PM + Executive

Question 1

what is the definition of executive?

Answer 1

The collective group of Prime Minister, cabinet, junior ministers this is known as the government

Question 2

What is the definition of cabinet?

Answer 2

The prime minister and senior ministers who lead a particular government department

Question 3

what is the definition of minister?

Answer 3

An MP a member of the HOL appointed to a position in the government, usually exercising specific responsibilities in a department

Question 4

What is the definition of government department?

Answer 4

A part of the executive, usually with specific responsibility, open areas, such as education, health or defence

Question 5

what is the definition of royal prerogative?

Answer 5

A set of powers and privileges belonging to the monarch, but nine millie exercised by the prime minister of cabinet, such as granting of honours are legal pardon

Question 6

what is the definition of secondary legislation?

Answer 6

Powers given to the executive by parliament to make changes to the law within certain specific rules

Question 7

what is the definition of individual responsibility?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

what is the definition of collective responsibility?

Answer 8

Principal, by which ministers must support the cabinet decisions or leave the executive

Question 9

what is the definition of presidential government?

Answer 9

An executive dominated by one individual this may be a president, but it also used to describe a strong dominant prime minister

Answer 10

executive execute laws passed by the legislature. Therefore, they are responsible for making policy, managing budgets, controlling Parliamentary agenda.

executive in the UK is the dominant branch, but due to Parliamentary sovereignty this means the executive must answer to Parliament and seek approval for its actions. This approval from Parliament is easier if a prime minister has a large majority of MPs in the HOC due to the FPTP

1997 labour majority of 408 seats this is 243 more than the Conservatives

2019 Conservative majority of 365 seat. This is 163 more than labour.

Question 11

Structure of the executive?

Answer 11

The prime minister is the head of the executive

Cabinet members are appointed by the prime minister. These include MPs and peers of governing party and they are heads of government departments.

There are 120 ministers of state and Parliamentary undersecretaries these are MPs of junior ministers

Civil servants and appointed government officials are known as SPADS.

Question 12

Roles of the executive?

PM?

Cabinet?

Answer 12

PM
—-
they have the power of patronage as they can form gov

they have the power to propose directory policy.

They manage the cabinet by chairing meetings and setting up cabinet committees.

They organise government by creating new government departments and are responsible for the civil service.

They control Parliament as they are the leader of the largest party therefore has control of the majority of Parliament a gender and uses power of secondary legislation from Parliamentary act to make policy changes without Parliament approval e.g. adjusting minimum wage 

The media focus on the prime minister is more than the cabinet. There also directly elected MP and has been elected as party leader by the membership, giving them more authority.

Cabinet
———
The civil service makes policy ideas and decisions and is not supposed to serve a political purpose They work to support ministers not the party therefore not partisan.

There has been a growth in special advisors known as spads these people are employed as civil servants and I’m not elected, but had the role of giving political advice to a minister in a way. The neutral civil service will not. Therefore they are partisan.

Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy were spads to Theresa May and had a major role in advising her when formulating the Conservative election strategy and creating Conservative manifesto promises in 2017 however May forced them to resign after the Conservative lack of victory in 2017.

Dominic Cummings was employed as a chief of staff to Johnson and Led the 2019 election campaign

Question 13

What are the different roles and powers of the executive?

Answer 13

Role - proposing legislation, proposing a budget, making policy decisions

Power - Royal prerogative, proposing legislation, secondary legislation

Question 14

What is IMR?

Answer 14

individual ministers have responsibility for their department, therefore are responsible for their conduct as a minister. This is known as ministerial code.

ministers must be accountable to Parliament for their policies made by their department. They do this by answering questions in the house integration by select committees. This is the legal aspect of the principle.

serious errors by ministers are usually followed by resignation

Serious errors by the ministers department, usually results in the minister resigning. All ministers behaviour is measured against the ministerial code of conduct. If they failed to meet the code ministers police dismissal by the prime minister. This is a political aspect of the principle.

