100 years of Cabinet Secretaries: six in conversation

The creation of the Cabinet Secretariat, 9 December 1916, was a watershed moment in British government. For the first time, Cabinet decisions were recorded, formalising the way we capture the important decisions made around the Cabinet table.

The Cabinet Secretary, the Civil Service representative in those all-important meetings, evolved to become one of the key advisory roles in government. The Cabinet Office that supported the secretariat grew to become a central organising department in government.

To mark 100 years of the Cabinet Secretariat, we brought together five former Cabinet Secretaries. In conversation with the then incumbent, Sir Jeremy Heywood, they discussed the history of the role and the Cabinet Office, its evolution during their tenures and their reflections on its future.

• Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, Cabinet Secretary, 1979-1987
• Lord Butler of Brockwell, Cabinet Secretary, 1988-1998
• Lord Wilson of Dinton, Cabinet Secretary, 1998-2002
• Lord Turnbull, Cabinet Secretary, 2002-2005
• Lord O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary, 2005-2011

Chair: Sir Jeremy Heywood, Cabinet Secretary, 2012 - 2018.

Read our blog on this event.

Watch video clips and the full event below

Read the full transcript of this event.