3.3 - The Prime Minister And Cabinet Flashcards
1
Q
What are the factors governing the PM selection of ministers
A
- The importance of including individuals with ability and experience
- establishing a PMs authority
- Rewarding loyalty, including key allies and conciliating potential rivals
- maintain a balence between different factions within the governing party
- meeting expectations of diversity
2
Q
What’s the relationship between the cabinet and the PM
A
- cabinet is formally responsible for decision making
- however some believe the executive is now dominated by the PM, and the result has led to the rise of ‘presidential government’, and now PMs are a lot less dependent on traditional institutions such as the cabinet
3
Q
What are factors which have effected the relationship between the cabinet and the PM
A
- management skills of the PM
- PM ability to set the agenda
- Use of canine committees as informal groups to take decisions
- Development of PM office and cabinet office
- impact of wider political and economic situation
4
Q
In what ways does the cabinet remain an important body
A
- cabinet approves gov decisions, cabinet members who can’t agree should resign
- PM recognises importance of cabinet for important issues
- cabinet is where the programme of gov business in parliament is discussed, and also where disagreements between gov departments are resolved
- The UK doesn’t have a presidential system, and even if there are a few characteristics of it, the fall of Thatcher demonstrates importance of cabinet
5
Q
In what ways can it be argues the PM is the dominant force in government
A
- decisions are commonly taken by cabinet committees, hand picked by PM
- PM controls the agenda and length of cabinet meetings, meets only once a week, with most ministers reluctant to challenge the PM
- in oractise disputes are settled by intervention of the PM
- the media focuses mainly on the PM, with most PMs presenting themselves as national leaders, with a personal mandate
6
Q
What are powers with enhance or restrict the PMs power
A
- extent to which the governing party and cabinet are united
- popularity of the PM + size of governing party’s majority
- impact of internal pressures such as state of economy or crisis in foreign affairs
- personality and leadership of the PM
7
Q
What are the PM powers
A
- appointments, reshuffling and dismissal of gov ministers
- management of cabinet, including chairing its meetings, controlling agenda and summing up its conclusions
- leadership of largest party in HOC
- Providing national leadership and representing Uk in international affairs
- direction of gov policy
- responsibility for the overall shape and structure of gov
8
Q
What is the context to John major, upon becoming PM in 1990
A
- relatively unknown to the public
- had served less than 4 years in cabinet
- he was expected to bring calm and stability, and a less divisive approach to gov then thatcher
9
Q
How is Major viewed as a PM from his time in 90-97
A
- in his first term, he won a 21 seat majority, however second term had problems, and in May 97, labour (Blair) destroyed him winning a 179 seat majority, therefore he’s commonly seen as a weak PM, as well as unsuccessful
10
Q
To what extent did John major have a positive impact over control events and policy
A
- in his first 18 months, he acted decisively replacing the unpopular poll tax with council tax, the speed in which it was put in place was a factor in his re-election win in 92’.
- he handled the first gulf war in 91’ effectively, working well with the US, enhancing his standing as a national leader
- Major established trust between the unionists and republicans in NI through the dec 93’ Downing Street declaration, laying down the foundations in which Blair built on
11
Q
To what extend did John major have a negative impact over events and policy
A
- his economic policy is mixed, when he was chancellor of exchequer, he persuaded thatcher to join the ERM, which failed, giving him a bad rep, even when the economy recovered mid 90s
- Colleagues didn’t respect or fear him as they did thatcher, as his collegial style of cabinet management backfired
- his control of cabinet was undermined in his 2nd term, with his party split over the European Union, this created the impression of a weak leadership
- he devoted slot of time to day to day parliamentary management, meaning he didn’t have a distinct legacy in term of policy, with most believing he appeared to react to events rather than driving forward a clear and popular agenda, as his approach of ‘Thatcherism with a human face’ failed to catch support from the public. As well as this his party was in disarray, with financial and sexual scandals involving junior ministers and backbenchers
12
Q
What is the context to Blair’s election victory in 97’
A
- showed no mercy to Major, “I lead my party, he follows his”
- restructuring of Labour Party as a modernised centre party
13
Q
What’s the history of Blair’s election victory’
A
- in 97’, He won a 176 seat majority, won again in 2001 convincingly, in 2005 he lost 100 seats, and still had a 66 seat majority
14
Q
How did Blair gain a reputation of acting like a President, and why might this be negative?
A
- Blair wanted to strengthen the centre of UK gov, cutting across individual departments, as a change from a feudal system of barons to a more napoleonic system, less autonomy for individual cabinet ministers, working more tightly to a centrally managed agenda. The prime ministers delivery unit creation in 2001 aimed to reform the public sector, as well as creation of a strategic communications unit to respond to 24 hour news media, following opposition in media to press secretary Alastair Campbell
- Blair’s preference for informal meetings, bypassing established committee structures was dubbed sofa government.
- best example is Iraq war, as although it featured on cabinet agenda, there was little discussion and not everyone had access to key documents
15
Q
How did Blair’s relationship with Gordan Brown undermine his authority in his final term as PM from 2005-2007
A
- Blair and Beown had been important figures in new labour, and upon death of John smith, Brown gave Blair authority to pursue labour leadership, expecting the position of post of chancellor, and for Blair to eventually step down to allow Brown to become PM
- when Blair didn’t do this in his second term it caused tension, and when he announced his third term would be his last, this reduced his authority, as Blair conceded a good amount of control over policy
- EG: Brown denied Blair his wish to take Britain into the European single currency
16
Q
To what extent did Blair have a positive impact over events and Policy
A
- had success in public service reform, introducing methods of business sector to improve delivery of education and health.
- self governing city academies too funding directly from central gov, began to replace failing state schools
- foundational hospitals given additional powers
-uni students contributed to cost of their uni education
17
Q
What was Blair’s foreign policy
A
- following 9/11 in 2001, he committed to supporting the US and President Bush’s ‘war on terror
- this has a negative effect on his popularity, over claims of weapons of mass destruction, innocent lives lost, and lack of a plan for Iraq after the war and execution of Salam hussein
18
Q
Overall, what was Blair’s legacy at the end of his time as PM from 1997-2005
A
- he placed n.10 at the centre pre of power, managing the gov’s public image in a pro active way. He pursued a modernising agenda in both constitutional reform and delivery of public services. Instrumental in devolution of power for Scotland wales and NI and peace in NI, and his authority was enhanced by 3 consecutive general election victories
- however war on Iraq caused a lot of lost trust and support, diverting him from the focus on domestic reform
