Conservative Government 1957–64

Alec Douglas-Home, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The Conservative government of the United Kingdom that began in 1957 and ended in 1964 consisted of two ministries: the Macmillan Ministry and then the Douglas-Home Ministry.

Formation

In January 1957 Sir Anthony Eden resigned from his positions of Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This was mainly a consequence of the Suez Crisis fiasco of the previous autumn, but was also due to his increasingly failing health. Harold Macmillan, formerly Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer, was chosen over Rab Butler as the new party leader and consequently as Prime Minister.

Harold Macmillan tried to placate Butler, who had stood against Macmillan as leader, by appointing him to the senior position of Home Secretary. Peter Thorneycroft became Chancellor of the Exchequer, but caused embarrassment for Macmillan when he resigned only a year later. He was replaced by Derick Heathcoat Amory, previously Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Selwyn Lloyd was retained as Foreign Secretary, a post he held until 1960, when he succeeded Heathcoat Amory as Chancellor. Ernest Marples became Minister for Transport and the Earl of Home was promoted to Leader of the House of Lords and also continued as Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, before replacing Lloyd as Foreign Secretary in 1960. Lord Kilmuir and Alan Lennox-Boyd retained their offices of Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for the Colonies respectively, while Lord Hailsham became a member of the cabinet for the first time as Minister of Education. Future Chancellor Iain Macleod was appointed Minister of Labour and National Service and succeeded Lennox-Boyd as Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1961.

1959 general election

The Conservatives comfortably won the 1959 general election, increasing their majority in the House of Commons, following a campaign slogan "Life's better with the Conservatives". This centred on the consistently low unemployment, strong economy and rising standard of living which much of the British population was enjoying in the late 1950s.

But a series of economic measures in the early 1960s caused the popularity of the Conservative Party to decline. Macmillan tried to remedy this by a major cabinet reshuffle in July 1962. Seven members of the cabinet were sacked in what became known as the Night of the Long Knives. Lord Kilmuir was notably replaced as Lord Chancellor by Lord Dilhorne and the emerging Reginald Maudling replaced Selwyn Lloyd as Chancellor, while Peter Thorneycroft returned to the cabinet as Minister of Defence. Rab Butler was also promoted to the office of First Secretary of State. The move was controversial within the Conservative Party and was seen as a betrayal by many. Macmillan's credibility was also affected by the 1963 Profumo affair, and he was now in his 69th year and had until after his 70th birthday to call the next general election. The election of Harold Wilson as Labour Party leader early in the year following the sudden death of Hugh Gaitskell was well received by voters, with opinion polls showing the Labour Party ascendant.

However, it was still considered a surprise when he resigned in October 1963.

Alec Douglas-Home premiership

Macmillan's resignation saw a three-way tussle for the party leadership and premiership. The Earl of Home and Lord Hailsham both disclaimed their peerages under the Peerage Act 1963 and became known as Sir Alec Douglas-Home and Quintin Hogg respectively – as it was not considered appropriate for a Prime Minister to be a member of the House of Lords. Rab Butler was also in the running for the post but Douglas-Home was finally chosen to succeed Macmillan. This was seen as controversial as it was alleged that Macmillan had pulled strings and used the party's grandees, nicknamed "The Magic Circle", to ensure that Butler was once again overlooked.

In the Douglas-Home ministry, Rab Butler became Foreign Secretary, and Henry Brooke replaced Butler as Home Secretary. Reginald Maudling continued as Chancellor, while Quintin Hogg remained as Lord President of the Council and Minister for Sports (although he was removed from the post of Leader of the House of Lords). In April 1964 Hogg was made Minister for Education. Selwyn Lloyd also returned to the government after a one-year absence, as Leader of the House of Commons. Douglas-Home's government was defeated in the October 1964 general election. He remained party leader until the 1965 party conference.

