United Kingdom Parties

abcWorldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
United Kingdom Parties

United Kingdoms Ministers

The following titles are used in the parties:
Chairperson of Labour National Executive Committee
President of the Liberal Party Organisation
Chairperson and President of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations' Annual Conference (1867-1998) when replaced by the National Conservative Convention

1918-19 and 1926 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame Caroline Bridgeman
Also known as Viscountess Bridgeman. She lived /1875-1981)

1929-30 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Susan Laurence
Parliamentary Secretary in the Government. She lived (1871-1947)

1930 Chairperson of the Conservatives The Countess of Iveagh
Gwendolen Guiness was elected MP in succession to her husband who inherited the title of Count 1927-35. She lived (1881-1966).

1934 Chairperson of the Conservatives Regina Evans

1937 President of the Conservatives Clara Fyfie

1936  Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Jennie Adamson
MP 1938-46 and Parliamentary Private Secretary 1940-45 and Parliamentary Secretar of Pensions 1945-46. She lived (1882-1962)

1939-40 Chairperson of Labour Barbara Ayrton-Gould
MP 1945-50. She lived (1886-1950)

1940 Chairperson of the Conservatives Lady Hillington
Dame Edith Mills was married to the 3rd Baron Hillingdon, and lived (1895-1969).

1944 President of the Conservatives L. Whitehead

1944-45 Chairperson of Labour Ellen Wilkinson
MP 1924-31 and 1935-47, Minister of Education 1945-47. She lived (1891-1947)

1945-47 President of the Liberals Lady V. Bonham Carter, Baroness Asquith of Yarnbug
Maried several times, she lived (1887-1969)

1947 President of the Conservatives Mary Christina Hornyold-Strickland
She was daughter of Gerald Strickland, 1. Baron Strickland, 6. Count of Catena, Prime Minister and Governor of Malta and Lady Edeline Sackville-West

1949-51 Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Lady Megan Lloyd-George
Liberal MP 1929-51, Labour MP 1957-66. She lived (1902-66)

1950-51 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Alice Bacon
Labour MP 1945-70, Baroness Bacon, of the City of Leeds and of Normanton in the West Riding of the County of York in 1970 and lived (1909-66)

1951 Chairperson of  Conservatives Lorna Sayers
1955 President of the Conservatives

1953 President of the Conservatives J. Warde

1954-55 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Edith Summerskill

1955-56 President of the Conservatives Evelyn Emmet
MP 1955-65, as Baroness Emmett of Amberly she was Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords 1968-77. She lived (1899-1980)

1956-57 President of the Conservatives Katharine Elliott
She was appointed Baroness Elliot of Harwood in 1958 as one of the first four female life peers. She lived (1903-94)

1956-57 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Margaret McCrovie Herbison
She lived (1907-96)

1958-59 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Barbara Castle

1963  President of the Conservatives T. Shepard

1964 Chairperson of the Conservatives Viscountess Davidson
1964 and 1965  President of the Conservatives

1964 President of The Liberals Nancy Seear
1984-87 Leader of the Liberals in the House of Lords as Baroness Seear
1987-97 (†) Deputy Leader

1967-68 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Jennie Lee
Labour MP and Minister. She lived (1904-88)

1967-68 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame Adelaide Doughty
1978 President of the Conservatives

1967 Chairperson of the Conservatives Lady Brooke

1969 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Eirene Lloyd White
She lived (1909-99)

1969 President of the Conservatives Baroness Brook of Ystradfelte
Joint Vice Chairperson of the Conservative Party Organisation under the name of Dame Barbara Brooke (d. 2000)

1970-71 President of the Liberals Inga-Stina Robson
Baroness Robson of Kiddington né Arvidsson she was a Magistrate 1955-89. She lived (1919-99)

1970-71 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame Unity Lister
Deputy Chair of the Greater London Council 1963-64 and lived (1913-98)

1971-72 Acting President of the Provisorial Sin Feín Maire Drum
1972-76 (†) Vice President
Assassinated

1972-73 President of the Conservatives Dame Margaret Sheperd

1973-74 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame Sally Oppenhein-Barnes

1973-73 Deputy Chief Opposition Whip, Baroness-in-Waiting in House of Lords (Labour)
1974-79 Captain of the Gentleman at-Arms, Leader of Labour in the House of Lords  1979-82 Chief Opposition Whip, Baroness-in-Waiting in House of Lords (Labour) Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe

1974-95 Convenor of the Crossbench Peers (Independents) Baroness Hylton-Foster

1974 Chairperson of the Conservatives  R. Smith

1974-95 Convenor of the Crossbench Peers Baroness Hylton-Foster
Crossbench Peers are the politically independent. She lived (1908-2002)


1974-79 Deputy Leader of Scottish National Party, SNP Margo MacDonald
SNP and independent Member of the Scottish Parliament 1999-2014. Candidate for the post of Presiding Officer in 2007. She lived (1944-2014)

1975-79 Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition Margaret Thatcher
1975-90 Leader of the Conservative Party
Prime Minister 1979-90. She lived (1925-2013).

