Case Study: Theresa May

Question 1

Expectations for Theresa May:

Answer 1

1. She was expected to provide firm leadership and she survived 6 years in the notoriously challenging role of the home secretary.
2. She had won the support of 61% of the parliamentary Conservative party in the second ballot of the leadership contest and her 1st speech as prime minister she provided a clear vision of what she wanted her government to achieve.
3. Jeremy Corbyn’s abysmal poll ratings further suggested that she would be able to dominate domestic politics.

Question 2

Height of her authority:

Answer 2

1. Reorganisation of cabinet and sacked CoE George Osborne and replaced him with her long-time ally Phillip Hammond. Another of May’s key supporters, Amber Rudd, took over as home secretary.
2. Put her personal prestige behind controversial commitments such as the reintroduction of grammar schools and allowed a free vote on fox hunting and repealing the HRA in favour of a British bill of rights.
3. The decision to call a snap general election was not discussed in cabinet but was made with joint chief of staff, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill.

Question 3

Constraints:

Answer 3

She had to balance her government so that both Remain and Leave Conservatives and were given important ministerial roles.

Question 4

Reasons for her fall:
*excluding Brexit

Answer 4

1. Poor campaigning in the 2017 general election dramatically diminished her authority because she was associated with the government’s loss of its cabinet, harder to control cabinet. Corbyn got a 9.6% swing to Labour.
2. No majority her ambitious plans for more grammar plans, a free vote on fox hunting and repeal the HRA had to scrapped to focus on achieving Brexit.
3. As a minority PM, (2017-19) she also had to rely on the the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, added new constraints to her freedom of action.

Question 5

Brexit:

Answer 5

1. Difficult to reconcile differing interpretations of Brexit became increasingly apparent.
2. Boris Johnson and David Davis resigned after the cabinet decision to pursue a softer Brexit further exposed the divisions within the party.
3. Massive parliamentary defeats of May’s Brexit deal proposals in January and March 2019 further undermined her grip on power.
4. Increasing pressure the the Tories led her announce her resignation in May 2019.

Question 6

Defeats:

Answer 6

1. 33 defeats in the HoC after June 2017.
2. 15th January 2019 her EU bill was defeated by 230 votes greatest defeats.
3. 12 March 2019 defeated by 149 votes.
4. 51 resignations (33 of which were related to Brexit) and 12 departures from the cabinet.

Question 7

War:

Answer 7

Decided to take military action in Syria in April 2018 without seeking prior authorisation from the House of Commons, using the royal prerogative.