The Shadow Cabinet appointed by Conservative Party leader William Hague was the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet from 1997 to 2001. Following his initial appointments in June 1997, Hague reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet five times before his resignation as leader following defeat in the 2001 general election.
Initial Shadow Cabinet
Rt Hon. William Hague MP — Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Peter Lilley MP — Shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerRt Hon. Michael Howard QC MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsRt Hon. Sir Brian Mawhinney MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentRt Hon. Lord Parkinson PC — Chairman of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Stephen Dorrell MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentRt Hon. Gillian Shephard MP — Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterRt Hon. Viscount Cranborne PC — Leader of the Opposition in the House of LordsRt Hon. Sir George Young Bt MP — Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceRt Hon. John Redwood MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryRt Hon. Sir Norman Fowler MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the RegionsRt Hon. Michael Ancram QC MP — Constitutional Affairs Spokesman, including Scotland and WalesRt Hon. David Curry MP — Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodRt Hon. Alastair Goodlad MP — Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentRt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP — Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryRt Hon. Francis Maude MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportRt Hon. Andrew Mackay MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandJohn Maples MP — Shadow Secretary of State for HealthRt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Social SecurityRt Hon. James Arbuthnot MP — Opposition Chief WhipRt Hon. Lord Strathclyde PC — Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsHague first reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet on 1 June 1998.
Rt Hon. William Hague MP — Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Peter Lilley MP — Deputy Leader of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Francis Maude MP — Shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerRt Hon. Michael Howard QC MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsRt Hon. Sir Norman Fowler MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentRt Hon. Lord Parkinson PC — Chairman of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Michael Ancram MP — Vice-Chairman of the Conservative PartyDavid Willetts MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentRt Hon. Sir George Young Bt MP — Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterRt Hon. Viscount Cranborne PC — Leader of the Opposition in the House of LordsJohn Maples MP — Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceRt Hon. John Redwood MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryRt Hon. Gillian Shephard MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the RegionsDr Liam Fox MP — Constitutional Affairs spokesmanTim Yeo MP — Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodGary Streeter MP — Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentRt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP — Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryPeter Ainsworth MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportRt Hon. Andrew Mackay MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandRt Hon. Ann Widdecombe MP — Shadow Secretary of State for HealthRt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Social SecurityRt Hon. James Arbuthnot MP — Opposition Chief WhipRt Hon. Lord Strathclyde PC — Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsJunior Shadow MinistersRt Hon. Sir Nicholas Lyell MP — Shadow Attorney GeneralRt Hon the Lord Kingsland QC — Shadow Lord ChancellorChanges from June 1997Peter Lilley moves from Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer to Deputy Leader of the Conservative PartyFrancis Maude moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to Shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerSir Brian Mawhinney leaves the Shadow CabinetSir Norman Fowler moves from Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentGillian Shephard moves from Shadow Leader of the House of Commons to Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the RegionsSir George Young moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Defence to Shadow Leader of the House of CommonsJohn Maples moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Health to Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceAnn Widdecombe enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for HealthAlastair Goodlad leaves the Shadow CabinetPeter Ainsworth enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportLiam Fox enters the Shadow Cabinet as Constitutional Affairs spokesmanGary Streeter enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentDavid Curry leaves the Shadow CabinetTim Yeo enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodMichael Ancram becomes Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party. A few months later he succeeded Parkinson with his own successor not sitting in the Shadow Cabinet.A minor Shadow Cabinet reshuffle was required on 2 December 1998due to the sacking of Viscount Cranborne over the House of Lords Act 1999. Cranborne had been engaged in secret negotiations with the Labour Government over the issue of hereditary peers, without informing William Hague. This amendment (proposed by Bernard Weatherill for issues of formality, known as the Weatherill Amendment) allowed 92 hereditary peers to remain. The sacking of Cranborne led to a leadership crisis, with some Conservative peers resigning the party whip.
Shadow Cabinet
Rt Hon. William Hague MP — Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Peter Lilley MP — Deputy Leader of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Francis Maude MP — Shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerRt Hon. Michael Howard QC MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsRt Hon. Sir Norman Fowler MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentMichael Ancram MP — Chairman of the Conservative PartyDavid Willetts MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentRt Hon. Sir George Young Bt MP — Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterRt Hon. Lord Strathclyde PC — Leader of the Opposition in the House of LordsJohn Maples MP — Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceRt Hon. John Redwood MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryRt Hon. Gillian Shephard MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the RegionsDr Liam Fox MP — Constitutional Affairs spokesmanTim Yeo MP — Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodGary Streeter MP — Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentRt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP — Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryPeter Ainsworth MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportRt Hon. Andrew Mackay MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandRt Hon. Ann Widdecombe MP — Shadow Secretary of State for HealthRt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Social SecurityRt Hon. James Arbuthnot MP — Opposition Chief WhipLord Henley — Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsChangesRt Hon. Viscount Cranborne PC is sacked from the Shadow CabinetRt Hon. Lord Strathclyde PC moves from Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords to Leader of the Opposition in the House of LordsLord Henley enters the Shadow Cabinet as Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsHague again reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet on 15 June 1999.
