pm Flashcards
Roles of the Executive
Prime Minister
Forming a government as they have power of patronage
Directing policy (PM legislation that they introduce must also be debated in Parliament)
Managing the Cabinet – chairing meetings, setting up cabinet committees (groups of ministers who have responsibility over a policy area to reduce the burden on the whole cabinet)
Organising government – creating new government departments, responsible for the civil service
Controlling Parliament – leader of the largest party has the control of the majority of parliaments agenda and uses powers of secondary legislation from parliamentary acts to make policy changes without parliaments approval (like adjusting minimum wage)
Leadership – media focus on the PM far outweighs the Cabinet, they’re also a directly elected MP and will have likely been elected as party leader by their membership giving them more authority
Cabinet
The civil service makes policy ideas and decisions a reality and is not supposed to serve a political purpose.
Permanently hold post and remain in post before/after ministerial appointments.
Work to support the minister not the party – not an ideological institution.
However, there has been a growth in ‘Special Advisors’ known as SpAds – these are employed as civil servants and so are not elected, but have the role of giving political advice to a minister in a way the neutral civil service will not.
Expansion of SpAds examples role – positive or negative?
Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy were SpAds to Theresa May and had a major role in advising her, formulating the Conservative election strategy and even creating some of the Conservative manifesto promises in 2017. May forced them both to resign after the Conservatives lack of victory in 2017.
Cummings was employed as a Chief of Staff to Johnson and led the 2019 election campaign.
Individual Ministerial Responsibility
Ministers must be accountable to Parliament for the policies made by their department. Answering questions in the House, interrogation by select committees. This is the legal aspect of the principle.
Serious errors by ministers are usually followed by resignation.
Serious errors by the minister’s department usually result in the minister resigning.
All minister’s behaviour is measured against the ministerial code of conduct, if they fail to meet the code ministers face dismissal by the PM. This is the political aspect of the principle.
Has IMR been eroded/weakened?
Ministers must be accountable to Parliament for the policies made by their department. Answering questions in the House, interrogation by select committees.
Ministers are held account to Parliament, and this is something that is still completed successfully as a function of Parliament.
Serious errors by ministers are usually followed by resignation.
There’s no specific rule that says Parliament can ensure a minister resigns. They can criticize them (usually in select committees or during debates in the House) and call for their resignation, btu this is usually the responsibility of the PM.
Serious errors by the minister’s department usually result in the minister resigning.
Amber Rudd’s resignation as Home Secretary was a RARE event. Many ministers often apologise for mistakes, but rarely resign.
All minister’s behaviour is measured against the ministerial code of conduct, if they fail to meet the code ministers face dismissal by the PM. This relates more to personal conduct and when their conduct has fallen short, ministers have been quick to resign or been made to resign by the PM.
Collective Ministerial Responsibility
The PM has their own prerogative powers, but decisions are generally taken collectively, by the executive as a whole. This means all ministers are responsible for all executive policies and decisions. The convention is that all minister (junior and senior) will defend policies from the executive.
The doctrine of collective ministerial responsibility has 5 main principles:
Ministers are collectively responsible for all government policies
All ministers must publicly support all government policies, even if they privately disagree.
If a minister wants to dissent publicly from a government policy, they are expected to resign as a minister first
If a minister dissents without resigning, they can expect to be dismissed by the PM
As Cabinet meetings are secret, any dissent within government is concealed from other MPs and the public.
Why is Collective Ministerial Responsibility important
Supports prime ministerial power and their authority if they are confident, they will not experience dissent from their ministers. The PM can also rely on the votes of the executive and can be certain of around 120 votes for their bill in the Commons from the executive, known as the payroll vote.
Supporters argue that the principle ensures ministers can express concern in private, knowing their disagreement is unlikely to be publicized. However, critics argue that the principle prevents ministers from criticizing the executive and prevents them from expressing their opinions.
Three important exceptions to Collective Responsibility:
Coalition 2010-2015
Some areas of policy were included in the Coalition Agreement, which meant ministers from both parties would be required under the principle to agree, two LD leaders resigned over tax policies when they disagreed with the coalition. However, issues like Trident Nuclear Submarine Missile System was excluded form the agreement and ministers could disagree publicly with the government on the issue.
EU Referendum 2016
During the campaign ministers were allowed to make their own minds up on the issue, going against the principle of collective responsibility. Justice Secretary at the time, Michael Gove, former leader of the House of Commons, Chris Grayling, openly campaigned against the governments official position of remaining in the EU.