Individual ministerial responsibility is important as it holds MPs to account ensuring greater legitimacy as ministers can’t mislead Parliament this helps to maintain power of Parliament keeping it sovereign. In addition checks on ministers behaviours, ensure they represent the government with honesty and integrity.

Question 15

Examples of IMR?

Answer 15

Priti Patel, Department of International Development 2017 - someone from an international meeting in Rwanda as she misled the prime minister of a holding party on official meetings with Israeli Ministers business officials and lobbyist. She was forced to resign by Theresa May.

This is important as she was held accountable for her behaviour as she was not honest with the government about her meetings and therefore fell below the ministerial code of conduct and her unprofessional behaviour in unofficial meetings.

Amber Rudd Home Office 2017 - she misled the house about home office targets by deportation. It was uncovered in the home affairs select committee hearing. She denied knowing about these targets for emails revealed. She was aware she was forced to resign.

This is important because it holds ministers to account for her departments mistake

Gavin Williamson, Education Secretary 2020 - he made several U-turns as his time as education secretary on free school meals, Covid closure on schools and technology not delivered to low income students. He did not resign and Boris Johnson never asked for his resignation as it was alleged that Williamson knew details about Boris Johnson, that could be politically damaging when he was a party whip.

This is an important as individual ministerial responsibility is dependent on the power of the prime minister as he can choose not to uphold the principle.

suella Braverman Home Secretary 2022 - she sent emails related to her immigration from her personal email to an MP and accidental member of public Lizz Truss Demanded her resignation which Braverman accepted in her resignation letter she accepted her mistake and resigned.

This is important as she broke the ministerial code of conduct and therefore resigned, however, it could be argued that Truss used the incident as an excuse to remove Suella Braverman from her cabinet, knowing that due to divisions in the party, especially after the mini budget. She needed to appeal to a broarder arm of the Tory party.

November 2020 The home secretary, Priti Patel, avoided the sack despite a Cabinet Office inquiry reportedly uncovering evidence of bullying within the Home Office. The inquiry concluded that Patel broke the ministerial code of conduct, but the prime minister, Boris Johnson, ignored the findings and ruled that she did not break the code. As a result, she did not lose her position.

Nadhim Zahawi has been sacked as Tory party chairman after an ethics inquiry into the handling of his tax affairs found a “serious breach” of the ministerial code. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was “clear that there has been a serious breach of the ministerial code”, but Mr Zahawi made no apology for his actions and attacked the conduct of the media.

Question 16

Has IMR weakened

Answer 16

NO IMR has not weakened as ministers must be accountable to parliament for the policies made by their department, answering questions in the house, or being interrogated by select committees (Amber Rudd) however, this was a rare event as many ministers apologise for mistakes, but rarely resign

No IMR has not weakened as No, I am Hassal weekend serious errors by ministers are usually followed by resignation, for example, Suella Braverman

No IMR has not weakened as serious errors by the ministers department, usually results in the minister resigning

No IMR has not weakened as All ministers behaviour is measured against the ministerial code of conduct. If they fail to meet the code ministers faced dismissal by the prime minister. This relates to more personal conduct and where the conduct has falle Short ministers have been quick to resign are being made to resign by the prime minister, for example, Priti Patel

yes IMR has weakened as there is no specific rule that says Parliament can ensure a minister resignation. They can criticise them usually through select committees are drawing debate in the house and called for their resignation, but this is usually the responsibility of the prime minister.

Question 17

What is CMR?
What is the 5 principles of CMR?
Why is CMR important?
What are the 3 exceptions to CMR?

Answer 17

The PM has their own preogeative powers but decitions are taken collectively by the executive as a whole. This means all ministers Junior and senior are responsible and will defend all executive policies and decitions.

5 main principles:
1. Ministers are collectively responsible for all government policies.
2. All ministers must publicly support all gov policies even if they privately disagree.
3.if ministers want to dissent publicly from a gov policy they are expected to resign as a minister first.
4.if a minister dissents without resigning they can expect to be dismissed by the PM
5. As cabinet meetings are secret any dissent within gov is concealed from others MPS and the public.

CMR supports the PM power a nod authority if they are confident they will not experience the dissent from their ministers.

