# Paymaster General
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paymaster_General
> Source revision: 1355962404
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{{Short description|UK government ministerial position}}
{{distinguish|text=[Paymaster of the Forces](/source/Paymaster_of_the_Forces)}}
{{distinguish|text=[Paymaster-General of the United States Army](/source/Paymaster-General_of_the_United_States_Army)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox Political post
| post = {{small|[United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom)}}
His Majesty's Paymaster General
| insignia = Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
| insigniasize = 140px
| insigniacaption = [Royal Arms](/source/Royal_coat_of_arms_of_the_United_Kingdom) of [His Majesty's Government](/source/Government_of_the_United_Kingdom)
| department = [Cabinet Office](/source/Cabinet_Office)
| image = Nick Thomas Symonds official portrait 7 Jul 2024 (cropped 2).jpg
| incumbent = [Nick Thomas-Symonds](/source/Nick_Thomas-Symonds)
| incumbentsince = 8 July 2024
| style = ''Paymaster General'' (informal)
[The Right Honourable](/source/The_Right_Honourable) (formal; within the UK and Commonwealth)
| appointer = [The King](/source/Monarchy_of_the_United_Kingdom) (on the advice of the [Prime Minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom))
| inaugural = [Henry Parnell](/source/Henry_Parnell%2C_1st_Baron_Congleton)
| formation = 27 April 1836
| website = {{URL|https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/paymaster-general|Official website}}
}}
{{PoliticsUK}}
'''His Majesty's Paymaster General''' or '''HM Paymaster General''' is a ministerial position in the [Cabinet Office](/source/Cabinet_Office) of the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom). The position is currently held by [Nick Thomas-Symonds](/source/Nick_Thomas-Symonds) of the [Labour Party](/source/Labour_Party_(UK)), who also serves as [Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations](/source/Minister_for_the_Constitution_and_European_Union_Relations) and [Minister for the Cabinet Office](/source/Minister_for_the_Cabinet_Office)
==History==
[[File:36 Whitehall (geograph 5346102).jpg|thumb|260px|left|Until 1939 the Office of the Paymaster General was at 36 [Whitehall](/source/Whitehall) (an extension of [Horse Guards](/source/Horse_Guards_(building)) formerly occupied by the Paymaster to the Forces).[{{cite book |last=Roper |first=Michael |title=The Records of the War Office and Related Departments, 1660-1964 |publisher=Public Record Office |location=Kew, UK |date=1998}}]]]
The post was created in 1836 by the merger of the positions of the offices of the [Paymaster of the Forces](/source/Paymaster_of_the_Forces) (1661–1836), the [Treasurer of the Navy](/source/Treasurer_of_the_Navy) (1546–1835), the Paymaster and Treasurer of [Chelsea Hospital](/source/Chelsea_Hospital) (responsible for [Army pensions](/source/Chelsea_Pensioner)) (1681–1835) and the [Treasurer of the Ordnance](/source/Treasurer_of_the_Ordnance) (1670–1835).
Initially, the Paymaster General only had responsibilities in relation to the [armed services](/source/armed_services) but in 1848 two more offices were merged into that of Paymaster General: the Paymaster of Exchequer Bills (1723–1848) and the Paymaster of the Civil Service (1834–1848), the latter followed by its Irish counterpart in 1861. They thus became 'the principal paying agent of the government and the banker for all government departments except the [revenue departments](/source/HM_Revenue_and_Customs) and the [National Debt](/source/National_Debt) Office'.[{{OGL-attribution|version=3.0|{{cite web |title=Records of the Paymaster General's Office and predecessors |url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C229 |website=The National Archives |access-date=10 December 2018}}}}]
From 1848 to 1868, the post was held concurrently with that of [Vice-President of the Board of Trade](/source/Vice-President_of_the_Board_of_Trade).
The longest-serving holder of the post was [Dawn Primarolo](/source/Dawn_Primarolo), whose portfolio covered [HM Customs and Excise](/source/HM_Customs_and_Excise) and the [Inland Revenue](/source/Inland_Revenue) (which during her tenure became merged as [HM Revenue and Customs](/source/HM_Revenue_and_Customs)) and who served from 1999 to 2007.