The 1957–1964 Conservative government saw several emerging figures who would later attain high office. Future Prime Minister Edward Heath became a member of the cabinet for the first time as Minister of Labour and National Service in 1959, while another future Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, held her first government post in 1961 as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Pensions. The government also included future Chancellor Anthony Barber, future Home Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister William Whitelaw and future Secretary of State for Education and Science Sir Keith Joseph. Other notable government members included Enoch Powell, Lord Carrington, David Ormsby-Gore, John Profumo, Christopher Soames, Bill Deedes, Airey Neave and the Marquess of Salisbury. The Conservatives were defeated in the 1964 general election.

Cabinets

Macmillan's Cabinets

January 1957 – October 1959

Changes

October 1959 – July 1960

July 1960 – October 1961

October 1961 – July 1962

July 1962 – October 1963

In a radical reshuffle dubbed "The Night of the Long Knives", Macmillan sacked a third of his Cabinet and instituted many other changes.

Douglas-Home’s Cabinet

October 1963 – October 1964

Changes

List of Ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

OfficeNameDatesNotes
Prime Minister
and First Lord of the Treasury		Harold Macmillan10 January 1957 – 13 October 1963 
Sir Alec Douglas-Home18 October 1963 – 16 October 1964 
First Secretary of StateR. A. Butler13 July 1962Office wound up 18 October 1963
Lord ChancellorThe Viscount Kilmuir14 January 1957Continued in office
The Lord Dilhorne13 July 1962 
Lord President of the CouncilThe Marquess of Salisbury13 January 1957also Leader of the House of Lords
The Earl of Home29 March 1957also Leader of the House of Lords
The Viscount Hailsham17 September 1957
The Earl of Home14 October 1959also Leader of the House of Lords
The Viscount Hailsham27 July 1960Also Minister for Science until 1964 and Leader of the House of Lords until 20 October 1963
Lord Privy SealR. A. Butler13 January 1957Also Home Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons
The Viscount Hailsham14 October 1959Also Minister for Science
Edward Heath27 July 1960 
Selwyn Lloyd20 October 1963also Leader of the House of Commons
Chancellor of the ExchequerPeter Thorneycroft13 January 1957 
Derick Heathcoat-Amory6 January 1958 
Selwyn Lloyd27 July 1960 
Reginald Maudling13 July 1962 
Parliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryEdward Heath17 January 1957 
Martin Redmayne14 October 1959 
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryEnoch Powell16 January 1957 
Jocelyn Simon6 January 1958 
Sir Edward Boyle22 October 1959 
Anthony Barber16 July 1962 
Alan Green23 October 1963 
Economic Secretary to the TreasuryNigel Birch16 January 1957Office vacant from 6 January 1958
Frederick Erroll23 October 1958 
Anthony Barber22 October 1959 
Edward du Cann16 July 1962 
Maurice Macmillan21 October 1963 
Lords of the TreasuryMartin Redmayne21 January 1957 – 14 October 1959 
Peter Legh21 January 1957 – 17 September 1957 
Edward Wakefield21 January 1957 – 23 October 1958 
Harwood Harrison21 January 1957 – 16 January 1959 
Anthony Barber9 April 1957 – 19 February 1958 
Richard Brooman-White28 October 1957 – 21 June 1958 
Paul Bryan19 February 1958 – 9 February 1961 
Michael Hughes-Young23 October 1958 – 6 March 1962 
Graeme Bell Finlay16 January 1959 – 28 October 1960 
David Gibson-Watt22 October 1959 – 29 November 1961 
Robin Chichester-Clark21 June 1960 – 29 November 1961 
John Hill28 October 1960 – 16 October 1964 
William Whitelaw6 March 1961 – 16 July 1962 
