View source for Paymaster General

{{Short description|UK government ministerial position}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Paymaster of the Forces]]}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Paymaster-General of the United States Army]]}}
{{Infobox Political post
| post = {{small|[[United Kingdom]]}}<br> His Majesty's Paymaster General
| insignia = Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
| insigniasize = 140px
| insigniacaption = [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Arms]] of [[Government of the United Kingdom|His Majesty's Government]]
| department = [[Cabinet Office]]
| image = Official portrait of Nick Thomas-Symonds MP (cropped).jpg
| incumbent = [[Nick Thomas-Symonds]]
| incumbentsince = 8 July 2024
| style = ''Paymaster General'' (informal) <br> [[The Right Honourable]] (formal; within the UK and Commonwealth)
| appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The King]]<br />{{Small|(on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]])}}
| inaugural = [[Henry Parnell, 1st Baron Congleton|Henry Parnell]]
| formation = 27 April 1836
| website = {{URL|https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-for-the-cabinet-office|Official website}}
}}
{{PoliticsUK}}
'''His Majesty's Paymaster General''' or '''HM Paymaster General''' is a ministerial position in the [[Cabinet Office]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. The position is currently held by [[Nick Thomas-Symonds]] of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].

==History==
[[File:36 Whitehall (geograph 5346102).jpg|thumb|260px|left|Until 1939 the Office of the Paymaster General was at 36 [[Whitehall]] (an extension of [[Horse Guards (building)|Horse Guards]] formerly occupied by the Paymaster to the Forces).<ref name=Roper1998>{{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}}</ref>]]
The post was created in 1836 by the merger of the positions of the offices of the [[Paymaster of the Forces]] (1661–1836), the [[Treasurer of the Navy]] (1546–1835), the Paymaster and Treasurer of [[Chelsea Hospital]] (responsible for [[Chelsea Pensioner|Army pensions]]) (1681–1835) and the [[Treasurer of the Ordnance]] (1670–1835).

Initially, the Paymaster General only had responsibilities in relation to the [[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 [[HM Revenue and Customs|revenue departments]] and the [[National Debt]] Office'.<ref name="NA">{{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}}}}</ref>

From 1848 to 1868, the post was held concurrently with that of [[Vice-President of the Board of Trade]].

The longest-serving holder of the post was [[Dawn Primarolo]], whose portfolio covered [[HM Customs and Excise]] and the [[Inland Revenue]] (which during her tenure became merged as [[HM Revenue and Customs]]) and who served from 1999 to 2007.

==Role==
Today, the Paymaster General is usually a [[Minister without portfolio (United Kingdom)|minister without portfolio]] 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]] who (though acting in the name of the Paymaster General) was answerable to the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]].<ref name="NA" />

===Office of HM Paymaster General===
The Paymaster General was formerly in nominal charge (and at one time in actual charge) of the '''Office of HM Paymaster General'''<ref>{{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}}</ref> ('''OPG'''), which held accounts at the [[Bank of England]] on behalf of government departments and selected other public bodies. Funds which were made available from the [[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]] and [[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]] 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''',<ref>{{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}}</ref> which also provides banking operations for [[HM Revenue & Customs]] and [[National Savings and Investments]]. Following the Bank of England's decision to withdraw from providing retail banking services,<ref>{{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]] |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}}</ref> retail banking and payment services for the GBS are provided by a range of financial institutions including [[Barclays]], [[Citibank]], [[NatWest]], and [[Worldpay, Inc.|Worldpay]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/government-banking-service-gbs |title=Government Banking |publisher=gov.uk}}</ref> although the Bank of England still plays a role in managing the government's higher level accounts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/government-banking-service.pdf |title=Government Banking Service |publisher=[[Department for Work and Pensions]]}}</ref>

