Evaluate the view that Collective Cabinet Responsibility is an ineffective check on government ministers.

Question 1

Introduction - Themes

Answer 1

• Suspensions
• Civil Servants
• Resignations

Question 2

Introduction - Argument

Answer 2

CCR, especially recently, has been grossly inadequate in holding ministers to account. Divisions within the Party and the Cabinet are more apparent than ever

Question 3

Disagree - Suspensions - Point

Answer 3

Suspensions of Collective Cabinet Responsibility have always occured - Harold Wilson first suspended it in 1975. When referendums occur, they are often to decide a divisive issue, so it makes sense for CCR to be suspended

Question 4

Disagree - Suspensions - Examples

Answer 4

• The Conservative and Lib Dems who formed the coalition government were different ideologically. Therefore, it would have been impossible for ministers to agree
• The doctrine was also suspended during the Brexit Referendum, several ministers such as Michael Gove and Chris Grayling openly campaign against the governmet

Question 5

Agree - Suspensions - Point

Answer 5

Suspensions have been used as a method by ministers to avoid accountability. Since 2010, CCR is said to have been suspended on three occassions, but one was unofficial

Question 6

Agree - Suspensions - Examples

Answer 6

• Under Theresa May’s minority government, it has been argued that CCR was ‘suspended’ but this was never official. May failed to exert the doctrine as many ministers spoke out against her Brexit Deal
• The pressure group, Vote Leave, created a bus saying that £350M a week would be put into the NHS, this was supported by many Brexiteers who were making use of the CCR suspendsion. It was found that this information was made up and the ministers have never been held adequately accountable

Question 7

Disagree - Civil Service - Point

Answer 7

The civil service is the institution behind much of the government’s policy. However, the anonymity of the civil service has meant that the failures can only be pinned on the ministers

Question 8

Disagree - Civil Service - Examples

Answer 8

• The impartiality of the civil service is important for CCR, it is widely accepted that the elected minister decides and the civil service advises
• In 2017, when the Windrush Scandal emerged, the Home Affairs Select Committee found there had been targets set, the then Home Secretary Amber Rudd said she had no knowledge - passing the blame to the civil service. However, it then became evident she did know and was forced to resign

Question 9

Agree - Civil Service - Point

Answer 9

There are ways to bypass the anonymity of the civil service, and this means that the Cabinet are not effectively held accountable for their decisions

Question 10

Agree - Civil Service - Examples

Answer 10

• When Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minsiter, she created Next Step Agencies in 1988 which were headed by cheif executives - this made it easier for the blame to be passed elsewhere
• In August 2020, Education Secretary Gavin Williams was at the centre of a dispute surrounding the algorithm used to determine exam results. Williams passed the blame to Ofqual - Roger Taylor, the head of Ofqual admitted that they did not want the algorithm, but it was Sally Collier that was forced to resign not Williams

Question 11

Disagree - Resignations - Point

Answer 11

The main reason why Collective Cabinet Responsbility could be seen as effective is due to the fact that the gvoernment ministers do still resign if they disagree with government policy

Question 12

Disagree - Resignations - Examples

Answer 12

• Lord Frost resigned in December 2021 due to ‘concerns about the current direction of travel’ with regards to Covid restrictions
• Lord Agnew resigned over Rishi Sunak saying he was not going to chase companies who had frudilently claimed furlough something that cost the government at least £15B

Question 13

Agree - Resignation - Point

Answer 13

There has been a lax recently with ministerial resignations - they have not always occured when they are meant to. Moreover, resignations have caused serious damage to the credibility of the Cabinet, something which CCR is meant to actively avoid

Question 14

Agree - Resignations - Examples

Answer 14

• Suella Braverman did finally resign after she was in breach of ministerial code, only to be reinstate by Rishi Sunak just a week later. Despite speaking out massively against the Conservative government
• The resignation of 57 government ministers in July 2022 led to the downfall of Boris Johnson, and his departure as PM