PM and Executive Flashcards
What does a fusion of powers allow party whips to do?
Offer cabinet positions to loyal MPs
Why did Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems break CCR, in which year?
2013
Declared they would vote with LAB to oppose a block to constituency boundaries
Which policies did Nick Clegg publicly criticise?
Education policies - contradicting SoS for education
Which vote did the CON govt postpone in 2015? Why did they do this?
A vote on relaxing fox hunting
They couldn’t guarantee support from all CON MPs
How many CON MPs defeated a motion to prolong Sunday trading hours? When?
27 CON MPs
March 2016
What did backbenchers pressure Chancellor Philip Hammond to do in 2017?
Make a U-turn on his budget pledge to increase national insurance contributions for the self-employed
What has the ‘Quad’ been likened to?
Blair’s sofa government
What was the leadership of Cameron and Osborne called?
A ‘duopoly’
What did Iain Duncan Smith say in regards to cabinet when he resigned from in 2016?
He said that policy was “changing literally by the hour” without cabinet influence. He also said he felt “isolated” and “semi-detached”
How often did the coalition cabinet meet?
2 hours every Tuesday
Which policies did Cameron voice support for whilst, ignoring traditional policy?
Green energy and International Aid
How many CON MPs voted against the 2013 Marriage (Same-Sex) couples Act?
136 - but still able to pass due to strong backbench support
Give some examples of committees May scraped
Constitutional Affairs
Public Expenditure
What did Cameron say about brexit in 2016?
He wanted the party to “stop banging on about Europe”
When did Cameron announce plans for 2015 Brexit Referendum?
2013 Bloomberg interview
What did the suspension of collective cabinet responsibility allow for, in regards to Brexit?
5 Cabinet Ministers and 1/2 backbenchers to support the leave campaign
Which controversial MP was sacked from cabinet after opposing NHS Reforms? Which year?
Andrew Lansley
Why was Gove sacked as SoS for education? In which year?
2014
DC feared his policies had caused a strained relationship with teachers, which would be problematic in 2015 GE
How many of Cameron’s cabinet were sacked by May or resigned when she became PM in 2016?
9
How many cabinet ministers and govt. posts did Nick Clegg get to appoint?
5/23 Cabinet
20/120 other posts
Still able to cause considerable problems for Cameron
Which Brexiteers did May give cabinet positions to? In which roles?
Boris Johnson - Foreign Sec
Liam Fox - International Trade
Exiting the EU - David Davis
Which CON brought down Thatcher by starting a leadership bid?
Micheal Heseltine
When did Cameron order drone strikes in Syria without Cabinet approval?
2015
How much was Cameron’s motion on drone strikes in Syria defeated by, in which year?
285-272
2013
Why could the PM not trigger withdrawal from the EU?
It would have rendered the European Communities Act 1972 useless. Amending or removing legislation can only be done by parliament.
What was the CON party and Cameron’s approval ratings in Feb 2016?
CON - -26
DC - -15
What was May and Corbyns approval ratings in Feb 2017?
May - +17
Corbyn - - 38
How far ahead was the CON pver LAB in Feb 2017?
18pts ahead
Why did Cameron say he needed to resign?
He did not feel in a position to “be the captain that steers our country to it’s next destination”
How many are employed in the civil service, where is the main office?
5370
70 Whitehall
How many SPADs did Sunak, Blair, and Brown have
Sunak 41
Blair 84
GB 74
How many ad hoc groups were there in 2018, give a few examples?
15 in total
Violence against women and girls, Eu exit, Borders and Social care
What is SAGE and what is there role?
Scientific advisory group for emergencies
Provides a single source of scientific and technical advise
Who led SAGE in covid 19?
Govt chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Valance and Chief medical officer Sir Prof Chris Whitty
Which figures in May’s cabinet were divided?
Chancellor - Hammond
Brexit Sec - Davis
Foreign Sec - Johnson
What had happened to May’s cabinet by June 2018?
Davis and Johnson had both resigned
What comment did Vince Cable make about May’s cabinet?
It was ‘in a state of civil war’
What issues strained May’s cabinet ?
Saudi Arabia, Heathrow, Brexit and the ‘Trojan Horse Plot’
What issue almost caused May to reign - what year was this?