==Role==
Today, the Paymaster General is usually a [minister without portfolio](/source/Minister_without_portfolio_(United_Kingdom)) available for any duties which the government of the day may designate. The post may be combined with another office, or may be left unfilled.
Though the Paymaster General was titular head of the Paymaster General's Office, their executive functions were delegated to the Assistant Paymaster General, a permanent [civil servant](/source/civil_servant) who (though acting in the name of the Paymaster General) was answerable to the [Chancellor of the Exchequer](/source/Chancellor_of_the_Exchequer).[{{cite web |last1=Gater |first1=G.H. |last2=Wheeler |first2=E.P. |title=Office of the Paymaster-General |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol16/pt1/pp17-27 |website=British History Online |publisher=London County Council |location=London |date=1935 |pages=17–27 |access-date=28 February 2017}}] ('''OPG'''), which held accounts at the [Bank of England](/source/Bank_of_England) on behalf of government departments and selected other public bodies. Funds which were made available from the [Consolidated Fund](/source/Consolidated_Fund) were then channelled into OPG accounts, from where they were used by the relevant body. OPG operated a full range of accounts and banking transaction services, including cheque and credit, [BACS](/source/BACS) and [CHAPS](/source/CHAPS) services for its customers via an electronic banking system. Integration of OPG accounts held with commercial banks was provided by the private company '''Xafinity Paymaster''' which is now part of the [Equiniti](/source/Equiniti) group.
However, in 2008, the government announced that the Office of the Paymaster General would be incorporated into a new body, the '''Government Banking Service''',[{{cite web |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407190524/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_48_08.htm |archive-date=7 April 2010 |df=dmy-all |url=http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_48_08.htm |url-status=dead |title=Press Release: Angela Eagle launches the Government Banking Service |publisher=HM Treasury |date=22 May 2008}}] which also provides banking operations for [HM Revenue & Customs](/source/HM_Revenue_%26_Customs) and [National Savings and Investments](/source/National_Savings_and_Investments). Following the Bank of England's decision to withdraw from providing retail banking services,[{{cite web |url=http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/insolvencyprofessionandlegislation/ipb/Important%20changes%20to%20banking%20arrangements%20for%20the%20ISA.doc |title=Important changes to banking arrangements for the Insolvency Services Account |website=insolvency.gov.uk |publisher=The [Insolvency Service](/source/Insolvency_Service) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030173317/http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/insolvencyprofessionandlegislation/ipb/Important%20changes%20to%20banking%20arrangements%20for%20the%20ISA.doc |archive-date=30 October 2010 |df=dmy-all}}] retail banking and payment services for the GBS are provided by a range of financial institutions including [Barclays](/source/Barclays), [Citibank](/source/Citibank), [NatWest](/source/NatWest), and [Worldpay](/source/Worldpay%2C_Inc.),[{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/government-banking-service-gbs |title=Government Banking |publisher=gov.uk}}] although the Bank of England still plays a role in managing the government's higher level accounts.[{{cite web |url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/government-banking-service.pdf |title=Government Banking Service |publisher=[Department for Work and Pensions](/source/Department_for_Work_and_Pensions)}}]
==List of paymasters general==
===19th century===
*[Sir Henry Parnell, 4th Baronet](/source/Henry_Parnell) 1836–1841
*[Edward Stanley](/source/Edward_Stanley%2C_2nd_Baron_Stanley_of_Alderley) 1841
*[Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Baronet](/source/Sir_Edward_Knatchbull%2C_9th_Baronet) 1841–1845
*[Bingham Baring](/source/Bingham_Baring) 1845–1846
*[Thomas Babington Macaulay](/source/Thomas_Babington_Macaulay%2C_1st_Baron_Macaulay) 1846–1848