==List of paymasters general==

===19th century===
*[[Henry Parnell|Sir Henry Parnell, Bt.]] 1836–1841
*[[Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley|Edward Stanley]] 1841
*[[Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Baronet|Sir Edward Knatchbull, Bt.]] 1841–1845
*[[Bingham Baring]] 1845–1846
*[[Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay|Thomas Babington Macaulay]] 1846–1848
*[[Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville]] 1848–1852
*[[Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley]] 1852
*[[Charles Abbot, 2nd Baron Colchester]] 1852
*Edward Stanley, 2nd Baron Stanley of Alderley 1853–1855
*[[Edward Pleydell-Bouverie]] 1855
*[[Robert Lowe]] 1855–1858
*[[Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore]] 1858–1859
*[[Algernon Percy, 6th Duke of Northumberland|Algernon Percy, Lord Lovaine]] 1859
*[[James Wilson (businessman)|James Wilson]] 1859
*[[William Cowper-Temple, 1st Baron Mount Temple|William Cowper]] 1859–1860
*[[William Hutt (politician)|William Hutt]] 1860–1865
*[[George Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen|George Goschen]] 1865–1866
*[[William Monsell]] 1866
*[[Stephen Cave]] 1866–1868
*[[Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Earl of Dufferin]] 1868–1872
*[[Hugh Childers]] 1872–1873
*[[William Patrick Adam|William Adam]] 1873–1874
*Stephen Cave 1874–1880
*[[David Plunket]] 1880
*[[George Glyn, 2nd Baron Wolverton]] 1880–1885
*[[Frederick Lygon, 6th Earl Beauchamp]] 1885–1886
*[[Thomas Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, 5th Baron Thurlow]] 1886
*Frederick Lygon, 6th Earl Beauchamp 1886–1887
*[[Adelbert Brownlow-Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow]] 1887–1889
*[[Victor Child Villiers, 7th Earl of Jersey]] 1889–1890
*[[Robert Windsor-Clive, 1st Earl of Plymouth|Robert Windsor-Clive, 14th Baron Windsor]] 1890–1892
*[[Charles Seale-Hayne]] 1892–1895
*[[John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun]] 1895–1899
*[[Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough]] 1899–1902

