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List of political families in the United Kingdom

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See also Genealogical relationships of Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom.

During its history, the United Kingdom (and previously England and Scotland) has seen many families who have repeatedly produced notable politicians, and consequently such families have had a significant impact on politics in the British Isles.

Certain families, such as the Cecils, owe their long standing political influence to the House of Lords, which was still mainly composed of hereditary legislators until 1999. Other families, such as the Longs, have had a long tradition of standing for elected office, usually in the House of Commons.

Aitkens

Alexanders

Amerys

  • Leo Amery (1873–1955), Conservative MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook 1911–1945, Secretary of State
    • Julian Amery (1919–1996), Conservative MP for Preston North 1950–1966, Brighton Pavilion 1969–1992, Secretary of State for Air; son of Leo
    • John Amery (1912–1945), anti-communist and pro-Hitler activist, executed for treason; son of Leo

Armstrongs

Hilary Armstrong succeeded her father, Ernest Armstrong, as MP for North West Durham in 1987.

Astors

This family is British(ultimately German) in origin.

Asquiths and Bonham Carters

Main articles: Asquith family and Bonham Carter family

There are numerous notable figures descendant from Asquith, including diplomats, judges and actors. Listed below are some of the members who were in Westminster politics or prominent positions within the Liberal party.

  • Herbert Asquith (1852–1928), Liberal MP, Chancellor of the Chancellor of the Exchequer 1905–1908, Prime Minister 1908–1916, later 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith
    • Lady Violet Bonham Carter (1887–1969), Governor of the BBC 1941–1946, President of the Liberal Party 1945–1947, created a life peer in 1964; daughter of Herbert Asquith
    • Sir Maurice Bonham Carter (1880–1960), Principal Private Secretary to Herbert Asquith; married to Violet, daughter of Herbert
      • Mark Bonham Carter (1922–1994), Liberal MP, later life peer; son of Violet Bonham Carter
      • Laura Bonham Carter, daughter of Violet Bonham Carter and married to Jo Grimond (1913–1983), MP for Orkney and Shetland 1950–1983, Leader of the Liberal Party 1956–1967 and created Life peer 1983;

Beaumonts

Beggses

Benns

Brookes

  • Henry Brooke, Member of Parliament and Home Secretary, later life peer
    • Peter Brooke, MP and Secretary of State, life peer, son of Henry Brooke

Callaghans

  • James Callaghan (later Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, Prime Minister 1976–1979)
    • Margaret Jay (née Callaghan, later Baroness Jay of Paddington, Leader of the House of Lords 1998–2001), daughter of James
    • Peter Jay (British Ambassador to the United States), husband of Margaret
    • Douglas Jay, Baron Jay, father of the above and former Labour MP and Peer

Cavendishes (Dukes of Devonshire)

Cecils (Earls/Marquesses of Salisbury)

Chamberlains

Cromwells

Cryers

Dickinsons – Davidsons

Dunwoodys

  • Morgan Phillips (General Secretary of the Labour Party (1944–1961))
  • Norah Phillips, Baroness Phillips, Labour life peer, wife of Morgan
    • Gwyneth Dunwoody, their daughter, a Member of Parliament (Exeter 1966–1970), Crewe 1974–1983, Crewe & Nantwich 1983–2008 )
    • Dr John Dunwoody, Gwyneth's husband, a Member of Parliament (Falmouth & Camborne 1966–1970)
      • Tamsin Dunwoody, Welsh Assembly Member (2003–2007), Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks (January 2005–2007), Deputy Minister for Environment, Planning & Countryside (October 2005–2007) Welsh Assembly Government, their daughter

Eagles

Ewings

Foots

Galbraiths

Guests

Guinness/Channon

Hoggs (Viscounts Hailsham)

Hoosons

  • Tom Hooson, Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnor
    • his cousin and political opponent, Emlyn Hooson, Baron Hooson, Liberal MP for Montgomeryshire

Hurds

Janners

Greville Janner succeeded his father Sir Barnett Janner in Leicester, North-West in 1970.

Levers

Two brothers – Harold Lever and Leslie Maurice Lever – were Members for the neighbouring constituencies of Manchester Cheetham and Manchester Ardwick.

Lloyd Georges

All of the Longs in this list are related to each other, sharing a common ancestor. Walter, the 1st Viscount Long stated in his autobiography in 1923, that there was an unbroken line of Longs serving Parliament in the House of Commons for about 300 years. This list spans 555 years.

Mallalieus

McAteers

Eddie McAteer, one-time leader of the Nationalist Party (Ireland), was the brother of Hugh McAteer, a Sinn Féin and IRA activist, and the father of Fergus McAteer, a leader of the Irish Independence Party.

McNair-Wilsons

Patrick McNair-Wilson, Conservative MP for Lewisham West 1964–66 and New Forest from 1968, was the brother of Michael McNair-Wilson, Conservative MP for Walthamstow East 1967–70 and Newbury 1974–92.

Milibands

Morrises

Morrison and Mandelson

  • Herbert Morrison (1888–1965), Labour MP 1920s – 1950s, held various senior positions including Chair of the Labour Party and Leader of London County Council, later Cabinet Minister 1940–1951, as Deputy Prime Minister 1945–1951 and spells as variously Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons

Morrisons

Peter Morrison, Conservative MP for Chester 1974–1992 was the brother of Charles Morrison who was MP for Devizes 1964–1992.

Paisleys

Peases

Pelhams (Dukes of Newcastle)

Pitts (Earls of Chatham), Grenvilles and Stanhopes

Three prominent political dynasties of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, interrelated through several marriages.

Russells

Samuels and Montagus

Silkins

Sinclairs

Smiles

  • Sir Walter Smiles, Conservative MP for Blackburn 1931–45, Ulster Unionist MP for Down, then North Down 1945–53
    • Patricia Ford, née Smiles, Ulster Unionist MP for North Down; Walter Smiles' daughter, took over seat upon his death

Springs and Spring-Rices

Two branches of the Spring family of Lavenham: the Springs of Pakenham, Suffolk, and the Spring-Rices of Ireland.

Stanleys (Earls of Derby)

Sainsburys

Todds

Wakefields

Wavell Wakefield and Edward Wakefield, brothers, were both Members of Parliament, for St Marylebone from 1945 and West Derbyshire from 1950 respectively.

Williams/Breese

Married Couples

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