*[Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville](/source/Granville_Leveson-Gower%2C_2nd_Earl_Granville) 1848–1852
*[Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley](/source/Edward_Stanley%2C_2nd_Baron_Stanley_of_Alderley) 1852
*[Charles Abbot, 2nd Baron Colchester](/source/Charles_Abbot%2C_2nd_Baron_Colchester) 1852
*Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley 1853–1855
*[Edward Pleydell-Bouverie](/source/Edward_Pleydell-Bouverie) 1855
*[Robert Lowe](/source/Robert_Lowe) 1855–1858
*[Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore](/source/Richard_Hely-Hutchinson%2C_4th_Earl_of_Donoughmore) 1858–1859
*[Algernon Percy, Lord Lovaine](/source/Algernon_Percy%2C_6th_Duke_of_Northumberland) 1859
*[James Wilson](/source/James_Wilson_(businessman)) 1859
*[William Cowper](/source/William_Cowper-Temple%2C_1st_Baron_Mount_Temple) 1859–1860
*[William Hutt](/source/William_Hutt_(politician)) 1860–1865
*[George Goschen](/source/George_Goschen%2C_1st_Viscount_Goschen) 1865–1866
*[William Monsell](/source/William_Monsell) 1866
*[Stephen Cave](/source/Stephen_Cave) 1866–1868
*[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Earl of Dufferin](/source/Frederick_Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood%2C_1st_Earl_of_Dufferin) 1868–1872
*[Hugh Childers](/source/Hugh_Childers) 1872–1873
*[William Adam](/source/William_Patrick_Adam) 1873–1874
*Stephen Cave 1874–1880
*[David Plunket](/source/David_Plunket) 1880
*[George Glyn, 2nd Baron Wolverton](/source/George_Glyn%2C_2nd_Baron_Wolverton) 1880–1885
*[Frederick Lygon, 6th Earl Beauchamp](/source/Frederick_Lygon%2C_6th_Earl_Beauchamp) 1885–1886
*[Thomas Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, 5th Baron Thurlow](/source/Thomas_Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce%2C_5th_Baron_Thurlow) 1886
*Frederick Lygon, 6th Earl Beauchamp 1886–1887
*[Adelbert Brownlow-Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow](/source/Adelbert_Brownlow-Cust%2C_3rd_Earl_Brownlow) 1887–1889
*[Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey](/source/Victor_Child_Villiers%2C_7th_Earl_of_Jersey) 1889–1890
*[Robert Windsor-Clive, 14th Baron Windsor](/source/Robert_Windsor-Clive%2C_1st_Earl_of_Plymouth) 1890–1892
*[Charles Seale-Hayne](/source/Charles_Seale-Hayne) 1892–1895
*[John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun](/source/John_Hope%2C_7th_Earl_of_Hopetoun) 1895–1899
*[Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough](/source/Charles_Spencer-Churchill%2C_9th_Duke_of_Marlborough) 1899–1902
===20th century===
*[Savile Crossley](/source/Savile_Crossley) 1902–1905
*[Richard Causton](/source/Richard_Causton%2C_1st_Baron_Southwark) (1st Baron Southwark after 13 July 1910) 1905–1910
*[Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Ashby St Ledgers](/source/Ivor_Guest%2C_1st_Baron_Ashby_St_Ledgers) 1910–1912
*[Edward Strachey, 1st Baron Strachie](/source/Edward_Strachey%2C_1st_Baron_Strachie) 1912–1915
*[Thomas Legh, 2nd Baron Newton](/source/Thomas_Legh%2C_2nd_Baron_Newton) 1915–1916
*[Arthur Henderson](/source/Arthur_Henderson) 1916
*[Joseph Compton-Rickett](/source/Joseph_Compton-Rickett) 1916–1919
*[Tudor Walters](/source/Tudor_Walters) 1919–1922
*''Office vacant'' 1922–1923
*[Neville Chamberlain](/source/Neville_Chamberlain) 1923
*[William Joynson-Hicks](/source/William_Joynson-Hicks) 1923
*[Archibald Boyd-Carpenter](/source/Archibald_Boyd-Carpenter) 1923–1924
*[Harry Gosling](/source/Harry_Gosling) 1924
*''Office vacant'' 1924–1925
*[George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland](/source/George_Sutherland-Leveson-Gower%2C_5th_Duke_of_Sutherland) 1925–1928
*[Richard Onslow, 5th Earl of Onslow](/source/Richard_Onslow%2C_5th_Earl_of_Onslow) 1928–1929
*[Sydney Arnold](/source/Sydney_Arnold) 1929–1931
*''Office vacant'' 1931
*Tudor Walters 1931
*[Ernest Lamb, 1st Baron Rochester](/source/Ernest_Lamb%2C_1st_Baron_Rochester) 1931–1935
*[Robert Hutchison, 1st Baron Hutchison of Montrose](/source/Robert_Hutchison%2C_1st_Baron_Hutchison_of_Montrose) 1935–1938
*[Geoffrey FitzClarence, 5th Earl of Munster](/source/Geoffrey_FitzClarence%2C_5th_Earl_of_Munster) 1938–1939
*[Edward Turnour, 6th Earl Winterton](/source/Edward_Turnour%2C_6th_Earl_Winterton) 1939
*''Office vacant'' 1939–1940
*[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount Cranborne](/source/Robert_Gascoyne-Cecil%2C_5th_Marquess_of_Salisbury) 1940