===20th century===
*[[Savile Crossley]] 1902–1905
*[[Richard Causton, 1st Baron Southwark|Richard Causton]] (1st Baron Southwark after 13 July 1910) 1905–1910
*[[Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Ashby St Ledgers]] 1910–1912
*[[Edward Strachey, 1st Baron Strachie]] 1912–1915
*[[Thomas Legh, 2nd Baron Newton]] 1915–1916
*[[Arthur Henderson]] 1916
*[[Joseph Compton-Rickett]] 1916–1919
*[[Tudor Walters]] 1919–1922
*''Office vacant'' 1922–1923
*[[Neville Chamberlain]] 1923
*[[William Joynson-Hicks]] 1923
*[[Archibald Boyd-Carpenter]] 1923–1924
*[[Harry Gosling]] 1924
*''Office vacant'' 1924–1925
*[[George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland]] 1925–1928
*[[Richard Onslow, 5th Earl of Onslow]] 1928–1929
*[[Sydney Arnold]] 1929–1931
*''Office vacant'' 1931
*Tudor Walters 1931
*[[Ernest Lamb, 1st Baron Rochester]] 1931–1935
*[[Robert Hutchison, 1st Baron Hutchison of Montrose]] 1935–1938
*[[Geoffrey FitzClarence, 5th Earl of Munster]] 1938–1939
*[[Edward Turnour, 6th Earl Winterton]] 1939
*''Office vacant'' 1939–1940
*[[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount Cranborne]] 1940
*''Office vacant'' 1940–1941
*[[Maurice Hankey]] 1941–1942
*[[William Jowitt]] 1942
*[[Frederick Lindemann, 1st Baron Cherwell]] 1942–1945
*''Office vacant'' 1945–1946
*[[Arthur Greenwood]] 9 July 1946 Lab
*[[Hilary Marquand]] 5 March 1947 Lab
*[[Christopher Addison, 1st Viscount Addison|The Viscount Addison]] 2 July 1948 also [[Leader of the House of Lords]] Lab
*[[Gordon Macdonald, 1st Baron Macdonald of Gwaenysgor|The Lord 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)}}" |
| [[File:Frederick Lindemann (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| [[Frederick Lindemann, 1st Viscount Cherwell|Frederick Lindemann]]<br/>{{Small|[[Frederick Lindemann, 1st Viscount Cherwell|Viscount Cherwell]]}}
| 30 October 1951
| 11 November 1953
|
| rowspan=8 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Winston Churchill]]<br/>{{Small|([[Third Churchill ministry|III]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:10thEarl of Selkirk.jpg|75px]]
| [[George Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk|George Douglas-Hamilton]]<br/>{{Small|[[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]]<br/>{{Small|([[Eden ministry|Eden]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Walter Monckton cropped.png|75px]]
| [[Walter Monckton]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Bristol West (UK Parliament constituency)|Bristol West]]}}
| 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)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[Reginald Maudling]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Barnet (UK Parliament constituency)|Barnet]]}}
| 16 January 1957
| 14 October 1959
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Harold Macmillan]]<br/>{{Small|([[Conservative government, 1957–1964#First Macmillan ministry|I]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[Percy Mills, 1st Viscount Mills|Percy Mills]]<br/>{{Small|[[Viscount Mills]]}}
| 14 October 1959
| 9 October 1961
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Harold Macmillan]]<br/>{{Small|([[Conservative government, 1957–1964#Second Macmillan ministry|II]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Henry Brooke 1950.jpg|75px]]
| [[Henry Brooke, Baron Brooke of Cumnor|Henry Brooke]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hampstead (UK Parliament constituency)|Hampstead]]}}
| 9 October 1961
| 13 July 1962
| [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[John Boyd-Carpenter, Baron Boyd-Carpenter|John Boyd-Carpenter]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Kingston-upon-Thames (UK Parliament constituency)|Kingston-upon-Thames]]}}
| 13 July 1962
| 19 October 1964
| [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Alec Douglas-Home]]<br/>{{Small|([[Conservative government, 1957–1964#Douglas-Home ministry|Douglas-Home]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[George Wigg, Baron Wigg|George Wigg]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Dudley (UK Parliament constituency)|Dudley]]}}
| 19 October 1964
| 12 November 1967
|
| rowspan=5 | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Harold Wilson]]<br/>{{Small|([[First Wilson ministry|I]] & [[Second Wilson ministry|II]])}}
|-
| colspan=3 | ''Office vacant''
| 12 November 1967
| 6 April 1968
| 
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=4 | [[Harold Wilson]]<br/>{{Small|([[Second Wilson ministry|II]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[Edward Shackleton, Baron Shackleton|Edward Shackleton]]<br/>{{Small|[[Edward Shackleton, Baron Shackleton|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)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[Judith Hart]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Clydesdale (UK Parliament constituency)|Clydesdale]]}}
| 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)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[Harold Lever, Baron Lever of Manchester|Harold Lever]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Manchester Cheetham (UK Parliament constituency)|Manchester Cheetham]]}}
| 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)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[David Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles|David Eccles]]<br/>{{Small|[[Viscount Eccles]]}}
| 23 June 1970
| 2 December 1973
| [[Minister for the Arts (United Kingdom)|Minister for the Arts]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Edward Heath]]<br/>{{Small|([[Heath ministry|Heath]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[Maurice Macmillan]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Farnham (UK Parliament constituency)|Farnham]]}}
| 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)}}" |
| [[File:Dell, Edmund cropped, Bestanddeelnr 930-1791.jpg|75px]]
| [[Edmund Dell]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Birkenhead (UK Parliament constituency)|Birkenhead]]}}
| 4 March 1974
| 10 September 1976
|
| rowspan=2 | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Harold Wilson]]<br/>{{Small|([[Labour government, 1974–1979#Wilson ministry|III]] & [[Labour government, 1974–1979#Wilson ministry|IV]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Shirley Williams, 1984.jpg|75px]]
| [[Shirley Williams]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hitchin (UK Parliament constituency)|Hitchin]]}}
| 10 September 1976
| 4 May 1979
| [[Secretary of State for Education|Secretary of State for Education and Science]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[James Callaghan]]<br/>{{Small|([[Labour government, 1974–1979#Callaghan ministry|Callaghan]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[Angus Maude]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Stratford-on-Avon (UK Parliament constituency)|Stratford-on-Avon]]}}
| 4 May 1979
| 5 January 1981
|
| rowspan=14 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 | [[Margaret Thatcher]]<br/>{{Small|([[First Thatcher ministry|I]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Francis Leslie Pym.jpg|75px]]
| [[Francis Pym]] <br/>{{Small|MP for [[Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Cambridgeshire]]}}
| 5 January 1981
| 14 September 1981
| [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]]<br/>{{Small|(5 January 1981 – 14 September 1981)}}

