7.3 - The Prime Minister and the Cabinet Flashcards
1
Q
How many people are in the cabinet?
A
20 to 25.
2
Q
How often does the cabinet meet?
A
Usually, once a week on Thursday morning for no more than 2 hours.
3
Q
Who sets the agenda, chairs and approves minutes of the cabinet meeting?
A
The PM.
4
Q
What important roles do cabinet play?
A
- Many decisions are taken elsewhere in the executive, so cabinet approves them.
- Cabinet determines key issues of policy.
- Decides how the government will determine business.
- If an dispute between two departments of state is impossible to resolve, the issue can be brought to cabinet as a final court of appeal.
- Cabinet committees develop and implement specific policy.
5
Q
Why is the PM under pressure to appoint influential colleagues into their cabinet?
A
It would be politically impossible to leave out ‘heavy-hitters’ from your cabinet.
6
Q
Why does the PM promote key supporters to cabinet posts?
A
They can rely on their unwavering (hmm…) support during disputes and crises.
7
Q
Why is it advantageous to appoint potential rivals into government?
A
- They are bound by collective ministerial responsibility and so cannot criticise the government.
- The appointment might actually cultivate their loyalty.
8
Q
Why do PM’s appoint members of their party who have different views to them? (be it socially, economically, politically etc.)
A
A balance of cabinet is necessary to prevent alienation of certain sections of the party.
9
Q
How have cabinets become more balanced since Theresa May?
A
- She wanted a cabinet that ‘looks like the country it serves’.
- She advanced many females and minorities to further this goal.
10
Q
What is a cabinet government?
A
A type of administration in which the cabinet always plays a key role in the development of policy.
11
Q
What is a prime-ministerial government?
A
A type of administration in which the PM is the dominant force in decision making, with the cabinet being relegated to a subordinate decision-making role.
12
Q
Why are there disagreements over the influence of cabinet?
A
- According to the English Constitution, the ‘cabinet is the most powerful body in the state’ and the PM is first among equals.
- According to others, the large size of the cabinet precludes constructive debate.
13
Q
Why is there a claim that the UK has shifted towards a prime-ministerial government rather than a cabinet government?
A
The PM is treated so presidentially by the media, so they have already decided the focus and direction of their government without needing to talk it through cabinet.
14
Q
Who developed the policy unit in Downing Street?
A
Harold Wilson.
15
Q
Why was the policy unit developed in Downing Street?
A
To provide Wilson with his own support and advice in developing political strategy.
16
Q
Why was the position of Chief of Staff created?
A
To co-ordinate governmental policy.
17
Q
How did Powell describe his appointment as Chief of Staff?
A
- Under Blair, Powell was appointed as Chief of Staff.
- He described his appointment as demonstrating a ‘change from a feudal system of barons to a more Napoleonic system’.
18
Q
Why was the PMs Strategy Unit and PMs Delivery Unit established?
A
To set department targets and monitor the performance of cabinet ministers.
19
Q
Why were the Strategy Unit and Delivery Unit abolished?
A
Cameron abolished them over fears of too much micro-management.
20
Q
Why was the Press Office created at Downing Street?
A
To ensure that Downing Street had more control over how stories were presented and responded to.
21
Q
Why is it still wrong to dismiss the powers of cabinet?
A
- It is still the most powerful and influential members of a political party.
- The PM would be unwise to ignore their political expertise and experience.
22
Q
Why does the power of cabinet change?
A
The powers are mostly dependent on the personality of the PM and / or political circumstances.
23
Q
Does the cabinet play a central role in British government? (Yes)
A
- A PM will need to discuss options with cabinet during a politial crises.
- Relying on the cabinet should reduce a PM’s reliance on the Commons.
- If a controversial issue is to be resolved, cabinet agreement is vital to ensure that the government is united.
- On certain occasions, cabinet can challenge the authority of the PM.
- Cabinet’s can elect to not support the PM during a leadership challenge.
24
Q
Does the cabinet play a central role in British government? (No)
A
- If the PM has a clear political agenda, then the cabinet will be reduced to a subordinate decision making agenda.
- Some PM’s choose to make decisions with key advisors rather than the whole government.
