10.2a Individual Ministerial Responsibility Flashcards
Ministers
Ministers are either cabinet ministers, who are the heads of the major government departments, or junior ministers who work in an area of a government department under the cabinet minister.
Individual ministerial responsibility
Individual ministerial responsibility holds ministers responsible for their actions and their department’s actions.
Ministers are responsible for the performance of their department and are expected to resign if there are major failings in the department’s work or conduct.
Individual ministerial responsibility states that ministers must be competent, and are expected to resign if their work is not competent.
Ministers must take personal responsibility in their personal life and behave in an appropriate manner.
Ministerial responsibility examples
Amber Rudd, the previous home secretary, resigned in 2018 after she misled the Home Affairs Select Committee over her department’s targets for deporting illegal immigrants.
Liam Fox resigned in 2011 as defence secretary after he had brought Adam Werrity, a close friend, along to 18 foreign business trips despite him having no official role.
Advantages
Individual ministerial responsibility means that a strong standard of behaviour is maintained by government officials who are at the top of public life.
Individual ministerial responsibility holds the government accountable for their behaviour to the public.
Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, resigned in 2017 after claims were made against his sexual conduct.
Disadvantages
Individual ministerial responsibility fails when ministers choose not to resign and blame others in their department for failings.
In 2011 the Home Secretary Theresa May did not resign over weakened border checks which allowed foreign criminals and terrorist suspects into the UK, instead blaming Brodie Clark, the head of the UK Border Force at the time.