John Peel29 November 1961 – 16 October 1964 
Michael Noble29 November 1961 – 13 July 1962 
Francis Pearson6 March 1962 – 19 October 1963 
Gordon Campbell6 September 1962 – 12 December 1963 
Michael Hamilton6 September 1962 – 16 October 1964 
Martin McLaren21 November 1963 – 16 October 1964 
Ian MacArthur12 December 1963 – 16 October 1964 
Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsSelwyn Lloyd14 January 1957 
The Earl of Home27 July 1960 
Rab Butler20 October 1963 
Minister of State for Foreign AffairsAllan Noble16 January 1957 – 16 January 1959 
David Ormsby-Gore16 January 1957 – 27 June 1961 
John Profumo16 January 1959 – 27 July 1960 
Joseph Godber27 June 1961 – 27 June 1963 
The Earl of Dundee9 October 1961 – 16 October 1964 
Peter Thomas27 June 1963 – 16 October 1964 
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsThe Earl of Gosford18 January 1957 – 23 October 1958
Ian Harvey18 January 1957 – 24 November 1958 
The Marquess of Lansdowne23 October 1958 – 20 April 1962 
John Profumo28 November 1958 – 16 January 1959 
Robert Allan16 January 1959 – 7 October 1960 
Joseph Godber28 October 1960 – 27 June 1961 
Peter Thomas27 June 1961 – 27 June 1963 
Peter Smithers16 July 1962 – 29 January 1964 
Robert Mathew30 January 1964 – 16 October 1964 
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentR. A. Butler13 January 1957also Leader of the House of Commons until 1961
Henry Brooke13 July 1963 
Minister of State for Home AffairsDennis Vosper28 October 1960New office
David Renton27 June 1961 
The Earl Jellicoe17 July 1962 
The Lord Derwent21 October 1963 
Under-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentPatricia Hornsby-Smith18 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 
Jocelyn Simon18 January 1957 – 6 January 1958
David Renton17 January 1958 – 27 June 1961 
Dennis Vosper22 October 1959 – 28 October 1960 
The Earl Bathurst8 February 1961 – 16 July 1962 
Charles Fletcher-Cooke27 June 1961 – 27 February 1963 
Christopher Montague Woodhouse16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 
Mervyn Pike1 March 1963 – 16 October 1964 
First Lord of the AdmiraltyThe Earl of Selkirk16 January 1957 
The Lord Carrington16 October 1959 
The Earl Jellicoe22 October 1963Office reorganised 1 April 1964 under Ministry of Defence
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the AdmiraltyChristopher Soames18 January 1957 
Robert Allan17 January 1958 
Charles Ian Orr-Ewing16 January 1959Office vacant 16 October 1959
Civil Lord of the AdmiraltyTam Galbraith18 January 1957 
Ian Orr-Ewing16 October 1959 
John Hay3 May 1963 
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodDerick Heathcoat Amory14 January 1957 
John Hare6 January 1958 
Christopher Soames27 July 1960 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodThe Earl St Aldwyn18 January 1957 
Joseph Godber18 January 1957 – 28 October 1960 
The Earl Waldegrave27 June 1958 – 16 July 1962 
William Vane28 October 1960 – 16 July 1962 
The Lord St Oswald16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 
James Scott-Hopkins16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 
Secretary of State for AirGeorge Ward16 January 1957 
Julian Amery28 October 1960 
Hugh Fraser16 July 1962Office reorganised under Ministry of Defence 1 April 1964
Under-Secretary of State for AirIan Orr-Ewing18 January 1957 
Airey Neave16 January 1959 
William Taylor16 October 1959 
Julian Ridsdale16 January 1962 
Minister of AviationDuncan Sandys14 October 1959 
Peter Thorneycroft27 July 1960 
Julian Amery16 July 1962 
Parliamentary Secretary for AviationGeoffrey Rippon22 October 1959 
Montague Woodhouse9 October 1961 
Basil de Ferranti16 July 1962 
Neil Marten3 December 1962 
