First Lord of the Treasury
Responsibilities
The First Lord of the Treasury is one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. This role is usually held by the Prime Minister.
Since the 17th century, the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have collectively carried out duties that were previously held by the Lord High Treasurer (head of His Majesty’s Treasury).
The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury also include:
- the Second Lord of the Treasury - the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has most of the functional financial responsibilities
- Junior Lords Commissioners of the Treasury - other members of the government, usually government whips in the House of Commons
10 Downing Street is the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, and not of the Prime Minister.
Current role holder
The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on 20 July 2026.
Andy was elected Member of Parliament for Leigh in June 2001. He served in government between 2007 and 2010 as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and Secretary of State for Health.
In opposition, he served as Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Shadow Secretary of State for Education, and Shadow Home Secretary.
Andy was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester in May 2017, and re-elected in 2021 and 2024. As Mayor, he brought the bus network back under public control and oversaw Manchester becoming the fastest growing city-region in the UK.
He returned to Parliament as Member of Parliament for Makerfield in June 2026, and was elected Leader of the Labour Party on 16 July 2026.
Andy is married and has three children.
Previous holders of this role
The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP
2024 to 2026
The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP
2022 to 2024
The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss
2022 to 2022
The Rt Hon Boris Johnson
2019 to 2022
The Rt Hon Theresa May
2016 to 2019
The Rt Hon Lord Cameron
2010 to 2016