Chapter 8 of 32 · Updated for 2026

Prime Ministers of the UK: practice questions

Ten Life in the UK test questions on Prime Ministers of the UK, each checked against the official handbook and set in the four formats the real test uses. Pick your answer, then tap Show the answer to see why.

1. One answer

   1. Who became Prime Minister in May 1940 and led Britain as its wartime leader?

   • AClement Attlee
   • BWinston Churchill
   • CStanley Baldwin
   • DDavid Lloyd George
   Show the answer

   B: Winston Churchill

   Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in May 1940 and refused to surrender to the Nazis. Clement Attlee served as his Deputy Prime Minister in the wartime coalition.

2. One answer

   2. In the House of Commons, which regular event gives the leader of the opposition an important chance to challenge the Prime Minister?

   • AThe State Opening of Parliament
   • BThe annual Budget statement
   • CPrime Minister's Questions
   • DA cabinet meeting
   Show the answer

   C: Prime Minister's Questions

   The leader of the opposition points out what they see as the government's failures, and Prime Minister's Questions is one of the main chances to do so.

3. True or false

   3. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE?

   The Duke of Wellington later became Prime Minister.

   • ATrue
   • BFalse
   Show the answer

   A: True

   Wellington, the 'Iron Duke' who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, later became Prime Minister.

4. One answer

   4. Who was the first Prime Minister of Great Britain?

   • AWilliam Pitt
   • BRobert Walpole
   • CBenjamin Disraeli
   • DDuke of Wellington
   Show the answer

   B: Robert Walpole

   Sir Robert Walpole was the first person to be called Prime Minister, serving from 1721 to 1742. The role grew because George I relied heavily on his ministers.

5. Choose TWO answers

   5. Which TWO of these are true of Clement Attlee's early life?

   • AHe was born in Manchester
   • BHe studied at Oxford University
   • CHe worked as a journalist
   • DHe did social work in East London
   Show the answer

   B: He studied at Oxford University
   D: He did social work in East London

   Attlee was born in London, studied at Oxford, became a barrister and then did social work in East London.

6. One answer

   6. Which economic changes did Margaret Thatcher's government make?

   • AIt took coal, steel and the railways into public ownership
   • BIt replaced the pound with the euro and joined the single currency
   • CIt privatised nationalised industries and limited trade union powers
   • DIt created the NHS and introduced free healthcare for all citizens
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   C: It privatised nationalised industries and limited trade union powers

   The Thatcher government privatised nationalised industries, imposed legal controls on trade unions and deregulated finance, boosting the City of London.

7. Which statement is correct

   7. Which of these statements is correct?

   • AWinston Churchill became Prime Minister in May 1940, at a time of national crisis.
   • BWinston Churchill became Prime Minister in May 1945, at the end of the war.
   Show the answer

   A: Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in May 1940, at a time of national crisis.

   As German forces advanced through France in 1940, Churchill became Prime Minister and Britain's war leader.

8. One answer

   8. Who became Prime Minister on 20 July 2026?

   • AKeir Starmer
   • BAndy Burnham
   • CWes Streeting
   • DAngela Rayner
   Show the answer

   B: Andy Burnham

   Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on 20 July 2026 after Keir Starmer resigned and Burnham became Labour leader. It shows how the Prime Minister can change without a General Election, when the governing party chooses a new leader.

9. True or false

   9. Is the statement below TRUE or FALSE?

   Gordon Brown succeeded John Major as Prime Minister.

   • ATrue
   • BFalse
   Show the answer

   B: False

   Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair in 2007. John Major was succeeded by Tony Blair in 1997.

10. One answer

    10. What position did Clement Attlee hold from 1945 to 1951?

    • APrime Minister
    • BDeputy Prime Minister
    • CMinister for Health
    • DLeader of the Opposition
    Show the answer

    A: Prime Minister

    Attlee was Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951. During the war he had been Churchill's Deputy Prime Minister.

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