1975-76 President of the Liberals Margaret Wingfield
She lived (1912-2002)

Circa 1975- Vice-President of the Democratic Unionist Party Baroness Paisley of St George
Eileen Emily Paisley née Cassells is married to the Northern Ireland First Minister, Ian Paisley and was Member of the Belfast City Council 1967-73 and the Norterne Ireland Assembly from 1973, created a Baroness in 2006. (b. 1934)

1976-81 Leader of Unionist Party of Northern Ireland Annie L. Dickson

1976 Chairperson of the Conservatives S. Roberts

1977  Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Joan Lestor
MP from 1966, a Junior Minister 1969-70 and created Baroness Lestor of Eccles and lived (1931-98)

1977-88 Scottish Secretary of the Labour Party Helen Liddell

1979-80 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Lady Jeger
(Lena Jeger)

1980-81 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame Ann Springman

1980 Chairperson of the Liberals J. Rose
1983-84 Chairperson of the Party Organization

1981-82  Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Judy Hart

1982-88 President of Social Democratic Party (SPD) Shirley Williams
2001-04 Leader of the Liberal Peers in the House of Lords (As Baroness Williams of Crosby)
She was Member of the Government 1966-70 and 1974-79. (b. 1930-)

1982-87 Secretary of the 1922 Committee (Conservative Bach Benchers) Dame Jill Knight
1987-88 and 1992-97 Vice Chairperson
She was a MP 1966-97 and Member of the Executive 1979-97. Created Baroness Knight

1983-89 Opposition Whip, Baroness-in-Waiting in House of Lords (Labour) Baroness Nicol
1985-87 Deputy Chief Opposition Whip

1984-85 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame Pamela Hunter

1984-87 Senior Vice Chairperson and Deputy Leader of SNP Margaret McAdam Bain Ewing
1987-99 Parliamentary Leader in the House of Commons
1987-2001 Deputy Party Leader
1987-90 and 1999-2006 Deputy President of SNP
1999-2006 Parliamentary Group Conveyer in the Scottish Parliament
Margaret Ewing was MP 1974-79 and 1987-2001, Member of the Scottish Parliament 1999-2006. She lived (1945-2006).

1986-88 Chairperson of the 1922 Committee (Conservative Bach Benchers) Joan Peacok

1987-2005 President of Scottish National Party Winifred Ewing
Winnie Ewing was MP 1967-70 and 1974-79, Member of the European Parliament 1975-99, Vice-President of SNP 1979-87 Member of the Sottish Parliament 1999-2003, where she was President-By-Age. (b. 1929-).

1987-88 Chairperson of the Conservatives (as Baroness Seccombe of Kineton)
1998-2001 Opposition Whip, Baroness-in-Waiting in House of Lords
2001-10 Opposition Deputy Chief Whip
Vice-Chairperson of the Conservative Party Organization 1984-92

1987/88-circa 92 Chairperson of Communist Party of Great Britain Marion Parke

1988-91 Leader of the Social Democratic Party in the House of Lords Baroness Stedman

1988 President of the Conservatives Dame S. Roberts

1988-90 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Jo Richardson
MP 1974-94 and lived (1923-94)

1989-91 Chair of the Federal Executive of the Liberal Democrats Sally Rachel Hamwee

1989-90 Co-Chairperson of The Green Party Caroline Lucas
2003-06 and 2007-08 Joint Principal Speaker
2008-12 Leader
2016- Co-Leader
MEP 1999-2010 and MP from 2010. From 2008 the party has got only one leader.

1990-91 Spokesperson of the Green Party Sandra Perkins
1991-92 Chairperson

1990 Chairperson of the Conservatives M. Fry

1992-94 Deputy Leader of Labour Margaret Beckett
1994 Acting Leader of Labour and Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition (12.5-21.7)
She took over as interim leader after the former leader died. She chose to stand as candidate for both the leadership and deputy leadership but lost both. A number of high Cabinet posts.