The PM can also rely on the votes of the executive and can be certain of around 120 votes for the bill in the HOC from the executive this is known as the payroll vote.

Supporters argue that the principle ensures ministers can express concern in private knowing their disagreement is unlikely to be publicized how ever critics argue that the principle prevents ministers from criticizing the executive and prevents them from expressing their opinions.

1. Coalition 2010-2015 - some areas of policy were included in the coalition Agreement which meant ministers from both parties would be required under the principle to agree. However issues like Trident Nuclear Submarine Missile System was excluded form the agreement and ministers could disagree publicly with the gov on issues.
2. EU Referendum 2016 - During the campaign minister were allowed to make their own minds up on the issue going against the principle of CMR the Justice Secretory at the time Michael Gove, former leader of the HOC Chris Grayling, both openly campaigned against the governments official position of remaining in the EU.
3. Mays conservative Campaign 2017-2019 - Not official suspension of the principle but weak leadership from May meant that several ministers openly criticised her BREXIT deal. May didn’t fire these ministers as she was trying to ensure cooperation and find a compromise between two sides of the Conservative Party who wanted very different versions of Brexit. Firing them may have meant that she would lose their support in the HOC which she couldn’t afford to do this is important as it shows the principle of CMR may rely on the power of the PM than having any significance of their own.

Question 18

Examples of CMR?

Answer 18

Robin Cook Iraq War 2003 - senior Labour Minister disagreed with the devotion to go to war with Iraq without first seeking a new resolution from the UN Security Council.

Gavin Williamson - was education secretary in 2020 he repealed u turns over issues like free school meals, Covid school closures, and failure to provide tech to low income house holds there was speculation that he knew about BJ problematic issues therefore the PM was unable to dismiss him.

Lord Frost was a cabinet member responsible for Brexit and was previously a SPAD for BJ he was given peerage to sit in cabinet however resigned in 2021 because of plan B Covid restrictions in his letter he said we should live with Covid

David Davis was secretory state of justice for exiting the EU during Brexit campaign for leave when TM announced Chequers Plan he decided to resign.

Question 19

Evaluate the view that the conventions of IMR and CMR are both important?

Question 20

The PM and cabinet

Answer 20

Two main factors between the relationship of PM and cabinet are power and leadership of the prime minister and authority of the cabinet to influence the prime minister

The prime minister has one of the two relationships with the cabinet:

1. they use the cabinet as a sounding board for decisions and listen to ministers feedback working more collaboratively as Major, Cameron and May did.
2. They have a little time for cabinet discussions, preferring a more presidential style, leadership as Thatcher and Blair did.

Question 21

Factors affecting the PM choice of Cabinet

Answer 21

Allies - brown and Blair were both elected in 1983 and shared an office, Cameron and Osborne were university friends, Truss only appointed those who supported her leadership campaign in 2022.

Big beasts - these MPs have a significant following of MPs in the party so MPs may feel they have to appoint them to avoid potential criticism or rebellion from the back benches eg. May had Hammond and Johnson in her cabinet, Sunak has Michael Gove.

Experience - Sunak’s position as chancellor during Covid, highlighted his ability to handling an unprecedented economic crisis.

Party fractions - Sunak brought Braverman back at home secretary, despite her for signing for breaching the ministerial code under Truss as she’s a member of the ERG fraction, mays cabinet was a balance of leavers and remainers

Rivals - bind them by collective responsibility, so they cannot easily criticise the government Johnson’s choice of Sajid Javid as Health Secretary

Descriptive representation - trust his Cabinet was the first where all the great offices of state were not filled by white men Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, Foreign Secretary, James cleverly however, Sunak was far less diverse as 45% attended private school and only 22% more women when he first appointed in October 2022

Question 22

Factors affecting the relationship between the prime minister and Cabinet

Answer 22

Up to 1960s the relationship between prime minister and Cabinet was regarded as a Cabinet system of government as they were the dominant member of the cabinet but not able to control the cabinet entirely.

And from 1960 to 2010. The prime minister dominated the relationship in a prime ministerial system of government. This is also known as a presidential style leadership.

