PM and Executive

Question 1

What is Individual Responsibility?

Answer 1

The principle by which ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for their departments.

Question 2

Individual responsibility

Answer 2

The principle by which ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for their departments.

Question 3

Individual responsibility still adequately accounts for the actions of ministers (Evaluation)

Answer 3

Some erosion of this convention of individual responsibility was the example of Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, who was under mounting pressure to resign after reaching a humiliating £33m out-of-court settlement in March 2019 over a botched Brexit ferry deal, though refused to quit and retained his post.

Question 4

Individual responsibility still adequately accounts for the actions of ministers (Counter-Evaluation)

Answer 4

In 2011, the head of the UK Border Force, Brodie Clark, stood down from his position after he publicly blamed then-Home Secretary Theresa May for relaxing entry checks at airports in order to reduce queues.

He claimed that May had made his position untenable for “political convenience”.

Question 5

Collective responsibility

Answer 5

The principle by which ministers must support cabinet decisions or leave the executive.

While ministers are free to argue their cause with each-other in private, once a decision has been reached, it is binding on them all.

Question 6

Collective responsibility still adequately account for the actions of ministers

Answer 6

As a Remain campaigner, Theresa May ascended to the office of Prime Minister with a commitment to unite Britain in the aftermath of the EU referendum.

Conversely however, she has suffered a wave of Brexit-related resignations, totalling 34 as of now, as cabinet ministers had lost their confidence in her.

For example, notable resignations were that of Esther McVey, Work and Pensions Secretary, Dominic Raab, Brexit Secretary in November 2018. Though, most recently, Andrea Leadsom resigned from the government in May 2019 in opposition to the government’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill which was set to be introduced.

Question 7

Collective responsibility still adequately account for the actions of ministers (Evaluation)

Answer 7

Despite the fact that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resigned in opposition to May’s soft-Brexit plan devised at Chequers, and in accordance with the convention, he vocalised his opposition to May’s Brexit approach even before he quit.

For example, in a speech at the Policy Exchange thinktank in London in February 2018, Johnson called on his political adversaries to unite around his vision for a “liberal Brexit”.

Question 8

Collective responsibility still adequately account for the actions of ministers (Evaluation 2)

Answer 8

In April 2019, a highly controversial decision was reportedly made at a meeting of the National Security Council where May conditionally allowed Chinese tech-giant Huawei to develop the UK 5G network.

NSC discussions are only attended by senior ministers and security officials who first sign the Official Secrets Act that commits them to keep all conversations private or risk prosecution. However, Gavin Williamson, the source of the “unauthorised disclosure of information” was sacked as a result.

Question 9

The view that cabinet can shape policy and control the power of the PM depends on the predominance of the Prime Minister

Answer 9

In 1997, Blair’s Labour Party swept into Government with 418 seats and 43% of the popular vote as well as a peak in popularity of 93% (an unprecedentedly high figure) in the wake of the death of Princess Diana the same year.

Question 10

The view that cabinet can shape policy and control the power of the PM depends on the predominance of the Prime Minister (Evaluation)

Answer 10

Brown’s imposing presence in the Blair cabinet was rooted in the Granita Pact of 1994, when Brown agreed not to stand in the forthcoming leadership election so as to allow Blair an easy victory.

In return, Brown would be granted a wide range of powers over domestic policy in any future government.

Consequently, given Brown’s hugely influential role in Cabinet, they conflicted heavily over numerous issues, such as when Brown threatened to trigger a Labour investigation into cash-for-honours allegations if Blair did not agree to drop proposals to reform the state pension.

Question 11

The view that cabinet can shape policy and control the power of the PM depends on depends on the unity of the cabinet in the first place

Answer 11

Due to Theresa May’s weakness as a force of authority within the Conservative Party, she conceded 9 out of 21 Cabinet positions to hardcore Brexiteers, including Boris Johnson (Foreign Secretary) and the face of the Leave campaign, as well as Michael Gove (Environment Secretary).

Thus, May’s deeply divided Cabinet meant that she was forced to appease multiple factions, ranging from life-long Leaver Liam Fox, Secretary of State for International Trade, to Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was pressing for the softest possible Brexit.

Question 12

The view that cabinet can shape policy and control the power of the PM depends on the unity of the cabinet in the first place (Evaluation)

Answer 12

May won a vote of confidence (December 2018) in her leadership of the Conservative Party by 200 and 177, securing 63% of the total vote, and making her immune from a leadership challenge for a year.

Question 13

The view that cabinet can shape policy and control the power of the PM depends on the actual party composition of cabinet

Answer 13

The 2010 coalition agreement required Cameron to appoint 5 Liberal Democrats to his cabinet.

In June 2011, Cameron was forced to compromise on his crackdown against work-shy benefits cheats; an example of his policies being diluted by his own Cabinet.

Question 14

The view that the limitations on the role of the prime minister (Cabinet) ultimately outweigh the powers of the office

Answer 14

Due to Theresa May’s weakness as a force of authority within the Conservative Party, she conceded 9 out of 21 Cabinet positions to hardcore Brexiteers in 2017, including Boris Johnson (Foreign Secretary) and the face of the Leave campaign, as well as Michael Gove (Environment Secretary).

Thus, May’s deeply divided Cabinet meant that she was forced to appease multiple factions, ranging from life-long Leaver Liam Fox, Secretary of State for International Trade, to Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was pressing for the softest possible Brexit.

