First Secretary of State

United Kingdom First Secretary of State of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Incumbent Louise Haigh since 20 July 2026
Government of the United Kingdom
Style	The Right Honourable (formal) Her Excellency (diplomatic)
Member of	Cabinet Privy Council National Security Council
Reports to	Prime Minister
Residence	None, may use grace and favour residences
Nominator	Prime Minister
Appointer	The King (on the advice of the prime minister)
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Inaugural holder	Rab Butler
Formation	13 July 1962 (1962-07-13)
Salary	£153,022 per annum (including £81,932 MP salary) (2019)

Political offices in the UK government
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Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister / First Secretary Treasury ministers Secretary of State Minister of state Parliamentary under-secretary of state Parliamentary private secretary Lord Chancellor Leader of the House of Commons Leader of the House of Lords Whips Law officers Sinecures Minister without portfolio
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First Secretary of State is an office that is sometimes held by a minister of the Crown in the Government of the United Kingdom held by the most senior secretary of state. The office is not always in use, but is usually the designated deputy of the prime minister making them the second highest ranking minister, unless a Deputy Prime Minister has been appointed.

The office frequently serves the same political functions as that of Deputy Prime Minister, and while there have been occasions when the two titles have existed at the same time, Prime Ministers historically have tended to designate one or the other (or neither). As of July 2026, the office is held by Louise Haigh, last having been held by Dominic Raab from 2019 to 2021, which ended when the title was swapped for Deputy Prime Minister in 2021.