18.) Origins, Structure and Powers of the Core Executive

Question 1

Who gets first chance to form a government if no party in Parliament has the majority?

Answer 1

The largest party

Question 2

What are the functions of the core executive?

Answer 2

-Making policy: set on priorities and policy in Cabinet meetings, Civil Service implement
-Passing legislation: major bills discussed in Cabinet before being sent to Parliament to be voted on
-Finance: Make decisions on government spending (Chancellor/Treasury) Cabinet is where it’s discussed and agreed on between departments
-Responding to emergencies first during crises

Question 3

Give reasons why the executive enjoys significant powers?

Answer 3

-Control of the UK armed forces, doesn’t have to seek Parliamentary approval
-PMs can choose anyone to join their government (contrast: US pres needing Senate to approve appointments)
-Times of crisis, executive sole organisation who delivers broadcasts to reassure public
-Executive negotiates treaties without needing Parliament approval
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Question 4

Give reasons why the executive doesn’t have significant powers?

Answer 4

-Recent convention gives Parliament a say in military action (Gulf War, air strikes on Iraq/Syria)
-PM must choose cabinet with breadth of experiences across their party’s spectrum
-PM must rely on Parliament to pass legislation, opposition will be quick to critique
-Other branches can influence executive (Supreme Court - Brexit)

Question 5

What is the core executive?

Answer 5

A network consisting of the PM, Cabinet and top civil servants who make policy

Question 6

What does primus inter pares mean?

Answer 6

First among equals

Question 7

What did former NI secretary Mo Mowlam say about cabinet in the documentary Cabinet Confidential?

Answer 7

“Cabinet itself is dead, it doesn’t have a function to play…”

Question 8

What was the term for Tony Blair’s style of government?

Answer 8

Sofa government - informal chats with ministers

Question 9

What was the term given to supporters and detractors of Thatcher’s government within her Cabinet?

Answer 9

-Dries (supporters)
-Wets (detractors)

Question 10

Give reasons why the role of PM has changed in recent times?

Answer 10

-Recent PMs like Thatcher and Blair criticised for being presidential: bypassing cabinet instead for smaller meetings with ministers
-Growth in use of special advisors instead of civil service
-Celebrity culture has led to rise in style over substance PMs: E.G televised leaders debates
-Increased scrutiny/opportunities leads PMs to use popular media - chat shows etc

Question 11

Give reasons why the role of PM has NOT changed in modern times

Answer 11

-No formal change in PMs powers, if anything they’ve decreased (FTPA until repeal)
-“Predominant premierships” of Blair and Thatcher should be assessed alongside weaker PMs like Major, May and Cameron’s coalition
-Special advisor influence exaggerated, Civil Service still looked to for guidance: COVID-19 and chief medical officer, Chris Whitty
-Image aware PMs will want to portray selves as collaborative E.G joint covid briefings between Johnson and Patrick Vallance

Question 12

Name different ways how policy is made?

Answer 12

-Manifesto pledges
-Personal ideals of PM
-Referendums
-Results of deals with coalition
-National crises dictating policy
-Media pressure
-Changing societal attitudes

Question 13

Name an example of a policy being implemented as it was in a manifesto?

Answer 13

Extending free childcare, 2017 - Tories

Question 14

What was the purpose of the childcare bill?

Answer 14

To get parents back into work and paying tax

Question 15

Name an example of a policy being implemented due to a PM’s personal beliefs?

Answer 15

Right to buy council houses, 1979 - Tories, PM Thatcher

Question 16

What was the purpose of PM Thatcher doing this?

Answer 16

A desire to shrink the state and strong belief in property owning democracies, also tax change in 1987 Tory manifesto

Question 17

What was the decrease in housing stock between 1979-1991?

Answer 17

900,000 houses less by 1991 - 5.4 million available council houses down to 4.5 million

Question 18

Name an example of a policy implemented due to a referendum?

Answer 18

Brexit

Question 19

Who agreed to hold the Brexit referendum?

Answer 19

2015 election, Tory PM David Cameron

Question 20

Why was the outcome of the Brexit vote unusual?

Answer 20

The result was opposed by the MPs and the leader of the Tories

Question 21

What was the result of the Brexit referendum?

Answer 21

52-48% in favour of leave

Question 22

Name a result of a policy coming from a deal with other parties?

Answer 22

The 2011 AV referendum

Question 23

What party did the Tories agree to hold the AV referendum for?