During this period, individual ministers were powerful, but cabinet as a whole was not very powerful Wilson, Thatcher and Blair were dominant in the relationship between cabinet and Prime Minister

Blair developed sofa politics whereby he would meet Cabinet members in private with advisers to agree on policy, which would then be presented as final decisions in Cabinet meetings effectively removing the power of the cabinet to scrutinise his decision. He also tend to rely more on his SPADS than elected cabinet members.

Question 23

Why are prime minister regarded as more powerful than the cabinet?

Answer 23

Spatial leadership - Prime Minister’s will attempt to be standalone figures establishing ideological positions distinct from the party. For example, Thatcherism, Blairism

Prime Minister’s often speak for the nation on major events. For example, Johnson conducted almost daily Covid briefings. He also delegate to the cabinet and who should speak

Election campaigns focus on the individual, new labour, largely focused on Blair, 2019 police Johnson at the centre with his Brexit deal, the media increasingly focused heavily on party leaders in their coverage, 2023 Sunak campaigning as a leader for change

Personal mandate - the mandate for a government after a successful General election is often attributed to the prime minister, e.g. 2019, 1997, 1983 1979

Increased use of SPADS - Prime Minister, increasingly trust their personal handpicked advises over the civil servants

Cabinet office- increase power to this office that now works to coordinate Whitehall on behalf of the prime minister e.g. civil service work and ministers department

Question 24

From 2010 to 2017, the cabinet had a more powerful role in the relationship. Give examples

Answer 24

Cameron kept a close circle of MPs in the cabinet including deputy leader, Nick Clegg, who were involved in most decision, making process the Cabinet was important again during this period, as it was responsible for resolving disputes between the coalition partners, and presenting policy in a way that seem to unified this period was seen as a revival of a strong cabinet

From 2016 to 2017 May attempted over 10 to the dominance of the prime minister for weak leadership and small majority that she also heavily relied on the cooperation and support of the cabinet members. First ability ministers were part of her downfall e.g. Chris Grayling resigned over her Brexit deal .

Question 25

Examples of Johnson’s lack of power as prime minister and cabinet dominance?

Answer 25

Who refused to fire Priti Patel after a report into her conduct and apartment accused her of bullying and lead to a senior civil servant to resign

He also refused to fire, Matt Hancock, as Health Secretary, after it was revealed that he broke lockdown rules by having an affair and refused to fire, Dominic Raab after the shame and appalling response to the Afghanistan conflict, instead choosing to reshuffle him months later, and giving him title of deputy prime minister.

Johnson also seem to need the support of his Cabinet throughout the party gate scandal and Hasim vulnerable on several occasions when members of the cabinet have dismissed themselves from him

Rishi Sunak labelled plans to increase national insurance, ‘the Prime Minister‘s national insurance policy’ and distance himself further from the office of number 10 after the slur against Kay Starmer, about Jimmy Savile

Question 26

Examples of cabinet dominance over Truss 2022?

Answer 26

Trust appeared to show some dominance and leadership by purging all Sunak‘s backers from the cabinet when she won the 2022 leadership contest

She was pressurised by a cabinet into maintaining a rise in pension, spending with inflation by Mordaunt and others in the cabinet

Prominent Cabinet members of the 1922, backbench committee essentially fast trust to accept hunt as her Chancellor after the mini budget disaster and she had to sack Kwasi Kwarteng they then pressurised her to resign less than a week later

Question 27

Cabinet dominance over Sunak, 2022/2023 examples?

Answer 27

Sunak looked. We compare to his cabinet when he refused to sack Zahawi over his tax in properties in 2023, until an investigation found serious breaches of the ministerial code, and Sunak was forced to sack him.

Sunak faced allegations of
Being weak, after he invited Suella Braverman back into the cabinet, just after she had resigned as a Home Secretary for breaking the ministerial code

Question 28

Why is the cabinet important and why is it not important?

Answer 28

The cabinet is not important:

lots of policy is made without too much import from the cabinet meetings are shorter

Sofa politics, excludes the cabinet

CMR Find the cabinet and reduces their ability to criticise their actions.

