prime minister and executive Flashcards
what makes up the executive
- prime minister
- cabinet
- junior ministers
- civil servants
- executive agencies
who is the PM and what do they do
head of the executive who chairs the Cabinet, managed the agenda and appoints all ministers
what is the cabinet
group of senior ministers, all of whom run departments and meet once a week
- approve and coordinate policy and discuss issues regarding legislation
define cabinet ministers
heads of government departments
define junior minister
work under cabinet ministers in specific government departments
what do civil servants do
work alongside government to implement policy
- expected to remain permanent, neutral and anonymous
define executive agencies
semi-private companies carry out work for the government like DVLA for the department for transport
functions of the executive
- proposing legislation- bringing forward bills or amendments, seen in queens speech and in their manifesto, or doctors mandate
- proposing budget- chancellor present annual statement for governments taxation and spending
- making policy decisions- set legislative and policy direction
define doctors mandate
propose legislation for emergencies like terrorism
define collective ministerial responsibility
support cabinet decisions otherwise they leave the cabinet
- can express disagreement in private or leak stories to journalists instead of outwardly going against the government
- ensure united front
- discussion stay in cabinet
example of CMR
- Sajid Javid, Rishi Sunak and many others resigned in 2023 when they couldn’t support Johnson amidst allegations
- Robin achool in 2003 when he couldn’t support the government invading Iraq
define individual ministerial responsibility
responsible for their own devision and departments and are held accountable for their mistakes
- cannot knowingly mislead parliament
- expected to resign if there is any major misconduct
examples of IMR
- Matt Hancock in 2021 with affair and social distancing scandal
- Dominic Raab in 2023 after bullying allegations
- Amber Rudd in 2018 when she mislead parliament about there being no home office targets
factors affecting PM selection of ministers
- individuals with ability and experience
- loyal to PM
- rewarding loyalty and key allies
- conciliating with political rivals
- maintaining balance between different factions- representative
- meeting expectations of diversity- gender and race
- key figure in parliamentary party
exceptions to CMR
- when there are coalitions and conflict between ministers
- during referendums parties may be split
factors affecting fate of ministers
- how serious the issue is perceived to be
- level of criticism in parliament and media
- attitude of PM
what are the powers of the executive
- royal prerogative powers
- secondary legislation
- initiation of legislation
what are royal prerogative powers
powers normally exercised by the monarchy but now by the PM and the executive
- grant honours
- sign treaties
- declare war and authorise use of armed forces
- grant and withdraw passports
- appoint ministers
what is secondary legislation
law made without passing a new act of parliament, normally updates and ammendments
define statutory instruments
passing laws without parliament scrutinising
what is initiation of legislation
propose laws for majority of parliamentary time
- whipping system and majority allows government to put through bills
- guillotine or allocation of time limits time allowed for individual clauses
- programme motion- time allocated to individual stages
- can carry over uncompleted legislation to next session
factors affecting relationship between PM and cabinet
- management of PM- personality of PM as a leader
- PMs ability to set the agenda- choose what gets talked about and what is important
- informal groups to make decisions
- development of PMs office with cabinet office
- impact of wider political and economic image
elections during thatcher
1979- wins general election with 43 seats
1983- re-elected with 144 seat majority
1987- re-elected with 102 seat majority
1990- loses conservative leadership contest on 2nd round
key events in thatchers premiership
1982- falklands
1984- won rebate
1984-85- miners strike
1986- single european act signed
1990- poll tax riots
thatcher resignations
1986- Heseltine resigns after wanting to reaffirm strong statements that Thatcher opposed
1989- Lawson resigned following dispute on joining ERM
1990- Howe reigns after disagreeing over EU
key thatcher policies
- housing act 1980 allowed council tenants to purchase council house at a discounted price to increase house ownership
- privatisation of state run companies for greater competition
- 1986 deregulation of banks
- 1980 and 1982 employment act restricted powers of trade unions
- 1988 education reform act introduced national curriculum, SATs and league tables
- 1989 poll tax
examples of thatcher control
- prime ministerial government
- sizeable parliament majority on 1983
- strong domineering personality
- sacking and reshuffling colleagues who did not measure up
- strong leadership during Falklands
- reduced power of trade unions
- privatisation
- rebate
examples of lack of thatcher control
- did not feel confident to promote more like minded individuals at the beginning
- high profile resignations
- unpopular poll tax
- high unemployment
- lack of support from the North
- increasing North/ South divide
- opposition to Europe integration and caused party division
elections during major
1990- wins conservative leadership election with thatchers majority
1992- wins election with 21 seat majority
1995- resigns as conservative leader to run for reelection and wins
1997- loses general election
key events during majors premierships
1991- gulf war
1991- opt out from euro
1993- no confidence vote on maastricht treaty
