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Politics Paper 2 > 3.2 Concept of ministerial responsibility > Flashcards

3.2 Concept of ministerial responsibility Flashcards

1
Q

3

Describe the features of individual ministerial responsibility

A
  • Cabinet ministers accountable to Parliament for decisions taken by their department
  • Cabinet minister takes personal responsibility for administrative/policy failures in department they were aware of, regardless of personal fault
  • Should behave in manner which does not discredit the government, of which they are a member
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2
Q

2

Describe how ministers are accountable under IMR

A
  • must respond honestly to questions posed by legislative members
  • justify actions of department in parliamentary debate, written responses and select committee hearings
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3
Q

2

Describe the 2 types of IMR

A
  • departmental (legal) responsibility - responsibility for what occurs in departments
  • personal (political) responsibility - responsibilty of ministers over personal conduct
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4
Q

2

List examples where a minister has resigned and has not resigned under departmental responsibility

A
  • 2018, Amber Rudd resigned in part over Windrush Scandal
  • 2020, Gavin Williamson remained in post despite controversy over algorithm used to determine A-Level grades after COVID cancellation (though dismissed in late 2021
  • Gillian Keegan - concrete
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5
Q

2

Give an example of where civil servants have taken responsibility rather than ministers

A

2020, Sally Collier resigned as chief regulator of Ofqual after exam results fiasco

Rather than Gavin Williamson despite IMR

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6
Q

3 (2 resignations and one non-resignation)

List examples were ministers resigned over personal responsibility

A
  • 2012, Chris Huhne resigned as Energy Sec for pevetering court of justice after he colluded with his wife so that she took responsibility for speeding offence
  • 2017, Priti Patel resigned as Secretary of International Development over unsactioned meetings with Israeli government officials
  • 2019, Williamson refused to resign as defence sec following allegations he leaked plans discussed in the NSC to allow Huawei limited access to British 5G network to the press (sacked)

Could also mention bullying for Patel, Williamson, Raab; Matt Hancock; Suella Braverman used personal email account to send official document to colleague

NSC - national security council

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7
Q

2

List 2 reasons why a minister might resign

CRM or IMR

A
  • To end media frenzy and avoid distractions to government (Raab bullying case)
  • Loss of PM support (e.g. Therese Coffey 2023)
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8
Q

2

Describe the argument that IMR remains important?

A
  • Ensures ministers are responsible for department and accountable to Parliament vs ministers increasingly not accepting responsibility for departmental failures
  • Maintains professional conduct vs ministers increasingly failing to resign despite impropriety
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9
Q

3

Describe the positive impact of IMR allowing for accountability to Parliament

A
  • minister represents department
  • accountable in ministerial questions (HoC), select committees
  • minister may accept responsibility for injustice of policy or injustice to individual
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10
Q

5

Describe the negative impact of ministers increasingly not accepting IMR

A
  • shift responsibility to others, especially civil servants
  • whether they resign is dependent on support of PM
  • 2021, Raab demoted, but did not resign following failed FO exit strategy in Afghanistan - close ally of Boris Johnson
  • disrupts principle of minister self-accepting responsibility for inadequate policy or actions
  • causes distrust in political system and departments as a whole, rather than individuals
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11
Q

3

Describe the posiitve impact of the maintenance of high standards in public office

A
  • uphold highest standards of propriety
  • importance of accountability and procedure necessary for integrity
  • this allows the public to grant legitimacy to government
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12
Q

4

Describe the negative impact of ministers increasingly not resigning on personal conduct failures

A
  • removes high standards of propriety needed to prevent disillusion
  • increasing accusations of bullying due to social trends
  • yet ministers increasingly refuse to resign - instead claim they are victims (Raab)
  • resignation dependent on level of media scrutiny e.g. Cleverly did not resign as media focus dominated by Christmas rather than ‘rape drug’ joke
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13
Q

4

Describe the features of collective ministerial responsibility

A
  • members of government must publically support agreed policies even if they privately disagree with them
  • Any discussions to reach those agreed positions should be kept secret to maintain government integrity
  • if a minister cannot adhere to CMR, they should resign
  • if government loses vote of no confidece, entire government should resign
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14
Q

3

Describe the ‘payroll vote’

A
  • Created by CMR
  • all government office-holders will vote in line with the official government position in Parliament
  • usually contains 140-160 cabinet ministers, junior ministers and PPSs
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15
Q

4

List examples where ministers resigned because of CMR

A
  • David Davis 2018
  • Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid 2022
  • Robert Jenrick 2023
  • Lee Anderson 2024
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16
Q

4 (including 1 on opposition)

List examples where ministers have not resigned despite CMR

A
  • Boris Johnson did not resign in 2017 despite holding ‘hard brexit’ event in FO
  • 2022, Penny Mordaunt spoke out against Liz Truss plans to not raise benefits with inflation
  • 2023, Suella Braverman did not resign despite labelling pro-Palestine demonstrations ‘hate marches’ - against government line
  • Side note: Jess Phillips resigned from Opposition frontbench in 2023 for refusing to abstain on motion calling for ceasefire
17
Q

2

Describe Gavin Williamson’s sacking

A
  • Evidence he leaked NSC plans to allow Huawei limited access to UK 5G network
  • Refused to resign - sacked by May

NSC - National Security Council

18
Q

3

Describe the argument that CMR remains important

A
  • Ensures unanimity and clear leadership on issue vs Ministers increasingly disagreeing in public
  • Restrained by secrecy vs leaks to media
  • Proven adaptable vs suspension limits principle
19
Q

5

Describe the positive impact of CMR ensuring unamity

A
  • presents united, strong governance that provides clear leadership in Parliament
  • provides space for clearer opposition line and discussion of untested ideas
  • allows for accountability of government (and opposiiton) line in Parliament via PMQs
  • can counter potential undue influence of big beasts in opposing government line
  • collective position allows entire executive to check power of PM
20
Q

2

Describe the negative impact of ministers disagreeing in public despite CMR

A
  • public disagreements limits authority of PM and integrity of government
  • acute issues for May Government
21
Q

3

Describe the positive impact of CMR maintaining secrecy of disagreements

A
  • prevents instability, allowing strong government to function effectively
  • maintains unity and survival of government
  • upholds authority of PM, central pillar of strong government
22
Q

3

Describe the negative impact of ministers disagreeing in public

A
  • breaks down party discipline and limits ability of government to pass legislation - precipitates gridlock
  • frequency of leaks, especially in May government, makes it impossible for PM to demand all ministers resign
  • left to PM to sack ministers or maintain survival of government
23
Q

4

Describe the positive impact of CMR being adaptable

A
  • Suspended when issue divided on party lines (EU) or necessary to coalition agreement (AV)
  • Important for local issues e.g. Heathrow
  • Reflects wide tent of issues relevant to parliamentary, constituency-based democracy
  • permits continued survival of government by preventing constitutionally divisive issues disrupting day-to-day management of nation
24
Q

4

Describe the negative impact of CMR’s suspension

A
  • Undermines importance of principle in adopting unanimous position on divisive, important issues
  • It is now left to PM to decide whether CMR is enforced - can be avoided for contentious issues and to provide veil of legitimacy to government e.g. Smoking Sunak
  • Government does not provide clear view when public needs direction (e.g. on electoral reform with AV)
  • Proves CMR to be non-binding
25
Q

2

Describe CMR’s suspension on the heathrow expansion

A
  • Justine Greening and Boris Johnson (London MPs) had constituents particularly opposed to plans
  • May suspended CMR on heathrow expansion plans

Politics Paper 2 (22 decks)

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