Secretary of State for the ColoniesAlan Lennox-Boyd14 January 1957 
Iain Macleod14 October 1959 
Reginald Maudling9 October 1961 
Duncan Sandys13 July 1962Joint with Commonwealth Relations
Minister of State for the ColoniesThe Earl of Perth16 January 1957 
The Marquess of Lansdowne20 April 1962Joint with Commonwealth Relations from 21 October 1963
Under-Secretary of State for the ColoniesJohn Profumo17 January 1957 
Julian Amery28 November 1958 
Hugh Fraser28 October 1960 
Nigel Fisher16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 
Richard Hornby24 October 1963 – 16 October 1964 
Secretary of State for Commonwealth RelationsThe Earl of Home14 January 1957also Leader of the House of Lords from 19 March 1957
Duncan Sandys27 July 1960Jointly with Colonial Office from 13 July 1962
Minister of State for Commonwealth RelationsCuthbert Alport22 October 1959 – 8 February 1961 
The Duke of Devonshire6 September 1962 – 16 October 1964With Colonial Office from 21 October 1963
Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth RelationsCuthbert Alport18 January 1957 
Richard Thompson22 October 1959 
The Duke of Devonshire28 October 1960 – 6 September 1962 
Bernard Braine8 February 1961 – 16 July 1962 
John Tilney16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 
Minister of DefenceDuncan Sandys13 January 1957 
Harold Watkinson14 October 1959 
Peter Thorneycroft13 July 1962Secretary of State for Defence from 1 April 1964 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of DefenceThe Lord Mancroft18 January 1957Office vacant 11 June 1957
Minister of State for AirHugh Fraser1 April 1964 
Minister of State for ArmyJames Ramsden1 April 1964 
Minister of State for NavyThe Earl Jellicoe1 April 1964 
Under-Secretary of State for AirJulian Ridsdale1 April 1964 
Under-Secretary of State for ArmyPeter Kirk1 April 1964 
Under-Secretary of State for NavyJohn Hay1 April 1964 
Minister of EducationThe Viscount Hailsham13 January 1957 
Geoffrey Lloyd17 September 1957 
Sir David Eccles14 October 1959 
Quintin Hogg1 April 1964Secretary of State for Education and Science
Minister of State for EducationSir Edward Boyle1 April 1964 
Peter Legh1 April 1964Office note in Cabinet
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of EducationSir Edward Boyle18 January 1957 
Kenneth Thompson22 October 1959 
Christopher Chataway16 July 1962Offices reorganised 1 April 1964
Under-Secretary of State for EducationThe Earl of Bessborough1 April 1964 
Christopher Chataway1 April 1964 
Minister of HealthDennis Vosper16 January 1957 
Derek Walker-Smith17 September 1957 
Enoch Powell27 July 1960In Cabinet from 13 July 1962
Anthony Barber20 October 1963 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of HealthJohn Vaughan-Morgan18 January 1957 
Richard Thompson17 September 1957 
Edith Pitt22 October 1959 
Bernard Braine16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 
The Lord Newton6 September 1962 – 1 April 1964 
The Marquess of Lothian24 March 1964 – 16 October 1964 
Minister of Housing, Local Government and Welsh AffairsHenry Brooke13 January 1957 
Charles Hill9 October 1961 
Sir Keith Joseph13 July 1962 
Minister of State for Welsh AffairsThe Lord Brecon12 December 1957 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Local GovernmentReginald Bevins18 January 1957 
Sir Keith Joseph22 October 1959 – 9 October 1961 
The Earl Jellicoe27 June 1961 – 16 July 1962 
Geoffrey Rippon9 October 1961 – 16 July 1962 
Frederick Corfield16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 
The Lord Hastings3 December 1962 – 16 October 1964 
Minister of Labour and National ServiceIain Macleod14 January 1957 
Edward Heath14 October 1959 
John Hare27 July 1960 