1992- black wednesday
1993- irish self determination
key policies during major
- scrapped poll tax and introduced council tax
- education reform to allow wide access to to nurseries as well as league tables to monitor schools
- negotiations over irish self determination
examples of major control
- decisive and more laidback
- support from his predecessor
- short and successful Gulf war
- encouraged President George Bush St to enforce no fly zone over Iraqi
- removed poll tax
- downing street declaration
example of major lack of control
- responsive and forced into compromise
- performed poorly in opinion polls
- contrast to domineering prime ministers before and after him
- strengthened voice and power of eurosceptics
- small parliamentary majority after 1993
- major party division
- black wednesday
- sleazes
- media opposition
- lost parliamentary majority
example of sleazes during major
- cash for questions for Neil Hamilton and Tim Smith for Mohammad Al-Fayed
- matrix churchill illegally selling weapons to iraq and government tried to hide it
- 12 sex scandals
elections during blair
1997- 179 seat majority
2001- 167 seat majority
2005- 66 seat majority
key events during blair’s premiership
1997- ecclestone affair- exempting formula 1 from the ban of tobacco advertisement in exchange for £1 million
1997- good friday agreement for peace in NI
1998- human rights act signed
2001- 9/11 and afghanistan war
2003- iraq war
2005- london bombings
2007- cash for honours scandal- peerages in exchange for money
2007- resigns as PM
key policies during blair’s premiership
- making bank of england independent
- privatisation of air traffic control
- introduction of internal market in the NHS
- tuition fees for universities
- human rights act
- devolution to scotland and wales
- minimum wage
- good friday agreement
- Lord reform and removing most of hereditary peers
examples of blair control
- presidential branch of government
- charismatic, confident, optimistic
- appealed from centre ground
- landslide victories in 1997 and 2001
- passed many important laws like good friday agreement
- priorities a small circle of trusted allies- sofa government
- broad support from media
- helped organsie NATO forces to intervene in Kosovo conflict
- close relationship with George W Bush
examples of blair not in control
- lacked ambition to match his mandate with his large majority
- Clare short and mo mowland publicly criticised his style as he failed to use a cabinet and parliament
- could be seen as too close to Bush and commit too willingly to USA
- over 1 million in protest and 139 MPs revsiion against Iraq invasion
- cash for honours scandal
key events during browns premiership
2007- elected unopposed
2007- terror attacked in glasgow and london
2007- decides not to call snap election
207- global financial crisis
2008- government nationalised some banks
2009- G20 summit
2009- expenses scandal
2010- calls lady “bigoted woman”
2010- loses general election and resigns
key policies during browns
premiership
- lisbon treaty for more european integration
- constitutional reform and abolished Law Lords to replace with supreme court
examples of brown control
- elected unopposed as blair’s replacement
- experience from being chancellor
- calm and understated response against Glasgow and London terror attucks
- tried to restore faith in voters
- used cabinet more
- helped to “save the banks”
examples of brown lack of control
- lack of public and party support
- chaotic and weak
- did not call a snap election due to poor
opinion polls - lisbon treaty without referendum
- backtrack of 10p tac and extension of detention period for terrorist suspects
- expenses scandal
- Lib Dem’s rejected government positions from him
- lacked charisma and media personality
- Murdoch media empire switched
- global and country recession
- only 29% of vote in general election
key events during cameron’s premiership
2010- forms coalition with lib dem’s
2011- wins AV referendum (vote no)
2012- Conservative rebellion where 91 MPs went against, however Cameron encouraged
2014- won Scottish Independence referendum (vote no)
2015- wins general election (12 seat)
2016- UK votes to leave EU and resigns
key policies during Cameron’s premiership
2010- tution fees tripled
2011- fixed parliament act which stopped Lib Dem’s early dissolution
2013- same sex marriage
which of the prerogative powers were suspended due to Cameron in coalition
- couldn’t select and fire Lib Dem ministers without Clegg (5 of them)
- can’t call early election
- couldn’t pursue pure conservative policy agenda
examples of cameron control
- calm and orderly working environment
- efficient in dispatching government business and chairing meetings
- modernised image
- managerial approach with coalition
- “quad” of Cameron, Clegg, Osborne and Alexander
- chaired or appointee chairs if 2/3 of cabinet committees
- won two referendums
- close relationship with chancellor
- increase in minimum wage
- blocked EU wide treaty to rescue euro and secured real terms cut in European budget
examples of cameron lack of control
- coalition for 5 years
- suspension of prerogative powers
- largest parliamentary rebellion in 2012 with elected House of Lords
- £163 billion budget deification- austerity policies lacked vision and control like bedroom tax which had backlash
- prisoner to right wing Eurosceptics
-Douglas Carswell and Mark Reckless left and went to UKIP - suspended CMR during referendums
key events during May’s premiership
2016- becomes PM after winning leadership contest
2017- lancaster house speech on her initial plan for Brexit deal
2017- snap election and loses majority so makes confidence and supply deal with DUP
2017- Grenfell tower
2018- high profile resignation including Brexit secretaries
2019- wins no confidence vote
