Prime Minister and the Executive Flashcards
What is the difference between the executive and the core executive
The executive is another word for government
The core executive is the most important elements of the government i.e. Cabinet Ministers, senior civil servants and SPADs
What are the two mandates that are roles of the executive
What is its fiscal role
The mandate that stems from its manifesto
Its “doctors mandate” - policies in response to changing conditions i.e. COVID or the cost of living crisis
Proposing a budget - how money will be split up
Key powers of the executive
Able to freely introduce and likely pass legislation
Able to use statutory instruments to amend primary legislation
Control over the budget
Sources of power for a Prime Minister (theoretical and in reality)
Officially, the power comes from the monarch asking someone to form a head of state. This comes from the fact they are able to command a majority or working coalition in the HoC.
Do Prime Ministers have to win general elections? Do they have to be MPs?
No, 7 of the last 10 prime Ministers first became PM through a leadership contest. To avoid a constitutional crisis, they should be i.e. Alec Douglas-Home resigneed from the lords to fight a byelection
What powers does the Prime Minister have thanks to the royal prerogative - 6 points
Determines the makeup of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees (patronage)
Makes senior appointments to the civil service
Appoints Life Peers
Negotiates foreign policy
Is the commander-in-chief
Leads the government’s tone and policy
Who can the Cabinet be made up of
MPs and Lords i.e. Lord Frost served as Brexit secretary
What is each government department headed by? What are their roles and responsibilities?
A Cabinet Minister
Responsible for policy formulation and implementation within that department, as well as providing advice to the PM and adhering to CCR
Other members of thee executive involved in a government department
Junior Ministers and Parliamentary undersecretaries i.e. “bag carriers”, as well as senior civil service secretaries
Current Justice Secretary
Education Secretary
Home secretary
Dominic Raab (also DPM)
Gillian Keegan
Suella Braverman
What sets the Prime Minister apart at Cabinet meetings
Dictates agenda and has armrests on their chair
Sets the seating plan and takes a “sounding” (not a vote)
Roles of Cabinet w/ examples
Legitimises all government bills, often called a “rubber stamp” - any major piece of current legislation is an example
If controversial, can determine key issues i.e. May’s Cabinet was called to Chequers to determine the government policy on Brexit
Dictate order of parliamentary business according to political will and support i.e. Sunak hasn’t confirmed to a scheduling of the Bill of Rights
Can act as a last court of appeal in the case of a departmental dispute
What is a sofa government? Who coined the phrase and why.
Coined by Sir Robin Butler - chief of the civil service when Blair was in power. A sofa government is when decisions are made outside of Cabinet
What is Cabinet government? What is its opposite?
Cabinet government is when Cabinet plays a key role in the development of policy and fulfills its traditional roles
Its opposite is prime ministerial government - where the prime minister dominates decision-making
When considering whether Cabinet is influential or not - what three points should we weigh up?
Who makes large decisions and sets the tone of government?
Who is responsible for policy formulation?
How important is collective cabinet responsibility/ can it challenge the PM?
Who did Walter Bagehot point out be appointed to Cabinet as they are “better inside the tent than out”. Who does this satisfy and what does it achieve?
The “big beasts” of the party i.e. Sunak appointing Penny Mordaunt and Suella Braverman.
Keeps party unified as various groups have access to Cabinet, esp. important for Theresa May who included Johnson and David Davis to appease brexiteers
What was one of Theresa May’s aims when appointing her cabinet? How did she do this
Wanted a Cabinet that “looks like the country it serves”. Advanced the most women and ethnic minorities and sacked George Osborne to get rid of Cameron’s “chumocracy”
What is primes inter pares?
Primes inter pares - the prime minister as first amongst equals (in Cabinet). Once again set out by Bagehot
Who expanded Number 10 office into a “department in all but name”?
Some examples of advisors in this office
Tony Blair - made Johnathan Powell chief of staff and Alastair Campbell Communications director
Staff in Thatcher’s Number 10 office vs Blairs
90 vs 226 in 2005
How did Blair change the function of the Cabinet Office
Went from aiming to ensure collective decision making and effective policy to nearly 600 staff primarily serving the PM
How many SpAds did Blair have at the highest point?
Around 84
Famous recent SpAds
Allegra Strutton - had to resign after joking abiut Downing Street party
Dominic Cummings - Johnson’s “chief adviser”
Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy - May’s “unelected DPMs” - argued with the Chancellor over the budget and wrote letters critical of Ministers. Forced to resign by the party
Why did Sajid Javid quit as a Minister under Johnson
The PM, who approves all SpAds, was going to replace Javid’s SpAds with his own - increasing the PM’s influence
Is the Prime Minister too powerful - 3 points to discuss
All this depends on??