Prime minister has power of patronage, so can demote and promote MPs.

The Cabinet is important: some Cabinet members, dictate policy agendas, and are very powerful big beasts for example, Brown under Blair, Sunak on the Johnson, Braverman under Sunak.

cabinet dissent, can be the downfall of MPs e.g. trust, 20,22 and Theresa May has Davies and Chris Grayling left her cabinet over the Brexit deal

power of patronage is not always able to be used when the PM wishes, this can give the cabinet power. For example, Theresa May’s balance between leave and remainers

In emergencies, COBRA Will hold emergency sessions and decide how to respond. For example, 911 London, bombings Parliament attack 2017 and Covid 2020

Question 29

What is this question asking: Factors affecting the balance of power between the prime minister and Cabinet?

Answer 29

(is the prime minister, powerful or not in comparison to his Cabinet and what factors affect this power balance)

What are the main factors and does it lead to a presidential style leadership in government

If they aren’t powerful, what are the main factors leading to them Being a weak leader and relying on the cabinet?

A* distinguish between MPs power at the start and throughout their time in the office, e.g. they start off as powerful and by the end they are not

Question 30

Give Examples of powers of patronage affecting the prime minister’s power?

Answer 30

Power of patronage - the prime minister can insure appointment and promotion of loyal supporters, who shared their ideology at the same time, rivals and critics can be kept out of the cabinet.

The prime minister controls the political, careers, ensuring that both ministers and the majority of backbenches who may want to become ministers one day remain loyal and supportive of the government.

Thatcher consolidated her position after the 1983, general election by transforming a once dominated cabinet of wet, (one nations) to one which key economic posts were in the hand of the drys (her Thatcherites)

Camerons major reshuffle in July 2014, five ministers were sacked and further three were promoted or demoted

Johnson stopped Sajid Javid as chances of when he refused to get rid of his special advisors, and replaced him with Rishi Sunak.

Truss purged all Sunak supporters from the cabinet

Prime Minister is not powerful compared to the cabinet:

Prime Minister must be conscious of party unity when filling the cabinet. This means major fractions in the party must be represented.

Prime minister must try to ensure those with the most talent are in the cabinet if they want to be successful as they will be the ones who are responsible for formulating policy for the department.

Prime minister should attempt to seek descriptive representation, insuring positive representation of woman, minorities and LGBT queue community. Big beast are often included inside the cabinet as it’s better to buy them by CMR. Don’t have them on the outside as backbenchers criticising the government.

Question 31

Give Examples of ability to manage the cabinet affecting the prime minister’s power?

Answer 31

prime Minister has power over the government:

prime minister, will chair Cabinet meetings and manage Parliamentary agenda

PM is decide how often Cabinet meetings are called and how long they will last. They also decide on the number of Cabinet committees and ministerial groups and appoint their members.

CMR find those potentially wanting to criticise the government

2010 coalition involve lots of formal and informal meetings of the quad to discuss policy that was acceptable to both parties

Johnson allegedly made the majority of decisions about Covid with a quade of ministers, including deputy PM Dominic Raab, Matt Hancock, Rishi, Sunak, and Michael Gove

prime minister does not have power over the government:

The Cabinet will only support a popular prime minister

Cabinet resignations, particularly senior figures can damage political support for the prime minister as seen with Johnson in 2022 in regards to Sajid, Javid and Sunak resigning

Some issues must be discussed by the Cabinet are the prime minister. This risk embarrassing events of Cabinet ministers, breaking CMR

The coalition government held cabinet meetings, much more regularly once a week for around two hours

Question 32

Give Examples of leadership of the party affecting the prime minister’s power?

