Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Encyclopedia
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster
. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The Chancellor is 'answerable to Parliament' for the running of the Duchy. But, the involvement of the Chancellor in the running of the day-to-day affairs of the Duchy is slight, and the office is held by a senior politician whose main role is something quite different. For example, as of 2011 the incumbent is Lord Strathclyde
, who is also the Leader of the House of Lords
.
and the County Palatine of Lancaster (a county palatine
merged into the Crown in 1399), but that estate is now run by a deputy, leaving the Chancellor to serve in effect as an additional Minister without Portfolio
. The position has often been given to a junior Cabinet minister with responsibilities in a particular area of policy for which there is no department with an appropriate portfolio.
In 1491, an office of Vice Chancellor was also created. The position is now held by the Chancery Division Judge in the north-west, and no longer appointed to that position as legal officer of the Duchy.
and the Official Oath.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is entitled to a salary under the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, but section 3 of the Act provides that the salary "shall be reduced by the amount of the salary payable to him otherwise than out of moneys so provided in respect of his office". The Office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is part of the Cabinet Office.
Until recently, the holder of the title also served as one of the Ministers for the Cabinet Office
. This was true of Alan Milburn
, who was given the title by Labour PM Tony Blair
in 2004 and at the same time rejoined the Cabinet
.
The current Chancellor is Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde
, who is also the Leader of the House of Lords
. Between 2003 and 2009 the holder of that office had been given the sinecure title of Lord President of the Council
while the Chancellorship had been given to the Minister for the Cabinet Office
. However, in the reshuffle of 5 June 2009, Lord Mandelson was made Lord President and, as the new Cabinet Office Minister Tessa Jowell
retained her previous sinecure as Paymaster General. This left the Chancellorship to the Baroness Royall. In David Cameron's first cabinet, announced on 12 May 2010, the Chancellorship remained with the Leader of the House of Lords as the office of Lord President of the Council was given to the Deputy Prime Minister
, Nick Clegg
.
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The Chancellor is 'answerable to Parliament' for the running of the Duchy. But, the involvement of the Chancellor in the running of the day-to-day affairs of the Duchy is slight, and the office is held by a senior politician whose main role is something quite different. For example, as of 2011 the incumbent is Lord Strathclyde
Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde
Thomas Galloway Dunlop du Roy de Blicquy Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde, PC , is a British politician. He is currently the Leader of the House of Lords and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster as well as being the leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords...
, who is also the Leader of the House of Lords
Leader of the House of Lords
The Leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The role is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, usually one of the sinecure offices of Lord President of the Council,...
.
History
Originally, the Chancellor was the chief officer in the daily management of the Duchy of LancasterDuchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
and the County Palatine of Lancaster (a county palatine
County palatine
A county palatine or palatinate is an area ruled by an hereditary nobleman possessing special authority and autonomy from the rest of a kingdom or empire. The name derives from the Latin adjective palatinus, "relating to the palace", from the noun palatium, "palace"...
merged into the Crown in 1399), but that estate is now run by a deputy, leaving the Chancellor to serve in effect as an additional Minister without Portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
. The position has often been given to a junior Cabinet minister with responsibilities in a particular area of policy for which there is no department with an appropriate portfolio.
In 1491, an office of Vice Chancellor was also created. The position is now held by the Chancery Division Judge in the north-west, and no longer appointed to that position as legal officer of the Duchy.
Modern times
In recent times, the Chancellor's duties (administrative, financial, and legal) have been said to occupy an average of one day a week. Under the Promissory Oaths Act 1868, the Chancellor is required to take the oath of allegianceOath of allegiance
An oath of allegiance is an oath whereby a subject or citizen acknowledges a duty of allegiance and swears loyalty to monarch or country. In republics, modern oaths specify allegiance to the country's constitution. For example, officials in the United States, a republic, take an oath of office that...
and the Official Oath.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is entitled to a salary under the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, but section 3 of the Act provides that the salary "shall be reduced by the amount of the salary payable to him otherwise than out of moneys so provided in respect of his office". The Office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is part of the Cabinet Office.
Until recently, the holder of the title also served as one of the Ministers for the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
. This was true of Alan Milburn
Alan Milburn
Alan Milburn is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Darlington from 1992 until 2010...
, who was given the title by Labour PM Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
in 2004 and at the same time rejoined the Cabinet
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....
.
The current Chancellor is Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde
Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde
Thomas Galloway Dunlop du Roy de Blicquy Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde, PC , is a British politician. He is currently the Leader of the House of Lords and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster as well as being the leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords...
, who is also the Leader of the House of Lords
Leader of the House of Lords
The Leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The role is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, usually one of the sinecure offices of Lord President of the Council,...
. Between 2003 and 2009 the holder of that office had been given the sinecure title of Lord President of the Council
Lord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
while the Chancellorship had been given to the Minister for the Cabinet Office
Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Minister for the Cabinet Office is a position in the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom. The post of Minister of the Cabinet Office is sometimes derided as the Minister for the Today programme.-Ministers for the Cabinet Office:...
. However, in the reshuffle of 5 June 2009, Lord Mandelson was made Lord President and, as the new Cabinet Office Minister Tessa Jowell
Tessa Jowell
Tessa Jowell is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Dulwich and West Norwood since 1992. Formerly a member of both the Blair and Brown Cabinets, she is currently the Shadow Minister for the Olympics and Shadow Minister for London.-Early life:Tessa Jane...
retained her previous sinecure as Paymaster General. This left the Chancellorship to the Baroness Royall. In David Cameron's first cabinet, announced on 12 May 2010, the Chancellorship remained with the Leader of the House of Lords as the office of Lord President of the Council was given to the Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
, Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
.