Powers of patronage + controls Cabinet
Leader of the HoC - can get legislation through + more control over policy formulation
Increasingly presidential/ smart PMs are gaining more and more power - use of uncodified constitution
All this depends on unity, size of majority and personal mandate i.e. May vs Johnson ++ elastic band theory
LSE Professor George Jones’ theory on Prime Minister power?
Elastic band theory - PM power can only go so far before springing back.
Who famously argued increasingly presidential PMs were using spatial leadership - what is this
Michael Foley
Setting themselves apart from their party to build a personal brand and secure a personal mandate
Are PMs becoming increasingly presidential - discuss w/ 3 points
Election campaigns - debates, advertising
Populist outreach, public appeals and policy branding - focus on foreign affairs??
Sofa government,, expansion of the Cabinet Office
Examples of when the PM’s powers of patronage and control over Cabinet was too powerful
What does patronage and sidelining the Cabinet depend on - any examples?
Can theoretically use appointments and reshuffles to reward loyalty i.e. Truss and Kwarteng, Sunak promoting John Glen from PPS to Jr Minister
Can also sideline Cabinet - started with Wilson’s Kitchen Cabinet - continued with Blair’s Sofa Government and Cameron’s the Quad
Must be reflective of the “big beasts of the jungle” to control groups i.e. Johnson with the ERG/ NRG and May w/ Brexit
Ultimately depends on party’s trust and majority - hence Blair was allowed due to massive success… reversed post-Iraq. May’s ambition policies pre and post 2017 election
The PM leads the HoC and uses SpAds to dominate policy formulation - examples
Is this actually true - 3 ways the PM can be challenged w/ examples
Famous SpAds and massive expansion of Cabinet Office mean have more control - see Sajid Javid’s resignation.. “unelected DPMs”
Combines with powers of patronage to make “voting fodder”
Select Committees can provide powerful scrutiny i.e. Liasion Comittee criticised Johnson
HoL are much less whipped - scrutinise any 2ndary legislation + propose amendments i.e. forcing May to eliminate a Hard Brexit and Police, Crime .. Bill
Accountable to party - 1922 Committee used to weaken May and challenge Johnson… faces rebellions… Truss over Fracking, Johnson over “draconian” lockdown
Examples of PMs becoming too powerful due to being more presidential and gaming the Constitution…
(foreign powers and ministerial code)
However
Repeal of the Fixed Term Parliament Act,, increases powers
PM has virtually no checks on military deployment - weak convention was never made into law as May showed in 2018, and Cameron did in Libya and Mali
PMs control ethics adviser and enforce the ministerial code i.e. Johnson changed Minsterial Code to remove Nolan principles. Both of Johnson’s ethics advisers quit after being, or fear of being ignored.
Mps were whipped to defend Owen Paterson… who was clearly in the wrong
Foreign intervention does not equal power - May clearly lacked power at home… Still a slight precedent and PMs are wary post-Iraq
Johnson did resign - depends on support of party. The pork pie plot and fined… lost all authority. Same with Truss who broke convention with the mini budget - no OBR oversight
“events, dear boy, events” - who said this and why. Recent example of this enhancing PM power.. link this to George Jones
Harold McMillan - how politics and PM power is shaped. Boris Johnson got unheard of power over civil liberties with Parliamentary support over COVID… and then lost it all over illegal parties. Shows the elastic band theory
All prime ministers are ………, only some prime ministers are ……….
preeminent - all PMs have existing, institutional powers and theoretical checks and balances
predominant - only some prime ministers can make full use of these powers
Examples of more presidential PMs during elections?
Does this actually mean anything?
Leadership debates - media overall focuses more on leaders i.e. Corbyn was demonised vs Johnson’s “brand”
Focus on clash of personalities i.e. Cameron’s focus on family over Cabinet
Use of spatial leadership i.e. Cameron distancing himself from the nasty party, May from the “chumocracy”
However, merely represents a style shift rather than actual, presidential power
Cameron still had to appease core voters
Did Johnson’s brand win the red wall- or his party’s “Get Brexit Done” slogan
When in power, how are PMs using their role to become more presidential
(policies + populism)
How can this backfire,, marks a return to….
Personal branding of policies and speeches add authority to the “personal mandate” of the PM
Increasingly populist tone… Cameron fought for gay marriage,, Blair put forward the case for Iraq to the public,, Johnson gave speeches about lockdown
Using their royal prerogative and international status to gain prestige i.e. Johnson spearheaded Ukraine intervention, not Truss
However, the personal mandate can quickly be eroded and lead to a return to preeminence.. Blair had to share more power with Cabinet post-Iraq
Johnson faced huge backlash over breaking laws, as well as nepotism when handling PPE “£9bn wasted”
Links back to elastic band theory
Presidential PMs are able to sideline the …, using SpAds instead
Can/ has this trend been reversed?
Massive expansion of gov. office since Blair … Cabinet to “quasi- prime ministerial office”
Huge roles and briefs for figures such as Blair, Cummings, Canzini - May’s “deputy prime ministers” .
