Third Blair ministry
The third Blair ministry lasted from May 2005 to June 2007. The election on 5 May 2005 saw Labour win a historic third successive term in power, though their majority now stood at 66 seats – compared to 167 four years earlier – and they failed to gain any new seats. Blair had already declared that the new term in parliament would be his last.
Cabinet
Changes
- November 2005 – David Blunkett resigns his post as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. He is replaced by John Hutton, leaving the post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster vacant for six months.
- May 2006 – Following a poor showing in the local council elections, Blair reshuffles his cabinet. Charles Clarke, Geoff Hoon and Ian McCartney leave the Cabinet. Jack Straw becomes Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. Margaret Beckett is promoted to Foreign Secretary, John Reid to Home Secretary, David Miliband to Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Des Browne to Secretary of State for Defence. Ruth Kelly takes a new post of Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which replaces the post held by David Miliband and takes a number of responsibilities previously held by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; Kelly will also serve as Minister for Women and Equality. Alan Johnson becomes Secretary of State for Education and Skills. Alistair Darling becomes Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Hilary Armstrong becomes Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Minister for Social Exclusion. Douglas Alexander enters the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland. Hazel Blears enters the Cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio and Party Chair, Stephen Timms as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Jacqui Smith as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip.
- May 2007 – The Home Office loses responsibility for criminal justice, prisons & probation and legal affairs which merges into the Department for Constitutional Affairs with Falconer becoming Secretary of State for Justice.
List of ministers
Prime Minister, the Cabinet Office and non-Departmental ministers
Departments of state
| Office | Name | Date |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Gordon Brown | 5 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Des Browne | 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | Stephen Timms | 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Paymaster General | Dawn Primarolo | 5 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | John Healey | 6 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Economic Secretary to the Treasury | Ivan Lewis | 6 May 2005 – 6 May 2006 |
| Economic Secretary to the Treasury | Ed Balls | 6 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Office | Name | Date |
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Jack Straw | 5 May 2005 – 6 May 2006 |
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Margaret Beckett | 6 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Kim Howells | 11 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for Europe | Douglas Alexander | 11 May 2005 – 8 May 2006 |
| Minister of State for Europe | Geoff Hoon | 8 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Office | Name | Date |
| Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Margaret Beckett | 5 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
| Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | David Miliband | 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for the Environment | Elliot Morley | 5 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
| Minister of State for the Environment | Ian Pearson | 6 June 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for Housing and Planning | Yvette Cooper | 10 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Office | Name | Date |
| Secretary of State for Defence | John Reid | 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
| Secretary of State for Defence | Des Browne | 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for the Armed Forces | Adam Ingram | 5 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister for Defence Procurement | The Lord Drayson | 6 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Office | Name | Date |
| Secretary of State for Education and Skills | Ruth Kelly | 5 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
| Secretary of State for Education and Skills | Alan Johnson | 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for Schools and Learners | Jacqui Smith | 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
| Minister of State for Schools and Learners | Jim Knight | 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for Higher Education | Bill Rammell | 11 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister for Children | Maria Eagle | 11 May 2005 – 8 May 2006 |
| Minister for Children | Beverley Hughes | 8 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Office | Name | Date |
| Secretary of State for Health | Patricia Hewitt | 6 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for Health | Jane Kennedy | 6 May 2005 – 8 May 2006 |
| Minister of State for Health | Andy Burnham | 8 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister for Public Health | Caroline Flint | 6 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Office | Name | Date |
| Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | David Blunkett | 6 May 2005 – 2 November 2005 |
| Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | John Hutton | 2 November 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for Pensions | Stephen Timms | 10 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
| Minister of State for Pensions | James Purnell | 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Office | Name | Date |
| Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport | Chris Smith | 2 May 1997 – 8 June 2001 |
| Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport | Tessa Jowell | 8 June 2001 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for Culture | David Lammy | 10 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
| Office | Name | Date |
| Secretary of State for Transport | Alistair Darling | 5 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
| Secretary of State for Transport | Douglas Alexander | 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |
| Minister of State for Transport | Stephen Ladyman | 9 May 2005 – 27 June 2007 |
Law officers
Parliament
| Office | Name | Date |
| Government Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Hilary Armstrong | 5 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
| Government Chief Whip Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | Jacqui Smith | 5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007 |