May’s Conservative government 2017-2019
Not official suspension of the principle, but weak leadership from May meant that several ministers openly criticized her Brexit deal. May didn’t fire these ministers as she was trying to ensure cooperation and find a compromise between two sides of the Conservative party who wanted very different versions of Brexit. Firing them may have meant she lost their support in the Commons, which she couldn’t afford to do!
Factors affecting the PMs choice of Cabinet
Allies – Brown and Blair were both elected in 1983 and shared an office, Cameron and Osborne were university friends, Truss only appointed those who supported her leadership campaign in 2022
Big beasts – These MPs have a significant following of MPs in the party so PMs may feel they have to appoint them to avoid potential criticism or rebellion from the backbenches. May had Hammond and Johnson in her Cabinet, Sunak has Gove.
Ability/expertise – Sunak’s position as Chancellor during covid highlighted his ability to handling an unprecedented economic crisis
Party factions – Sunak brought Braverman back as Home Sec despite her resigning for breaching the ministerial code under Truss as she’s a member of the ERG faction. May’s Cabinet was a delicate balance of Leavers and Remainers.
Rivals – To bind them by collective responsibility so they cannot as easily criticize the government. Johnson’s choice of Javid as Health Secretary
Descriptive representation – Truss’ Cabinet was the first where all four great offices of state were not filled by a white man, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, Home Sec Suella Braverman, Foreign Sec James Cleverly. However, Sunak’s was far less diverse,45% attended private school and only 22% were women when he first appointed in Oct 2022.
Why are PMs regarded as more powerful than their Cabinet?
Spatial leadership – PMs will attempt to be stand alone figures establishing ideological positions distinct from their party – Thatcherism, Blairism
PMs often speak for the nation on major events – Johnson conducted almost daily covid briefings
Election campaigns focus on the individual – New Labour largely focused on Blair, 2019 placed Johnson at the center with his Brexit deal, the media increasingly focus heavily on party leaders in their coverage
Personal mandate – the mandate for a government after a successful general election is often attributed to the PM – 219 is your best example for this!
Increased use of SpAds – PMs increasingly trust their personal hand picked advisors over the civil service
Cabinet office – increased power to this office that now works to coordinate Whitehall on behalf of the PM
From 2010-2017 the Cabinet had a more powerful role in the relationship.
Cameron kept a close circle of MPs in the Cabinet, including deputy leader Nick Clegg, who were involved in most decision-making processes. The Cabinet was important again during this period as it was responsible for resolving disputes between the coalition partners and presenting policy in a way that seemed unified. This period was seen as a revival of a strong Cabinet.
From 2016/17, May attempted a return to the dominance of the PM but her weak leadership and small majority (and then minority after the 2017 election) meant that she also relied heavily on the cooperation and support of her Cabinet for stability.
examples of resignations
- Michael Fallon
Resignation Date: Nov 1, 2017
Reason: Sexual harassment/misconduct allegations (Pestminster Scandal)
2. Priti Patel
Resignation Date: Nov 8, 2017
Reason: Secret meetings with the Israeli government during holiday; discussed using aid budget for Israeli military (PM unaware)
3. Damian Green
Resignation Date: Dec 20, 2017
Reason: Porn found on work computer (2008 investigation) and sexual harassment complaints
4. Amber Rudd
Resignation Date: April 30, 2018
Reason: Misleading Parliament over Windrush Scandal
Note: Returned as Work and Pensions Secretary by Nov 2018
5. Gavin Williamson
Resignation Date: May 1, 2019
Reason: Leaking decision on Huawei 5G involvement (breached official secrecy)
famous reshuffles
- Harold Macmillan (1962)
Event: “Night of the Long Knives”
Reason: Removed 1/3rd of his Cabinet to make it younger and boost Tory poll numbers
Outcome: Loss of support due to the ruthless reshuffle
2. Tony Blair (2006)
Event: Massive reshuffle after poor local election results
Reason: Address poor performance and refresh the government
3. Theresa May (2016)
Event: Post-leadership reshuffle
Reason: Wanted to distinguish her government from David Cameron’s; reshuffled many key “Cameroonians”
Key Moves: George Osborne sacked as Chancellor; balanced Brexiteers and Remainers
4. Theresa May (2018)
Event: Post-2017 election reshuffle
Reason: Believed she regained strength after disastrous 2017
Outcome: Ministers refused to move; Justine Greening resigned, Jeremy Hunt promoted—showed weakness
5. Boris Johnson (2019)
Event: Reshuffle post-Tory Leadership win
Reason: Brought in Leavers and allies (Sajid Javid, Priti Patel)
Outcome: Remainers like Phillip Hammond resigned before he could act
6. Boris Johnson (2020)
Event: Post-2019 GE reshuffle
Reason: Solidify authority, remove opposition to no-deal Brexit, settle old scores (e.g., Andrea Leadsom)
Outcome: Chancellor Sajid Javid resigned rather than let BoJo fire his staff; replaced by ally Rishi Sunak, who shared staff with the PM, increasing PM’s power over financial policy.