*''Office vacant'' 1940–1941
*[Maurice Hankey](/source/Maurice_Hankey) 1941–1942
*[William Jowitt](/source/William_Jowitt) 1942
*[Frederick Lindemann, 1st Baron Cherwell](/source/Frederick_Lindemann%2C_1st_Baron_Cherwell) 1942–1945
*''Office vacant'' 1945–1946
*[Arthur Greenwood](/source/Arthur_Greenwood) 9 July 1946 Lab
*[Hilary Marquand](/source/Hilary_Marquand) 5 March 1947 Lab
*[Christopher Addison, 1st Viscount Addison](/source/Christopher_Addison%2C_1st_Viscount_Addison) 2 July 1948 also [Leader of the House of Lords](/source/Leader_of_the_House_of_Lords) Lab
*[Gordon Macdonald, 1st Baron Macdonald of Gwaenysgor](/source/Gordon_Macdonald%2C_1st_Baron_Macdonald_of_Gwaenysgor) 1 April 1949 Lab
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Paymaster General
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Concurrent office(s)
! Political party
! colspan=2 | Prime Minister
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Frederick Lindemann](/source/Frederick_Lindemann%2C_1st_Viscount_Cherwell)
{{Small|[1st Viscount Cherwell](/source/Frederick_Lindemann%2C_1st_Viscount_Cherwell)}}
| 30 October 1951
| 11 November 1953
|
| rowspan=8 | [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK))
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [Winston Churchill](/source/Winston_Churchill)
{{Small|([III](/source/Third_Churchill_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [George Douglas-Hamilton](/source/George_Douglas-Hamilton%2C_10th_Earl_of_Selkirk)
{{Small|10th [Earl of Selkirk](/source/Earl_of_Selkirk)}}
| 11 November 1953
| 20 October 1955
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|-
| colspan=3 | ''Office vacant''
| 20 October 1955
| 18 October 1956
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [Anthony Eden](/source/Anthony_Eden)
{{Small|([Eden](/source/Eden_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Walter Monckton](/source/Walter_Monckton)
{{Small|MP for [Bristol West](/source/Bristol_West_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 18 October 1956
| 16 January 1957
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 100x100px
| [Reginald Maudling](/source/Reginald_Maudling)
{{Small|MP for [Barnet](/source/Barnet_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 16 January 1957
| 14 October 1959
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [Harold Macmillan](/source/Harold_Macmillan)
{{Small|([I](/source/Conservative_government%2C_1957%E2%80%931964))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Percy Mills](/source/Percy_Mills%2C_1st_Viscount_Mills)
{{Small|1st [Viscount Mills](/source/Viscount_Mills)}}
| 14 October 1959
| 9 October 1961
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [Harold Macmillan](/source/Harold_Macmillan)
{{Small|([II](/source/Conservative_government%2C_1957%E2%80%931964))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Henry Brooke](/source/Henry_Brooke%2C_Baron_Brooke_of_Cumnor)
{{Small|MP for [Hampstead](/source/Hampstead_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 9 October 1961
| 13 July 1962
| [Chief Secretary to the Treasury](/source/Chief_Secretary_to_the_Treasury)
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [John Boyd-Carpenter](/source/John_Boyd-Carpenter%2C_Baron_Boyd-Carpenter)
{{Small|MP for [Kingston-upon-Thames](/source/Kingston-upon-Thames_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 13 July 1962
| 19 October 1964
| [Chief Secretary to the Treasury](/source/Chief_Secretary_to_the_Treasury)
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [Alec Douglas-Home](/source/Alec_Douglas-Home)
{{Small|([Douglas-Home](/source/Conservative_government%2C_1957%E2%80%931964))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [George Wigg](/source/George_Wigg)
{{Small|MP for [Dudley](/source/Dudley_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 19 October 1964
| 12 November 1967
|
| rowspan=5 | [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK))
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [Harold Wilson](/source/Harold_Wilson)
{{Small|([I](/source/First_Wilson_ministry) & [II](/source/Second_Wilson_ministry))}}
|-
| colspan=3 | ''Office vacant''
| 12 November 1967
| 6 April 1968
