This is a list of 1979 British incumbents.

Government

  • Monarch
  • Head of State - Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom (1952–2022)
  • Prime Minister
  • Head of Government - James Callaghan, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1976–1979)
  • Head of Government - Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979–1990)
  • First Lord of the Treasury
  • James Callaghan, First Lord of the Treasury (1976–1979)
  • Margaret Thatcher, First Lord of the Treasury (1979–1990)
  • Chancellor of the Exchequer
  • Denis Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer (1974–1979)
  • Sir Geoffrey Howe, Chancellor of the Exchequer (1979–1983)
  • Second Lord of the Treasury
  • Denis Healey, Second Lord of the Treasury (1974–1979)
  • Sir Geoffrey Howe, Second Lord of the Treasury (1979–1983)
  • Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
  • Dr David Owen, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1977–1979)
  • Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1979–1982)
  • Secretary of State for the Home Department
  • Merlyn Rees, Secretary of State for the Home Department (1976–1979)
  • William Whitelaw, Secretary of State for the Home Department (1979–1983)
  • Secretary of State for Transport
  • Bill Rodgers, Secretary of State for Transport (1976–1979)
  • Norman Fowler, Minister for Transport (1979–1981)
  • Secretary of State for Scotland
  • Bruce Millan, Secretary of State for Scotland (1976–1979)
  • George Younger, Secretary of State for Scotland (1979–1986)
  • Secretary of State for Social Services
  • David Ennals, Secretary of State for Social Services (1976–1979)
  • Patrick Jenkin, Secretary of State for Social Services (1979–1981)
  • Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
  • Roy Mason, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1976–1979)
  • Humphrey Atkins, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1979–1981)
  • Secretary of State for Defence
  • Frederick Mulley, Secretary of State for Defence (1976–1979)
  • Francis Pym, Secretary of State for Defence (1979–1981)
  • Secretary of State for Industry
  • Eric Varley, Secretary of State for Industry (1975–1979)
  • Sir Keith Joseph, Bt., Secretary of State for Industry (1979–1981)
  • Secretary of State for Trade
  • John Smith, Secretary of State for Trade (1978–1979)
  • John Nott, Secretary of State for Trade (1979–1981)
  • Secretary of State for Education and Science
  • Shirley Williams, Secretary of State for Education and Science (1976–1979)
  • Mark Carlisle, Secretary of State for Education and Science (1979–1981)
  • Secretary of State for Wales
  • John Morris, Secretary of State for Wales (1974–1979)
  • Nicholas Edwards, Secretary of State for Wales (1979–1987)
  • Lord Privy Seal
  • Fred Peart, Baron Peart, Lord Privy Seal (1976–1979)
  • Sir Ian Gilmour, Lord Privy Seal (1979–1981)
  • Leader of the House of Commons
  • Michael Foot, Leader of the House of Commons (1976–1979)
  • Norman St John-Stevas, Leader of the House of Commons (1979–1981)
  • Lord President of the Council
  • Michael Foot, Lord President of the Council (1976–1979)
  • Christopher Soames, Baron Soames, Lord President of the Council (1979–1981)
  • Lord Chancellor
  • Elwyn Jones, Baron Elwyn-Jones, Lord Chancellor (1974–1979)
  • Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone, Lord Chancellor (1979–1987)
  • Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
  • Harold Lever, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1974–1979)
  • Norman St John-Stevas, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1979–1981)

Religion

  • Archbishop of Canterbury
  • Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury (1974–1980)
  • Archbishop of York
  • Stuart Blanch, Archbishop of York (1975–1983)

Dukes

  • Duke of Abercorn
  • James Edward Hamilton, 4th Duke of Abercorn (1953–1979)
  • James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn (1979-)