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Ministers' motors
© GettyOur politicians have an eclectic taste in cars – both to drive and be driven in. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently ferried around in an official Jaguar XJ, followed by a fleet of security officers in Range Rovers. But Downing Street’s PMs and ministers have made use of a fleet of cars far more diverse than these over the years…
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Sir Wilston Churchill and a Land Rover
© Land RoverWhere else to start, but with probably the most British photograph you’ll see today: Sir Winston Churchill and a Land Rover Series I. Proving that the ministerial relationship with Land Rover goes back, literally, decades.
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Boris Johnson in a Nissan Leaf
© NewspressBoris Johnson’s Jaguar XJ limousine famously suffered a rear-end shunt outside Parliament earlier this year. However, the Prime Minister himself is a confident driver. He’s pictured here at the wheel of an electric Nissan Leaf.
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Boris Johnson in a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
© NewspressIndeed, Boris seems a fan of low-emissions motoring. He was the first UK politician to sample the plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
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Boris Johnson in a Tesla Roadster
© Response SourceThe Prime Minister was also an early supporter of Tesla. The Lotus-based Roadster was the breakout electric marque’s first model back in 2008. That crouch doesn’t look comfortable…
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Boris Johnson in a Ford Transit
© FordIf we’re honest, we don’t see the right honourable BoJo as a white van man. A red van with white stripes, though? Now we’re talking.
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Boris Johnson in a Ford Transit
© FordJohnson does seem to be a fan of Britain’s most popular van, mind. We wonder if he has one in the Downing Street garage, next to a collection of Jaguars.
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Boris Johnson in a Renault Fluence ZE
© NewspressWhatever you think of our controversial PM, he is clearly interested in cars. Here he poses with the all-electric Renault Fluence ZE.
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Boris Johnson in a Citroen DS Decapotable
© Julian Makey l Rex FeaturesNothing to see here, just Boris Johnson doing a fine impression of a French president. Time to move on…
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The Prime Ministerial XJ
© NewspressIn the twilight hours of the current XJ’s life, it retains its role as the Prime Minister’s wheels – a job it’s had since it was introduced. With Jaguar’s future now all-electric from 2025, it’ll be interesting to see whether armoured versions of any future cars are built for future PMs.
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Theresa May in a BMW 7 Series
© Newspress/ShutterstockIn her role as Home Secretary, Theresa May was often seen arriving at Number 10 in an armoured 7 Series. She was forced to give up the BMW when she became PM, switching to a Jaguar XJ.
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David Cameron opens Williams Advanced Engineering
© NewspressHere’s David Cameron again, opening Williams Advanced Engineering in 2014. The company is credited with the development of the Jaguar C-X75, Dendrobium D1 and Lotus Evija.
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David Cameron in the two-millionth Mini
© NewspressCameron had plenty of dealings with the motor industry while he was at No. 10. He even tried the two-millionth new Mini on for size when it was built back in 2011.
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David Cameron in a G-Wiz
© Associated PressDefinitely up there on the list of photos you’d rather weren’t taken. Here’s David Cameron with a G-Wiz. And is that the Top Gear test track?
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Rover P5B
© Getty ImagesPrior to the Jaguar XJ, high-ranking government offices and Prime Ministers would have been seen in the majestic Rover P5B. This uniquely-British saloon car was powered by a 3.5-litre V8 sourced from Buick (hence the ‘B’ in P5B). Sir Edward Heath, James Callaghan, Baroness Margaret Thatcher and Harold Wilson (seen here) all made use of a P5B while in office.
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Gordon Brown in a Vauxhall Omega CD
© BloombergGordon Brown became Prime Minister in 2007, but refused to give up his Vauxhall Omega CD. Despite promising to chop it in for a Toyota Prius, he still owned it nine months later. Sadly, he did eventually give up on this austerity measure by upgrading to a 4.2-litre Jaguar XJ.
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John Prescott in ‘two Jags’
© Jaguar/ShutterstockWhatever else John Prescott does with his life, he will always be remembered for having two Jaguars. Famously nicknamed ‘Two Jags’, the former Deputy Prime Minister had one in his Hull constituency and another – an XJS – in London. The latter of which he sold on Auto Trader in 2018.