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=4 | [Harold Wilson](/source/Harold_Wilson)
{{Small|([II](/source/Second_Wilson_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Edward Shackleton](/source/Edward_Shackleton%2C_Baron_Shackleton)
{{Small|[Baron Shackleton](/source/Edward_Shackleton%2C_Baron_Shackleton)}}
| 6 April 1968
| 1 November 1968
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Judith Hart](/source/Judith_Hart)
{{Small|MP for [Clydesdale](/source/Clydesdale_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 1 November 1968
| 6 October 1969
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Harold Lever](/source/Harold_Lever%2C_Baron_Lever_of_Manchester)
{{Small|MP for [Manchester Cheetham](/source/Manchester_Cheetham_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 6 October 1969
| 23 June 1970
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [David Eccles](/source/David_Eccles%2C_1st_Viscount_Eccles)
{{Small|1st [Viscount Eccles](/source/Viscount_Eccles)}}
| 23 June 1970
| 2 December 1973
| [Minister for the Arts](/source/Minister_for_the_Arts_(United_Kingdom))
| rowspan=2 | [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK))
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [Edward Heath](/source/Edward_Heath)
{{Small|([Heath](/source/Heath_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Maurice Macmillan](/source/Maurice_Macmillan)
{{Small|MP for [Farnham](/source/Farnham_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 2 December 1973
| 4 March 1974
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Edmund Dell](/source/Edmund_Dell)
{{Small|MP for [Birkenhead](/source/Birkenhead_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 4 March 1974
| 10 September 1976
|
| rowspan=2 | [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK))
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [Harold Wilson](/source/Harold_Wilson)
{{Small|([III](/source/Labour_government%2C_1974%E2%80%931979) & [IV](/source/Labour_government%2C_1974%E2%80%931979))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Shirley Williams](/source/Shirley_Williams)
{{Small|MP for [Hitchin](/source/Hitchin_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 10 September 1976
| 4 May 1979
| [Secretary of State for Education and Science](/source/Secretary_of_State_for_Education)
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [James Callaghan](/source/James_Callaghan)
{{Small|([Callaghan](/source/Labour_government%2C_1974%E2%80%931979))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Angus Maude](/source/Angus_Maude)
{{Small|MP for [Stratford-on-Avon](/source/Stratford-on-Avon_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 4 May 1979
| 5 January 1981
|
| rowspan=14 | [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK))
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [Margaret Thatcher](/source/Margaret_Thatcher)
{{Small|([I](/source/First_Thatcher_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Francis Pym](/source/Francis_Pym)
{{Small|MP for [Cambridgeshire](/source/Cambridgeshire_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 5 January 1981
| 14 September 1981
| [Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster](/source/Chancellor_of_the_Duchy_of_Lancaster)
{{Small|(5 January 1981 – 14 September 1981)}}
[Leader of the House of Commons](/source/Leader_of_the_House_of_Commons)
{{Small|(5 January 1981 – 5 April 1982)}}
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Cecil Parkinson](/source/Cecil_Parkinson)
{{Small|MP for [South Hertfordshire](/source/South_Hertfordshire_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 14 September 1981
| 11 June 1983
| [Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster](/source/Chancellor_of_the_Duchy_of_Lancaster)
{{Small|(6 April 1982 – 11 June 1983)}}
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|-
| colspan=3 | ''Office vacant''
| 11 June 1983
| 11 September 1984
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [Margaret Thatcher](/source/Margaret_Thatcher)
{{Small|([II](/source/Second_Thatcher_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 100x100px
| [John Gummer](/source/John_Gummer)
{{Small|MP for [Suffolk Coastal](/source/Suffolk_Coastal_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 11 September 1984
