How many Cabinet ministers are there and what do they do? Tory party members deliver scathing verdict

Conservative party members are more dissatisfied than ever with Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet, a new survey has revealed. 

The ConservativeHome website poll has ranked just under half (12 out of 32) of the UK Cabinet negatively. Illegal Migration Minister Michael Tomlinson, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have received the lowest ratings. 

“Last month, we saw an unhappy record broken in the history of the Cabinet League Table with 11 ministers in negative ratings. Well, [it] turns out that record stood for only a month: this time it’s 12,” the report says. 

The Tory poll also suggests the Cabinet league table scores are a useful indicator of overall feelings about the Government. 

“Five months into the Prime Minister’s post-conference fightback, it’s looking as bleak as ever it has,” the report continues. 

Following Mr Sunak’s reshuffle in November 2023, the Cabinet has dealt with a wave of policy challenges linked to immigration, the economy, and health care.

However, slumping ratings among even loyal Tory voters paint a dire outlook for the leadership, especially in the run-up to a general election. 

So how many Cabinet ministers are there and what are their roles?

Following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s reshuffle in November 2023, the Cabinet has dealt with a wave of policy challenges linked to immigration, the economy, and health care (PA Wire)

How many Cabinet ministers are there?

There are 23 ministers in the Cabinet, including Prime Minister Mr Sunak. 

He has chosen the most senior ministers in the Government to lead on specific policy areas such as health, transport, and foreign affairs.

Who are the Cabinet ministers?

The current Cabinet ministers and their titles are the following:

• Rishi Sunak MP, Prime Minister

• Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Deputy PM

• Jeremy Hunt MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer

• Lord David Cameron, Foreign Secretary 

• James Cleverly MP, Home Secretary

• Grant Shapps MP, Defence Secretary

• Alex Chalk KC MP, Justice Secretary

• Michelle Donelan MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

• Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

• Victoria Atkins MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

• Steve Barclay MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

• Penny Mordaunt MP, Lord President of the Council, Leader of the House of Commons

• Lord True CBE, Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords

• Kemi Badenoch MP, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, President of the Board 

• Claire Coutinho MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

• Mel Stride MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

• Gillian Keegan MP, Secretary of State for Education

• Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport

• Lucy Frazer KC MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

• Richard Holden MP, Minister without Portfolio

• Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

• Alister Jack MP, Secretary of State for Scotland

• David TC Davies MP, Secretary of State for Wales

Who else also attends the Cabinet?

As well as the 23 ministers, nine other politicians attend the Cabinet.  They are:

• The Rt Hon Simon Hart MP, Chief Whip 

• Laura Trott MBE MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury

• The Rt Hon Victoria Prentis KC MP, Attorney General

• The Rt Hon John Glen MP, Paymaster General, Minister for the Cabinet Office (Unpaid)

• The Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, Minister without Portfolio

• The Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MBE VR MP, Minister of State (Minister for Security)

• The Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, Minister of State (Development and Africa), Deputy Foreign Secretary (Unpaid)

• The Rt Hon Johnny Mercer MP, Minister of State (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs)

• The Rt Hon Michael Tomlinson KC MP, Minister of State for Countering Illegal Migration.