Joseph Godber20 October 1963 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of LabourRobert Carr19 January 1957 
Richard Wood14 April 1958 
Peter Thomas22 October 1959 
Alan Green27 June 1961 
William Whitelaw16 July 1962 
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterCharles Hill13 January 1957 
Iain Macleod9 October 1961also Leader of the House of Commons
The Lord Blakenham20 October 1963 
Paymaster GeneralReginald Maudling16 January 1957Office in Cabinet from 17 September 1957
The Lord Mills14 October 1959 
Henry Brooke9 October 1961Also Chief Secretary to the Treasury
John Boyd-Carpenter13 July 1962 
Minister of Pensions and National InsuranceJohn Boyd-Carpenter16 January 1957 
Niall Macpherson16 July 1962 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of PensionsEdith Pitt19 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 
Richard Wood19 January 1957 – 14 April 1958 
William Vane14 April 1958 – 20 October 1960 
Patricia Hornsby-Smith22 October 1959 – 31 August 1961 
Bernard Braine28 October 1960 – 8 February 1961 
Richard Sharples8 February 1961 – 16 July 1962 
Margaret Thatcher9 October 1961 – 16 October 1964 
Lynch Maydon16 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 
Minister without PortfolioThe Earl of Munster16 January 1957 
The Lord Mancroft11 June 1957 
The Earl of Dundee23 October 1958 
The Lord Mills9 October 1961 – 14 July 1962Office in Cabinet
William Deedes13 July 1962 – 16 October 1964 
The Lord Carrington20 October 1963 – 16 October 1964also Leader of the House of Lords
Postmaster-GeneralErnest Marples16 January 1957 
Reginald Bevins22 October 1959 
Assistant Postmaster-GeneralKenneth Thompson18 January 1957 
Mervyn Pike22 October 1959 
Raymond Llewellyn Mawby1 March 1963 
Minister of PowerThe Lord Mills13 January 1957 
Richard Wood14 October 1959Office not in Cabinet
Frederick Erroll20 October 1963Office back in Cabinet
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of PowerDavid Renton18 January 1957 
Sir Ian Horobin17 January 1958 
John George22 October 1959 
John Peyton25 June 1962 
Minister of ScienceThe Viscount Hailsham14 October 1959also Leader of the House of Lords 27 July 1960 – 20 October 1963; From 1 April 1964 Secretary of State for Education and Science
Secretary of State for ScotlandJohn Maclay13 January 1957 
Michael Noble13 July 1962 
Minister of State for ScotlandThe Lord Strathclyde17 January 1957 
The Lord Forbes23 October 1958 
Jack Nixon Browne22 October 1959Lord Craigton
Under-Secretary of State for ScotlandJack Nixon Browne18 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 
Niall Macpherson19 January 1957 – 28 October 1960 
Lord John Hope18 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 
Tam Galbraith22 October 1959 – 8 November 1962 
Gilmour Leburn22 October 1959 – 15 August 1963 
Richard Brooman-White28 October 1960 – 12 December 1963 
The Lady Tweedsmuir3 December 1962 – 16 October 1964 
Anthony Stodart19 August 1963 – 16 October 1964 
Gordon Campbell12 December 1963 – 16 October 1964 
Minister of SupplyAubrey Jones16 January 1957Office wound up 22 October 1959
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of SupplyWilliam Taylor18 January 1957Office wound up 22 October 1959
Minister for Technical CooperationDennis Vosper27 June 1961 
Robert Carr9 May 1963 
President of the Board of TradeSir David Eccles13 January 1957 
Reginald Maudling14 October 1959 
Frederick Erroll9 October 1961 
Edward Heath20 October 1963Also Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development
Minister of State for TradeDerek Walker-Smith16 January 1957 
John Vaughan-Morgan17 September 1957 
Frederick Erroll22 October 1959 
Sir Keith Joseph9 October 1961 
Alan Green16 July 1962 – 23 October 1963 
