Home Secretary (formally the Secretary of State for the Home Department) is a senior minister of the Crown in the Government of the United Kingdom and the head of the Home Office. The position is a Great Office of State, making the home secretary one of the most senior and influential ministers in the British government. The home secretary is a statutory member of the British Cabinet and the National Security Council.
Overview
The role is equivalent to an interior minister in other countries. The home secretary is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister and serves at His Majesty's pleasure. The style of the officeholder is "The Right Honourable" (within the UK and Commonwealth) and informally "Home Secretary."
Responsibilities
The home secretary's remit includes:
- Law enforcement in England and Wales, as well as UK-wide elements of policing that are not devolved.
- National security and counter-terrorism matters.
- Immigration and border security.
- Oversight of the Security Service (MI5).
Formerly, the home secretary was also responsible for prisons and probation in England and Wales; however, in 2007 those responsibilities were transferred to the Ministry of Justice under the lord chancellor.
History
The position of Secretary of State for the Home Department was created in the British governmental reorganisation of 1782, in which the responsibilities of the Northern and Southern Departments were reformed into the Foreign Office and Home Office. The title "Secretary of State" in the government of England dates back to the early 17th century.
Historically, the role has been regarded as a political dead end for aspiring politicians, due to the numerous potential issues and controversies it tends to involve.
Royal births
From the birth of King Edward VIII in 1894 until the birth of Princess Alexandra of Kent in 1936, the home secretary was required to be present at all royal births to verify that the baby and potential heir to the throne was a descendant of the monarch, and not an imposter. This practice was abolished by King George VI shortly before the birth of King Charles III.
Notable officeholders
Past home secretaries have included several future prime ministers: Lord North, Robert Peel, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Palmerston, Winston Churchill, James Callaghan, and Theresa May. The longest-serving home secretary is Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, who held the post continuously for 9 years and 221 days. The shortest-serving home secretary is Grant Shapps, who served for the final six days of the premiership of Liz Truss in October 2022. In 2007, Jacqui Smith became the first female home secretary.
Current officeholder
The incumbent home secretary is Shabana Mahmood, who has served since 5 September 2025 and was reappointed on the formation of the Burnham ministry on 20 July 2026.
Scrutiny
The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow home secretary. The home secretary's performance is scrutinised by the Home Affairs Select Committee in the House of Commons and the Justice and Home Affairs Committee in the House of Lords.
