Northern Ireland

First Labour PM Announces Cabinet – On This Day in 1924

WT Cosgrave, who led the government of the Irish Free State for a decade from 1922, pictured with British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and Northern Ireland Prime Minister James Craig during discussions about the border held at Chequers in June 1924
British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald (centre) pictured with WT Cosgrave, who led the government of the Irish Free State for a decade from 1922, and Northern Ireland Prime Minister James Craig (right)
By Cormac Moore

January 23 1924

Labour Premier Installed in Office – Mr MacDonald Succeeds Mr Baldwin & Promptly Announces new Government

On Mr Stanley Baldwin’s resignation yesterday, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, Labour leader, was invited by the King to form a government.

Mr MacDonald accepted the invitation, and subsequently submitted a list of nominations for the cabinet, which the King duly approved.

A list of ministers outside the cabinet will be published later.

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The following official announcement was made by the Labour Party last night from the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister was received by his Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace, and his Majesty was graciously pleased to approve of the following list of appointments: -

First Lord of the Treasury and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs – The Rt Hon James Ramsay MacDonald.

Lord Privy Seal and Deputy Leader of the House of Commons – Mr John R Clynes, MP.

Lord President of the Council – Lord Parmoor, KCVO.

Lord Chancellor – Lord Haldane, KT, OM.

Chancellor of the Exchequer – Mr Philip Snowden, MP.

Secretary of State for Home Affairs – The Right Hon Arthur Henderson.

Secretary of State for the Colonies – The Right Hon James Henry Thomas, MP.

Secretary of State for War – Mr Stephen Walsh, MP.

Secretary of State for India – Sir Sidney Olivier.

Secretary of State for Air – Brig Gen Christopher Birdwood Thompson.

First Lord of the Admiralty – Viscount Chelmsford, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GBE.

President of the Board of Trade – Mr Sidney Webb, MP.

Minister of Health – Mr John Wheatley, MP.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries – Mr Noel Buxton, MP.

Secretary for Scotland – The Right Hon. William Adamson, MP.

President of the Board of Education – Mr Charles Philip Trevelyan, MP.

Minister of Labour – Mr Thomas Shaw, MP.

Postmaster-General – Mr Vernon Hartshorn, MP.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster – Colonel Josiah Wedgewood, MP.

First Commissioner of Works – Mr F W Jowett, MP.

The exchange of seals will probably take place at noon tomorrow.

Change in Government ‘Resembles Revolution’

Referring to the advent to power in England of Labour, the “Petit Journal” writes: “We are faced, as we were in the past, by men devoted above all to the defence of British interests. We shall have to take into account the views of the new leaders, and to make them understand ours. We shall even have to discuss matters with them if we wish for a general settlement.”

The “Gaulois” says: “Although loyal and sincere, Mr Baldwin was not fitted to resist attack. The paper considers it probable that Labour will not insist on the integral application of its programme, but its advent to power constitutes evolution which resembles revolution.”

With Ramsay MacDonald forming a government, he became the first Labour prime minister of the United Kingdom, leading to predictions from media outlets around the world on how the first socialist-led government of the UK would act.