margaret thatcher case study
- 1979 General Election
Majority: 43 seats
Context: Elected after the Winter of Discontent, marked by industrial unrest
2. Unpopularity and Rise
Challenge: Initially unpopular, but gained massive support following the 1982 Falklands War victory
Nickname: “Iron Lady” for strong leadership during the conflict
3. 1983 General Election
Majority: 144 seats
Outcome: Major electoral victory after Falklands War
4. 1987 General Election
Majority: 102 seats
Outcome: Maintained a solid majority, though reduced from 1983
5. Focus on Controlling Party
Reason: With a strong majority, Thatcher concentrated on keeping party control to maintain power
6. Loss of Power
Reason: Unpopularity of the Poll Tax and loss of Cabinet support led to her resignation
Relationship with Cabinet
1979-1982: Initially collective, as Thatcher was new and less powerful
Post-Falklands: Became more commanding, filling Cabinet with “dries” and asserting authority
Cabinet Tension: Thatcher famously bullied Cabinet members to agree, but ultimately lost support, leading to a rebellion led by Geoffrey Howe
Resignation: Recognizing she lost support, Thatcher resigned rather than face a direct challenge
Ability to Control Policy
Thatcherism: Developed her own right-wing ideology
Key Achievements:
Trade Union laws
Privatization
Cutting taxes
Downfall: Her insistence on the Poll Tax pushed her Cabinet and party too far, leading to her resignation instead of backing down.
Tony blair case study
- Election Victories and Majority
1997 General Election: Won the largest landslide in recent history with a 179-seat majority
2001 General Election: Maintained a 167-seat majority
2005 General Election: Even after the Iraq War, held a 66-seat majority
2. Decline in Popularity
Reason for Decline: Lost popularity after the Iraq War, as the conflict was increasingly seen as failing
Internal Conflict: Attacked by “Brownites” (Gordon Brown’s supporters)
Resignation: Resigned in 2007 due to public criticism and declining polls, allowing Gordon Brown to take over
Relationship with Cabinet
Personal Power: Blair had significant personal power due to his election success
Downing Street Setup:
Created the PM Delivery Unit in 2001, increasing his control over departmental policy
Alastair Campbell, powerful press secretary, controlled the flow of information
Sofa Politics: Policy decisions made informally before Cabinet meetings, limiting actual Cabinet discussion
Jack Straw’s Comment: Meetings were about presentation, not policy discussion
Ability to Control Policy
New Labour Agenda: Blair dominated with key policies:
Maintaining low taxes
Introducing minimum wage
Constitutional reform
Active foreign policy
Tension with Gordon Brown:
Brown, as Chancellor, controlled finances and could frustrate Blair by limiting or altering spending
Brown’s control of the budget meant Blair often didn’t see the budget details until 24 hours before it was announced.
David Cameron case study
- 2010 Election and Coalition
Result: Cameron’s party became the largest but did not win a majority
Coalition: Formed a coalition with the Lib Dems, giving him a 38-seat majority
Impact: Had to share power with Deputy PM Nick Clegg, limiting independent action
2. 2015 Election
Result: Won with a majority of 4 seats (12-seat working majority)
Impact: Could act more independently but needed whole party support
3. Decline in Power
Reason: Split over Europe, culminating in his resignation after losing the Brexit referendum
Relationship with Cabinet
Loss of Patronage Power: Coalition meant certain positions were reserved for Lib Dems (5 positions)
Reshuffling Restrictions: Had to consult Clegg before reshuffling
Close Relationship with George Osborne: Strong support from Chancellor
The Quad: Key decisions were made by Cameron, Osborne, Clegg, and Danny Alexander—streamlined decision-making as long as Lib Dems were on board
Ability to Control Policy
Coalition Challenges: For 5 years, Cameron’s policies needed Lib Dem approval
Key Achievements:
Austerity policies (e.g., student fees)
Gay marriage legislation
Tax cuts
Foreign Policy: Maintained control, e.g., EU veto
Lib Dem Influence: Had to accept Lib Dem ideas, such as increasing tax allowance for low-paid workers and holding the AV referendum
Loss of Votes: Small majority led to setbacks, e.g., Syria vote (2013)
Ministers’ Independence: Allowed ministers like Michael Gove in Education to act independently
Theresa May case study
- 2016 Leadership and Premiership
