Chapter 7 Prime minister and the executive unfinished

Question 1

Sources of power of the the PM

Answer 1

1. Authority derives from the monarch who asks them to form a government on their behalf. The PM also requires the support of a majority of MPs in the House of Commons.
2. There is also convention that a PM should be from the House of Commons - Lord Home renounced his peerage and became an MP to become PM

Question 2

Powers of the PM

Answer 2

Royal prerogative

1. determines the membership of the government including cabinet and cabinet committees
2. makes senior appointments to civil service and judiciary
3. recommends most appointment oof life peers to HoL
4. negotiates foreign treaties, directs military
5. decides whether too activate trident

Question 3

Individual ministerial responsibility

Answer 3

IMR - ministers are accountable for their department, therefore they must respond honestly, ministers are expected to maintain in high standards, no harassing or bullying, have a duty to parliament, ministers should only remain in office as long as they retain confidence of the Prime Minister.

1. Administrative failure - Sir Thomas Dugale 1954 failed to return land after it had been purchased to be a bombing range prior to WW2
2. Policy failure - Gavin Williamson education secretary 2020 when as a result of the failure of the algorithm students failed to attend university, Amber Rudd Windrush failure 2018
3. Scandal - Priti Patel 2017 resigned over private meetings with Israeli ministers, Matt Hancock 2021 disregarding the Covid distancing after kissing a colleague, Suella Braverman 2022 used her personal email account, Gavin Williamson 2022 bullying.

Question 4

Collective ministerial responsibility

Answer 4

CMR - cabinet discussions must remain secret, must support agreed policies in public, if a minister cannot agree he must resign

1. high profile resignations - Robin Cook Leader of House of Commons 2003 over preparation for Iraq, Boris Johnson foreign secretary 2018 over Chequers EU agreement, Sunak and Javid 2022 over economic policy and lack of integrity.

However,

2. people still remain in cabinet - Vince Cable 2010-2015 made criticisms of Osborne cuts as Lib Dem business secretary, 2 years prior to his resignation Johnson spoke in The Sun and Daily Mail on the weakness of May’s Eu deal
3. CMR can be suspended - 2010-2015 partially suspended Nick Clegg in 2014 disagreed with Syrian bombing, 2016 Cameron over Europe, 2019 13 ministers abstained over ‘no deal Brexit’

Question 5

Functions of the cabinet

Answer 5

1. to approve the decisions made by executive and maintain unity and legitimacy in government policy
2. can determine the key issues in policy - 2018 May summoned ministers to Chequers to determine what the government’s position should be in the final stages of Brexit
3. determine how legislations will be presented - if legislation is controversial ministers will need to discuss how best to support it and whether there will be sufficient support
4. if there are disputes between two departments the issue may be brought to cabinet to resolve it - significant in 2010-2015 coalition

Question 6

How is the cabinet selected

Answer 6

1. influential colleagues - 1997 Blair appointed Brown due to his economic knowledge
2. allies - Theresa May removed the chumocracy Cameron had appointed and elevated her own ministers in 2016
3. unity - may selected a mix of remain and leave MPs Phillip Hammond, Amber Rudd remain Boris Johnson and David Davis leave

Question 7

How significant is the cabinet?

Answer 7

Less significant

1. Chief of Staff created under Blair to coordinate policy.
2. Prime Minister Strategy Unit under Blair, Prime Minister Delivery Unit.
3. Cameron abolishes both but establishes an Implementation Unit.
4. Increase in use of SPADs - Dominic Cummings for Johnson

Significant

1. 2018 Jeremy Hunt refused May’s attempt to move him from Department of Health
2. Johnson forced to resign once he lost confidence
3. Coalition - Cameron had to listen to his cabinet

Question 8

Does cabinet play a central role in British Government? yes

Answer 8

1. during political crisis the PM will need to discuss all scenarios with his cabinet - for example, 2022 COBRA was set up in response to Ukraine.
2. Johnson consulted after Omicron variant spreaded
3. Theresa May consulted cabinet in 2018 for action against Syrian government as she was not going to consult parliament

Question 9

Is the PM becoming presidential

Answer 9

1. increasing media presence
2. increasing control over government
3. televised debates

However,

1. ill-suited to media
2. small majorities
3. lacks the constitutional powers