Answer 23

The Lib Dems

Question 24

What was the result of the AV referendum?

Answer 24

67.9-32.1% on a turnout of 41%

Question 25

What do the results of the AV referendum imply?

Answer 25

That the public has little interest in voting reform

Question 26

Name an example of responses to national crises and emergencies?

Answer 26

The Covid 19 pandemic

Question 27

What did the government do during the covid-19 pandemic?

Answer 27

Pass the Coronavirus Act (2020)

Question 28

Name an issue with the Coronavirus legislation?

Answer 28

Confusion was evident about the extent of the legislation

Question 29

Name an example of a policy change brought on by public pressure?

Answer 29

Climate change policy

Question 30

What did the government do as a result of Extinction Rebellion and others?

Answer 30

Pledge to reduce carbon emissions to 0% by 2050, and not reduce them by 80% as agreed under the Climate Change Act (2008)

Question 31

In addition to the shift in public opinion, what else caused the change?

Answer 31

The Committee on Climate Change’s findings

Question 32

Name a policy change brought on by changing societal attitudes?

Answer 32

Abortion being legalised, homosexuality being legalised

Question 33

Who was mainly responsible for this?

Answer 33

Harold Wilson - Labour, 1964-1970

Question 34

What else can influence policy?

Answer 34

-If the government of the day has a majority
-Personality and values of the PM

Question 35

Name three circumstances where the PM and Cabinet have dictated policy and events?

Answer 35

-Poll Tax introduction (1990) PM Thatcher
-Invasion of Iraq (2003) PM Blair
-Theresa May calling early election (2017)

Question 36

Name similarities between the three events?

Answer 36

-Each case involved decisions taken independently by the PM
-Each case appeared to make sense when first implemented
-None had to be done, but were done due as a risk
-PM in each case failed to listen to other party members about potential issues
-Each event was a significant contributor to their resignation

Question 37

Name differences between the three events?

Answer 37

-Poll Tax was about PM’s beliefs, early election political considerations, and Iraq was due to American pressure
-Poll Tax at end of Margaret Thatcher’s premiership, elections at the start of May’s and Iraq War in the middle of Blair’s
-Poll Tax led to riots and destruction, Iraq War claimed many British and Iraqi lives
-2017 election was direct test of PM’s abilities compared to Iraq War and Poll Tax
-Unlike Poll Tax, early election, Iraq War didn’t end or injure Blair’s leadership too much, even if the majority shrunk to 66 in 2005

Question 38

Why did the Poll tax fail?

Answer 38

-Difficult to collect as it was based on people, not property
-Duke and dustman analogy, widely parodied tax
-Disobedience campaign to avoid paying
-Poll Tax riots
-Led to leadership challenge and Thatcher’s resignation

Question 39

Why did Thatcher fail to listen?

Answer 39

The tax was initial tried in Scotland in 1989 before being rolled out across the UK the next year, proving very unpopular

Question 40

Why is it important policies directly associated with PM do well?

Answer 40

If they fail the PM can’t deflect the criticism I.E poll tax failure leading to Thatcher leadership challenge and resignation

Question 41

Why is the Iraq War considered illegal by many?

Answer 41

It was justified through discredited intelligence of WMDs which has never been found

Question 42

What did opinion polls show about Blair after the Iraq War began?

Answer 42

His opinion polling was heavily damahed

Question 43

Why was the war a sign of PM Blair being able to dictate policy?

Answer 43

-He did it to cement his friendship with US president Bush
-He was able to selectively restrict access to certain papers and prevent ministers viewing the others
-Due to sofa government, no ability to collectively decide things and make decisions
-Intelligence ignored + resignations and the suicide of Dr David Kelly weakened Blair

Question 44

When WMDs were revealed to not exist as stated, what was the issue for Blair?

Answer 44

He couldn’t hide behind others as the war was his personal choice

Question 45

Why were the 2017 early elections dictated by the PM?

Answer 45

-May wanted a mandate as she wasn’t directly elected
-May wanted increased majority due to risk of Tory remainer revolt and an election could guarantee this
-Opinion polls looked favourable (20% leader over Labour and Corbyn)
-Controversial care plan “dementia tax”
-Criticism of May’s weak public persona - strong and stable, “Dalek messaging”
-Overconfident, didn’t visit marginal seats often (20% of time only) and relied heavily on advisors not wider segments of the party