2019- brexit agreement defeated 3x
2019- resigns as PM
key policies during May’s premiership
- social care plan which expected elderly to pay full cost of care is their assets totalled £23k
- 10 year NHS plan which allowed for 3.4% annual increase in funding and higher priority for mental health and maternity care
- expansion of grammar schools
- curbs on energy bills for low income households
- requirement for firms to publish difference between CEO and worker pay
examples of control May
- well qualified as she was Home Secretary for 6 years
- able, serious minded, hardworking
- 9 of her predecessors ministers were sacked or resigned
- business like approach
- created department for exiting EU and for international trade
- won no confidence vote in 2019
examples of lack of control May in general
- stubbornness and lack of flexibility to negotiate
- appointed senior figures from both sides which caused party division
- trusted very few people and poor relationship with Chancellor
- trusted Nick Timothy and Fiona Hills who later became her scapegoats
- minority government
- “maybot”
- poor social care plan which was u turned
- record number of resignations at the time - 51
- poor handling of Grenfell
- conflicting signals on climate change- abolished the department
examples of lack of control May Brexit specific
- 2 brexit secretaries David David and Dominic Raab resigned
- criticised for “soft brexit”
- agreed to £39 billion exit payment
- withdrawal agreement defeated 3 times
- Farage’s Brexit party took 29 out of UKs 73 seats in Brussels parliament
key events during Johnson’s premiership
2019- becomes PM
2019- supreme court rules proroguing as unlawful
2019- wins general elections (80 seat)
2020- leave EU
2020- start of covid and lockdown
2020- Johnson hospitalised
2021- Taliban invade afghanistan
2021- partygate scandal
2022- russia invaded ukraine
2022- 39 minister resignations like sunak and resignation of PM
key policies during johnson’s premiership
- EU bill
- proroguing parliament
- levelling up policy to improve opportunities across the UK
examples of control johnson
- effective communicator, charismatic, optimistic
- only had people in cabinet who were loyal to him
- chaired 11 committees and key allies chaired the rest
- quick response to Covid- fastest vaccine roll out in the world
- dominated G7 summit meetings and was one of the first to help Ukraine
- 80 seat majority to push through brexit
how did Cummings have too much power
- had lots of influence on government and policies
- made decisions without Johnson’s knowledge
- Cummings wanted to control special advisors around Jarvid if he became chancellor
- caught in Durham during lockdown
examples of lack of control Johnson
- withdrew whip from 21 rebels like Phillip Hammond against leaving EU without a deal
- erosion of IMR like with education secretary Gavin Williamson
- lost political capital but staying loyal to people like Chris Pincher
- UK civil service tweeted “arrogant and offensive. Can you imagine having to work with these truth twisters?”
- no control to get British people out of Afghanistan
- 39 minister resignations like from Sunak and Javid
- losing many by elections towards the end
key events in Truss’ premiership
sept 2022- becomes PM
sept 2022- death of Queen Elizabeth
sept 2022- mini budget
oct 2022- Conservative party conference
oct 2022- Kwarteng sacked
oct 2022- fracking vote
oct 2022- resigns as PM
key policies in Truss’ premiership
- energy price guarantee and promised support to businesses struggling with bills
- mini budget- huge tax cuts which were the biggest in 50 years, OBR had no say, value of pound fee, cost of government borrowing went up
- u-turn on abolition of 45p tax top rate
- oppose ban on fracking
examples of power Truss
- puts close allies into power so they work well together
examples of lack of power Truss
- alienated some MPs by only trusting allies
- mini budget
- did not confer with OBR
- criticism on economic policies
- sacks her chancellor
- new chancellor Hunt openly disagrees with her economic policies
- unsure if fracking vote was a confidence vote or not, leading to resignations like Chief Whip Wendy Morton
- shortest serving PM of 44 days
key policies in Sunak’s premiership
- rwanda bill (scrapped)
- victims and prisoners bill- stricter in law and order
- smoking ban by increasing the age at which you can buy them until they are completely illegal
- maths compulsory up to 18 and the proposition of advanced british standard qualification
- scrap northern leg of HS2
- windsor framework- NI trading agreement
sunak examples of power
- bringing cameron back
- helped the country economically by halving inflation
- credible work as chancellor like furlough scheme and eat out to help out
sunak examples of lack of power
- HoL defeat in safety of rwanda bill
- party faction division, especially on how harsh the Rwanda bill should be
-not performing well in opinion polls, losing many by election - lost general election to a labour landslide
key events in Sunak premiership
oct 2022- becomes PM
oct 2023- hamas attack on israel
nov 2023- supreme court rules rwanda bill as unlawful
jul 2024- lost general election
starmer key policies
- scrapped rwanda bill
- inheritance tax on farms
- increased NI contribution for companies- although not taxing individual it still has knock on effect
- increase 2% stamp duty for additional properties
examples of power starmer
- most diverse cabinet- first female chancellor and deputy PM, most number of state educated and female cabinet
- labour landslide with 158 seat majority
starmer key events
- july 2024- won general election with 158 seat majority
- oct 2024- largest tax raising budget
starmer examples of lack of power
- scrapped green energy contribution
- largest tax raising budget
- public discontent with budget
