PM and Cabinet

Question 1

Nolan principles

Answer 1

Set of values that anyone in high office is expected to abide by.

Question 2

IMR

Answer 2

Individual Ministerial Responsibility- ministers are responsible and accountable for their behaviour and department

Question 3

CMR

Answer 3

Collective ministerial responsibility- all ministers in cabinet should agree on policies, otherwise they should resign

Question 4

Examples of IMR

Answer 4

Sunak sacked Williamson and Raab over bullying claims, Chris Pincher Deputy Chief Whip suspended for groping allegations

Question 5

Examples of CMR

Answer 5

Braverman openly criticised immigration policy, 2016 Sec of State for Work and Pensions resigned over budget cuts to disability benefits and capital gains tax.

Question 6

Cabinet government

Answer 6

A system of government in which PM is first among equals, can be brought down by cabinet.

Question 7

Prime Ministerial Government

Answer 7

A system of government in which the prime minister is the dominant actor and is able to bypass the cabinet

Question 8

Rubber stamp

Answer 8

description of cabinet approving decisions that were made elsewhere

Question 9

Presidential Government

Answer 9

media focuses on the PM, significant increase in SPADs and civil servants. PM office coordinates executive rather than cabinet

Question 10

Core executive model

Answer 10

large network of people within government that are all dependant on eachother

Question 11

Why is the cabinet important?

Answer 11

Cabinet need to approve policies, some key decisions still made by cabinet, big beasts hard to silence, no PM can survive without cabinet support, patronage powers must be carefully handled, cabinet is involved with management of emergencies.

Question 12

Why isn’t the cabinet important?

Answer 12

rubber stamp, PM manipulate through bi-lateral meetings, PM controls workings of cabinet and can use CMR, dominant PM usually deferred to by their cabinet, PMs have significant powers of patronage

Question 13

Why do PMs have too much power?

Answer 13

Popular PMs don’t need a tactical cabinet, PMs control cabinet agenda, large majority means MPs less likely to rebel, PMs have lots of institutional resources

Question 14

Why don’t PMs have too much power?

Answer 14

Minister misbehaviour make PMs patronage choices look bad, PMs can be brought down by their own cabinet , need party support, no coordination within institutionalised resources leads to chaos

Question 15

Evidence for PMs having too much power?

Answer 15

Thatcher filled her cabinet with allies 1982, Johnson filled cabinet with yes-men, Blair kept party message sharp, Blair used spin doctors like Allaister Campbell