Answer 32

Prime minister has power over the cabinet:

Prime minister has considerable power as a leader of the majority party in the commons. The bigger the majority, the more powerful the prime minister is it therefor allows them to control parliament. The role of the whips are important here.
Blair experienced substantial backbencher rebellion but did not experience a single defeat from 1997 to 2005 as he had a majority of over 100

Party members recognise that the fortunes of the party is closely linked to the prime minister’s personal popularity. This works to discourage party divides And Publics criticism of the PM

Johnson was able to pass EU withdrawal despite many members of the same party, refusing to do so for T May. Many Conservative backbenches acknowledge Johnson‘s popularity after the 2019 election.

prime Minister and the cabinet, sit as MPs, which means they will also vote in favour of the legislation in parliament and are more likely to see backbenchers from their party to encourage their support.

Prime Minister is not powerful compared to cabinet:

prime Minister’s who are electoral liabilities are more damaging and therefore party loyalty will fade quicker
E.g. Johnson and his handling of the pandemic and eventually the Chris pincher scandal.
e.g. Truss and her mini budget.

Prime minister with small majority is often limited by the backbenches so must ensure party unity to get things done.
E.g. May try to please both leave and remain sides of her party and failed at both

Prime ministers can lose a vote of no confidence in parliament, tabled by the opposition

Prime Minister especially those who lack a mandate will face more opposition to the legislation in the Lords

coalition governments like the 2010 one faced heavy rebellion because it was difficult for two parties who are ideologically opposed to support the same set of policies

Question 33

Give examples of institutional support affecting the prime minister’s power?

Answer 33

prime Minister is powerful compared to cabinet:

Prime Minister office, which includes the Cabinet office has developed into the coordinating centre of the UK executive it is staffed by a mix of civil servants and special advisors, and its influence was extended under Blair

Johnson and his running of the Cabinet office had recently been on the fire during the privileges hearing of where the Johnson misled Parliament about party gate

The cabinet office and its resources means that the PM can work independently of the cabinet

player was the prime minister to give senior special advisors, control over civil servants

Cameron and Nick Clegg had over 107 special adviser supporting them in office

prime minister is the important compared to cabinet:

Special advisors can and have been very costly to Prime Minister’s popularity and political credibility,

Alastair Campbell was a liability for Blairs government in the end he resigned over a scandal regarding search is the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq

Timothy and Fiona Hill were joint chiefs of staff and they both resigned after recommending. They called snap elections which ended up with her, losing her majority in parliament in 2017.

Dominic Cummings had unparallel power as Johnson’s top adviser during the Brexit campaign and when in number 10 after breaking lockdown rules and facing several calls, including from Tory MPs to resign him and Lee Cain both announced they were leaving the government eventually causing more problems by Johnson with the media and electrot than solutions

Question 34

What are factors that affect a prime ministers power join the premiership?

Answer 34

Personal style of leadership - transactional means trying to balance party fractions against one another e.g. John Major and Theresa May

Transformational means those driven by ideology can try to inspire e.g. Thatcher, Blair, and Truss who attempted but failed.

MPs who have big personalities and can speak. Publicly with ease often do better and have more power. E.g. Blair and Cameron were effective public speakers because audience attention trust on the other hand was awkward and was unable to deal with the media that made it easy to criticise it.

The cabinet - Thatcher and the wets, who were not initially united and able to challenge her

blair faced little cabinet opposition until Iraq 2003

Mays lack of control of her divided cabinet after the snap, 2017 election reduced her power,

Johnson’s large majority in 2019 Allowed him to command more deference from his Cabinet.

The party and fractions -

Thatcher lost party support over Europe and her controversial poll-tax

Blair initial popularity, decrease massively after 2003, and he left office lacking significant power

*May I spent 2017 to 2019, trying to appeal to the various party fractions and she was an unsuccessful Prime Minister

Johnson, after Covid faced several rebellions after the party became dissatisfied with his handling of Covid and several scandals Partygate and Pincher

Truss never had a United party behind her, and when her budget crashed the economy in 2022, they became even more vocally critical of her

Sinai seen having to balance the wishes of the ERG by keeping Suella Braverman with his agenda, and has faced several rebellion since taking office

Size of majority (P1 link mandate)
- Thatcher and Blair both had significant majority that made them difficult to beat through rebellion. Blair did not experience defeat until 2005 in the commons

Cameron during the coalition had no majority, so was weakened by having to rely on support of his party, plus another party.

