List of political families in the United Kingdom

During its history, the United Kingdom (and previously the Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Scotland and Kingdom of Ireland) 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 composition and role of the House of Lords, which was still mainly composed of hereditary legislators until the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999. Other families, such as the Longs, have had a long tradition of standing for elected office, usually in the House of Commons. Many such families were part of the landed gentry, who often exerted political control in a certain locality over many generations.

(Dyke-)Aclands

Adamses

Adamsons

Aitkens

Alderdices

Alexanders

Atkins

Attlees

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; also son-in-law of Harold Macmillan (see below)

Armstrongs

Asghars

Astors

  • Waldorf Astor (1879–1952), Conservative MP for Plymouth, Sutton 1910–1919, later 2nd Viscount Astor; husband of Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor
  • Nancy Astor (1879–1964), Conservative MP for Plymouth, Sutton 1919–1945, first female MP to take her seat; Waldorf's wife
    • William Astor (1907–1966), Conservative MP for East Fulham 1935–1945, Wycombe 1951–1952; Waldorf and Nancy's son
      • William Astor (born 1951), excepted hereditary peer; William's son
        • David Cameron (born 1966), Conservative Prime Minister; stepson-in-law of William Waldorf
    • Michael Astor (1916–1979), Conservative MP for Surrey East 1945–1951; Waldorf and Nancy's son
    • Jakie Astor (1918–2000), Conservative MP for Plymouth Sutton 1951–1959; Waldorf and Nancy's son
  • John Jacob Astor (1886–1971), Conservative MP for Dover 1922–1945, later 1st Baron Astor of Hever; Waldorf's brother

Asquiths

Bagshaws

Bakers

Baldwins

Bankeses

Barings

Basses

Bathursts

Beaumonts

Beckfords

Beggses

Beith

Benns

Benyons

Beresfords

Bernal(-Osborne)

Bevan and Lee

Billinghams and Skinners

Bilsons

Blackburnes

Blakes

Blennerhassetts

Blomfield and McAvan

Boles

Borwicks

Boswells

Bottomleys

Bradshaws

Brights and Cashs

Bromleys

Bromleys (Barons Montfort)

Bromleys (Speaker)

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

Brunners

Bull

Burgon

Byers and Nandy

Calcrafts

Callaghans

Calverts

(Bonham-)Carters

Cavendishes (Duke of Devonshire)

Cawleys

Cecils (Earls/Marquesses of Salisbury)

Chichesters (Baron Fisherwick)

Chaplins

Chapman

Chichester-Clark

Clifton-Browns

Coopers and Balls

Copes

Courtses

Cox and Leadbeater

Cromwells

Cruddas and Healy

Cryers

Dashwoods

Davidsons

Davies and Rees

Davises

Dawsons

Dickinsons and Davidsons

Doddses

Doran and Ruddock

Dunnes

Dunwoodys

Durkans

Eagleses

Eccleses

Edwards and Goldings

Egertons

Ewings

Ferguson and Butler

Fieldens

Finnies

Foleys

Foots

Fords

Fosters

Galbraiths

Garniers

Gibsons of Glasgow

Gibsons of Highlands and Islands

  • Rob Gibson, SNP Member of Scottish Parliament 2003–

Gladstones and relations

Gildernews

Goldsmiths

Additionally, James Goldsmith's daughter Jemima Goldsmith married Imran Khan, former prime minister of Pakistan.

Goschens

Grady and Chichester

Grants

Grattans

Greenes

Greenwoods

Grenvilles

Grieves

Guests

Additionally, Arthur Guinness' great-grandson of the same name (through the former's son Hosea) was a politician in a different country: Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

Gummers

Harcourts

Hardies

Hardings

Harpham and Furniss

  • Harry Harpham (1954–2016), Labour MP 2015–2016.[1]
    • Gill Furniss (1957–), Labour MP 2016–. Widow of Harry; she took over his seat upon his death)[1]

Heathcotes

Hendersons of Faringdon

Hendersons of Rowley

Hendrons

Hicks-Beaches

Hodgeses

Hodgsons

Hoggs (Viscounts Hailsham)

