Evaluate the view that the conventions of Ministerial Responsibility no longer account for ministerial actions Flashcards
what three points would be made in this essay and their counters
- Suspension of CCR by Cameron led to CCR becoming less important
ca - Exaggerated claims
- Ministers less likely to resign over policy failures
ca - Ministers resign less as policies are much more complex
- PM accused of lying and has not resigned
ca - Subject to parliamentary standards
- Suspension of CCR by Cameron and leaks (No Longer Account) when were the two times that David Cameron suspended CCR
David Cameron suspended CCR during his Lib Dem coalition and also during the Brexit referendum of 2016
- Suspension of CCR by Cameron and leaks (No Longer Account) How did Tony Blair suffer from a lack of CCR
Tony Blair suffered leaks regarding the Iraq War which destabilised the government
- Suspension of CCR by Cameron and leaks (No Longer Account) Explain how former Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson undermined CCR
Gavin Williamson leaked reports over a plan to allow Huawei limited access to help build 5G in the UK
- Suspension of CCR by Cameron and leaks (No Longer Account) explore how cabinets have been kept in the dark and provide examples
PMs have kept the cabinet in the dark about Key policy decisions
Brexit Secretary David Davis, under Theresa May, first heard about withdrawal agreement in the chequers meeting
- Suspension of CCR by Cameron and leaks (No Longer Account) explain the leaks BJ faced during covid
BJ faced leaks regarding the date of lockdown due to the spread of the Omicron variant in 2021
- CA - Exaggerated (Does account) why may these claims be exaggerated and give an example
these claims may be exaggerated as CCR was suspended in 1975 during the first European referendum
it is also the case that not very many cabinet meetings are revealed to the public and therefore there are very few leaks from cabinet
- CA - Exaggerated (Does account) speak about referendums and coalitions and how CCR does still account
Referendums and coalition governments are not a usual part of British politics and rarely happen there have only ever been 5 coalition governments in UK history
most governments are strong with huge majorities
- CA - Exaggerated (Does account) explore resignations in relation to may Brexit Deal
in Cabinet MPs David Davis and BJ resigned over the May Brexit as they no longer supported the Theresa May government
Johnson probably did this to gain party favour
- CA - Exaggerated (Does account) who resigned under Blair over Iraq
Robin Cook resigned from his position as Lord President of the council and leader of the HoC in 2003 over his protest against the invasion of Iraq
- CA - Exaggerated (Does account) Why did Ian Duncan Smith resign from David Camerons govt
Ian Duncan Smith resigned as welfare secretary over benefit cuts to the poorest and therefore CCR exceptions are very minor
- CA - Exaggerated (Does account) explain the Johnny Mercer issue
Johnny Mercer was abruptly dismissed as a junior defence minister after accusing BJ of breaching a commitment to implementing a controversial pledge to prevent veterans who served in NI from being prosecuted
- Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) explain the Gavin Williams example
Gavin Williams failed to resign over education failures relating to GCSE’s and A-Levels during COVID even though an estimation of 97% of parents wanting him to resign
- Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) provide the analytical point which relates to blaming others and provide an example
Ministers throw others under the bus and blame them
Roger Taylor, Ofquals chair blamed Gavin Williamson for the England exams fiasco
- Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) explain the Chris Grayling post Brexit shipping contracts fiasco
and what was he dubbed
Chris Grayling gave post Brexit shipping contracts to a company that had no ships and had copied their terms from a tandoori restaurant
He was dubbed “Failing Grayling”
- Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) explore Matt Hancock’s failure to resign
Matt Hancock didn’t resign over his failing of covid legislation relating to care homes even after a Judicial review had stated that he had acted unlawfully
instead resigned when his affair with Gina C came to light
- Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) explain Priti Patels failure to resign
Priti Patel failed to resign over bulling which is a breach of the ministerial code. even after a civil servant wrote a report saying she was bullied Johnson didn’t sack her
- Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) what is the analytical point in relation to Johnson being the final arbiter
Johnson is the final arbiter in applying these conventions
there is no external body that has a check on his decisions in relation to this
there is no impeachment like in the US
- CA - Ministers resign less due to complex policy (Does account) what is the reason for why ministers resign less
Ministers resign less over departmental failures as policy is far more complex these days
we know how a very complex government admin with lots of layers make it increasingly difficult for one minister to know everything
- CA - Ministers resign less due to complex policy (Does account) explore the SPAD amounts
there are numerous special advisors therefore making everything highly convoluted
- CA - Ministers resign less due to complex policy (Does account) give an example of a resignation we have had
Amber Rudd resigned over misleading parliament
- CA - Ministers resign less due to complex policy (Does account) why was Priti Patel Sacked
For meeting with 8 Israeli officials while on holiday
- PM accused of lying and hasn’t resigned (Doesn’t account) explain this simply
BJ has been accused of lying over the party gate scandal and misleading parliament and has not resigned
- PM accused of lying and hasn’t resigned (Doesn’t account) what does IMR suggest and relate this to BJ and provide an anlysis relating to plausible deniability
IMR suggests that you cannot mislead parliament
BJ said there were no parties and that he followed the rules
Plausible deniability allows Johnson to lie and get away with it. However KS pledges tor resign as labour leader if fined for COVID breach
- CA - PM Subject to parliamentary standards (Does Account) what is the PM currently subject to
BJ, over misleading parliament, has been subject to a parliamentary standards committee investigation
- PM accused of lying and hasn’t resigned (Doesn’t account) how is the PM no longer the sole arbiter in applying these conventions
the PM is no longer the soul arbiter in applying these conventions as now a parliamentary committee will look into the allegations
if the committee concludes with wrong-doings then he is going to have to resign or face a leadership election caused by his BB which has happened on 7th June 2022