May experience frequent defeat in the comments and holds the record. For the worst overhead EU withdrawal agreement, 432- 202.

Johnsons 80 seat majority allowed him to face of several rebellions and gain a majority of support for his EU withdrawal agreement, 358-234 however, he face more frequent and damaging rebellions after his Covid handling.

Truss faced almost constant fears of rebellion as she what is it presided over a deeply divided party.

prime Minister, popularity (P1 link to opinion polls) - Thatchers unpopular policies made her unpopular leader, for example, poll-tax

Johnson’s popularity, especially with working-class voters, afforded him trust from his party to lead until Covid

trusses handling of the mini budget decrease to popularity and her inability to see the negative impact of the chaos caused by is problematic for too many in her party to continue to support even in a resignation speech was claim to still support. the idea is that the country was it ready for her ideological goals

Sunak‘s popularity has remained negative. Its lowest point at the start of 2023 was -29% with 3/5 having an unpopular opinion of him. Sunak‘s ability to sort the cost of living crisis may have a positive impact on his opinion poll ratings

Media (P1, link to media) -
media focuses heavily on leaders and effective media performers can use this to their advantage. Prime minister is now seek to manage their media. Aperients more less special advisors are often. Also Spin Doctors Prime Minister who don’t handle their media presence well then struggle at the next election.
E.g. brown famously labelled, a voter in Rochdale, a bigoted woman those who have more awkward personalities often made fun off by the media and as seen as not Prime Minister material and I called weak or an embarrassment e.g. May danced awkwardly with children on a state visit and on stage at the Tory party conference. In addition, trusses, awkward personality, Sean, 3 pm cues and in a press conference after she sacked Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor, where she refused to answer questions.

Sunak famously started talking to a homeless person in a shelter about finance and a future job, seemingly not reading the room about the man situation when he also posted a video without wearing a seatbelt and received FPN

Events - Thatcher Falklands was a positive event which increased popularity. However, the poll tax massively damaged her popularity and led to the downfall.

Blair invasion of Iraq, made him unpopular

Cameron’s decision to hold the EU referendum. This was due to party divisions and UKIP being a threat.

Mays Inability to get anything past, on Brexit

Johnson and the party gate scandal

Truss and her mini budget

Sunak and the cost of living

Question 35

Prime Minister case studies: Margaret Thatcher

What type of leader was she?
Important events and the impact?
strengths in office?
Weaknesses in office

Answer 35

She was a strong, authoritative leader. She cultivated a pristine image, highlighting labours failures. She had a voice coach, making her voice deeper. The Guardian wrote an article called the Margaret Thatcher look.

Falkland war, when Margaret Thatcher agreed to send military to Falkland, it resulted in British victory, making her look more credible and trustworthy to leader.
she also use the media to take pictures in factories to appeal to C2 voters, leading to C2 voters voting, 41% for both conservative and labour.

she had a significant majority in the House of Commons, making it difficult to defeat legislation through rebellion
in 1983, super move the wet switch with the one nations and put drys which were her natural rights

The poll tax was a tax on each person in a household, which was not a positive policy for many lower classes. This matter unpopular leader, and therefore she lost party support over Europe and the poll tax.

Question 36

Tony Blair
what type of leader was he?
important events and the impact? Strengths in office?
Weaknesses in office?

Answer 36

credible Prime Minister John Major as his party was divided he was also seen as charismatic leader ‘I lead my party he follows his’

The son wrote an article called give change a chance, boosting labour support, Conservative party was divided over pro-Europe, Eurosceptics making John Major seem on trustworthy as he couldn’t handle his own party. Where is Tony Blair was seen as young charismatic, fresh party, leader reform, traditional labour into new labour with less socialist values.

Blair had significant majority in the House of Commons, giving him a mandate and great legitimacy meaning less threat of rebellion blair faced little cabinet opposition except in 2003 over Iraq war.
He had no defeat from 19 90, 72,005, as he had a majority of 100 players

invasion of Iraq meant his popularity decreased, and therefore he left office due to facing a lot of backbench rebellion 

Question 37

David Cameron
what type of leader was he?
Important events and the impact? Strengths in office?
Weakness is an office?

