Factors affecting the power balance between PM and cabinet Flashcards
List the formal powers that the PM holds
- Patronage
- Cabinet chair
- Foreign policy leader
- commander-in-chief
- signing foreign treaties
- calling GEs
List the informal powers of the PM
- national spokesperson
- setting the legislative agenda
- Setting the tone for government policy
List the permanent powers for the position of PM
- patronage
- foreign policy leader
- exercising royal prerogative
- party leader
- parliamentary leader
- cabinet chair
List the permanent limitations on the position of PM
- The ability to exercise the royal prerogative depends on their relationship with parliament
- They are forced to promote senior party members even if they are rivals
- They must consult parliament on foreign policy issues
- Can be removed if they lose party confidence
- May not be able to rely on a parliamentary majority
- Can be removed by a majority in the cabinet
What can PMs who use their advantages and minimise their limitations reach?
They can rise to a position of presidential rather than parliamentary government
Define presidential government
An executive dominated by one individual; may be a president but can also be used to describe a strong PM
What happens to a PM who can’t seize their advantages?
They are less presidential and more reliant on parliament
List the 9 main factors influencing the PM/cabinet power balance
- Low salience issues
- Fear of the alternative
- External issues
- First term government
- PM’s coattails
- Lots of new MPs
- Securing an electoral mandate for decisions
- Party cohesion
- Having a commons majority
How does having a large majority influence PM/cabinet relations?
Can ignore MPs who disagree because they can afford to lose their votes and because they are unlikely to rebel as they see it as pointless.
How does party cohesion influence PM/cabinet relations?
The PM can make bold decisions if their party is unified. If the party is divide, the PM could seem weak and ineffective and become vulnerable to rivals. Conservatives and Labour were massively united under Blair and Thatcher. Major’s tories were divided over Europe and New Labour became divided between the Blairites and Brownites
How does the need to secure an electoral mandate influence PM/cabinet relations?
A PM with a clear mandate is in a much stronger position to pass legislation. Commons MP generally don’t oppose manifesto commitments and the Salisbury Convention means the lords will not. A PM with a slim mandate will be presented as weak in the media and will face internal opposition. Just compare May to Johnson or look at the opposition Cameron faced in the lords
How does being a first term government influence PM/cabinet relations?
There can be a honeymoon period where problems are attributed to the previous government. Decisions made by a multiple term PM will undermine their authority. Major and May were already tarnished by their party reputations as soon as they got the role
How does PMs coattails influence PM/cabinet relations?
Popular MPs may mean that MPs owe their seats to them, so they become vocal and loyal supporters. MPs support a PM who could win future elections but turn on MPs they see as a liability.
How does having lots of new MPs influence PM/cabinet relations?
This will increase a PMs authority as they will be more dependant. More experienced MPs are harder to whip, and this negatively impacted May and Major. However, Johnson actually struggled to manage all the new MPs and red wall MPs opposed measures that impacted their constituencies
How do low salience issues influence PM/cabinet relations?
PMs are happy if the issues they face don’t evoke strong emotions. This means there will be less opposition and they can achieve more. Blair became very powerful because of a combination of a low salience manifesto and presiding over a period of economic growth. High salience issues will undermine the PM because there will be more vocal and passionate opposition. The poll tax, Iraq and Brexit have damaged PMs
How does fear of the alternative influence PM/cabinet relations?
This could make the PM more secure; can assert their authority by threatening to resign or call a general election - as Major did in 1995. If MPs fear who else might become party leader or losing their seats, they are more likely to give support. A strong opposition means the PM can hold the cabinet to ransom
How does devolution affect PM cabinet relations?
It has eroded the power of the PM and Westminster as a whole.
What has Brexit done to the PM and cabinet?
Given a boost to their ability to shape policy and the course of events - as large policy areas were previously under the control of EU council members
How does alliance with other countries affect the PM and cabinet?
They must take them into consideration before making policy decisions
Give an example of economic events affecting the PM and cabinet?
The policy of the Brown government was massively impacted by the Great Recession
