Former prime ministers and Parliament: their 'maiden' interventions

This week Rishi Sunak has made his first intervention in the Commons as a backbencher.  It was during Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Questions. Sunak asked about the annual food security index.

Other former prime ministers have made their 'maiden' interventions on a range of issues.

Liz Truss

Liz Truss' first intervention after her resignation was in a debate on Ukraine in February 2023.

Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson's was a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, just three days after his resignation.

Theresa May

Theresa May's was on the Second Reading of the Domestic Abuse Bill in October 2019.

David Cameron

David Cameron's first intervention as a backbencher had to wait until September 2024, when he spoke on the Second Reading of the Holocaust Memorial Bill.

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown's was in November 2010, on a constituency matter, aircraft carriers. His speech features in our study of Margaret Thatcher's life after Downing Street. More news on that coming soon.

Tony Blair

Resigning as an MP on the day he resigned as Prime Minister, and not having been elevated to the Lords, Tony Blair is yet to make a 'maiden' intervention as a former prime minister.

John Major

John Major's was on a ministerial statement on Iraq in February 1998.

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher's was on a prime ministerial statement on The Gulf in February 1991. This also features in our study of her life after Downing Street.

James Callaghan

James Callaghan's was during a Queen's Speech debate in November 1980 on industry and the economy. Edward Heath also spoke during the debate.

Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson's was on the Second Reading of the Scotland and Wales Bill in December 1976.

Edward Heath

Edward Heath's was a speech on a debate on membership of the European Community in April 1975. He also made three debating interventions during the debate. There were in Enoch Powell's speech.

Alec Douglas-Home

Alec Douglas-Home's, as Lord Home of the Hirsel, was in March 1975 on an Oral Question on the assassination of King Faisal.

Harold Macmillan

Harold Macmillan's was in November 1963, during tributes to President Kennedy.

Anthony Eden

Anthony Eden's, as The Earl of Avon, was made in October 1961 in a debate on the international situation. Earl Attlee also spoke.

Clement Attlee

Clement Attlee's, as Earl Attlee, was in March 1956 in a debate on the Middle East. He also made four debating interventions during the debate. The debate was on a motion of his own. Earl Attlee is interesting amongst the post-war ex-premiers. Although it seems he did not have a formal role on the Labour front bench in the House of Lords from 1956 onwards, he did speak from there on occasion. He himself made this point in a November 1964 speech, commenting, 'I am speaking to-day as a Back-Bench Member. For the first time for 41 years I am completely free from responsibility. I am neither a Minister, nor one of the official Opposition, but merely an old, Back-Bench Member.'


Winston Churchill

The first recorded words that Winston Churchill uttered in the Chamber of the House of Commons after his resignation were in November 1959 when he thanked the House for its greetings on his birthday. He had, however, indicated his support for the Government during a speech by Hugh Gaitskell on Suez in November 1956.