How She Took Over: Took over Tory leadership and became PM without a vote, as rivals backed out due to blunders
Initial Power: Had supreme power within the party despite a small majority
2. 2017 Election and Loss of Power
2017 Election Outcome: Lost power after her majority was reduced to zero
Impact: Led to calls for her resignation, as Brexit became a nightmare and limited her ability to pursue other policies
3. 2018 Brexit Crisis
Brexit Challenges:
Mass resignations over Chequers deal (July)
Mass resignations over withdrawal agreement (November)
December 12, 2018: Received 48 letters leading to a vote of confidence (won 200-117)
Losses:
Lost 22 votes since 2017, including the biggest defeat ever: 230 votes in January 2019 over withdrawal deal
Criticism and Unpopularity: Continued criticism and comparison to the Brexit Party led her to promise to resign after the deal
Relationship with Cabinet
Pre-Election:
Reshuffle: Major reshuffle in 2016 to remove Cameron allies (e.g., George Osborne, Nicky Morgan)
Brexit Balance: Balanced Cabinet with a mix of Brexit/Remain supporters
Strategic Moves:
Neutralized Boris Johnson by placing him in the Foreign Office
Clear allies in Damian Green and Gavin Williamson
Post-Election:
Loss of Power:
Planned post-election reshuffle canceled due to internal pressure
Rumors that Phillip Hammond and David Davis might lose their jobs, but kept everyone
January 2018 Reshuffle: Embarrassing; Jeremy Hunt refused to move and got a promotion
2018 Cabinet Resignations: Numerous resignations as Brexit failed, ministers abstained from voting or ignored her authority
Withdrawal Agreement: Long, emotional Cabinet meetings over Brexit; no clear agreements
Ability to Control Policy
Pre-Election:
Close Advisors: Manipulated Cabinet with the help of close advisors Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, using a Quad/Sofa Politics style
Limited by 2015 Manifesto: Was restricted by manifesto promises, unable to act on certain policies
Post-Election:
Loss of Majority:
Had to abandon plans for grammar schools and other policies due to loss of majority
Fired advisors to satisfy party pressure
Brexit Policy Breakdown:
Ministers continuously contradicted each other on Brexit
Withdrawal Deal Defeats: Defeated twice—230 votes and then 149 votes
Letwin Amendment: Allowed Parliament to decide Brexit policy in March 2019
Attempt to Resign: Promised to step down if Tory MPs supported her Brexit deal
Negotiating with Corbyn: Had to ask Jeremy Corbyn to join her in Brexit negotiations in February 2019
Boris Johnson case study
- Pre-Election
Initial Challenges:
Inherited a tiny majority
Unpopular with Remainer Tories
Lost 6 votes in Commons due to lack of majority
Suspended Conservatives who voted against his Brexit timetable, reducing his MPs to 288
Attempted illegal prorogation of Parliament, but was blocked by the Supreme Court
Failed to pass election vote until Lib Dems and SNP supported it, forcing Labour to follow
2. Post-Election
Majority: Gained a majority of 80
Early Success:
Boosted by high personal ratings and support after handling Coronavirus well, especially with the Furlough scheme
Seen as dealing with the crisis effectively in early months
Decline:
Support dropped due to Cummings’ lockdown breach and a high death toll, with leadership ratings at their lowest by June 2020
Relationship with Cabinet
Pre-Election:
Cabinet Balance:
Struggled to balance between Remainers and Leavers
Key resignations: David Gauke, Phillip Hammond, and Rory Stewart before he could form his Cabinet
Resignations due to the Brexit deal: Jo Johnson (Universities Minister) and Amber Rudd (Work and Pensions Minister)
Post-Election:
Reshuffle (January 2020):
Replaced several with loyalists
Ensured Rishi Sunak (Chancellor) shared staff with him, limiting independence
Reliance on Dominic Cummings:
Very reliant on Dominic Cummings (SPAD), who was arguably more important than the Cabinet
Did not sack Cummings after his lockdown breach, showing his influence
Used a small Quad during Corona: Boris, Sunak, Gove, and Cummings
Ability to Control Policy
Pre-Election:
Limited Control:
Had little control due to lack of majority
Relied on opposition parties for election
Post-Election:
Majority of 80:
Gained almost total control with a large majority
Passed all major legislation easily, including Brexit deal and parole law for terror convicts
Small Policy Group:
‘New Deal’ policy seems to be driven by just Boris, Cummings, and Gove, a small inner circle
No rebellions within his party so far
