2.3 Prime Minister & Executive

Question 1

Define ‘The Executive’

Answer 1

Consists of PM and advisors, Cabinet, junior ministers, and civil servants in Government departments. These elements are also described as the core executive.

Question 2

Define ‘Cabinet’

Answer 2

20-25 Ministers appointed by PM. Unless there is a coalition they are all from same party. Meet once a week. Each Minister runs a Government department (eg Education, Health, Defence). Cabinet committees deal with specific areas of government policy.

Question 3

Role of Cabinet (and Executive)

Answer 3

a) decides and coordinates government policy and proposes legislation, and the budget

b) deciding secondary (or delegated) legislation ie law made without passing a new act of Parliament. Often done through statutory instruments eg 2016 maintenance grants for university students were abolished. Two thirds of statutory instruments are not put before MPs.

c) deals with disputes between departments,

d) crisis meetings to deal with emergencies,

e) arranges business of Parliament (with Whips).

Question 4

Powers of PM

Answer 4

a) leads the government,

b) chief policy maker,

c) appoints and dismisses cabinet Ministers (this power is part of the PM’s prerogative powers – these are powers belonging to the monarch which are exercised by the PM or Cabinet), and controls Cabinet,

d) negotiates foreign treaties, commands armed forces and represents the nation to foreign powers (these are also prerogative powers),

e) is party leader in Commons,

f) if PM has won an election has authority/legitimacy from the voters,

g) can call an early general election if two thirds of Commons agree., 2017 and 2019. Power to call a general election now back in hands of PM after abolition of Fixed Terms Parliament Act.

Question 5

Define ‘Individual Ministerial responsibility’

Answer 5

Each Minister is responsible for the policies of their department (and are accountable to Parliament), and must resign if an important error is made or there is serious personal misconduct, e.g. David Blunkett (Home Secretary 2004), interfered in a visa application for a friend’s nanny. David Laws (2010) resigned for alleged financial irregularities. Andrew Mitchell 2012, insulting a police officer. Amber Rudd resigned as Home Secretary over the Windrush scandal (2018). However, this principle has been eroded recently – Ministers rarely accept responsibility for errors in their depts such as Priti Patel over asylum errors within her department.

Question 6

Collective responsibility.

Answer 6

a) all members of government are collectively responsible for cabinet decisions,

b) all Ministers must support cabinet policy publicly or resign, e.g. Robin Cook as Foreign Secretary in 2003 over Iraq War, Iain Duncan Smith over cuts in disability benefits in 2016. Boris over May’s Brexit plan, 2018 , 2020 Amber Rudd (Work & Pensions Secretary) over Brexit, Sajid Javid (Chancellor) over special advisors in Jan 2020, Sajid Javid (Health) and Rishi Sunak (Chancellor) over Boris Johnson’s handling over the Pincher Affair. These Cabinet resignations led to the resignations of over 50 other ministers that ultimately led to the resignation of Boris Johnson in July 2022

c) sometimes it is suspended, e.g. coalition (tuition fees), 2016 EU referendum,

d) collective responsibility is important because it: maintains image of unity of govt, helps PM control Ministers, guarantees over 100 votes for govt in Commons (the payroll vote).

e) Evaluation. CR creates a strong, unified, decisive govt. However, makes PM very powerful, Ministers cannot be honest (can stifle debate), can encourage Ministers to leak info to the media.

Question 7

Factors a PM (Rishi Sunak October 2022 and February 2023) takes into account when appointing Cabinet Ministers.

