This is a list of 1981 British incumbents.

Government

  • Monarch
  • Head of State — Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom (1952–2022)
  • Prime Minister
  • Head of Government — Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979–1990)
  • First Lord of the Treasury
  • Margaret Thatcher, First Lord of the Treasury (1979–1990)
  • Chancellor of the Exchequer
  • Sir Geoffrey Howe, Chancellor of the Exchequer (1979–1983)
  • Second Lord of the Treasury
  • Sir Geoffrey Howe, Second Lord of the Treasury (1979–1983)
  • Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
  • Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1979–1982)
  • Secretary of State for the Home Department
  • William Whitelaw, Secretary of State for the Home Department (1979–1983)
  • Secretary of State for Transport
  • Norman Fowler, Minister for Transport (1979–1981)
  • Norman Fowler, Secretary of State for Transport (1981)
  • David Howell, Secretary of State for Transport (1981–1983)
  • Secretary of State for Scotland
  • George Younger, Secretary of State for Scotland (1979–1986)
  • Secretary of State for Social Services
  • Patrick Jenkin, Secretary of State for Social Services (1979–1981)
  • Norman Fowler, Secretary of State for Social Services (1981–1987)
  • Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
  • Humphrey Atkins, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1979–1981)
  • James Prior, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1981–1984)
  • Secretary of State for Defence
  • Francis Pym, Secretary of State for Defence (1979–1981)
  • John Nott, Secretary of State for Defence (1981–1983)
  • Secretary of State for Industry
  • Sir Keith Joseph, Bt., Secretary of State for Industry (1979–1981)
  • Patrick Jenkin, Secretary of State for Industry (1981–1983)
  • Secretary of State for Trade
  • John Nott, Secretary of State for Trade (1979–1981)
  • John Biffen, Secretary of State for Trade (1981–1982)
  • Secretary of State for Education and Science
  • Mark Carlisle, Secretary of State for Education and Science (1979–1981)
  • Sir Keith Joseph, Bt., Secretary of State for Education and Science (1981–1986)
  • Secretary of State for Wales
  • Nicholas Edwards, Secretary of State for Wales (1979–1987)
  • Lord Privy Seal
  • Sir Ian Gilmour, Lord Privy Seal (1979–1981)
  • Humphrey Atkins, Lord Privy Seal (1981–1982)
  • Leader of the House of Commons
  • Norman St John-Stevas, Leader of the House of Commons (1979–1981)
  • Francis Pym, Leader of the House of Commons (1981–1982)
  • Lord President of the Council
  • Christopher Soames, Baron Soames, Lord President of the Council (1979–1981)
  • Francis Pym, Lord President of the Council (1981–1982)
  • Lord Chancellor
  • Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone, Lord Chancellor (1979–1987)
  • Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
  • Norman Arthur Francis St John-Stevas, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1979–1981)
  • Janet Mary Young, Baroness Young, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1981–1982)

Religion

  • Archbishop of Canterbury
  • Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury (1980–1991)
  • Archbishop of York
  • Stuart Blanch, Archbishop of York (1975–1983)