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Chancellors who became Prime Minister

Five post-war Prime Ministers had been Chancellor first: Harold Macmillan, James Callaghan, John Major, Gordon Brown and Rishi Sunak.

The full list

Post-war era 2

Macmillan and Callaghan rose from Chancellor to PM during the 1950s-70s.

• Harold Macmillan
• James Callaghan

Post-1990 era 3

Major, Brown and Sunak each moved directly or eventually from No. 11 to No. 10 in the modern period.

• John Major
• Gordon Brown
• Rishi Sunak

Not on the list

• Winston Churchill: Was Chancellor 1924-1929, but first became PM in 1940 — before the 1945 cut-off this list uses — so his 1951-1955 second premiership does not qualify him under a 'first PM after 1945' definition.

Questions

How many Chancellors have become Prime Minister since 1945?

Five post-war Prime Ministers had been Chancellor first: Harold Macmillan, James Callaghan, John Major, Gordon Brown and Rishi Sunak.

Which people are on the list?

Harold Macmillan, James Callaghan, John Major, Gordon Brown and Rishi Sunak.

What is an easy way to remember them?

Two before 1980 (Macmillan, Callaghan) and three since 1990 (Major, Brown, Sunak).

Why is Churchill not on the list?

He was Chancellor from 1924 to 1929, but he first became Prime Minister in 1940, before the 1945 cut-off.

More lists

Each name checked against at least two sources, one of them gov.uk Past Chancellors, on 28 September 2026. Next review by 28 September 2027.
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