Answer 7

a) ally or friend (e.g. Ollie Dowden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster),

b) reward for past support/loyalty (Mel Stride, Work and Pensions),

c) represents an important section of the party/need for political balance (Suella Braverman KC, Home Office - right wing of party),

d) potential rebel (bring them into the Team, e.g. Kemi Badenoch, Business & Trade),

f) skill/expertise/good in Commons or in media (Michael Gove, Levelling Up and/or Grant Shapps, Energy),

g) need for balance of gender/ethnic minorities (Sunak gave 8 women a cabinet post, e.g. Gillian Keegan, Education, Michele Donelan, Science, Theresa Coffey, Environment and Penny Mordaunt, Commons leader, Lt. Col, James Cleverly, dual heritage, Sierra-Leone & British, Kemi Badenoch, Yoruba descent (West African) and Suella Braverman KC, Indian descent and Mr. Sunak himself is also of Indian-Punjabi descent and the first Hindu PM of the UK),

h) ability to manage a large dept/big budget (Ben Wallace, MOD).

Question 8

Is the PM a President?

Answer 8

Presidentialism question means ‘is the PM so powerful and dominant he is in reality a head of state and leader of the nation?’ (i.e. he IS the government and speaks for the nation as a whole?).

A presidential leader is likely to depend much less on the Cabinet and have a more personalised leadership style. Remember, the answer to this question is ‘It depends on the variables’ (PM’s ability and skills, use of Cabinet committees and informal groups (eg Quad in coalition), wider political and economic situation, who is in the Cabinet).

Question 9

Evidence of Presidentialism.

Answer 9

a) Great powers (see 4 above) especially in foreign affairs,

b) PM’s often adopt ‘spatial leadership’, i.e. they rise above/put space between them and the rest of the government (Mrs Thatcher),

c) often speak ‘on behalf of’ the nation (in times of crisis), e.g. Blair – Iraq war,

d) media often treats PM in a Presidential way, new £2.5 million Press Room and Downing Street mirroring Press Centre at WH.

e) personalisation of politics – PM becomes ‘key’ figure, especially in elections, e.g Boris Johnson

f) decline of Cabinet.

Question 10

Counter Evidence against Presidentialism.

Answer 10

a) HM King Charles III not PM is Head of State

b) PM not separately elected (as in US),

c) in reality the Cabinet and Parliament can and do control the PM and can if necessary remove him/her (eg Cabinet removed Mrs Thatcher in ‘90, Callaghan lost a vote of no confidence in ‘79)),

d) Many PMs (e.g. Major) prefer a consensual style,

e) Parliamentary approval is now needed before PM can commit to military action.

Question 11

Prime Ministerial Government vs Cabinet Government

Answer 11

a) PMG = PM is dominant, controls cabinet and policy making eg Thatcher,

b) Cabinet Government = Cabinet is a team, PM is ‘primus inter pares’ i.e. Cabinet is in control eg John Major, Coalition.

Note the variables: PM’s authority, popularity, media image, majority in Parliament, rivals in /out of Cabinet, personal charisma/loyalty etc.

Question 12

How can a PM control the Cabinet?

Answer 12

a) appoints/dismisses Ministers, brings in loyal supporters. This includes Cabinet committees where important decisions are often taken

b) controls Cabinet agenda hence avoiding conflict/opposition, only meets once a week

c) ‘sofa government’, 1-1 meetings with Ministers, use of ‘inner cabinet’ (senior Ministers close to PM, e.g. ‘Quad’ in coalition)

d) collective responsibility,

e) Cabinet Secretary helps to control Ministers

f) media focus is on PM (Presidentialism)

Question 13

Limitations to PM power.

Answer 13

a) Cabinet can overrule or remove a PM (e.g. Thatcher 1990),

b) PM can be outvoted/in Cabinet eg Cameron persuaded to promise a referendum, May persuaded that UK should leave the single market after Brexit,

c) Some ministers can be said to be ‘unsackable’ eg Boris until he chose to resign himself in 2018

d) Parliament can overrule a PM (e.g. Cameron’s first vote to bomb Syria was overruled),

e) Public opinion (e.g. opinion turned against Blair over Iraq War),

f) media (Brown portrayed as dull and obsessive). Also, Boris was very popular after 2019 election victory,

g) internal party opposition (Cameron over EU & Johnson over Partygate, Patterson and Pincher & Truss over September 2022 Budget and Fracking Vote),

h) small majority in Commons (e.g. Major) or no majority (e.g. 2017 May or Cameron Coalition),

i) outside events (e.g. Brown - 2008 financial crisis, May - Brexit vote).

