Changes

The '''Cabinet of the United Kingdom''' is a body consisting of the most senior ministers in the government of the [[United Kingdom]], headed by the [[Prime Minister]]. Formally a committee of the [[Privy Council]], it is the main [[executive]] body of the British Government. Traditionally, the Cabinet meets weekly on a Thursday morning.

The '''Cabinet of the United Kingdom''' is a body consisting of the most senior ministers in the government of the [[United Kingdom]], headed by the [[Prime Minister]]. Formally a committee of the [[Privy Council]], it is the main [[executive]] body of the British Government. Traditionally, the Cabinet meets weekly on a Thursday morning. All members of the Cabinet are drawn from either the [[House of Commons]] or the [[House of Lords]].  

All members of the Cabinet are drawn from either the [[House of Commons]] or the [[House of Lords]].

In recent years, some ex-ministers (notably [[Clare Short]]) have alleged that under the government of current prime minister [[Tony Blair]], Cabinet meetings have lost their decision-making role; according to a former senior civil servant, Lord Butler, the Blair cabinet "took one decision in eight months", with other decisions being made by the Prime Minister and his close advisers.<ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/tonyblair/story/0,,2090574,00.html Blair cabinet 'took one decision in eight months'], Guardian Unlimited, 29 May 2007</ref>

==Current members of the Cabinet==

==Current members of the Cabinet==

*Chief Secretary to the Treasury: [[Stephen Timms]]   

*Chief Secretary to the Treasury: [[Stephen Timms]]   

*Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury: [[Jacqui Smith]]

*Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury: [[Jacqui Smith]]