2011
Lapses over border control - said Brodie Clarke has acted beyond the limits given to him
Why did Amber Rudd resign in 2018?
Resigned as Home Sec. after she inadvertently misled parliament over whether she knew about targets to avoid illegal immigrants
Why did Mark Harper resign and in what year?
2014
His cleaner did not have the right to work in the UK
Why did Brooks Newmark step down?
He was found to have sent explicit images to an undercover reporter
Which notable appointment did Brown make?
Ed Balls - his former personal advisor
Examples of ‘big beasts’ being appointed to cabinet’
Boris Johnson in May’s cabinet
Vince Cable in the Coalition
In which year did David Cameron promote two women to cabinet ?
2011
Thatchers Cabinet (1979-90)
- Bilateral meetings used instead
- Relied on accountable advisors e.g Chief economic advisor Sir Alan Walters (1981-83, 1989)
- Later constructed a cabinet of allies e.g. William Whitelaw who servedas home sec and deputy pm
Majors Cabinet (1990-97)
- More cabinet centered
- Each minister felt they had a n influence which they did not want to jerpodise
Blair (1997-2007)
- Sofa government
- Focus on a united front for the media
- Neglect of cabinet critised e.g Butler Report which stated this ‘reduced scope for informed, collective, political, judgement’
Brown (2007-10)
- brought his inner circle to cabinet e.g. Ed Balls
- not liked and faced many challenges from backbenchers e.g Lancashire Plot 2008
Cameron (2010-16)
- Popularity increased but 11% behind in the polls
- Had to balance the Lib Dems
- In Early 2011 50% believed he was doing a ‘good job’
- BJ constant presence
- Accused if being a ‘maid’ for the Lib Dems
May (2016-19)
- Barley known by other MPs
- Had 51 resignations (33 relating to Brexit)
-12 cabinet departures - More resignations than Thatcher or Blair
Give an example of an MP resigning after breaking Collective Cabinet Responsibility
In August 2014 Baroness Warsi resigned from Cameron’s gov over policy on the escalation of violence in Israel
Euro-sceptics and Euro-Enthusiasts in Blair’s cabinet
Euro-Sceptics: Michael Portillo, Peter Lilley, John Redwood and Johnathan Aitken
Euro-Enthusiasts: Kenneth Clarke, Douglas Hurd, and Michael Heseltine.
Major split in May’s cabinet
Chancellor Philip Hammond, Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnston.
By June 2018 both Davis and Johnston had resigned.
Why did May not resign in 2011?
Ministers responsible for all that happens in their Department
Lapses in border control. She argued civil servant Brodie Clark acted beyond guidelines she gave him.
Why did Amber Rudd resign as Home Secretary in 2018?
MPs must give accurate information to parliament
She mislead parliament over question of whether she knew about the targets to remove illegal immigrants.
Why did Estelle Morris resign, in what year?
PM decides how long a minister remains in office for.
In 2002 Estelle Morris resigned as Education Secretary after failing to meet targets on literacy and numeracy tests.
Why did Chris Huhne resign in 2012?
It was revealed he would face criminal charges for avoiding a speeding offence.
Why did Brooks Newmark resign in 2014?
It was reveled in a newspaper that he sent explicit images of himself to an undercover reporter.
Why was Peter Mandelson forced to resign?
An allegation he abused his position to give the Hinduja brother’s passports. The PM told him he had to resign without waiting to see how serous allegations were.
Who made up ‘The Quad’?
David Cameron (PM), George Osborne (Chancellor), Nick Clegg (Deputy PM) and Danny Alexander (chief sec to the Treasury)
What was the role of ‘The Quad’?
iron out contentious matters prior to cabinet meetings.
What did Clegg say about Osborne and Alexander’s relationship?
Complained Alexander’s head had been taken over by Treasury Officials
Why did Cameron resign in 2016?
Ministers responsible for all that happens in their Department
Failed remain campaign
Why did some call for Hunt to resign in 2012?
MPs should give accurate information to parliament
Jeremy Hunt remained Culture Secretary
in 2012, when it was suggested his closeness to Murdoch made him biased.
What controversy happened in 2012 whilst May was Home Secretary?
May remained Home Secretary in 2012 despite the confusion around Abu Qatada’s deportation to Jordan.