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Clement Attlee in an Austin
© Getty ImagesClement Attlee was in power between the two occasions Sir Winston Churchill held office. Here he is leaving Buckingham Palace after submitting a list of members to form a new Labour government in 1945.
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Sir Winston Churchill in a Hillman Pullman
© Getty ImagesHere’s Sir Winston Churchill again, this time in a Hillman Pullman in 1951. He had recently been elected for his second term as Prime Minister.
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Sir Anthony Eden in a Austin-Healey 100
© Getty ImagesSir Anthony Eden was PM from 1955 to 1957, before being ousted by Harold Macmillan after his mishandling of the Suez Crisis. Here he is in happier times, at the wheel of an Austin-Healey at the 1956 London Motor Show.
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Sir Edward Heath in a Triumph Herald
© Getty ImagesSir Edward Heath found a novel way of campaigning by standing up in a Triumph Herald. Just as well it was fitted with a retractable roof. Makes a change from turning a Herald into a boat, Top Gear-style.
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James Callaghan in a Mini
© Getty ImagesJames Callaghan was Prime Minister from 1976 to 1979. He could have looked a little happier. He was at the wheel of a rather excellent Mini Clubman.
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Margaret Thatcher in an MGB GT
© Associated PressBefore Margaret Thatcher settled into the luxuries of Daimlers, Rovers and Jaguars, she actually drove an MGB GT. Here she is filling up with groceries on the eve of the Conservative party’s leadership election in 1975.
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Baroness Margaret Thatcher in a Jaguar or Daimler
© Associated PressA Jaguar or Daimler would often be seen parked outside Number 10 when Mrs Thatcher greeted the press. In 1999, she was driven out of Downing Street for the final time in a black Daimler.
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Anthony Courtney in a Jeep
© Getty ImagesAnthony Courtney was a former British Royal Navy officer and MP. He took an unusual approach to campaigning, using a Jeep and what appears to be a loudhailer connected to a dog.
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Nigel Farage in a Volvo V70
© Getty ImagesNigel Farage owns an old tank. No, not the one pictured, but a Volvo V70.
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Kelvin Hopkins: Vauxhall Astra GTE
© VauxhallA prime example of an MP being upstaged by a car. Here’s former Luton MP Kelvin Hopkins with a Mk1 Vauxhall Astra GTE.
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Ed Miliband in a Ford Focus
© Ford/ShutterstockRemember when Ed Miliband came under fire for having his green Ford Focus washed for him? No, neither do we. But we respect his choice of car.
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Alan Clark in a Jaguar SS100
© ShutterstockThe late Alan Clark was a former Conservative MP who served under the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major. As well as a published author, he was also known for his love of cars and he owned a beautiful Jaguar SS100 similar to this one. He was often seen driving away from the House of Commons in it.
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Ann Widdecombe in a Ford Focus
© FordOK, we don’t actually know if former Conservative minister and Strictly Come Dancing star Ann Widdecombe has ever actually owned a Ford Focus. We suspect not. But any excuse for us to use this photo is fine by us.
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Jeremy Hunt in an LEVC taxi
© Jeremy Hunt | TwitterJeremy Hunt won’t be upstaged in the eco-friendly mobility stakes. Here he is having a go in the LEVC taxi, a range-extender hybrid based on the Volvo XC90.
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Sir John Reid in a Vauxhall Omega CD
© Getty ImagesAh, here’s Gordon Brown’s Vauxhall once again, this time with Sir John Reid enjoying the finer points of Vauxhall’s flagship saloon.
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Vince Cable: Lotus Exige S
© LotusHere’s the former Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with a Lotus Exige S. Judging by his attire, he wasn’t there to collect the keys.
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Harriet Harman in a Toyota Prius
© Getty ImagesFinally, no list of cars belonging to government officials would be complete without a token Toyota Prius. So here’s a token Toyota Prius, which belonged to Harriet Harman.