4. Executive Flashcards

Question

The cabinet is submissive - public percpetion of presidential rolle and position as gov figurehead and spokesperson

Answer 1

The PM is perceived by the public to be the government leader and representative of the nation. This gives them great authority but it also means if things go wrong people look to them first

Answer 2

Cameron-Clegg coalition gov

Answer 3

The Cabinet may control powerful ministers with a large following who can disrupt the will of the PM. Tony Blair was rivalled by Gordon Brown in 2005-2007, and David Cameron was by several influential Eurosceptic (like Boris Johnson) in 2010-2015.

Answer 4

If the PM leads a divided party, it is more difficult to control the Cabinet. This happened to John Major in 1992-1997.

Answer 5

Ultimately the Cabinet can remove the PM from office, as happened to Margaret Thatcher (1990) and Tony Blair (2007)

Answer 6

PMQ's Opposition Cabinet resignations

Answer 7

PMQ's Opposition Collective responsiblity

Answer 8

Falklands - seen as a personal victory for Thatcher's hard-line policy and directly contributed to the 1983 re-election Poll Tax - Thacther personally supported but led to her downfall and policy reversal due to public and cabinet opposition. Tory MPs, seeing the electoral damage, voted against her in the Conservative leadership election in 1990 Privisation of utlities - successful widepsread implementtion of policy which was electorally popular By 1990, Thatcher had few allies left in cabinet and Chancellor John Major used this weakness to persuade her to agree to entering the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, despite her long opposition to it Monetarism - reversal of previous consensus economics based on Keynesianism. Her refusal to bow to pressure to tone down the monetarist budget of 1981, at a time of recession, proved decisive in her cementing her authority

Answer 9

1997 Northern Ireland Peace Process - seen as a personal victory for P although built on efforts of previous gov's Iraq War - heavily driven by PM and now seen as a serious failure, dominating his 'legacy' Third Way - significant shift in previous Labour economic policy, combining continued privitsation with greater public sector investment During Blair’s government, policy areas were largely split between him and Chancellor Gordon Brown e.g. It was Blair and Brown who decided to allow the Bank of England set interest rates in the Bank of England Act 1998, not the cabinet Bank of England Independence - early economic policy drived by Blair and Brown widely seen as successful

Answer 10

Cameron appeared suited to coalition and allowed ministers more freedom to do their job but this backfired as he was criticised for making policy U-turns, and the radical plans for reorganising the NHS ran into problems Same-sex marriage - driven through partly by Cameron's personal support despite some party opposition 2016 EU referendum - renegotiation by Cameron led to his recommending an 'in vote' but faced significant internal opposition and had to suspend collective responsiblity Austerty - controversial and polarising economic policy Increase in income tax allowances - policy of Lib Dem coalition partners but aopted by Ccameron and successfully implemented

Answer 11

He ruthless cabinet reshuffle in 2016 quickly stamped May's authority especially the sacking of George Osborne as chancellor the exchequer and his replacement with her long-time ally. Philip Hammond Another of May's key supporters, Amber Rudd, took over as home secretary Put her personal prestige behind controversial commitment such as the reintroduction of grammar schools, allowing a free vote on fox hunting and repealing the HRA in favour of a British Bill of Rights The decision to call a snap general election was not discussed in cabinet. Instead was taken by May with her trusted joint chiefs of staff. The Conservative manifesto was then drawn up by Downing Street with no input from the cabinet. Significant constraints on her authority - had to balance her gov so that both Remain and Leave Conservatives were given important ministerial roles. Poor campaigning in the 2017 election dramatically diminished her authority as she was personally associated with the gov low majority. This impacted her ability to command the loyalty in her cabinet, especially since Jeremy Corbyn had achieved a 9.6% swing to Labour Lacking a parliamentary majority, and with a disunited party, May's ambitions plate for more grammar schools, a free vote on fox hunting and the repeal of the Human Rights Act then had to be scrapped as the government instead had focus all of in energy on achieving Brexit. As prime minister of a minority government. Theresa May aho had to rely o the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, which added new constraints her freedom of action. Leaving the EU - difficulty of reconciling differing interpretations of Brexit became increasingly apparent. The resignations of David Davis as Brexit secretary and Boris Johnson as foreign secretary after the cabinet decision to pursue a softer Brexit, further exposed the divisions. Massive parliamentary defeats of her Brexit deal proposals in January and March 2019 further undermined her grip on power. Under increasing pressure May announced in May 2019