| 1 September 1985
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 100x100px
| [Kenneth Clarke](/source/Kenneth_Clarke)
{{Small|MP for [Rushcliffe](/source/Rushcliffe_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 2 September 1985
| 13 July 1987
| [Minister of State for Employment](/source/Department_for_Work_and_Pensions)
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Peter Brooke](/source/Peter_Brooke%2C_Baron_Brooke_of_Sutton_Mandeville)
{{Small|MP for [City of London and Westminster South](/source/Cities_of_London_and_Westminster_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 13 July 1987
| 24 July 1989
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [Margaret Thatcher](/source/Margaret_Thatcher)
{{Small|([III](/source/Third_Thatcher_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Malcolm Sinclair](/source/Malcolm_Sinclair%2C_20th_Earl_of_Caithness)
{{Small|20th [Earl of Caithness](/source/Earl_of_Caithness)}}
| 25 July 1989
| 14 July 1990
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Richard Ryder](/source/Richard_Ryder%2C_Baron_Ryder_of_Wensum)
{{Small|MP for [Mid Norfolk](/source/Mid_Norfolk_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 14 July 1990
| 28 November 1990
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [John Major](/source/John_Major)
{{Small|([I](/source/First_Major_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [John Ganzoni](/source/John_Ganzoni%2C_2nd_Baron_Belstead)
{{Small|2nd [Baron Belstead](/source/Baron_Belstead)}}
| 28 November 1990
| 11 April 1992
| [Minister of State for Northern Ireland](/source/Secretary_of_State_for_Northern_Ireland)
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 100x100px
| [John Cope](/source/John_Cope%2C_Baron_Cope_of_Berkeley)
{{Small|MP for [Northavon](/source/Northavon_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 14 April 1992
| 20 July 1994
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=4 | [John Major](/source/John_Major)
{{Small|([lI](/source/Second_Major_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [David Heathcoat-Amory](/source/David_Heathcoat-Amory)
{{Small|MP for [Wells](/source/Wells_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 20 July 1994
| 20 July 1996
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [David Willetts](/source/David_Willetts)
{{Small|MP for [Havant](/source/Havant_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 20 July 1996
| 21 November 1996
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 120x120px
| [Michael Bates](/source/Michael_Bates%2C_Baron_Bates)
{{Small|MP for [Langbaurgh](/source/Langbaurgh_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 21 November 1996
| 2 May 1997
| [Lord Commissioner of the Treasury](/source/Lord_Commissioner_of_the_Treasury)
{{Small|(17 October 1995 – 11 December 1996)}}
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Geoffrey Robinson](/source/Geoffrey_Robinson_(politician))
{{Small|MP for [Coventry North West](/source/Coventry_North_West_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 2 May 1997
| 23 December 1998
|
| [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK))
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [Tony Blair](/source/Tony_Blair)
{{Small|([I](/source/First_Blair_ministry))}}
|}
===21st century===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Paymaster General
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Concurrent office(s)
! Political party
! colspan=2 | Prime Minister
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Dawn Primarolo](/source/Dawn_Primarolo)
{{Small|MP for [Bristol South](/source/Bristol_South_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 4 January 1999
| 28 June 2007
|
| rowspan=2 | [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK))
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [Tony Blair](/source/Tony_Blair)
{{Small|([I](/source/First_Blair_ministry), [II](/source/Second_Blair_ministry), [III](/source/Third_Blair_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| frameless|109x109px
| [Tessa Jowell](/source/Tessa_Jowell)
{{Small|MP for [Dulwich and West Norwood](/source/Dulwich_and_West_Norwood_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 28 June 2007
| 11 May 2010
| [Minister for the Olympics](/source/Minister_for_the_Olympics)
