Facts Flashcards
Estelle Morris’ resignation
(Education Secretary, Labour)
Individual Ministerial Responsibility
2002
A Level exam marking failings
Targets not met for literacy and maths
Felt she was not as effective (more effective as junior minister)
Chris Huhne’s Resignation
(Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Liberal Democrats)
Individual Ministerial Responsibility
2012
Charged with perverting the course of justice over a 2003 speeding case
Maria Miller’s Resignation
(Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Conservatives)
Individual Ministerial Responsibility
2014
Expenses scandal
Matt Hancock’s Resignation
(Health Secretary, Conservatives)
Individual Ministerial Responsibility
2021
Broke own COVID guidelines by kissing colleague
Michael Heseltine’s Resignation
(Defence Secretary, Conservatives)
Collective Ministerial Responsibility
1986
Thatcher’s helicopter deal
Robin Cook’s Resignation
(Leader of the House of Commons, Labour)
Collective Ministerial Responsibility
2003
Opposed the Iraq War
Boris Johnson’s Resignation
(Foreign Secretary, Conservatives)
Collective Ministerial Responsibility
2018
Theresa May’s chequer plan for Brexit
Rishi Sunak’s Resignation
(Chancellor of the Exchequer, Conservatives)
Collective Ministerial Responsibility
2022
Believed Johnson not competent and serious leader
Popular individual/figure weakening collective ministerial responsibility
Gordon Brown
‘Big beast’ - significant support within party
Him and Blair briefed against each other in the media
Suspending collective ministerial responsibility
2011: AV referendum Lib Dems: AV Cons: FPTP
2016: EU referendum e.g. Michael Gove campaigned to leave the EU
Weakness of own government weakening collective ministerial responsibility (2019)
8 ministers including Andrea Leadsom voted against an Article 59 extension
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (2025) in relation to Collective Ministerial Responsibility
Government took no official position
Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood voted against the bill
Keir Starmer voted in favour of bill
Weakness of individual ministerial responsibility - in relation to Priti Patel
2020
Found by an independent investigation to have bullied civil servants
Johnson refused to ask for her resignation - popularity within party
Weakness of individual ministerial responsibility in relation to Gavin Williamson (Education Secretary)
2020
A Level and GCSE algorithm saga
Many calls for him to resign
Picture - reminding everyone he was chief whip
Calls for him to resign in Winter 2020/21 - threatened to sue schools to stay open before then ordering them to shut just after 1 day of January’s term