- The PM can push issues through cabinet if they are certain they will work. (Margaret Thatcher Poll Tax)
- Certain PM’s discourage cabinet discussion, preferring to have already made decisions prior to the cabinet meeting. (Tony Blair ‘sofa government’)
25
Give two examples of how PMs can approach cabinet?
The IMF loan 1976
The Westland affair 1986
26
What was the IMF loan?
In 1976, the Labour government was in turmoil over whether to accept IMF loans with demands for massive cuts in public spending.
27
Why did the IMF loan serve as an example of how to approach cabinet?
The PM, Jim Callaghan allowed cabinet to fully debate the issue.
28
What was the Westland Affair?
The Department of State for Trade and Industry and the Department of Defence clashed over whether a Westland Helicopters (British firm) should be taken over by an American or European bid.
29
Why did the Westland Affair serve as an example of how cabinets could be approached?
Defence secretary, Michael Heseltine complained that Thatcher's obvious bias towards American business undermined genuine cabinet debate.
30
Give an example of the PM being the dominant force in politics?
Harold Macmillan sacking a third of his cabinet.
31
How did Macmillan's mass sacking change his power?
- It gave the impression that he had lost his political touch and was in panic.
- The press changed his nickname from 'Supermac' to 'Mac the Knife'
- This was followed by the Profumo scandal which started as a typical Tory sleaze case but quickly turned to a case of national security.
- His reputation never recovered and he resigned office in October 1963.
- The PM was the dominant force, but the media and other cabient members fought back.
32
What was Edward Heath's main achievement in office?
Negotiating the UK's entry into the EEC in 1973.
33
How was Heath's authority challenged while in office?
- Miners' strikes in both 1972 and 1974 threatening the nation's energy supplies.
- Dramatic rise in the price of oil causing mass global inflation, undermining the government's economic strategy.
34
How did Callaghan challenge the postwar economic consensus?
In the 1976 Labour Party Conference, he said:
'The cosy world we were told would go on forever, where full employment would be guaranteed by a stroke of the Chancellor's pen, cutting taxes, defecit spending; that cosy world is gone.'
35
Why was Callaghan's speech at the 1976 Labour Party conference interesting?
It was a sudden and dramatic change in government policy from high spending to deflationary measures.
36
Did Callaghan's commitment to deflation prove to be successful?
Yes, at the beginning of his tenure.
37
Why did the 1979 General Election come at such a bad time for Labour?
- He had been abandoned by Liberal and nationalist parties.
- Just after the Winter of Discontent.
38
How did John Major immediately change the dynamic of the Conservative government?
- Removal of the poll tax.
- Opted out of the social chapter in the Maastricht Treaty.
39
How much of a majority did Major achieve in 1992?
21.
40
Why did Major's small majority cause problems?
It allowed eurosceptic Tory MPs the opportunity to disrupt the party.
41
How did Major try and remove the divisions within the Conservative party?
- He resigned leadership of the Conservative party and told eurosceptic critics to either 'put up or shut up'.
- He won the ensuing leadership ballot by 218 to 89.
42
How did Major's solution to euroscepticism in the Tory party backfire?
His opponent won 89 votes from MPs which only further exposed divisions in the party and highlighted his declining power as PM.
43
How did Major's authority further decline after trying to solve the Eurosceptic problem?
- Constant media criticism.
- Ministerial sleaze.
- Tony Blair's combative leadership of the Labour party.
44
Did Cameron's austerity programme work?
Yes.
Major cuts were given to public expenditure.
45
How did Cameron use his authority during his tenure?
Supporting same-sex marriage.
Trying to support remain in the EU referendum.
46
How was Cameron's authority curtailed during his first tenure as PM?
* He was forced to allow a referendum on electoral reform in 2011.
* Could not reform parliamentary boundaries after the Lib Dems withdrew support.
* Could not persuade Parliament to support bombing President Assad in 2013.
47
Why was Cameron's authority curtailed during his first tenure?
He was part of a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
48
How did Cameron keep the Conservative party united going into the 2015 General Election?
Promise for a referendum on EU membership.
49
Did coalition government strengthen Cameron's power as PM? (Yes)
* Cameron was given a stable government.
* Cameron still fulfilled most of his manifesto commitments.