[Minister for the Cabinet Office](/source/Minister_for_the_Cabinet_Office)
{{Small|''(from 5 June 2009)''}}
[Minister for London](/source/Minister_for_London)
{{Small|''(until 3 October 2008; from 5 June 2009)''}}
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [Gordon Brown](/source/Gordon_Brown)
{{Small|([Brown](/source/Brown_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 94x94px
| [Francis Maude](/source/Francis_Maude)
{{Small|MP for [Horsham](/source/Horsham_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 12 May 2010
| 11 May 2015
| rowspan=3 | [Minister for the Cabinet Office](/source/Minister_for_the_Cabinet_Office)
| rowspan=12 | [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK))
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [David Cameron](/source/David_Cameron)
{{Small|([I](/source/Cameron%E2%80%93Clegg_coalition))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 112x112px
| [Matt Hancock](/source/Matt_Hancock)
{{Small|MP for [West Suffolk](/source/West_Suffolk_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 11 May 2015
| 14 July 2016
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [David Cameron](/source/David_Cameron)
{{Small|([II](/source/Second_Cameron_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Ben Gummer](/source/Ben_Gummer)
{{Small|MP for [Ipswich](/source/Ipswich_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 14 July 2016
| 13 June 2017
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [Theresa May](/source/Theresa_May)
{{Small|([I](/source/First_May_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Mel Stride](/source/Mel_Stride)
{{Small|MP for [Central Devon](/source/Central_Devon_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 13 June 2017
| [23 May 2019](/source/Second_May_ministry)
| rowspan=2 | [Financial Secretary to the Treasury](/source/Financial_Secretary_to_the_Treasury)
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [Theresa May](/source/Theresa_May)
{{Small|([II](/source/Second_May_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Jesse Norman](/source/Jesse_Norman)
{{Small|MP for [Hereford and South Herefordshire](/source/Hereford_and_South_Herefordshire_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| [23 May 2019](/source/Second_May_ministry)
| 24 July 2019
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75px
| [Oliver Dowden](/source/Oliver_Dowden)
{{Small|MP for [Hertsmere](/source/Hertsmere_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 24 July 2019
| [13 February 2020](/source/2020_British_cabinet_reshuffle)
| [Minister for the Cabinet Office](/source/Minister_for_the_Cabinet_Office)
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [Boris Johnson](/source/Boris_Johnson)
{{Small|([I](/source/First_Johnson_ministry) & [II](/source/Second_Johnson_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 100x100px
| [Penny Mordaunt](/source/Penny_Mordaunt)
{{Small|MP for [Portsmouth North](/source/Portsmouth_North_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| [13 February 2020](/source/2020_British_cabinet_reshuffle)
| [16 September 2021](/source/2021_British_cabinet_reshuffle)
|
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [Boris Johnson](/source/Boris_Johnson)
{{Small|([II](/source/Second_Johnson_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| alt=|100x100px
| [Michael Ellis](/source/Michael_Ellis_(British_politician))
{{Small|MP for [Northampton North](/source/Northampton_North_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| [16 September 2021](/source/2021_British_cabinet_reshuffle)
| 6 September 2022
| [Minister for the Cabinet Office](/source/Minister_for_the_Cabinet_Office)
{{Small|''(from 8 February 2022)''}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| alt=|99x99px
| [Edward Argar](/source/Edward_Argar)
{{Small|MP for [Charnwood](/source/Charnwood_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| [6 September 2022](/source/Truss_ministry)
| 14 October 2022
| rowspan=5 | [Minister for the Cabinet Office](/source/Minister_for_the_Cabinet_Office)
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [Liz Truss](/source/Liz_Truss)
{{Small|([Truss](/source/Truss_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| alt=|99x99px
