and [[Parish councils in England|parish Councils]]) exist throughout all parts of the United Kingdom, in some places merged into [[Unitary authority|unitary authorities]]. They have limited local tax-raising powers. Many other authorities and agencies also have statutory powers, generally subject to some central government supervision.

==See also==

* [[Constitutional reform in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Departments of the United Kingdom Government]]
* [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]]
* [[Gov.uk]]
* [[Government spending in the United Kingdom]]
* [[British Government Frontbench]]
* [[His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition (United Kingdom)|His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition]]
* [[List of British governments]]
* [[Northern Ireland Executive]]
* [[Scottish Government]]
* [[Welsh Government]]
* [[Whole of Government Accounts]]
* [[Office for Veterans' Affairs]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/prime-ministers-office-10-downing-street Official website] of [[10 Downing Street]]
* [https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers UK Government] list of ministers from GOV.UK
* [https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works How Government works] overview from GOV.UK

{{Government}}
{{UK heads of governments}}
{{Departments of the United Kingdom Government|type=autocat off}}
{{British-Irish Council}}
{{Europe topic|Government of|title=Governments of Europe|ENG=|WLS=Welsh Government|NIR=Northern Ireland Executive|SCT=Scottish Government}}
{{United Kingdom topics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Government of the United Kingdom}}
[[Category:Government of the United Kingdom| ]]
[[Category:Constitution of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Executive branches of government|United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Westminster system governments|United Kingdom]]
[[Category:European governments|United Kingdom]]

Government of the United Kingdom - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 05:25, 29 August 2023