This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 86.11.160.106 (talk) at 00:17, 16 June 2010 (Updated following 2010 change of government, and to clarify the division of responsibility between chief of staff and permanent secretary from 2008-2010.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 00:17, 16 June 2010 by 86.11.160.106 (talk) (Updated following 2010 change of government, and to clarify the division of responsibility between chief of staff and permanent secretary from 2008-2010.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The position of Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister in the United Kingdom is an appointed position, with the post being chosen by the Prime Minister. He is listed as having "direct responsibility for leading and co-ordinating operations across Number 10" and reports directly to the Prime Minister.
This position of Chief of Staff in the UK was created by Tony Blair Tony Blair's upon his becoming prime minister, which analysts attributed to his arguably presidential style of governing. According to the BBC, in 1997 Tony Blair gave his Chief of Staff 'unprecedented powers' to issue orders to civil servants. Previously the Cabinet Secretary, as ex-officio Head of the Home Civil Service., had been the most senior non-ministerial figure in the British Government: This role was the basis for the BBC television series Yes, Prime Minister.
Blair's chief of staff held the status of an appointed special advisor rather than a career civil servant. The subsequent administration of Gordon Brown initially changed the nature of the post by appointing Tom Scholar as chief of staff while he was a civil servant, however the structure was again altered upon Scholar's scheduled departure in 2008. Stephen Carter, former boss of the telecommunications watchdog Ofcom, was made a special advisor and effective (though possibly not official) chief of staff, with responsibility to act as the prime minister's chief of strategy and principal adviser, overseeing Downing Street's political, strategic and communications operations. At this time the lead civil servant role in policy matters went to Jeremy Heywood, under a new civil service post of Permanent Secretary at Number 10. As a civil service permanent secretary Heywood ranked alongside the Cabinet Secretary, permanent secretary at the cabinet office, although the cabinet secretary is senior amongst all permanent secretaries by virtue of heading the civil service.
Upon assuming office in May 2010, Prime Minister David Cameron appointed Edward Llewellyn as the new Downing Street Chief of Staff, with Kate Fall as his Deputy Chief of Staff. The salaries of each have been revealed to be greater than that of the United Kingdom's deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg. Llewellyn had previously served as chief of staff to David Cameron throughout his being leader of the opposition, and so the role may again be the powerful and central one seen under Tony Blair's premiership.
List of Chiefs of Staff
- Jonathan Powell (1997–2007)
- Tom Scholar (2007–2008)
- Stephen Carter (2008–2010)
- Edward Llewellyn (2010 - present)
References
- ^ Nick Assinder. Jonathan Powell BBC 14 July, 2004. (Accessed 25 September 2007)
- CivilService.gov.uk
- Guardian.co.uk
- Staff. Number10.gov.uk, PM's office website of 10 Downing Street, (Accessed 25 September 2007)
- Staff. Cabinet Office, Organisation Chart Cabinet Office. (Accessed 25 September 2007)
- Guardian.co.uk
| Downing Street chiefs of staff | ||
|---|---|---|
| Margaret Thatcher |
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| Tony Blair |
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| Gordon Brown |
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| David Cameron |
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| Theresa May |
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| Boris Johnson |
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| Liz Truss |
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| Rishi Sunak |
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| Keir Starmer |
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