| [Chris Philp](/source/Chris_Philp)
{{Small|MP for [Croydon South](/source/Croydon_South_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 14 October 2022
| 25 October 2022
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| alt=|100x100px
| [Jeremy Quin](/source/Jeremy_Quin)
{{Small|MP for [Horsham](/source/Horsham_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 25 October 2022
| [13 November 2023](/source/November_2023_British_cabinet_reshuffle)
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [Rishi Sunak](/source/Rishi_Sunak)
{{Small|([Sunak](/source/Sunak_ministry))}}
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| alt=|100x100px
| [John Glen](/source/John_Glen_(politician))
{{Small|MP for [Salisbury](/source/Salisbury_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| [13 November 2023](/source/November_2023_British_cabinet_reshuffle)
| 5 July 2024
|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| alt=|99x99px
| [Nick Thomas-Symonds](/source/Nick_Thomas-Symonds)
{{Small|MP for [Torfaen](/source/Torfaen_(UK_Parliament_constituency))}}
| 8 July 2024
|
| [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK))
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [Keir Starmer](/source/Keir_Starmer)
{{Small|([Starmer](/source/Starmer_ministry))}}
|}
== List of shadow paymasters general ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Shadow Paymaster general
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! Shadow Cabinet
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75x75px
| [Richard Ottaway](/source/Richard_Ottaway)
| 1 June 2000
| 1 June 2001
| [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK))
| [Hague](/source/Hague_shadow_cabinet)
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 88x88px
| [Stephen O'Brien](/source/Stephen_O'Brien)
| 1 June 2002
| 1 June 2003
| Conservative
| [Duncan Smith](/source/Duncan_Smith_shadow_cabinet)
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 80x80px
| [Andrew Tyrie](/source/Andrew_Tyrie)
| 1 June 2004
| 1 June 2005
| Conservative
| rowspan="2" | [Howard](/source/Howard_shadow_cabinet)
|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | 80x80px
| rowspan=2 | [Mark Francois](/source/Mark_Francois)
| rowspan=2 | 10 May 2005
| rowspan=2 | 3 July 2007
| rowspan=2 | Conservative
|-
| [Cameron](/source/Cameron_shadow_cabinet)
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 80x80px
| [Jack Dromey](/source/Jack_Dromey)
| 14 May 2021
| 4 December 2021
| [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK))
| rowspan="3" | [Starmer](/source/Starmer_shadow_cabinet)
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 80x80px
| [Fleur Anderson](/source/Fleur_Anderson)
| 4 December 2021
| 4 September 2023
| [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK))
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| 80x80px
| [Jonathan Ashworth](/source/Jonathan_Ashworth)
| 4 September 2023
| 5 July 2024
| [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK))
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75x75px
| [John Glen](/source/John_Glen_(politician))
| 8 July 2024
| 8 November 2024
| [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK))
| [Sunak](/source/Sunak_shadow_cabinet)
|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| 75x75px
| [Richard Holden](/source/Richard_Holden_(British_politician))
| 8 November 2024
| 22 July 2025
| [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK))
| [Badenoch](/source/Badenoch_shadow_cabinet)
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080614152903/http://www.opg.gov.uk/ Office of the Paymaster General] – archived version, as of June 2008. Since then the OPG website redirects to the new GBS site:
*[http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/gbs/index.htm Government Banking Service]
{{HM Treasury}}
{{Paymaster General}}
{{Cabinet Office}}
Category:Paymasters general of the United Kingdom
Category:Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom
Category:1836 establishments in the United Kingdom
---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Paymaster General](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paymaster_General) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paymaster_General?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.