The Deputy Prime Minister of Georgeland is Georgeland's second-highest Cabinet position and the second-in-command of Georgeland's executive government. They are second to the Prime Minister in their authority.
The title of Deputy Prime Minister is given to the deputy leader of the governing party or the leader of the junior partner in a coalition government. The Deputy Prime Minister has almost always held a senior government position as well, often Treasurer or Foreign Minister. The title has been used continuously since 1970, but prior to this a few individuals had been given the title, notably Nathan Keegan during World War II.
In 2005, following the election, Prime Minister Campbell Rhodes created a new department, the Department of the Deputy Prime Minister, and appointed his current deputy, Zoë Parker to the role. When she became Prime Minister, Mrs. Parker retained the department, appointing Tom McCully to the position. Opposition leader Sam Richardson said a Conservative government would abolish the Deputy Prime Minister's department, as the office 'served no purpose in strengthening administration' and was 'pointless hackery'. Upon his election as Prime Minister, Richardson's successor Luke Macaulay appointed Martin Higgins as Deputy Prime Minister in addition to his duties as Defence Minister but without a department of his own, reverting to pre-2005 practice.
Unlike in some countries, there is no automatic succession and the Deputy PM does not automatically become Prime Minister in the event the leadership falls vacant. It is, however, usual for the President of Georgeland to appoint the Deputy Prime Minister as temporary, acting PM until someone is elected to replace them. The Continuity of Government Act 2004 made this a legal requirement - if there is a Deputy Prime Minister, the President is compelled to appoint him or her on an interim basis if the Prime Ministership is vacant.
List of Deputy Prime Ministers of Georgeland
Informal
- Edward Hollows and Norman Calloway were unofficial deputies to Robert Pearce, but neither was seen as a "Deputy Prime Minister" in the modern sense.
- Sir Frederick Eccles was often referred to as "Deputy Prime Minister" under David Turner from 1919 to 1921.
- In both of Eccles' governments, James Gray served in senior positions and was acknowledged by Eccles as his deputy, though he held no title as such.
- Stanley Baynes was styled as "Senior Minister" and held the official No. 2 position in Bradford Smith's government 1950-53.
- Arthur Leyton was referred to as "Deputy Prime Minister" by the press and Parliament, but did not hold the title officially.
Formal
| No. | Name | Party | Assumed office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nathan Keegan | Labour | 9 October 1942 | 14 May 1948 |
| 2 | Bradley Van Goen | Labour | 9 September 1970 | 17 June 1973 |
| 3 | John Curry | Labour | 17 June 1973 | 18 March 1977 |
| 4 | Noel Quarton | Labour | 18 March 1977 | 17 August 1978 |
| 5 | Harry Pollack | Labour | 1 October 1978 | 4 November 1979 |
| 6 | Gordon Freeman | Conservative | 4 November 1979 | 16 July 1982 |
| 7 | Frank Kearney | Conservative | 16 July 1982 | 19 December 1983 |
| 8 | Jim King | Labour | 19 December 1983 | 4 November 1979 |
| 9 | Tom Garden | Democratic | 16 April 1987 | 3 May 1992 |
| 10 | Leonard Hand | Democratic | 3 May 1992 | 17 February 1995 |
| 11 | Shawn Hedges | Conservative | 17 February 1995 | 20 October 1995 |
| - | Leonard Hand | Democratic | 20 October 1995 | 7 August 1997 |
| 12 | Andrea Perkins | Democratic | 7 August 1997 | 13 May 1999 |
| 13 | David Shore | Conservative | 13 May 1999 | 9 June 1999 |
| - | Andrea Perkins | Democratic | 13 May 1999 | 11 December 2002 |
| 14 | Warren Barker | Democratic 2002-2004 Liberal Democratic 2004 | 11 December 2002 | 28 July 2004 |
| 15 | Zoe Parker | Liberal Democratic | 28 July 2004 | 30 July 2005 |
| 16 | Tom McCully | Liberal Democratic | 30 July 2005 | 13 March 2007 |
| 17 | Michael Boyle | Liberal Democratic | 13 March 2007 | 6 July 2007 |
| 18 | Martin Higgins | Conservative | 6 July 2007 | 13 August 2010 |
| 19 | Robbie Jones | Liberal Democratic | 13 August 2010 | Incumbent |