Use of the quad, sofa government etc. Instead of primes inter pares
Public and party backlash against use - especially if the party is disunited or is close in polls i.e. unelected DPMs forced to resign post-2017, Cummings quit.
Also more independent i.e. Johnson’s head of polic unit quit over Jimmy Saville row - Cummings replaced with more respected Canzini… shows party has power.
Jeremy Hunt refused to move Cabinet roles under May,, was seen as the man in charge towards the end of Truss’ premiership
When did Thatcher reach the height of her powers - why
1982/83 - Nicknamed the “iron lady” and success in the Falklands w/ good economics indicators led her to a 144 seat majority.
Some of Thatcher’s achievements
Never lost a general election, restructured the economy as promised, dealt with Iranian Embassy Crisis, the Falklands and the Cold War relatively effectively
Some of Thatcher’s failures
3rd term onwards saw controversy with the poll tax, the Westland affair meant a more rebellious backbench
Which theory does Thatcher’s career track
Elastic band theory - Thatcher was initially predominant with a large majority and her personal brand behind policies - saw her sideline Cabinet and fill it with loyalists to start with
Then went to preeminent with poll tax, power moved back in tandem with Cabinet who eventually removed her
Who believed PMs were either preeminent or predominant?
Richard Hefferman
When was Blair most powerful
First term -179 majority and pushed through his major policy and achievements
Blair’s achievements?
HoL reform, devolution, increasing healthcare spending, min. wage, HRA CRA
Blairs failures - return to preeminence
Iraq - he became fixated on following America. Led to being forced out by Cabinet and much diminished political capital
Examples of Johnson’s powers and achievements
Secured a larger election victory to “get Brexit done” - which he did within 100 days.
Ukraine response seen as a way for him to boost his fortunes
What events marked Johnson’s return to preeminence
Supreme Court banned his use of the royal prerogative.
Mass resignation in July, no confidence vote, pork pie plot etc.
Refused to use preeminent powers against Chris Pincher or Owen Patterson
What is individual ministerial responsibility, what two categories does it fall into
If a Minister is incompetent, makes errors of judgement etc. they are obliged to resign
Role responsibility - policy/ departmental leadership
Personal responsibility - Ministers should obey the law, Parliamentary conventions and an “unwritten moral code”
Who writes the ministerial code
The Prime Minister
What did Boris Johnson not change about the Ministerial code - how does this show its weakness
Ethics minister still requires PM approval to start an investigation
Doesn’t believe it is the role of Parliament top question executive behaviour
The code is not legislated - nothing forcing him to resign if the Privilege Committee found that he broke it
2 examples of Ministers resigning for personal responsibility - why
Gavin Williamson - for bullying in 2022. First potential scandal for Sunak - who wanted to set himself apart from Johnson “not acceptable”
Matt Hancock - for breaching corona regulations. Came due to massive party and public pressure - but not from Johnson “the matter is closed”
Owen Paterson
2 examples of Ministers not resigning despite personal responsibility - why not
Priti Patel - a report found she had bullied numerous civil servants. Johnson dismissed the report - he liked her and so did voters
Sunak - was fined and hence broke rule of law
Boris Johnson - lied about not knowing Chris Pincher allegations and about lockdown parties - was then fined
2 examples of Ministers resigning for role responsibility - how are they an “air raid shelter”
Amber Rudd resigned following immense pressure due to the Windrush scandal - 2018. Seen as an air raid shelter for May who was HS when much of these policies were enstated i.e. “Hostile environment”
Lord Carrington - resigned following invasion of Falklands by Argentina
2 examples of ministers not resigning over role responsibility
1 who didn’t as he wasn’t aware of civil service actions
Gavin Williamson as Education secretary - botched exam results were “nothing to do with me” and he blamed OFQUAL - a next steps agency which confuses IMR as it is semi autonomous
Estelle Morris - Blair’s education secretary was not up to the job
David Maxwell Fyfe - didn’t resign during the Crichel0down affair, advised his junior minister not to. Wrote up the Maxwell-Fyfe guidelines for such matters
Under CCR, when should you resign
If you do not agree with a government policy, you should resign
2 examples of resignations under CCR
1 mass resignation
Johnson and David Davis resigned over May’s Brexit - both were critical while in Cabinet as well
Lord Frost resigned over Boris Johnson’s “direction of travel”
Mass resignation July 2022 over Johnson’s handling and conduct - over 50 members of governments resigned over 3 days
Has CCR been more or less respected recently - why
Less
Coalition government and divided parties have meant enforcement is weaker i.e. no CCR for the AV referendum or Brexit
Likewise Johnson followed it loosely under May i.e. criticising her plan to the Daily Mail
What does CCR entail in regards to Cabinet meetings
All details of the meeting be kept secret. This diminished greatly under May as opportunists sought to undermine her government
How many government ministers voted against whips in a vote regarding rejecting a no-deal Brexit
13
