PM And Cabinet

Question 1

Give two examples of the cabinet playing an important role in decision making

Answer 1

1. 1956, Anthony Eden announced a ceasefire against Egypt when the cabinet wouldn’t support further hostilities
2. 2020, cabinet debated over whether or not to increase COVID restrictions

Question 2

When did Margaret thatcher resign having lost the support of her cabinet

Answer 2

1990

Question 3

What percentage of parliament voted they had no confidence in boris Johnson and when, how many key cabinet members resigned

Answer 3

2022, 41% , 2

Question 4

Why did Boris Johnson resign in 2018 as foreign secretary

Answer 4

He didn’t agree with Theresa mays chequers agreement - collective ministerial responsibility

Question 5

Who was the first pm, when was he in power

Answer 5

Robert Walpole, 1721-1742

Question 6

Give an example of pms not being able to always do what they want with the cabinet

Answer 6

Sunak returned home office position to suella braverman because the cabinet requires an ideological and political balance

Question 7

Of of 23, how many people in the cabinet are women (as of September 2023)

Answer 7

5

Question 8

Since the 1950, how has the frequency of cabinet meetings per year reduced

Answer 8

100 to 40

Question 9

Since when has the prime ministers office included the no 10 policy unit

Answer 9

2002 - provide policy advice and support for pm and govt

Question 10

What did the number of SPADs grow to under Blair

Answer 10

50

Question 11

Cameron criticised Blair’s number of SPADs but by when had this number risen to what? How much did this cost?

Answer 11

2015, 107, £8 million per year

Question 12

When was John majors put up or shut up speech

Answer 12

1995

Question 13

Give an example of an event that affected an election

Answer 13

May and green fell tower fire

Question 14

Give an example of when spin (managing the news) has led to credibility issues

Answer 14

Blair and Iraq

Question 15

When was the suez crisis, who dealt with it

Answer 15

1956, Anthony Eden

Question 16

On average how many cabinet members are there?

Answer 16

22-27

Question 17

Give two example of spin doctors

Answer 17

Alastair Campbell, Bernard Ingham

Question 18

When was TV introduced into politics

Answer 18

1960 with Harold Wilson

Question 19

Why was Theresa mays 2017 election so badly run?

Answer 19

• dementia tax, last min addition, no Cabot consultation, hits middle class, majority of voters
• strong stable govt, not true, spent campaign defending herself
• bad with media, didn’t turn up to leaders debate.

Question 20

When did Theresa may use royal prerogative powers

Answer 20

2018 - sent fighter jets to carry out airstrikes on Syria

Question 21

What does secondary legislation give the prime minister the power to do - give an example of this

Answer 21

Change law without needing a new bill
Boris in 2020 lockdown using 1984 public heath act and statutory instruments
- efficiency but potential democratic concerns

Question 22

What is the ‘made negative’ procedure

Answer 22

Statutory instruments become law immediately unless opposed by parliament within 40 days

Question 23

Examp,e of individual ministerial responsibility - why did amber rudd resign and when

Answer 23

2018 after she misled the home affairs select committee over departments targets for deporting illegal immigrants

Question 24

In mays 2018 reshuffle, who was made education secretary

Answer 24

Damien hinds

Question 25

How does cabinet deal with domestic emergencies? Give an example of this

Answer 25

COBR - after suspected Russian poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury

Question 26

What did Blair prefer to larger cabinet meeting

Answer 26

His smaller, sofa/kitchen cabinets

Question 27

What did Blair insist if his cabinet to do with media

Answer 27

All media contact be cleared with him first

Question 28

How did the Lib Dem cabinet limit David Cameron

Answer 28

Required their consensus to prevented from introducing tougher policies on people cheating the welfare benefits system