PM’s Ability To Dictate Policy

Question 1

Thatcher/the poll tax - why was it a misjudgment?

Answer 1

• unpopular in Scotland; didn’t waver.
• riots in London/elsewhere March 1990; 100 injuries/400 arrests.
• difficult to collect bc ppl can easily move/disappear; high rates of evasion.
• parodied in parts of the media.
• internal opposition; former cabinet minister sparked leadership challenge; failed to win sufficient votes in first ballot -> stepped down to avoid defeat.
• economy weakening.

Question 2

How did the poll tax influence Thatcher’s premiership?

Answer 2

• personally associated; no one else to blame.
• highlighted growing concerns of inability to listen eg loyal backbencher Ralph Howell sought to raise issue on behalf of constituents; Thatcher’s adviser said it would be a ‘waste of time’.

Question 3

Why did Blair make the decision to invade Iraq in 2003?

Answer 3

• largely to cement strong personal relationship with Bush.
• no pressure from cabinet, wider party, public; no sense that national security was threatened.

Question 4

Why has Blair been criticised of the decision to invade Iraq?

Answer 4

• series of official reports after war were highly critical of gov actions; transpired that even though cabinet briefed many times on situation in Iraq, ministers were denied access to key papers.
• informal sofa gov meant there was little informed collective discussion/decision-making; Blair disregarded security warnings/criticism that war hadn’t been fully evaluated; no WMDs found.
• resignation of high-profile cabinet minister Robin Cook served to weaken position further/publicly; suicide of gov scientist Dr David Kelly.
• legacy of unsuccessful military venture.

Question 5

Why did May made the decision to call an early election in 2017?

Answer 5

• unelected leader -> wanted personal endorsement from voters; may have been influenced by example of Brown, who didn’t call early election after taking over.
• was convinced that she needed own mandate to push through Brexit; wanted increased majority to neutralise threat.
• opinion polls prior to one being called looked favourable; indicated 20% lead for Tories.

Question 6

Why did May’s gamble fail?

Answer 6

• lost seats to Labour in England; needed up 8 seats short of overall majority.
• manifesto flopped; one of centrepiece policies dubbed dementia tax; attempt to backtrack undermined portrayal of strong/stable leadership.
• weak public campaigner; further flaw - analysis by The Guardian found PM spent more than half campaign in Labour-held seats; over-confident/not defensive enough.
• May relied too much to small groups of advisers/not wider sections of party.

Question 7

How do the three cases compare?

Answer 7

Similarities:
- each involved decisions taken directly by/personally associated with individual PM.
- each appeared rational/logical at outset.
- each represented a gamble; none had to be undertaken, though the Tories had promised to reform domestic rates.
- PM failed in preliminary stages to consult widely.
- each ended in failure/highly contributed to each leader’s resignation.
Differences:
- poll tax more a conviction policy, while 2017 election was determined by more political/electoral considerations; Iraq resulted from pressure overseas.
- poll tax came at tale end of premiership, Iraq mid-way, election at beginning.
- poll tax involved breaches of public order, riots, violent protests; Iraq claimed lives of significant number of British service(wo)men.
- election was more a direct test of PM’s abilities as political campaigner.
- Iraq War didn’t immediately end Blair premiership; won 2005 election, though majority did fall.