In the May 2010 general election, no party was able to form a majority government. Both the Conservative and Labour parties needed the support of the Liberal Democrats to form a government that could function as a majority government in the Commons. After a degree of horse-trading with regards to what would be offered for the support of the Liberal Democrats, a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government was formed and Cameron had to create his first ever Cabinet. By the very nature of a coalition, the Cabinet contained a number of Liberal Democrat MP’s; the party leader, Nick Clegg, was made Deputy Prime Minister.

 

Prime Minister: David Cameron

 

Deputy Prime Minister: Nick Clegg*

 

Foreign Secretary: William Hague

 

Chancellor of the Exchequer: George Osbourne

 

Home Secretary: Theresa May

 

Defence Secretary: Liam Fox

 

Chief Secretary to the Treasury: Danny Alexander*

 

Health Secretary: Andrew Lansley

 

Education and Children Secretary: Michael Gove

 

Justice Secretary: Ken Clarke

 

Business Secretary: Vince Cable*

 

Works and Pensions Secretary: Ian Duncan-Smith

 

Energy and Climate Secretary: Chris Huhme*

 

Local Government and Communities Secretary: Eric Pickles

 

Transport Secretary: Philip Hammond

 

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary: Caroline Spelman

 

International Development Secretary: Andrew Mitchell

 

Culture, Sport and Olympics Secretary: Jeremy Hunt

 

Welsh Secretary: Cheryl Gillan

 

Northern Ireland Secretary: Owen Patterson

 

Chair of the Cabinet: Lady Warsi

 

Leader of the Lords: Lord Strathclyde

 

The following attend Cabinet meetings on a basis of when they are needed:

 

Paymaster General and Head of the Cabinet Office: Francis Maude

 

Minister of State, Cabinet Office: Oliver Letwin

 

Minister of State Universities and Science: David Willetts

 

Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury: Patrick McLoughlin

 

Attorney General: Dominic Grieve

 

Leader of the Commons and Lord Privy Seal: Sir George Young

 

* = Liberal Democrat.

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