* Collective ministerial responsibility still applied to the coalition.
* The coalition lasted for the full term (helped by the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011)
50
Did coalition government strengthen Cameron's power as PM? (No)
* Cameron was forced to give cabinet positions to five Lib Dems.
* Cameron had to agree to a referendum on AV.
* The Lords suspended the Salisbury Convention so that it could oppose measures in the governing parties' manifestos.
* The Quad was established in which core policies had to be agreed by Cameron, Osborne, Clegg and Alexander (Chief Secretary to the Cabinet [Liberal Democrat])
51
Why have some political commentators argued that the PM is becoming more presidential?
* PM's are increasingly dominant in cabinet.
* The media is more obsessed with their characters.
52
Where can presidentialism in British politics be traced back to?
1960s, Harold Wilson.
He used TV to reach out to the public, regularly took pictures with celebrities such as the Beatles and the cast of Coronation Street.
53
What did Michael Foley link the presidential model to?
'Spatial Leadership'
54
What is 'spatial leadership'?
The PM creates their own space by distancing themselves from the party to secure a personal mandate directly from the public like the President does.
55
Why has the development of the media allowed more presidential PMs?
The media has an appetite for celebrity news and enthusiastic coverage of personal intervention in global crises.
56
Which PMs have had presidential tendencies?
Harold Wilson, Thatcher and Blair.
57
Who did the media focus on during the Falklands War and Miners' Strike?
The PM, Thatcher.
58
Why was the personal rhetoric of Blair effective?
- It emphasised his moral focus, developing his personality with the public above less ideologically driven politicians.
- 'the people entrusted me with the task of leading their country'
'this is the Britain I offer you'
59
How did Blair's personal intervention improve Northern Ireland?
His interventions were always very high-profile to drive forward the NI peace process.
60
How did Blair reach beyond Parliament prior to the invasion of Iraq?
He put the case for war directly to the public through television and debate, reaching beyond Parliament to the people.
61
What happens to cabinet under the Presidential model?
The cabinet becomes more irrelevant as the PM can afford to ignore cabinet because they have their own popular mandate directly from the people.
62
How did Blair enhance the presidential atmosphere of Downing Street?
* Chief of Staff created.
* PMs Private Office and Cabinet Office were enlarged to provide greater control from the centre.
63
How did Cameron use the media to associate decisions with himself rather than government?
* He associated his personal authority with gay marriage.
* 2014 Scottish Indy Ref
* 2016 Brexit Ref
64
How have party leaders seen the spotlight more in recent times?
The 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019 elections all had televised debates.
(More presidential)
65
What principle is the government based on?
Collective ministerial responsibility.
66
Why does a British PM not possess an electoral mandate from the public?
They are indirectly elected.
67
What determines the power of the PM?
A parliamentary majority and support of their party.
68
Why have PMs resigned in the past?
- James Callaghan was forced to call a general election when he lost a vote of no confidence.
- Thatcher resigned after she lost support of her cabinet.
69
What PMs have been unable to present presidential qualities?
- John Major in 1992.
- Gordon Brown in 2008.
- Theresa May in 2016.
70
Why was John Major unable to present as a presidential figure?
He had a collegiate approach to politics and his party became split over the issue of EU membership.
71
Why was Gordon Brown unable to present a presidential demeanor?
He was uncharismatic and was ruthlessly mocked for this reason by the press.
72
Why was Theresa May unable to present a presidential demeanor?
She was unable to engage with the public in 2017 and lost her parliamentary majority.
73
Why should PMs be careful to act too presidentially?
It is likely to antagonise the Commons, from where they derive political power.
74
What are the main consitutional differences between Presidents and PMs?
* PMs are not directly elected, whereas presidents are.
* PM is accountable for legislature, presidents are not.
* PM is not head of state, president is.
* PM works closely with cabinet, whereas president does not.
75
Who helped Wilson make most of his decisions?
The 'kitchen' cabinet of trusted advisors.
76
What did Short describe Wilson's cabinet as?
The 'doodling' cabinet because so little of importance was discussed.
77
How was Wilson's presidential PMship undermined?
* The white paper to introduce legal restrictions on trade union power led to a row within cabinet with Home Secretary James Callaghan forcing Wilson into a climb-down.
