Third Urquhart ministry

Urquhart chairing a cabinet meeting

The third Urquhart ministry was formed by Prime Minister Francis Urquhart following his victory at another general election prior to 2001. It was the third and final ministry of his premiership.

A notable member of this cabinet was Tom Makepeace, who served in the cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, later succeeding Urquhart as prime minister after Urquhart's assassination.

Cabinet members

2001-2002

2002-2003

Makepeace was dismissed from his role as Foreign Secretary in 2002, due to his opposition to Urquhart's plan to make English the official language of the European Union. He was offered the post of Education Secretary (seen as a traditional "dumping ground" post), but he instead chose to resign and is replaced by Geoffrey Booza-Pitt. Shortly thereafter Dick Caul and Hilda Cordwainer also resigned from the cabinet, though for different reasons.

  • Prime Minister: Francis Urquhart
  • Foreign Secretary: Geoffrey Booza-Pitt
  • Home Secretary: John Rayner
  • Health Secretary: Betsy Bourke
  • Cabinet Secretary: Henry Ponsonby
  • Parliamentary Private Secretary: Claire Carlsen

2003

Before his appointment, Booza-Pitt is forced to admit to an extra-marital affair by Urquhart and, while no action is taken immediately, is made to sign a corresponding statement of resignation which Urquhart keeps in his desk as leverage against him. When Urquhart's position becomes increasingly untenable during Makepeace's leadership challenge, Booza-Pitt attempts to resign on his own terms, hoping to create the perception that he is taking a principled stand against the prime minister, but is presumably disgraced when Urquhart publishes his earlier resignation letter instead.

  • Prime Minister: Francis Urquhart
  • Home Secretary: John Rayner
  • Health Secretary: Betsy Bourke
  • Cabinet Secretary: Henry Ponsonby
  • Parliamentary Private Secretary: Claire Carlsen