1992- Secretary General of Democratic Left Nina Temple

1992-93 Chairperson of Scottish Labour Anne McGuire

1992-96 Deputy Chairperson of the Conservative Party of Scotland Annabel Goldie
1997-99 Chairperson
1999-2005 Deputy Leader of the Conservatives in the Scottish Parliament
2005-11 Leader of the Conservatives
(b. 1950-).

1993 President of the Conservatives Dame W. Mitchell

1995-96 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Diane Jeuda

1995-97 Chairperson of The Green Party Jenny Jones

1996-2006 Leader of the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition Monica McWilliams
The party was dissolved in 2006.

1998-2000 Federal President of the Liberal Democrat Party Baroness Maddock
Diane was created a Baroness in 1997.

1998-99 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Brenda Etchells

1
999-2004 Vice-convener for Publicity of SNP Nicola Sturgeon
2004-14 Deputy Leader of SNP
2014-07 Leader of the Party in the
Scottish Parliament
2014- Leader of the SNP
She lead the party in Scotland because it's leader was a MP in London and not a member of the local parliament until 2007.
Deputy First Minister 2007-14, Cabinet Secretary for Health 2007-12 and for Infrastructure, Investment and Citiesand 2012-14, First Minister from 2014. (b. 1970-).

1999-2000 President of the Liberal Democrats Diana Maddock, Baroness Maddock, Lady Beith
MP 1993-97 (b. 1947-)

1999-2001 Secretary General of Labour Margaret McDonagh
Created a Baroness in 2004.

2000-2005 Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords The Baroness Blatch
Emily May Blatch was created Baroness Blatch, of Hinchingbrooke in 1987, 1990 Baroness-in Waiting, 1992-94 Minister of State of Education and 1994-97 Minister of State of the Home Office. She lived (1937-2005)

2001-2005 Chairperson of Labour Parliamentary Party Jean Corston
The LPL is the Labour Backbencher's representation. She was
Labour MP 1992-2005, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment 1997-2001 and was created Baroness Corston of Bristol East in 2005.

2000-01 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Maggie Jones
Baroness Jones of Withchurch from 2006 (b. 1955-)

2001-02 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee  Margaret Wall
Baroness Wall of New Barnet from 2004 (b. 1941-)

2001- Deputy Leader of SDLP Bríd Rodgers
Former Senator in the Republic of Ireland, 1998-99 Chairperson of SDLP Negotiation Team during the devolution negotiations,  1999-2000 and again from later in 2000 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Northern Ireland Executive. Mother of 6 children. (b. 1931-)

2001-05 Vice-Chairperson the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) Ann Clwyd
2005-06 Chairperson of the PLP
She was
the prime minister's special envoy to Iraq, and was defeated by a strong anti-war candidate after a year in office.

2001-05 Chairperson of the Parliamentary Labour Party Jean Corston
Vice-Chairperson 1997-2001. Created Baroness in 2005.

2001-02 President of the National Conservative Convention Jean Searle

2002-03  President of the National Conservative Convention Caroline Abel-Smith

2002-03 Chairperson of the Conservative Party (Shadow Cabinet Member) Theresa May
2005-10 Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
2016- Leader of the Conservative Party
She is the third ranking in the Shadow Cabinet, where she held various posts since 1997.
From 2003 Member of the Privy Council. The only woman member of the Shadow Cabinet 2003-05, Home Secretary 2010-16 and Prime Minister from 2016.

2002-03 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Diane Holland
Became Treasurer of the Labour Party in 2010.

2003 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Diana Holland

2003-08 Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Cathy Jamieson
2007 and 2008 Acting Leader

Scottish
Minister of Education and Children 2001-03 and Minister of Justice 2003-07. Candidate for the Leadership in 2008.

2003-04 Chairperson of the Labour Party National Executive Mary Turner

2004-05 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Mary Turner
Vice-Chair 2003.

2004-05 Leader of the Peace and Progress Party Vanessa Redgrave
A former Oscar-vinning actress she is now a human rights activist, who founded her own party.

2005 Joint Imterim Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party Lady Sylvia Hermon
It's leader resigned after the former largest Protestant party in Northern Ireland lost massively in the parliamentary elections, leaving Lady Sylvia as the only MP.

2006-07 Chairperson of Labour Hazel Blears
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Health 1997-98 and to the Chief Secretary to Her Majesty's Treasury 1998-99, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Health 2001-03, Minister of State of the Home Office for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety 2003-06, Deputy Home Secretary 2005-06 and 2006 Minister without Portfolio from 2006. Candidate for the post of Deputy Leader of Labour in 2007, and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from 2007. (b. 1956-).


2006-07 Joint Principal Speaker of The Green Party Siân Berry
Resigned to become a candidate for the position of Mayor of London. (b. 1974-).

