2.3.4 Nomination of the cabinet

Question 1

Describe influences of the MP on selecting the cabinet

Answer 1

• by deciding who is in the cabinet, the PM puts their own stamp upon government: however, even here, the PM does not have a completely free hand
• quote from Walter Bagehot, The English Constitution (1867): “The position of most men in Parliament forbids their being invited to the cabinet; the position of a few men ensures their being invited.”; in other words, there will be some high-profile ‘big beasts’ whose exclusion would be politically impossible, while other members of the legislature would never aspire to high office

Question 2

What external influences may an MP have on deciding the cabinet?

Answer 2

• the PM is under great pressure to include in their cabinet influential colleagues & dominant personalities
• for instance, Harold Wilson knew that George Brown, whom he had defeated for the party leadership, was rated more highly than him by many Labour supporters - ‘Better George Brown drunk than Harold Wilson sober’ - & so he therefore felt incentivised to appoint him as deputy PM
• in 1997, it would be been inconceivable for Tony Blair not to appoint Gordon Brown as chancellor of the exchequer, given his grasp of economics & their agreement to share the two top jobs in government

Question 3

How do the Conservatives pick well-rounded members of the their cabinet?

Answer 3

Margaret Thatcher -> William Whitelaw (also the 1st home secretary); advanced Norman Tebbit (Secretary of State for Employment) & Cecil Parkinson (party chairman), who loyally shared her political views

Question 4

How do Labour pick well-rounded members of the their cabinet?

Answer 4

after his second landslide victory, Tony Blair advanced the careers of Labour modernisers, such as Alan Johnson (Education) & Alan Milburn (Health), to provide his government with continued reforming momentum

Question 5

What may a PM do to broaden their government?

Answer 5

• the PM would be well advised to also include potential rivals in government, since this binds them to collective ministerial responsibility so they cannot publicly criticise the government: by rewarding them with high office they may even be able to cultivate their loyalty
• e.g. Margaret Thatcher was considerably weakened when Michael Heseltine resigned from her government