PM and Cabinet 3b How dominant is the PM compared to the Cabinet? Flashcards
The Cabinet Government
what was politics like in the 19th century?
In the 19th century, voting was restricted, and so political parties did not need to be organised or disciplined.
only 40% owned their own property and land and so politics was like a ‘gentleman’s club.’
main concern: ministers must be loyal to the cabinet when making decisions to avoid chaos, preserve the unity of the government - this is how collective ministerial responsibility developed.
20th century - the pM was not just the leader of the party in government but also in parliament. Even today, the PM cannot stay in power if they lost support in the Cabinet. Maggie T was incredibly strong but because of loss of Cabinet support and the resignations from Geoffrey Howe and Heseltine, she was attacked.
Who are the Big Beasts of the Cabinet?
the Chancellor, the Foreign Secretary, and Home Secretary.
- Function of the Cabinet
Informed
They are informed of and approve all the decisions made anywhere in the executive or in the cabinet sub-committees
- Function of the Cabinet
Issues of Policy
they determine the key issues of policy e.g., 2018, May called her cabinet together at Chequers to determine the government’s position on Brexit and how they were going to execute it.
- Function of the Cabinet
Presentation
They determine the way in which policies should be presented. They also discuss the programme of the Bills going through Parliament.
- Function of the Cabinet
Conflict
Coalition 2010-2015 was especially important in resolving departmental issues.
- Function of the Cabinet
Sub-committees
PM’s appoint sub-committees to deal with important and current issues in more detail - the PM sets the parameter for these committees and so these enhance the PM’s authority. E.g., May took the Chair of the European Exit Committee to try and have more control of the Brexit policy which significantly reduced the power of Brexit ministers David Davis and Dominic Raab.
Factors PMs take into account when appointing ministers
The importance of inclusion of those with ability and expertise
The importance of being a good sport
Some people are naturally suited to being natural backbenchers and so they do not have a high aptitude for high office.
PMs who has come to office by winning an election will usually include their defeated rivals in recognition of their standing in the party.
John Major retained Douglas Hurd at Foreign Office in 1990 and offered Michael Heseltine a choice of senior posts.
Factors PMs take into account when appointing ministers
Establishing a PM’s authority
An incoming PM will always want to stamp their own authority on the government. Not all PMs want to make this radical change - John Major did not change people associated with Thatcher when he took over in 1990.
Contrastingly, May distanced herself from Cameron’s administration in 2016 - the former chancellor George Osbourne, was incredibly prominent from their previous government was to be sacked. 9 senior ministers lost their jobs over the next 24 hours.
Factors PMs take into account when appointing ministers
Rewarding loyalty and including key allies all the while conciliating potential rivals
Tony Blair began his term in 2001, by appointing several committed supporters of the New Labour Project to key positions e.g., David Blanket as Home Secretary and Alan Milburn as Health Secretary.
However, Blair’s appointment of Brown as Chancellor and his acceptance that he could not move him to another post against his wishes is an indicator of the limitation of PM appointment.
Factors PMs take into account when appointing ministers
Maintaining a balance between different factions within the governing party
In order to maintain party unity, it is often necessary to find posts for MPs with different ideological views from those of the PM.
Theresa May HAD to include prominent supporters of Brexit such as Bojo and Liam Fox (International Trade Secretary) in addition to individuals who supported the Remain side - Amber Rudd and Phillip Hammond (Chancellor).
Factors PMs take into account when appointing ministers
Meeting the expectations of diversity
John Major was criticised in 1990 for not including women in his cabinet - he then corrected this.
it has since become the norm for the PM to appoint a number of female ministers and not only to lower-ranking Cabinet posts.
Margaret Beckett was made foreign secretary under Tony Blair in 2006. She was the first woman to hold one of the three senior posts under the PM.
There has been greater ethnic representation - Said David was a leading MP of South Asian descent serving under Cameron and May. Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel are also examples of this.
The Cabinet IS still important… it is responsible for making significant decisions collectively.
The Chequers Plan - The Future Relationship Between the UK and EU.
The White Paper was finalised at a meeting of the UK Cabinet which was held at Chequers on July 6th 2018.
this was a 3 page cabinet agreement that laid out the type of future relationships between the UK and the EU and what the UK sought to achieve in the Brexit negotiations.
The Cabinet IS still important… Cabinet ministers may be in charge of significant departments so they are powerful in their own respect,
Rishi Sunak and his financial spending review and his ability to extend furlough and cut the foreign aid budget by 0.7%.
His power derives from being Chancellor and so he is in charge of the entire department. Currently, he is prioritising jobs for young people though 118,000 jobs weren’t filled.
The Cabinet IS still important… Cabinet has power to hold opposing views within the Cabinet. They can choose to disagree
Cabinet meetings are not publicised.
Before May had reinstalled the principle of collective responsibility in 2018 July, Boris Johnson had made a series interventions settings out his own personal blueprint for Brexit and made demands for the transition periods - limiting it to two years and refusing to submit to new rules from the EU during that period.
Jeremy Hunt even issued a warning to him but May didn’t want a cabinet of ‘yes men’