[[Leader of the House of Commons]]<br/>{{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)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[Cecil Parkinson]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[South Hertfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Hertfordshire]]}}
| 14 September 1981
| 11 June 1983
| [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]] <br/>{{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]]<br/>{{Small|([[Second Thatcher ministry|II]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Deben crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Gummer]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Suffolk Coastal (UK Parliament constituency)|Suffolk Coastal]]}}
| 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)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Mr Kenneth Clarke crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[Kenneth Clarke]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Rushcliffe (UK Parliament constituency)|Rushcliffe]]}}
| 2 September 1985
| 13 July 1987
| [[Department for Work and Pensions|Minister of State for Employment]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[Peter Brooke, Baron Brooke of Sutton Mandeville|Peter Brooke]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Cities of London and Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)|City of London and Westminster South]]}}
| 13 July 1987
| 24 July 1989
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Margaret Thatcher]]<br/>{{Small|([[Third Thatcher ministry|III]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of The Earl of Caithness crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[Malcolm Sinclair, 20th Earl of Caithness|Malcolm Sinclair]]<br/>{{Small|[[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)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Ryder of Wensum crop 2.1.jpg|75px]]
| [[Richard Ryder, Baron Ryder of Wensum|Richard Ryder]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Mid Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)|Mid Norfolk]]}}
| 14 July 1990
| 28 November 1990
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[John Major]]<br/>{{Small|([[First Major ministry|I]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Blank.png|75px]]
| [[John Ganzoni, 2nd Baron Belstead|John Ganzoni]]<br/>{{Small|[[Baron Belstead]]}}
| 28 November 1990
| 11 April 1992
| [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland|Minister of State for Northern Ireland]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Cope of Berkeley crop 3, 2019.jpg|75px]]
| [[John Cope, Baron Cope of Berkeley|John Cope]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Northavon (UK Parliament constituency)|Northavon]]}}
| 14 April 1992
| 20 July 1994
|
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=4 | [[John Major]]<br/>{{Small|([[Second Major ministry|lI]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:David Heathcoat-Amery.JPG|75px]]
| [[David Heathcoat-Amory]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Wells (UK Parliament constituency)|Wells]]}}
| 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)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Willetts crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[David Willetts]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Havant (UK Parliament constituency)|Havant]]}}
| 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)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Bates crop 2, 2019.jpg|75px]]
| [[Michael Bates, Baron Bates|Michael Bates]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Langbaurgh (UK Parliament constituency)|Langbaurgh]]}}
| 21 November 1996
| 2 May 1997
| [[Lord Commissioner of the Treasury]]<br/>{{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)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Mr Geoffrey Robinson crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[Geoffrey Robinson (politician)|Geoffrey Robinson]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Coventry North West (UK Parliament constituency)|Coventry North West]]}}
| 2 May 1997
| 23 December 1998
|
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Tony Blair]]<br/>{{Small|([[First Blair ministry|I]])}}
|}

===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)}}" |
| [[File:Dawn Primarolo.jpg|75px]]
| [[Dawn Primarolo]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Bristol South (UK Parliament constituency)|Bristol South]]}}
| 4 January 1999
| 28 June 2007
|
| rowspan=2 | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Tony Blair]]<br/>{{Small|([[First Blair ministry|I]], [[Second Blair ministry|II]], [[Third Blair ministry|III]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Tessa Jowell Cropped.jpg|frameless|109x109px]]
| [[Tessa Jowell]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Dulwich and West Norwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Dulwich and West Norwood]]}}
| 28 June 2007
| 11 May 2010
| [[Minister for the Olympics]]<br/>[[Minister for the Cabinet Office]]<br/>{{Small|''(from 5 June 2009)''}}<br/>[[Minister for London]]<br/>{{Small|''(until 3 October 2008; from 5 June 2009)''}}
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Gordon Brown]]<br/>{{Small|([[Brown ministry|Brown]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord Maude of Horsham crop 2, 2024.jpg|75px]]
| [[Francis Maude]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Horsham (UK Parliament constituency)|Horsham]]}}
| 12 May 2010
| 11 May 2015
| rowspan=3 | Minister for the Cabinet Office
| rowspan=12 | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[David Cameron]]<br/>{{Small|([[Cameron–Clegg coalition|I]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Matt Hancock crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[Matt Hancock]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[West Suffolk (UK Parliament constituency)|West Suffolk]]}}
| 11 May 2015
| 14 July 2016
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[David Cameron]]<br/>{{Small|([[Second Cameron ministry|II]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Ben Gummer 2016.jpg|75px]]
| [[Ben Gummer]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)|Ipswich]]}}
| 14 July 2016
| 13 June 2017
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Theresa May]]<br/>{{Small|([[First May ministry|I]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Mel Stride crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[Mel Stride]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Central Devon (UK Parliament constituency)|Central Devon]]}}
| 13 June 2017
| [[Second May ministry#Changes 2|23 May 2019]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Financial Secretary to the Treasury]]
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Theresa May]]<br/>{{Small|([[Second May ministry|II]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Jesse Norman crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[Jesse Norman]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hereford and South Herefordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Hereford and South Herefordshire]]}}
| [[Second May ministry#Changes 2|23 May 2019]]
| 24 July 2019