Question 14

Prime Ministerial - Case study 1- John Major (1990-97)

Answer 14

a)Reasons for strong control:

(i) Got rid of unpopular poll tax and seen as a refreshing change to ‘uncaring’ image of Mrs Thatcher,

(ii) Good handling of Gulf War in 1991 – enhanced his reputation as a national leader,

(iii) More consensus style of Cabinet government than Thatcher. More pragmatic. However, when things began to go wrong these strengths became weaknesses,

(iv) Made progress towards a Northern Ireland peace deal

b) Reasons for weakness:

(i) Poor record on economic policy. September 1992 Black Wednesday fatally damaged his reputation for economic competence,

(ii) Strong Labour Opposition in Blair (& Brown) after 1994. Successfully harried Major in Commons,

(iii) Lack of party unity – splits over EU. Several backbench revolts. Tried to restore his authority in 1995 by resigning as leader and forcing a leadership contest. Won the vote, but authority damaged. Massive defeat in election of ’97.

(iv) Lack of a coherent ideology, seemed to react to events rather than steer them.

(v) Personality – seen as weak and indecisive – no charisma

vi) Sleaze scandals amongst MPs

Question 15

Case study 2 – Tony Blair (1997-2007)

Answer 15

a. Reasons for strong control:

(i) Large Majorities in ’97, 2001, 2005.

(ii) Positive media image until 2003. Alistair Campbell, Blair’s Press secretary pioneered 24 hour news management.

(iii) Two successful military campaigns in Kosovo (98-99) and Sierra Leone (2000).

(iv) Positive media image abroad (especially US),

(v) Unified Cabinet and party. Cabinet worked to a centrally managed agenda. ‘Sofa government’.

(vi) Developed a strong ideology (New Labour, ‘third way’) which united most of his party.

(vii) Economy improved; public services improved (from 2001 the PM’s newly created Delivery Unit drove through reform); large scale constitutional reform; Northern Ireland peace process.

(viii) Weak opposition – divided Conservative party

b. Reasons for Weakness:

(i) Lost media support after 2003, especially in Conservative tabloids.

(ii) Many in his own party believed he was becoming too powerful,

(iii) Image tarnished by Iraq War. Accused of misleading Parliament and the public over the causes of the war.

(iv) Challenged by a strong rival – Gordon Brown – with a large following in the party

Question 16

Case study 3 – Boris Johnson (2019-2022)

Answer 16

Was Boris Johnson the worst PM of recent times? He squandered one of the strongest political positions held by an occupant of No. 10 in record time. The authority gained after winning an 80-seat majority in December 2019 dissipated at extraordinary speed as he dealt with a series of scandals with a ham-fisted mixture of denial, disorganisation and even outright lying.

The high point was the election victory, secured on the back of the ‘Get Brexit done’ pledge. After securing an exit from the EU, Johnson struggled with the coronavirus pandemic, was late imposing the first lockdown in March 2020 and was forced to cancel at the last minute a plan to loosen restrictions the following Christmas. Other high points include the vaccine roll out and the lead Johnson took following the invasion of the Ukraine by Russia in February 2022. Johnson ensured that the US and the rest of NATO supported the Ukraine both financially and militarily.

But Johnson was ultimately undone not by policy disagreements but by character failings. He presided over a lax culture at Downing Street during the pandemic, in which he, advisers and officials attending a string of booze-fueled parties while people up and down the country were locked down at home. The initial response was to say the rules were followed at all times. In the end 83 people were fined for breaking the rules across eight different events, including the PM himself. He was brought down by the three P’s, Patterson, Party-gate and Pincher. “The British people rightly expect integrity from their government,” said Sajid Javid, the first dozen of ministers to quit in the final hours before Johnson’s resignation.