The Lord Derwent6 September 1962 – 23 October 1963 
The Lord Drumalbyn23 October 1963 – 16 October 1964Formerly N Macpherson
Edward du Cann21 October 1963 – 16 October 1964 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of TradeFrederick Erroll18 January 1957 
John Rodgers24 October 1958 
Niall Macpherson28 October 1960 
David Price17 July 1962 
Minister of Transport and Civil AviationHarold Watkinson13 January 1957Civil aviation separated 14 October 1959
Ernest Marples14 October 1959 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of TransportRichard Nugent18 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 
Airey Neave18 January 1957 – 16 January 1959 
John Hay16 January 1959 – 3 May 1963 
The Lord Chesham22 October 1959 – 16 October 1964 
John Hughes-Hallett26 April 1961 – 16 October 1964 
Tam Galbraith3 May 1963 – 16 October 1964 
Secretary of State for WarJohn Hare16 January 1957 
Christopher Soames6 January 1958 
John Profumo27 July 1960 
Joseph Godber27 June 1963 
James Ramsden21 October 1963Reorganised under Ministry of Defence 1 April 1964
Under-Secretary of State and Financial Secretary for WarJulian Amery18 January 1957 
Hugh Fraser28 November 1958 
James Ramsden28 October 1960 
Peter Kirk24 October 1963 
Minister of WorksHugh Molson16 January 1957 
Lord John Hope22 October 1959 
Geoffrey Rippon16 July 1962Minister of Public Building and Works. In Cabinet from 20 October 1963
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of WorksHarmar Nicholls18 January 1957 
Richard Thompson28 October 1960 
Richard Sharples16 July 1962 
Attorney GeneralSir Reginald Manningham-Buller17 January 1957 
Sir John Hobson16 July 1962 
Solicitor GeneralSir Harry Hylton-Foster17 January 1957 
Sir Jocelyn Simon22 October 1959 
Sir John Hobson8 February 1962 
Sir Peter Rawlinson19 July 1962 
Lord AdvocateWilliam Rankine Milligan17 January 1957 
William Grant5 April 1960 
Ian Shearer12 October 1962Not an MP
Solicitor General for ScotlandWilliam Grant17 January 1957 
David Colville Anderson11 May 1960 
Norman Wylie27 April 1964 
Treasurer of the HouseholdHendrie Oakshott19 January 1957 
Peter Legh16 January 1959Lord Newton
Edward Wakefield21 June 1960 
Michael Hughes-Young6 March 1962 
Comptroller of the HouseholdGerald Wills19 January 1957Knighted
Edward Wakefield23 October 1958 
Harwood Harrison16 January 1959 
Robin Chichester-Clark29 November 1961 
Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdRichard Thompson21 January 1957 
Peter Legh17 September 1957 
Edward Wakefield16 January 1959 
Richard Brooman-White21 June 1960 
Graeme Finlay28 October 1960 
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Earl Fortescue21 January 1957 
The Earl St Aldwyn27 June 1958 
Captain of the Yeomen of the GuardThe Earl of Onslow21 January 1957 
The Lord Newton28 October 1960 
The Viscount Goschen6 September 1962 
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Hawke21 January 1957 – 11 June 1957 
The Lord Fairfax of Cameron21 January 1957 – 21 June 1957 
The Lord Chesham21 January 1957 – 22 October 1959 
The Marquess of Lansdowne11 June 1957 – 23 October 1958 
The Earl Bathurst17 September 1957 – 8 February 1961 
The Earl of Gosford23 October 1958 – 22 October 1959 
The Lord St Oswald22 October 1959 – 16 July 1962 
The Earl Jellicoe8 February 1961 – 27 June 1961 
The Lord Hastings6 March 1961 – 3 December 1962 
The Lord Denham27 June 1961 – 16 October 1964 
The Marquess of Lothian6 September 1962 – 3 March 1964 
The Earl Ferrers3 December 1962 – 10 October 1964 

References

Preceded by
Eden ministry		 Government of the United Kingdom
1957–1964 		Succeeded by
First Wilson ministry
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