10 Marks Flashcards
What are two limitations on the power of the PM?
- Patronage
- Party
Explain why patronage can limit the power of the PM
Prime Ministers do not have a free hand in making ministerial appointments. They need to ensure that the cabinet contains a cross section of opinion as well as a blend of youth on one hand and political seniority on the other.
What are two examples of Prime Ministers being limited by the powers of patronage?
- Margret Thatcher felt obligated to include Cabinet MPs from the pro-European wing of the Conservative Party
- Theresa May had to maintain a balanced cabinet with Brexiteers included to satisfy Tory backbenchers
In other words, the power relations within the party need to be taken into account when selecting a cabinet
In what way was Boris Johnson an exception to the limitations of the patronage over his powers?
He rewarded Brexiteers by appointment to his cabinet and sacked Remainers, leading to a highly loyal cabinet which was a strong contrast to the previous cabinet of May’s government in which divisions and lack of collective responsibility were evident
Give an example of Sunak being limited in his power of patronage?
Sunak was forced to appoint Suella Braverman as Home Secretary, as she had stepped aside in the leadership contest and brought the right-wing side of the Tory party to support Sunak. Braverman had very recently been fired for leaking documents during the (brief) Lizz Truss premiership
Why must some MPs be appointed to a Cabinet? Give examples
Popularity and stature within their party - often ‘big beasts’
- Gordon Brown in Tony Blair’s government
- Liam Fox in David Cameron’s cabinet as Fox was popular amongst backbenchers who were right-wing
- Boris Johnson and Micheal Gove in Theresa May’s cabinet
- Jacob Rees Mogg in Johnson’s cabinet as he had become prominent among Brexiteers
What is one other reason a PM may offer an MP a role in the Cabinet?
Sometimes, PMs may decide that it is wise to offer a backbench rebel a ministerial appointment to keep them quiet/lessen opposition from within their own party
How can the party they represent limit the power of a PM?
If the Prime Minister loses the support from their party’s backbenchers, their position becomes very weak
What are some examples of PMs who were brought down by the loss of support from their own party?
- Margaret Thatcher
The introduction of the Poll Tax was very damaging for Thatcher and her Government, and at the same time it was felt that Thatcher was becoming dismissive of her Cabinet colleagues to remain the dominant voice as PM. Geoffrey Howe made a speech in the HOC made a speech that led to a revolt against her leadership style, and as a result Michael Hesseltine (former Cabinet minister) led a leadership challenge against her supported by former allies Nigel Lawson and Geoffrey Howe, resulting in her withdrawl from the leadership contest and replacement by John Major in 1990. - John Major
Also experienced a revolt over his support for Britain developing stronger links with Europe. By 1997, when Major called a general election, the party was in such disarray that it suffered its biggest electoral defeat in recent history to Tony Blair’s labour - Theresa May
Tory party was full of divisions over Brexit. She was unable to impose collective responsibility in her cabinet, and her failure to ‘get Brexit done’ led to backbench revolts, votes of no confidence, and ultimately her resignation - Boris Johnson
After many scandals, breeches of Covid regulations at No.10, the luxury renovation of Downing Street and the appointment of Christ Pincher as minister after accusations of sexual misconduct, the Chancellor (Rishi Sunak) and Health Secretary (Sajid Javid) resigned from Johnson’s cabinet. Following this, more than 50 ministers and aides resigned. He was told he was an ‘electoral liability’ who had ‘lost the party’. While he did survive a leadership challenge, a threatened rule change in the 1922 Committee signalled a widespread loss of support and the potential for the government as a whole to fall in a vote of no confidence, so Johnson was forced to resign
What are two criticisms of the Cabinet?
- Prime Ministerial domination has sidelined it as a decision making body
- Meetings are shorter and are stage-managed as there is a ‘work overload’, meaning Cabinet does not perform it;s function effectively
What is the phrase commonly used to describe the relationship between the PM and the Cabinet?
Primus Inter Pares (First Among Equals)
What would many say the Cabinet has been reduced to by successive PMs?
A ‘rubber stamp’ that merely confirms decisions already made by the PM
While Prime Ministers do face many restrictions on personal power, it remains true that some have gone against the spirit of collective government. What are some examples?
Thatcher preferred to make decisions in informal groups, often without the knowledge of many Cabinet ministers
Blair’s Cabinet meetings became increasingly short. From a norm of two hours under his predecessors, Blair often cut their meetings down to 45 minutes of largely formal business.
What has it been suggested the role of the Cabinet has been largely replaced by?
A tendency for the PM to settle issues with individual minsters and private advisers outside of the Cabinet
While in recent times, under Cameron and May, there was a resurgence in Cabinet government, the number of special advisors and the power granted to them increased dramatically under Johnson’s government. There were 44 special advisors employed by No.10 in this period, and Dominic Cummings was very powerful until he was forced to resign over a breech in Covid regulations
Why does Cabinet meet once a week?
Cabinet is required to maintain the presentation of a collective Cabinet Government which works together, and given this, the convention of Cabinet Ministerial Responsibility underpins its work. As part of this work, the Cabinet meets once a week to co-ordinate and discuss key decisions, and this is the ONLY TIME Cabinet meets collectively.
