The prime minister leads the government.

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Ultimately, the prime minister is responsible for all government policy and decisions, although some powers have been devolved to administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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The most senior figures in government are called cabinet ministers. They lead government departments - such as the Treasury and Home Office.

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The prime minister can, at any time, hire and fire ministers. They can also abolish government departments or create new ones.

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Alongside the chancellor, the prime minister is in charge of tax-and-spending policy.

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The prime minister and their ministers can also bring in new laws - as long as they are backed by Parliament.

The deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom is the second highest ranking minister of the crown and a member of the British cabinet. The title is not always in use and prime ministers have been known to appoint informal deputies without the title of deputy prime minister.

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The deputy prime minister deputises for the prime minister, steps in in their absence, can take prime minister’s questions, and chairs cabinet committees.

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Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities aims to reduce the imbalances, primarily economic, between areas and social groups across the United Kingdom, and is responsible for fixing the foundations of an affordable home to handing power back to communities and rebuilding local governments.

The chancellor of the exchequer has oversight of the use of government spending and taxation to influence the economy (fiscal policy) across government departments.

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Exchequer, in British history, is the government department that was responsible for receiving and dispersing the public revenue. The word derives from the Latin scaccarium, “chessboard,” in reference to the checkered black and green cloth on which accounts were kept by means of counters.

The Home Secretary is responsible for making sure our communities, in all force areas, are kept safe and secure, and for protecting our national borders and security.

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The home secretary's remit includes law enforcement in England and Wales, matters of national security, issues concerning immigration, and oversight of the homeland security service (MI5).

The Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero is responsible for securing the United Kingdom’s long-term energy supply, bringing down inflation and energy bills.

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A priority is to make Britain a clean energy superpower with zero carbon electricity by 2030, and accelerating our journey to net zero.  The mission for the Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero is to make the UK energy independent, bring down energy bills for good, create good jobs, and tackle the climate crisis.

Overall responsibilities are England's national public health, financial control, oversight of all NHS delivery and performance, mental health, and championing patient safety.

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Matters concerning social care policy and relations with international health partnerships, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), are also duties of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

The Foreign Secretary's remit includes British relations with foreign countries and governments, promotion of British interests abroad, matters pertaining to the Commonwealth of Nations and the Overseas Territories, oversight for the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).

Excluding the prime minister, the chancellor is the highest-ranking minister in the Cabinet Office, immediately after the Prime Minister.

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The role includes, as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster. Founded in the 13th century, the Duchy of Lancaster is a unique portfolio of land, property and assets held in trust for the Sovereign, currently King Charles III, in His role as Duke of Lancaster.

In addition to administering the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster, the chancellor advises the prime minister on the development and implementation of government policy, chairs cabinet committees, and implements government business.

The lord chancellor is the minister of the Crown responsible for the administration of the courts and legal aid in England and Wales. In their capacity as secretary of state for justice, the lord chancellor also administers the prison system and probation services in England and Wales.

The department's focus is outlined as delivering economic growth opportunities across the economy, backing business by improving access to finance, promoting British businesses globally, promoting competitive markets, championing free trade, and ensuring economic security and supply chain resilience.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is responsible for the provision of the State Pension and the working age benefits system.

The role is responsible for providing support to, people of working age, employers, pensioners, families and children, and disabled people.

Responsible for the Ministry of Defence which main objectives are to defend the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its interests and to strengthen international peace and stability.

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The Defence Secretary's remit includes military and defensive operations, oversight of defence intelligence, relations with international partnerships, including NATO, defence policy, planning, resourcing and communications.

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The Defence Secretary is a member of the National Security Council, and chair of the Defence Council, to which the King has given the power to command the Armed Forces.

The Department for Transport provides the framework for transport services.

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The main aims of The Secretary of State for Transport are to support the creation of a stronger, cleaner, more productive economy, help to connect people and places, make journeys easier, modern and reliable, provide safe, secure and sustainable transport, prepare the transport system for technological progress, promote a culture of efficiency and productivity and a balancing investment across the country.

The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology is tasked with ensuring the United Kingdom is at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement with the intention of changing lives and sustaining economic growth.

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British public services are to be at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working.

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Further responsibilities include managing the UK Government's Research and Development schemes, optimising both public and private investment, to make the UK economy the "most innovative" in the world. The intention is to make the UK the "best place" to start and grow a technology business or to develop and attract "top talent, working in partnership with leading scientists in Europe and around the world".

The Secretary of State for Northen Ireland is head of the Northern Ireland Office.  The Secretary of State leads on: Engagement with the Northern Ireland Executive (focusing on the Executive Office, Department of Justice, Department of Finance and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) and has responsibility for security, policing, prisons, criminal justice, public order and elections.

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The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland works with the Northern Ireland Assembly, which is a devolved government able to pass some laws and policies.

The Secretary of State for Scotland is head of the Scottish Office. With devolution for Scotland in 1999, the role of Secretary of State for Scotland was reduced. Most of the functions of the office since devolution were transferred to the newly established Scottish Ministers upon the opening of the Scottish Parliament, or to other UK government ministers. However, the Secretary of State does represent Scotland in the Cabinet on matters that are not devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

The Secretary of State is responsible for the work of the Department for Education, including early years and childcare, children’s social care,

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teacher quality, recruitment and retention, the school curriculum, school improvement, academies and free schools, further education, apprenticeships and skills, higher education.