* Promise of a referendum on EEC membership divided the Labour party, so he had to allow a free vote by cabinet.
78
Why was Thatcher forced to thoroughly disucss policy with cabinet?
She had to balance support from those who were associated with Heath and more one-nation elements of the party.
79
How did Thatcher initially use cabinet?
* Allowed extensive cabinet debate over Geoffrey Howe's tax raising budget.
* After the Argentine invasion of the Falklands, Thatcher called an emergency meeting of cabinet.
80
When did Thatcher begin to operate in a more presidential manner?
After the Falklands War and miner success.
81
Why did Heseltine resign as defence secretary?
During the Westland crisis, he felt he was no longer being listened to.
82
How did Thatcher choose to make decisions towards the end of her tenure?
She made decisions with a small group of key advisers who shared her political opinions.
83
Why did the failure to consult cabinet prove to be Thatcher's downfall?
- Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nigel Lawson, resigned because he felt Thatcher listened to her special economics adviser, Alan Walters, more than him.
- After this high profile resignation, her authority was significantly undermined.
84
Why did Eurosceptisism from Thatcher harm her position in the Conservative party?
- Her speeches became more eurosceptic which was at odds with most of her cabinet.
- Deputy PM, Geoffrey Howe resigned as a result.
85
Why did Thatcher not survive once Heseltine had enough votes to challenge her for leadership?
She needed the support of cabinet, but because she had taken then for granted, the cabinet told her she should resign because she would lose.
86
What did Thatcher say about her cabinet (betrayal)?
'..treachery with a smile.'
87
Why did Blair have a massive personal mandate to implement change?
His initial parliamentary majority of 179.
88
Why did Blair's rapport with the British people allow him to ignore cabinet?
He reached beyond traditional party loyalties, persuading him that cabinet was insignificant.
89
How was Blair's government been described?
A 'command prime-ministership'
90
How was the cabinet completely ignored during Blair's first term?
They found out about decisions that had already been made in the PM's private office.
91
What was Blair's first big non-cabinet decision?
Both him and Gordon Brown (CotE) agreed to give interest-raising powers to the Bank of England.
92
Why was giving interest raising powers to the Bank of England an important decision?
It, in theory, encouraged economic stability by preventing government from manipulating interest rates to its advantage.
93
What proved the biggest mistake of Blair's tenure as PM?
The Iraq War.
He did not consult cabinet, and those that did accept it, did so as a fait accompli.
94
Where did Blair's cabinet dominance come into a roadblock?
Part of the deal that ensured Brown did not run against Blair agreed that Brown would have full control of the British economy.
95
Where did Brown and Blair disagree consistently over economic policy?
Blair wanted to join the European single currency, but Brown consistently roadblocked this.
96
What reasons led to Blair's resignation?
* Legalities over the Iraq War.
* Political fallout of the 2005 GE where the Labour party won only 35.2% of the popular vote.
97
Why did the Labour party want to move away from Blair?
He had become an electoral liability, with cabinet looking to Brown to provide government with a new dynamic to challenge a youthful David Cameron.
98
Why was Theresa May expected to provide firm leadership?
* She had survived 6 years as home secretary.
* She had 61% support from the Parliamentary Conservative party.
* She had a clear vision of what she wanted to achieve in her first speech.
* Corbyn's awful approval ratings.
99
How did May immediately stamp her authority over cabinet?
She ruthlessly reshuffled cabinet.
Osborne out as CotE, Hammond in.
Amber Rudd as Home Secretary.
100
How did Theresa May throw her personal prestige around?
* Reintroduction of grammar schools.
* Free vote on fox hunting.
* Repealing the HRA for British Bill of Rights.
101
How did Theresa May interact with cabinet prior to calling a snap general election?
She did not.
She spoke with joint chiefs of staff, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill.
102
How was the Conservative manifesto written during the snap general election of Theresa May?
From Downing Street, with no input from cabinet.
103
How was May's authority dramatically undermined?
Her poor campaigning was personally associated with the government's loss of her parliamentary majority.
104
What happened to May's ambitious policies as a result of losing her parliamentary majority?
They almost all had to be scrapped as the government had to focus all of its energy on achieving Brexit.