Rt Hon. William Hague MP — Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Francis Maude MP — Shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerRt Hon. John Maples MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsRt Hon. Ann Widdecombe MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentRt Hon. Michael Ancram QC MP — Chairman of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Theresa May MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentRt Hon. Sir George Young Bt MP — Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Constitutional Affairs spokesmanRt Hon. Lord Strathclyde PC — Leader of the Opposition in the House of LordsRt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP — Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceAngela Browning MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryRt Hon. John Redwood MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the RegionsTim Yeo MP — Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodGary Streeter MP — Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentRt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP — Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryPeter Ainsworth MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportRt Hon. Andrew Mackay MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandDr Liam Fox MP — Shadow Secretary of State for HealthDavid Willetts MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Social SecurityRt Hon. James Arbuthnot MP — Opposition Chief WhipLord Henley — Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsJunior Shadow MinistersEdward Garnier QC MP — Shadow Attorney GeneralRt Hon the Lord Kingsland QC — Shadow Lord ChancellorBernard Jenkin MP — Shadow Minister for TransportAndrew Lansley MP — Shadow Cabinet Office MinisterChanges from 2 December 1998Peter Lilley leaves the Shadow CabinetLord Parkinson leaves the Shadow CabinetMichael Howard leaves the Shadow CabinetGillian Shephard leaves the Shadow CabinetSir Norman Fowler leaves the Shadow CabinetSir Nicholas Lyell leaves the Shadow Ministerial TeamTheresa May enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentAngela Browning enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryEdward Garnier enters the Shadow Ministerial Team as Shadow Attorney GeneralBernard Jenkin enters the Shadow Ministerial Team as Shadow Transport MinisterAndrew Lansley enters the Shadow Ministerial Team as Shadow Cabinet Office MinisterAnn Widdecombe moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Health to Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentJohn Maples moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Defence to Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsJohn Redwood moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the RegionsLiam Fox moves from Constitutional Affairs spokesman to Shadow Secretary of State for HealthIain Duncan Smith moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security to Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceDavid Willetts moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Employment to Shadow Secretary of State for Social SecurityOn 2 February 2000, Hague again reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet.
Rt Hon. William Hague MP — Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Michael Portillo MP — Shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerRt Hon. Francis Maude MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsRt Hon. Ann Widdecombe MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentRt Hon. Michael Ancram QC MP — Chairman of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Theresa May MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentRt Hon. Sir George Young Bt MP — Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Constitutional Affairs spokesmanRt Hon. Lord Strathclyde PC — Leader of the Opposition in the House of LordsRt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP — Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceAngela Browning MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryArchie Norman MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the RegionsTim Yeo MP — Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodGary Streeter MP — Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentRt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP — Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryPeter Ainsworth MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportRt Hon. Andrew Mackay MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandDr Liam Fox MP — Shadow Secretary of State for HealthDavid Willetts MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Social SecurityRt Hon. James Arbuthnot MP — Opposition Chief WhipLord Henley — Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsJunior Shadow MinistersEdward Garnier QC MP — Shadow Attorney GeneralRt Hon the Lord Kingsland QC — Shadow Lord ChancellorBernard Jenkin MP — Shadow Minister for TransportAndrew Lansley CBE MP — Shadow Cabinet Office MinisterChanges from 15 June 1999John Redwood leaves the Shadow CabinetJohn Maples leaves the Shadow CabinetMichael Portillo enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerArchie Norman enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the RegionsFrancis Maude moves from Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer to Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsHague's final Shadow Cabinet reshuffle occurred on 26 September 2000.
Rt Hon. William Hague MP — Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Michael Portillo MP — Shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerRt Hon. Francis Maude MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsRt Hon. Ann Widdecombe MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentRt Hon. Michael Ancram QC MP — Chairman of the Conservative PartyRt Hon. Theresa May MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Education and EmploymentAngela Browning MP — Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Constitutional Affairs spokesmanRt Hon. Lord Strathclyde PC — Leader of the Opposition in the House of LordsRt Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP — Shadow Secretary of State for DefenceRt Hon. David Heathcoat-Amory MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and IndustryArchie Norman MP — Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the RegionsTim Yeo MP — Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodGary Streeter MP — Shadow Secretary of State for International DevelopmentRt Hon. Oliver Letwin MP — Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryPeter Ainsworth MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and SportRt Hon. Andrew Mackay MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Northern IrelandDr Liam Fox MP — Shadow Secretary of State for HealthDavid Willetts MP — Shadow Secretary of State for Social SecurityRt Hon. James Arbuthnot MP — Opposition Chief WhipLord Henley — Opposition Chief Whip in the House of LordsJunior Shadow MinistersEdward Garnier QC MP — Shadow Attorney GeneralRt Hon the Lord Kingsland QC — Shadow Lord ChancellorBernard Jenkin MP — Shadow Minister for TransportAndrew Lansley CBE MP — Shadow Cabinet Office MinisterChanges from 2 February 2000Sir George Young leaves the Shadow CabinetOliver Letwin enters the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Chief Secretary to the TreasuryAngela Browning moves from Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Constitutional Affairs SpokesmanDavid Heathcoat-Amory moves from Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury to Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry