Evaluate the view that the conventions of Ministerial Responsibility no longer account for ministerial actions

Question 1

what three points would be made in this essay and their counters

Answer 1

1. Suspension of CCR by Cameron led to CCR becoming less important

ca - Exaggerated claims

2. Ministers less likely to resign over policy failures

ca - Ministers resign less as policies are much more complex

3. PM accused of lying and has not resigned

ca - Subject to parliamentary standards

Question 2

1. Suspension of CCR by Cameron and leaks (No Longer Account) when were the two times that David Cameron suspended CCR

Answer 2

David Cameron suspended CCR during his Lib Dem coalition and also during the Brexit referendum of 2016

Question 3

1. Suspension of CCR by Cameron and leaks (No Longer Account) How did Tony Blair suffer from a lack of CCR

Answer 3

Tony Blair suffered leaks regarding the Iraq War which destabilised the government

Question 4

1. Suspension of CCR by Cameron and leaks (No Longer Account) Explain how former Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson undermined CCR

Answer 4

Gavin Williamson leaked reports over a plan to allow Huawei limited access to help build 5G in the UK

Question 5

1. Suspension of CCR by Cameron and leaks (No Longer Account) explore how cabinets have been kept in the dark and provide examples

Answer 5

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

Question 6

1. Suspension of CCR by Cameron and leaks (No Longer Account) explain the leaks BJ faced during covid

Answer 6

BJ faced leaks regarding the date of lockdown due to the spread of the Omicron variant in 2021

Question 7

1. CA - Exaggerated (Does account) why may these claims be exaggerated and give an example

Answer 7

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

Question 8

1. CA - Exaggerated (Does account) speak about referendums and coalitions and how CCR does still account

Answer 8

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

Question 9

1. CA - Exaggerated (Does account) explore resignations in relation to may Brexit Deal

Answer 9

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

Question 10

1. CA - Exaggerated (Does account) who resigned under Blair over Iraq

Answer 10

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

Question 11

1. CA - Exaggerated (Does account) Why did Ian Duncan Smith resign from David Camerons govt

Answer 11

Ian Duncan Smith resigned as welfare secretary over benefit cuts to the poorest and therefore CCR exceptions are very minor

Question 12

1. CA - Exaggerated (Does account) explain the Johnny Mercer issue

Answer 12

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

Question 13

2. Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) explain the Gavin Williams example

Answer 13

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

Question 14

2. Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) provide the analytical point which relates to blaming others and provide an example

Answer 14

Ministers throw others under the bus and blame them

Roger Taylor, Ofquals chair blamed Gavin Williamson for the England exams fiasco

Question 15

2. 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

Answer 15

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”

Question 16

2. Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) explore Matt Hancock’s failure to resign

Answer 16

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

Question 17

2. Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) explain Priti Patels failure to resign

Answer 17

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

Question 18

2. Ministers less likely to resign over failed policies (No longer account) what is the analytical point in relation to Johnson being the final arbiter

Answer 18

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

Question 19

2. CA - Ministers resign less due to complex policy (Does account) what is the reason for why ministers resign less

Answer 19

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

Question 20

2. CA - Ministers resign less due to complex policy (Does account) explore the SPAD amounts

Answer 20

there are numerous special advisors therefore making everything highly convoluted

Question 21

2. CA - Ministers resign less due to complex policy (Does account) give an example of a resignation we have had

Answer 21

Amber Rudd resigned over misleading parliament

Question 22

2. CA - Ministers resign less due to complex policy (Does account) why was Priti Patel Sacked

Answer 22

For meeting with 8 Israeli officials while on holiday

Question 23

3. PM accused of lying and hasn’t resigned (Doesn’t account) explain this simply

Answer 23

BJ has been accused of lying over the party gate scandal and misleading parliament and has not resigned

Question 24

3. 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

Answer 24

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

Question 25

3. CA - PM Subject to parliamentary standards (Does Account) what is the PM currently subject to

Answer 25

BJ, over misleading parliament, has been subject to a parliamentary standards committee investigation

Question 26

3. PM accused of lying and hasn’t resigned (Doesn’t account) how is the PM no longer the sole arbiter in applying these conventions

Answer 26

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