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Oliver Dowden crop 2.jpg|75px]]
| [[Oliver Dowden]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hertsmere (UK Parliament constituency)|Hertsmere]]}}
| 24 July 2019
| [[2020 British cabinet reshuffle|13 February 2020]]
| Minister for the Cabinet Office
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Boris Johnson]]<br/>{{Small|([[First Johnson ministry|I]] & [[Second Johnson ministry|II]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Rt_Hon_Penny_Mordaunt.jpg|100x100px]]
| [[Penny Mordaunt]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Portsmouth North (UK Parliament constituency)|Portsmouth North]]}}
| [[2020 British cabinet reshuffle|13 February 2020]]
| [[2021 British cabinet reshuffle|16 September 2021]]
|
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Boris Johnson]]<br/>{{Small|([[Second Johnson ministry|II]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Michael Ellis MP crop 2.jpg|alt=|100x100px]]
| [[Michael Ellis (British politician)|Michael Ellis]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Northampton North (UK Parliament constituency)|Northampton North]]}}
| [[2021 British cabinet reshuffle|16 September 2021]]
| 6 September 2022
| Minister for the Cabinet Office<br/>{{Small|''(from 8 February 2022)''}}<br/>

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Edward Argar MP crop 2.jpg|alt=|100x100px]]
| [[Edward Argar]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Charnwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Charnwood]]}}
| [[Truss ministry|6 September 2022]]
| 14 October 2022
| rowspan=5 | Minister for the Cabinet Office
| rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Liz Truss]]<br/>{{Small|([[Truss ministry|Truss]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Chris Philp MP crop 2.jpg|alt=|100x100px]]
| [[Chris Philp]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon South]]}}
| 14 October 2022
| 25 October 2022

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Jeremy Quin MP crop 2.jpg|alt=|100x100px]]
| [[Jeremy Quin]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Horsham (UK Parliament constituency)|Horsham]]}}
| 25 October 2022
| [[November 2023 British cabinet reshuffle|13 November 2023]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[Rishi Sunak]]<br/>{{Small|([[Sunak ministry|Sunak]])}}

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of John Glen MP crop 2.jpg|alt=|100x100px]]
| [[John Glen (politician)|John Glen]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Salisbury]]}}
| [[November 2023 British cabinet reshuffle|13 November 2023]]
| 5 July 2024

|- style="height:1em"
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Nick Thomas-Symonds MP (cropped).jpg|alt=|100x100px]]
| [[Nick Thomas-Symonds]]<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Torfaen (UK Parliament constituency)|Torfaen]]}}
| 8 July 2024
|
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Keir Starmer]]<br/>{{Small|([[Starmer ministry|Starmer]])}}

|}

== List of shadow paymasters general ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Shadow Paymaster general
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Party
! Opposition Leader

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Richard Ottaway MP.jpg|75x75px]]
| [[Richard Ottaway]]
| 1 June 2000
| 1 June 2001
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[William Hague|Hague]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Stephen O'Brien Official.jpg|88x88px]]
| [[Stephen O'Brien]]
| 1 June 2002
| 1 June 2003
| Conservative
| [[Iain Duncan Smith|Duncan Smith]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Lord Tyrie.jpg|80x80px]]
| [[Andrew Tyrie]]
| 1 June 2004 
| 1 June 2005
| Conservative
| rowspan="2" | [[Michael Howard|Howard]]

|- style="height:1em"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Official portrait of Mr Mark Francois crop 2.jpg|80x80px]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Mark Francois]]
| rowspan=2 | 10 May 2005
| rowspan=2 | 3 July 2007
| rowspan=2 | Conservative
|-
| [[David Cameron|Cameron]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official_portrait_of_Jack_Dromey_MP_crop_2.jpg|80x80px]]
| [[Jack Dromey]]
| 14 May 2021
| 4 December 2021
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| rowspan="3" | [[Keir Starmer|Starmer]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Fleur Anderson MP crop 2.jpg|80x80px]]
| [[Fleur Anderson]]
| 4 December 2021
| 4 September 2023
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of Jonathan Ashworth MP crop 2.jpg|80x80px]]
| [[Jonathan Ashworth]]
| 4 September 2023
| 5 July 2024
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Official portrait of John Glen MP crop 2, 2024.jpg|75x75px]]
| [[John Glen (politician)|John Glen]]
| 8 July 2024
| 8 November 2024
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Rishi Sunak|Sunak]]

|- style="height:1em"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Richard Holden Official Cabinet Portrait, November 2023 (cropped).jpg|75x75px]]
| [[Richard Holden (British politician)|Richard Holden]]
| 8 November 2024
| ''Incumbent''
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| [[Kemi Badenoch]]
|}

==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:United Kingdom Paymasters General]]
[[Category:Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1836 establishments in the United Kingdom]]