Question 17

Case study 4 – Liz Truss (September 2022 - October 2022)

Answer 17

Truss resigned from her post as PM pf the UK less than two months after taking over from Boris Johnson, her disgraced fellow Conservative Party Member. It was an incredibly brief tenure. “Liz Truss has been in office for just 45 days - the shortest tenure of any UK PRM. Previously, the kingdom’s record for shortest-serving PM was held by George Canning, who held power for just 119 says before dying of tuberculosis.”

Truss , of course, didn’t die - but she also quickly found out that she couldn’t get the job of leading the UK through the post-pandemic, post-Brexit era while a war in Europe is disrupting energy prices. “I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected,” she said in her resignation remarks. Her fall has been widely predicted: “Ms. Truss’ political viability had become tenuous after her proposals for broad unfunded tax cuts roiled markets and sent the pound’s value plunging,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

Did Truss ever really have a chance?

Possibly not. When she took over the prime ministership from the disgraced Boris Johnson on Sept. 6, 2022, there were already plenty of doubters. A consensus has settled that Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss is done for before she even begins,” James Johnson wrote for Politico in early September. With the United Kingdom’s economy beset by skyrocketing inflation, due in large part to an energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a new Conservative PM was probably always going to have a short leash. But, Johnson added, “changes of leadership matter, and Truss will get a new chance by default.” The new prime minister didn’t have her predecessor’s media savvy - he was a former journalist, after all - but she won leadership on the notion that “she gets things done.” That reputation quickly took a major hit.

So, what caused her downfall?

Soon after she took office - everything is “soon” in this story - Truss and her Treasury chief Kwasi Kwarteng announced a “mini budget” that included a big tax cut on top earners and large amounts of deficit spending by the government. “Rarely has a budget caused such political and economic damage,” The Guardian reported. The value of the British pound plunged following the announcement, the Bank of England intervened to prop up the value, and after 10 days, Kwarteng announced that the tax cut plan was being scrapped. The political damage had been done: Truss fired Kwarteng her close friend and Chancellor. One thing to note: The plan to cut taxes was one plank of a broader plan that also included big government spending to cap household rises in energy bills caused by the Russian war. And the British economy has also been sluggish in recent years, slammed by the one-two punch of the COVID pandemic and a loss of trade following Brexit. The tax cut proposal, then, was designed to jump-start the economy - a “bold but risky gamble that the payoff from higher growth will more than offset the risks from a big expansion in the government’s deficit and debt at a time of high inflation and rising interest rates,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

Why did her economic plans cause a backlash?

There are two major reasons.
The first is that the markets obviously didn’t like it: See again that plunging pound. But the tax cuts also didn’t go over well with ordinary Brits, who are already suffering under the burden of inflation. The plunging pound stood to make “everyday products in Britain more expensive as importers face spiraling costs,” NBC noted. Plus, an expected hike in interest rates - to help control inflation is expected to inflate the costs of mortgages for British homeowners. Under Truss’ tax plan, though, “the country’s wealthiest households [stood] to make huge gains,” CNN reported last week, with features that gave “workers making more than $1 million a year a roughly $58,000 tax cut. That led to widespread criticism that Conservatives were relying on the “trickle-down economics” of the Reagan-Thatcher years to get the country’s economy growing again.

How hard were Conservatives hit in the polls?

Badly. “Liz Truss’s personal popularity ratings are lower than those of Boris Johnson when his premiership came to an end,” The Guardian reported on Oct. 1. Just 18 percent of Brits approved of her performance in that Opinium poll, while 55 percent disapproved - putting her underwater by an astounding 37 points. Johnson, meanwhile, was down 28 points when he left office.

What brought about her final downfall?

The last 24 hours before Truss’ resignation were increasingly frenzied. “Lawmakers’ anger grew after a Wednesday evening vote over fracking for shale gas - a practice that Truss wants to resume despite opposition from many Conservatives - produced chaotic scenes in Parliament,” The Associated Press reports. There were rumours that party whips had resigned over the vote, although Truss said they remained in their posts. But Home Secretary Suella Braverman did resign on Wednesday, and after that, the writing was on the wall for Truss.