The Minister for Women and Equalities has responsibility for promoting equality of opportunity for everyone, and reducing negative differences,

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strategic oversight of Government’s equality policy, for women, ethnicity and LGBT, sponsorship of the Social Mobility Commission and Equality and Human Rights Commission, overview of the overarching equalities legislative framework, including the Equality Act.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for arts, culture, broadcasting, creative industries, heritage, libraries, museums, gambling, sport, tourism, and includes:

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• Growing sectors.

• Driving growth in creative industries and tourism and supporting local economies.

• Creating opportunities.

• Increasing access to grassroots sports, arts, heritage, libraries, and youth services.

• Boosting reputation.

• Delivering major cultural and sporting events to showcase the UK to the world.

• Reforming media.

• Making the UK's media sector fit for the 21st century.

• Protecting football.

• Protecting the financial sustainability of English football and putting fans at the heart of clubs.

The Attorney General has several roles, including:

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• Chief legal adviser:
  The Attorney General is the chief legal adviser to the government and the Crown. They advise the government, government departments, and government ministers on legal matters.

• Guardian of the public interest:
  The Attorney General represents the public in legal proceedings that protect public rights or enforce the law.

• Oversight of prosecuting authorities:
  The Attorney General oversees the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office.

• Legislative scrutiny:
  The Attorney General and their officials scrutinize legislation before it is introduced to ensure it is lawful and has a strong policy justification.

• Guardian of charitable interests:
  The Attorney General represents the beneficiaries of charitable trusts in charity proceedings.      

• They act on behalf of the Crown to represent the public interest in the proper administration of charities.

The responsibilities of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet are:
 

• Public sector artificial intelligence (AI) efficiency.

• The Constitution (the set of laws, rules, conventions, and practices that govern the United Kingdom).

• Legislation, including secondary legislation.

• COVID-19 Inquiry and Grenfell Tower Inquiry - sponsorship function.

• Supporting the Deputy Prime Minister on:

• Resilience, including AI.

• Supporting the Minister for the Cabinet Office on:

• Day-to-day management of the cross-cutting functions.

• Government Communications Service.

• The role of the Chief Whip is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote in Parliament as the party leadership desires.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (CST) is the deputy finance minister in the United Kingdom and is responsible for many areas of public expenditure. These include:

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• Spending: The CST is responsible for public spending, including spending reviews, in-year spending control, and capital investment.

• Pay and pensions: The CST is responsible for public sector pay and pensions.

• Welfare reform: The CST is responsible for welfare reform.

• Efficiency: The CST is responsible for efficiency and value for money in the public service.

• Procurement: The CST is responsible for procurement.

• Infrastructure: The CST is responsible for infrastructure spending.

• Housing and planning: The CST is responsible for housing and planning.

• Trade: The CST is responsible for spending issues related to trade.

• Transport: The CST is responsible for transport policy, including HS2, Crossrail 2, Roads, Network Rail, and Oxford/Cambridge corridor.

The Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords is responsible for the organisation of government business in the House, providing assistance to all Lords and offering advice on procedure. The Lord Privy Seal also expresses the collective feelings of the House on formal occasions, such as motions of thanks or congratulations.

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The title of Lord Privy Seal comes from the Middle English words prive (private) and seal, which combine to form the word prive seal.

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The Lord Privy Seal is a British government official who was once responsible for keeping the king or queen's seal. The seal was a tool used to stamp a design into wax on a document to indicate that it was official. The Privy Seal was a symbol of the monarch's approval of official documents.

Duties of the Lord President of the Council are to preside over the meetings of the privy council and to draw up the minutes of council upon subjects which do not belong to any other department of state. The office is very frequently held in conjunction with other ministerial offices.

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The Privy Council is a formal body of advisers to the King of the United Kingdom. Its members, known as privy counsellors, are mainly senior politicians who are current or former members of either the House of Commons or the House of Lords who advise on matters of state.

The House of Commons devotes approximately three-quarters of its time to debating and explaining government business, such as bills introduced by the government and ministerial statements.

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The Leader of the House of Commons, working closely with the chief whip, is responsible for organising government business and providing time for non-government (backbench) business to be put before the House of Commons.

In 1999 most of the functions of the Secretary of State for Wales transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.

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The Secretary of State for Wales acts to ensure that the interests of Wales are fully taken into account by the UK Government in making decisions that will have effect in Wales, and to represent the UK Government in Wales.

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The Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for ensuring the passage of:

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• Wales-only legislation through Parliament.

• Departments should copy to the Secretary of State for all

• correspondence between UK and Assembly Ministers and between senior

• officials, especially when it relates to primary legislation.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for the overall management of the department, including its budget, senior appointments, and international relations.

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The departments mission is to improve the environment for future generations, and its overarching aim is sustainable development.

Strategic priorities include: Climate change and energy, sustainable consumption and production, protecting the countryside and natural resources, sustainable rural communities, and sustainable farming and food sector.

The Minister for International Development and Women and Equalities will serve as junior minister for Women and Equalities under the Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities.

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Responsibilities as Minister for International Development include:

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• Education, gender and equality.

• Development and open societies.

• Humanitarian and migration.

• International finance.

• British Investment Partnerships

• Global health.

• Conflict, stabilisation and mediation.

• Energy, climate and the environment.

• Research and evidence.