3.2- collective ministerial responsibility

Question 1

what is collective ministerial responsibility?

Answer 1

• the government as a whole is responsible to parliament for all government decisions
• diagreements in cabinet meetings are kept secret and ministers must support all government decisions in the media

Question 2

what are the exeptions to CMR?

Answer 2

• free votes
• referendums
• coalition governments: in the 2010 coalition it was agreed that CMR would be suspended on key issues of disagreement

Question 3

Give a key example of a free vote under David Cameron.

Answer 3

• he held a free vote on legalising same sex marriage
• this was voted against by phillip hammond

Question 4

what are the limits to CMR? particularly relevant under weak prime ministers.

Answer 4

• leaking: rather than publicly resigning, ministers leak their disatisfaction to the media
• ‘big beasts who are considered above CMR as they are too powerful/ popular to sack
• ideological disunity within the party: e.g under theresa mays government with both hard line brexiteers and remainers

Question 5

how did Robin Cook show the importance of CMR?

Answer 5

• resgined over Blairs decision to invade iraq as there was no international agreement and limited domestic support

Question 6

How did Lord Wolfston highlight the maintained importance of CMR?

Answer 6

• Lord Wolfston resigned in 2022 as he could no longer support a government who broke the rule of law
• he resinged instead of accepting CMR for the government

Question 7

How did Rishi Sunaks approach to the northern ireland protecol show the importance of CMR?

Answer 7

• while chancellor under Boris Johnson he voted in favour of the Northern Ireland Protecol
• when prime minister himself he criticized it and relaced it with the Windsor framework

Question 8

Explain how boris johnson repeatedy disrespected CMR.

Answer 8

• he repeatedly leaked his dissatisfaction with the government, including writing weekly articles in the daily telegraph
• he was popular with Brexiteers in the party therefore theresa may failed to sack him
• It was difficult for Theresa may to enforce CMR as her party was ideologically divided

Question 9

How does the example of Steve Barclay show the weakness of CMR under Theresa May?

Answer 9

• he voted against the governments plans to extend article 50 in relation to brexit despite defending the plans in the HOC just hours earlier
• it was not a free vote and Barclay didnt resign nor was forced too

Question 10

what are the arguments that CMR does not remain important?

Answer 10

• CMR is being regularly relaxed by ministers
• CMR is shown to break down significantly under weak Prime Ministers and when the party is ideologically divided

Question 11

what are the arguments that CMR is still important?

Answer 11

• CMR is important the vast ammount of the time
• CMR ensures government unity and a level of stability
• the relaxing of CMR shows its flexibility