2006- Deputy Leader of The Alliance Naomi Long
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the British House of Commons. Also Lord Mayor of Belfast 2009-10.

2007-10 Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party Dawn Purvis
Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly since 2007-11, she resigned from the party in 2010 and was not reelected the following year. She lived (1967-).

2007-15 Deputy Leader of Labour and Party Chairperson Rt. Hon. Harriet Hariman
2010 and 2015 Acting Leader of Labour and Leader of the Opposition
Secretary of State for Social Security and Minister for Women 1997-98 Solicitor General 2001-05 and Constitutional Affairs Minister from 2005. (b. 1950- )

2007-08 Chairperson of the Conservative Party (Shadow Cabinet Member) Caroline Spelman
Various Shadow Cabinet Posts from 2001-03 and from 2004. (b. 1958-)

2007-10 Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords (Conservative) Baroness Anelay of St Johns
2010-14 Lords Chief Whip, Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms
Dame Joyce Anne Anelay, was created Baroness Anelay of St Johns, of St Johns in the County of Surrey in 1996 and as been member of the shadow ministry since 1997. (b. 1947-).

2007-11 Convenor of the Crossbench Peers Baroness D'Souza
Lord Speaker of the House of Lords from 2011.

2007-08 Leader of Scottish Labour  Wendy Alexander
Scottish Minister
for Social Inclusion, Local Government, Housing and Equality 1999-2000, Minister for Enterprises 2000-02 and Minister for Transport and Lifelong Learning 2001-02. She decided not to run for the post of Leader of Scottish Labour and First Minister in 2001. (b. 1963-).

2007-08 Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of Labour Dianne Hayter
The NEC Vice-Chair was Sally Powell. Dianne was created Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town, of Kentish Town in the London Borough of Camden from 2010. (b. 1949-)

2008-16 Leader of the Wales Liberal Party Kirsty Williams
Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1999 and appointed Education Secretary in 2016. (b. 1971-).

2008-09 Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of Labour Cath Speight

2009-10 President of the Liberal Democrat Party Baroness Scott of Needham Market
She was Liberal Democrat Whip in the House of Lords 2001-02 and Deputy Chief Whip 2002. Ros Scott was created Baroness Scott of Needham Market, of Needham Market in the County of Suffolk in 2000 after a career as local councillor. (b. 1957-)

2009-10 Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of Labour Ann Black

2010- Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition in the House of Lords Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
She was
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Chief Whip in the House of Lords) in 2008 and Leader of the House of Lords 2008-10

2010-16 Chief Whip of the Labour Party in the House of Commons Dame Rosie Winterton
Labour MP from 1997, Parliamentary Secretary in the Lord Chancellor's Department 2001-03, Minister of State of Health 2003-07, Minister of State of Transport 2007-08, Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber 2008-09, Minister of State for Works and Pensions 2008-09, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Attending Cabinet when her Ministerial responsibilities are on the agenda) 2009-
10, Member of the Privy Council since 2009 and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons in 2010. (b. 1958-).

2010-11 Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie
Minister for Social Development in the government of Northern Ireland 2007-10 and of the British Parliament from 2010.

2010-11 Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of Labour Norma Stephenson

2011- Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson
Member of the Legislative Assembly from 2011. She lives with her partner Saskia Halcrow, (b. 1978-)

2011-14 Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Johann Lamont


2011-15 Deputy Leader of SDLP Dolores Kelly

2012- Leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood
The Party President in 2012 was Jill Evans, National Chair Helen Jones and Chief Executive Rhuanedd Richards

Until 2012 Leader of the Respect Party Salma Yaqoob

2012-16 Leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett 

2012-15 Chairperson of the National Conservative Convention Emma Pidding
Created a Baroness in 2015.

2012-13 Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of Labour Harriet Yeo

2013-14 Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of Labour Angela Eagle
Former Minister and member of the Shadow Cabinet. Leadership Candidate in 2016.

2014-15 Deputy Chair of the UK Independence Party Suzanne Evans

2014-15 Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour Kezia Dugdale
2015- Leader of Scottish Labour
Member of the Scottish Parliament from 2011. (b. 1981-)

2015- President of the Liberal Democrats Baroness Brinton
Sarah Virginia Brinton (Sal Brinton) was appointed Baroness Brinton, of Kenardington in the County of Kent in 2010.

2015- Leader of the Women's Equality Party Sophie Walker
The TV and Radio-personality Sandi Toksvig is one of the co-founders of the party.

2016 Leader of UK Independence Party Diane James
Member of the European Parliament. Resigned after 18 days in office.

 

 

 

Last update 10.10.16