Holmes and Benn

Hoosons

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

Hopes

Hopkinsons

Hosie and Robison

Howarths

Howes

Hoyles

Hubbards

Hurds

Husseys

Jacksons

Janners

Jays

Jegers

Jenkins

Johnsons

Joneses (Northern England)

Joneses (Wales)

Keens and Heal

Kennedys of Southwark and Cardley

Kinnocks

Knollyses

Lambs

Lancaster and Dinenage

Laws

Lechmeres

Lefroys

Lemons

Levers

Lewises

Lindsays (Earls of Crawford)

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.

Lowthers

Luces

Luttrells

Lyons

Maberleys

MacDonalds

MacKay and Kirkbride

Macmillans (Earl of Stockton)

Mahons and Dowd

  • Simon Mahon (1886–1961), Mayor of Bootle 1929.[36]
    • Peter Mahon (1909–1980), MP 1964–1970. Son of Simon.[1][36]
    • Simon Mahon (1914–1986), MP 1955–1979. Son of Simon.[1]
    • Joseph Mahon, councillor at Bootle. Son of Simon.[36]
      • Peter Dowd (1957–), MP 2015–. Great-nephew of both Peter and Simon.[1]

Mallalieus

Mancrofts

Martins

Maudes

Maxton

  • James Maxton Labour MP 1922–1946
    • John Maxton Labour MP 1979–2001, is a Labour life peer since 2004, Nephew of James

McAteers

Eddie McAteer, one-time leader of the Nationalist Party, 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

McCarthys

McCreas

McGuinnesses

McMahons

McNair-Wilsons

Meachers and Layard

Mileses

Milibands

Millars

Mitchells

Morgans

Morleys

Morrises

Morrisons

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

Mosleys of Ancoats

Mundells

Nairns and Spencer-Nairns

  • Sir Michael Nairn of Rankeilour, 2nd Baronet, Deputy Lieutenant of Fife[38]

Normans

Nott and Swire

Nuttalls

O'Connells

Ormsby-Gores

Overends

Robert Overend, Vanguard Unionist member of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention

Sandra Overend, Ulster Unionist MLA and daughter-in-law of Robert Overend
Billy Armstrong, Ulster Unionist MLA and father of Sandra Overend

Pagets

Paisleys

Patons

Pawseys

Peases

Peels

Pelhams

Percival

  • John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont First Lord of the Admiralty 1763–1766 and sat in the House of Commons for several constituencies.
    • Spencer Perceval MP for Northampton 1796–1812, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1807–1812, Leader of the House of Commons 1807–1812, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1807–1812, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 1809–1812. Son of John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont.

Perkins

Perrys

Philipses

Pitts (Earl of Chatham) and Stanhopes

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

Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax

Pootses

Prentices

Prices

Priors

Redmonds

Reids

Ridleys

Robinsons

Roes

Rothschilds (Baron Rothschild)

Runcimans

Russells

Sainsburys

Samuels and Montagus

Samuelsons

Sandys

Sarwar

Sharpleses

Shelleys

Shinwells and Bergers

Sillars and MacDonalds

Silkins

Sinclairs

Smiles

  • Sir Walter Smiles, Conservative MP for Blackburn 1931–45, Ulster Unionist MP for Down, then North Down 1945–53

Smiths and Abel Smiths (Baron Carrington and Baron Bicester)

Smiths of Gilmorehill

Springs and Spring Rices

Stanleys (Earls of Derby)

Sturgeon

St Leger

Summerskills

Swanns

Swinson and Hames

Tennyson (d'Eyncourt)

Todds

Tugendhats

Tyrwhitt-Drakes

Vane-Tempest-Stewart

Vaz

Vivians

Wakefields

Walkers

Ward, Seabeck, Raynsford

Watkins

Watts

Whitbreads

Wheatleys

Whites (Baron Annaly)

Wiggins

Wigrams

Williamses

Williams and Breeses

Wintertons

Wintringhams

Wolfsons

Woods

Yousaf

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