Question 15

The view that the limitations on the role of the prime minister (Cabinet) ultimately outweigh the powers of the office (Evaluation)

Answer 15

May won a vote of confidence (December 2018) in her leadership of the Conservative Party by 200 and 177, securing 63% of the total vote, and making her immune from a leadership challenge for a year.

Question 16

The view that the limitations on the role of the prime minister (Parliament) ultimately outweigh the powers of the office

Answer 16

Keir Starmer deployed an arcane parliamentary procedure known as a “humble address” in November 2018 to force the government to release what they had hoped would be assessments into the likely impact of Brexit on the UK economy.

This kickstarted a chain of events which resulted in the government found being in contempt of Parliament for the first time in history as the Conservatives had refused to disclose legal advice on Brexit.

Question 17

The view that the limitations on the role of the prime minister (Parliament) ultimately outweigh the powers of the office (Evaluation)

Answer 17

In the House of Commons, a Prime-Minister requires a majority of the 639 voting MPs (320) in order to pass legislation in that chamber.

During the course of Blair’s tenure (1997-2007), each year saw an average of 2,685 new laws; a 22% increase over the number of laws made annually in the previous 10-years 1987-1996.

Blair was able to pass such a magnitude of legislation given that in 1997, his party returned to power with a parliamentary landslide, winning the biggest majority (of 179-seats) held by any government since 1935.

Question 18

The view that the limitations on the role of the prime minister (Public Opinion) ultimately outweigh the powers of the office

Answer 18

In 1990, riots erupted in British towns and cities against the Community Charge (Poll Tax), introduced by Thatcher’s Conservative government.

This demonstration, which saw 100,000 protesters turn out to campaign against the poll tax, forced Thatcher’s successor, John Major, to dismantle the Poll tax and replace it with the council tax.

Question 19

The view that the limitations on the role of the prime minister (Public Opinion) ultimately outweigh the powers of the office (Evaluation)

Answer 19

In July 2016, the government rejected an online petition, signed by over 4.1 million people, calling for a second EU referendum to be held

Question 20

The view that the executive can control the UK Parliament.

depends on whether the PM is in possession of a majority in the Commons

Answer 20

In the House of Commons, a Prime-Minister requires a majority of the 639 voting MPs (320) in order to pass legislation in that chamber.

During the course of Blair’s tenure (1997-2007), each year saw an average of 2,685 new laws; a 22% increase over the number of laws made annually in the previous 10-years 1987-1996.

Blair was able to pass such a magnitude of legislation given that in 1997, his party returned to power with a parliamentary landslide, winning the biggest majority (of 179-seats) held by any government since 1935.

Question 21

The view that the executive can control the UK Parliament.

depends on whether the PM is in possession of a majority in the Commons (Evaluation)

Answer 21

Despite the fact that the Conservatives had a 12-seat majority in Parliament, David Cameron’s majority government (2015-16) was defeated 3 times in the Commons.

The executive was defeated in July and September 2015, and March 2016.

Question 22

The view that the executive can control the UK Parliament.

depends on the power of Parliament (1)

Answer 22

Throughout the Brexit process, backbencher Dominic Grieve has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure that MPs, and so parliament subsequently has a greater say in the proceedings.

Amendments to the EU Withdrawal Act already ensured that if MPs voted against May’s deal in a meaningful vote in December 2018 (which they did), the government was forced to return to the Commons within 21-days and make a statement setting out how the government proposed to proceed.

However, Grieve’s latest amendment meant that whatever motion the executive brought back to Parliament, it would have to be amendable.

Question 23

The view that the executive can control the UK Parliament.

depends on the power of Parliament (1) (Evaluation)

Answer 23

Amendments to the Brexit motion are not legally binding on the government, so it theoretically ignore them once the main motion, which itself is legally binding, is passed.

However, the political ramifications of this would be catastrophic for the May government as it could mean more resignations and a loss of the working majority as well as the collapse of the Conservative government.

Question 24

The view that the executive can control the UK Parliament.

depends on the power of Parliament (2)

Answer 24

Urgent Questions: In April 2018, Labour MP Diane Abbott asked Home Secretary Amber Rudd if she would make a statement about the use of removal targets in the Home Office, after documents revealed targets were set for voluntary removals. Hence, following her initial insistence that there were no targets, she declared that the Home Office had been using “local targets for internal performance management”.

Keir Starmer deployed an arcane parliamentary procedure known as a “humble address” in November 2018 to force the government to release what they had hoped would be assessments into the likely impact of Brexit on the UK economy. This kickstarted a chain of events which resulted in the government found being in contempt of Parliament for the first time in history as the Conservatives had refused to disclose legal advice on Brexit.

Question 25

The view that the executive can control the UK Parliament.

depends on the power of Parliament (2) (Evaluation)

Answer 25

Opposition Day motions are generally futile attempts at holding the government into account by the opposition as the party-in-government often abstains (meaning that they aren’t classed as government defeats), rendering the motions meaningless; this is consolidated by the fact that the government isn’t bound to legislate them.

Question 26

Individual responsibility still adequately accounts for the actions of ministers

Answer 26

Instances of individual misconduct or incompetence still tend to lead to resignations.

In November 2017, Priti Patel, Secretary of State for International Development, quit after it emerged that she had about 14 unofficial meetings with Israeli ministers, and businesspeople, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on a holiday as a private citizen to Israel.

In the same month, Michael Fallon, Defence Secretary, resigned following claims of serious sexual abuse in Parliament.