PM & Cabinet Facts

Question 1

What has the role of the PM famously been described as?

Answer 1

‘First among equals’.

Question 2

What are the 6 main roles of the PM?

Answer 2

• Core executive
• Provide domestic leadership
• Majority party leader
• Directs policy making
• Has authority in cabinet
• Holds the powers of patronage

Question 3

What are 4 sources of Prime Ministerial power?

Answer 3

• Being leader of the largest party
• The Royal Prerogative
• The popular mandate
• Parliament

Question 4

What is ‘the night of the long knives’ in reference to?

Answer 4

In 1962 when Harold Macmillan sacked 7 cabinet ministers in one day.

Question 5

How times has Britain changed Prime Minister since 1945? (and how many assumed office without an election?)

Answer 5

15 times (7).

Question 6

How many years has Labour been in power since 1900?

Answer 6

It has been in power for only 32 years.

Question 7

What style of Prime Minister was John Major?

Answer 7

A collectivist, delaying decisions until he has cabinet support, divisive issues often made things fall apart.

Question 8

What style of Prime Minister was Tony Blair?

Answer 8

A directive Prime Minister, using the executive office to develop his strategic direction, working with a massive majority.

Question 9

What style of Prime Minster was Gordon Brown?

Answer 9

Indecisive, preferring to review and consult, leading to limited policy making.

Question 10

What style of Prime Minster was David Cameron?

Answer 10

A facilitator, working with a coalition and bypassing cabinet and instead using the ‘quad’, under a weak majority.

Question 11

What type of Prime Minster was Margaret Thatcher?

Answer 11

An innovator.

Question 12

What is the job of the civil service?

Answer 12

To help the government implement policy more effectively, they are impartial and independent.

Question 13

In what 4 main ways is the Prime Minister similar to the President?

Answer 13

• They are both the figurehead of government
• They both control the military
• They are both leaders of their party
• Both of their legislatures have the power to remove them from office

Question 14

In what 3 main ways is the Prime Minister different from the President?

Answer 14

• The PM’s cabinet is a decision making body where as the President’s cabinet is only advisory
• The PM has to have a majority in the House of Common where as the President does not need a majority in Congress
• The PM sits in the legislature where as the President cannot

Question 15

What are 4 examples of exceptions to collective ministerial responsibility?

Answer 15

• During the 1975 EEC and 2016 EU referendums
• During the coalition over higher education funding and Trident
• The 2013 Marriage Bill
• The 2004 Fox Hunting Ban

Question 16

Why did Robin Cook resign from Government?

Answer 16

He didn’t want to accept responsibility for Tony Blair’s invasion of Iraq.

Question 17

Why did Sir Thomas Dugdale resigned as Minister for Agriculture? (and when?)

Answer 17

Because 700 acres of farm land possessed by the government in the war had been rented out instead of given back to its original owners (1954)

Question 18

Why did Lord Carrington resign as Foreign Secretary? (and when?)

Answer 18

He resigned because the England was unprepared for the invasion of the Falklands (1982).

Question 19

What is it argued that collective cabinet responsibility has lead to?

Answer 19

Increased power of the Prime Minister, who only uses cabinet as a rubber stamp.

Question 20

What did Sir Geoffrey Howe’s resignation as Foreign Secretary do? (and when?)

Answer 20

It lead to the downfall of Margaret Thatcher (1990).

Question 21

What two main things does the power of the Prime Minister rely on?

Answer 21

1. The size of their majority

2. Their Prime Ministerial style

Question 22

What 3 major decision did Tony Blair make by himself?

Answer 22

• The building of the millennium dome
• The invasion of Iraq
• Giving the exchange rates to the Bank of England

Question 23

By what proportion did Tony Blair reduce the size of his cabinet?

Answer 23

1/3

Question 24

What did Blair do instead of making key decisions in Cabinet?

Answer 24

He used ad-hoc informal meeting in Number 10.

Question 25

Why did Brown use more cabinet meetings?

Answer 25

Because of the financial crisis, he made use also of the National Economic Council.

Question 26

What cabinet committee did David Cameron create?

Answer 26

The National Security Council, which he chaired.

Question 27

What 3 new cabinet committee areas did May create?

Answer 27

• Brexit
• Economic and industrial strategy
• Social reform

(which she chaired all of)