First Minister

A First Minister is the leader of a government. In the United Kingdom, First Minister was once used to mean the same as Prime Minister. Winston Churchill's famous quote: "I did not become His Majesty's First Minister so that I might oversee the liquidation of the British Empire!"

First Minister is now used to describe the leaders of the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. See:

• First Minister of Scotland
• First Minister of Wales
• First Minister and deputy First Minister (Northern Ireland)