Answer 37

he was young and charismatic and focused on new updated policies. Gordon Brown failed attempt at leadership scandal called Miss Duffy, a bigoted woman. He bailed out the banks which made the public not trust Him as a potential leader, David Cameron was a centrist Conservative allowing him to put forward manifesto that had some socialist news, increasing working class support these policies, including climate change, gay marriage being illegal

Him as a potential leader, David Cameron was a centrist Conservative allowing him to put forward manifesto that had some socialist news, increasing working class support these policies, including climate change, gay marriage being legal

Cameron’s Nick Clark, had 107 spads in the office, helping them. Cameron’s policy of gay marriage been legal and climate change where is success as they were some of the public Publix, concerns.

Cameron holding the EU referendum because of party divisions.
Cameron durin coalition had no majority, so had to rely on his and another party making him weak.
2010 coalition faced heavy rebellion because both parties had conflicting ideologies and policies.

Question 38

Theresa, May
What type of leader was she important events and their impact?
Strengths in office?
weaknesses in office?

Answer 38

she was awkward, not good public speaker lacked effective leadership and was not able to control her deeply divided party.

Mays premiership was dominated by Brexit and terrorist attacks on West Minister

Vote of no confidence triggered, no policies past for Brexit, May was awkward dancing,
May experience many defeats in the House of Commons and has the worst record for EU withdrawal agreement 432/202
MaysLack of control over party after 2017, snap election.

Question 39

Boris Johnson
what type of leader was he?
Important events and the impact?
strengths in office?
Weaknesses in office?

Answer 39

Boris Johnson Basinas, trustworthy as he was able to negotiate Brexit deal and get it through the second reading in a divided government showing Leave voters. He was a reliable Conservative leader

Brexit dominated the general election. It was the primal factor of the outcome, and dominated the polling station remainers where labour, SNP and liberal democrats leavers were mostly Conservatives

Conservatives won a 67% turnout and 80 seat majority Johnson popular with working-class voters allowed him to lead until Covid. The 80 seat majority allow him to defeat rebellion over the EU withdrawal agreement 358-234

Johnson and party gate scandal in lockdown
Frequent damaging rebellion after Covid party was satisfied. Boris Johnson and his Cabinet were under pressure during privileges committee hearing of where the Boris Johnson misled Parliament about party gate. Sajid Javid left Boris Johnson’s cabinet in 2022, and Sunak resigned, making him look weak.

Question 40

Liz Truss
what type of leader was she? Important events and their impact? Strength in office?
Weaknesses in office?

Answer 40

Showed poor leadership Uturned you tend many policies. She was not elected by the public, but by party leadership, she resigned later on.

cost of living crisis trusses 45p Top rate tax was u turned
trusses mini budget

had a United party as she kicked out Sunak supporters from her cabinet. However, after the budget crash, the economy in 2020 to the party was more critical of her

Truss was awkward at PM Qs and a conference after she sacked Kwasi Kwarteng
didn’t see the chaos she caused with the mini budget. Even after resignation, she backed the policies and blamed the country‘s economic state. Truss had a deeply divided Conservative government.

Question 41

Rishi Sunak
what type of leader was he ?
important events and the impact?
strengths in office?
Weaknesses in office?

Answer 41

Started talking to a homeless guy about finance and job showing he’s out of touch with the public situation. He was also fine for not wearing a seatbelt

Sunak and the increasing effect of the cost of living crisis on the public and Rebellion from unions e.g. nurses ambulance teachers

2019 exchequer for Boris Johnson’s cabinet became popular and respected due to successful economic policies like furlough scheme, and eat out to help out scheme Windsor framework deal and the Northern Ireland protocol was

not able to come up with a negotiation with the nurses on pay. Sunak had to balance the wishes of the ERG with his agenda and has faced rebellion. Since in office. He took Suella Braverman back in office to please to ERG as she’s a big beast, even though she broke ministerial code of conduct he was forced to sack Nadhim Zahawi over his tax in properties in 2023.