Boris Johnson has brought back a role in his cabinet reshuffle which will see the postholder deputise for him when he’s unable to carry out a function.
Former Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, will take up the job of Deputy Prime Minister, a position which has not been in use for a number of years.
His previous role was also First Secretary of State, a post largely seen to be the de-facto Deputy Prime Minister position, but not in name.
So, you might have a few questions. What is the Deputy Prime Minister? Who is currently Deputy Prime Minister in the UK? And who has previously served as the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister? Let’s have a go at answering those questions.
What is the Deputy Prime Minister role?
The Deputy Prime Minister role is a job which was brought back by Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his cabinet reshuffle.
It effectively means the postholder will deputise for the Prime Minister and will be the go-to person whenever the Prime Minister is absent from carrying out their duties.
We know, for example, one job of the UK’s new Deputy Prime Minister will be to stand-in answering questions when the Prime Minister is absent on a Wednesday.
The office has been dormant for the last five years, and was not used at all during Theresa May’s tenure as Prime Minister.
Who is the Deputy Prime Minister?
Former Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State, Dominic Raab, has been installed as the UK’s new Deputy Prime Minister. A job he will hold alongside being Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor.
Raab has some experience in deputising for the Prime Minister as when Boris Johnson had Covid-19 last year he was asked to stand-in and replace him for any necessary duties while the Prime Minister was absent.
According to a Government spokesman who was in contact with the BBC , the announcement of Dominic Raab as Deputy Prime Minister was a “planned move”.
Who has previously served as Deputy Prime Minister?
The last person to hold the office of Deputy Prime Minister prior to Dominic Raab’s appointment was former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.
He held the position throughout the years of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition, from 2010 to 2015.
Clegg lost the role when David Cameron called a General Election and won an outright Conservative majority.
The longest holder of the office in recent years was John Prescott, who served in the position when Tony Blair was Prime Minister.
Prior to him, Michael Heseltine took up the job between 1995 and 1997, under John Major, who was Prime Minister at the time.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
