Responsibilites Flashcards
Define Cabinet Collective responsibility
Collective responsibility refers to the principle in the UK that all cabinet decisions must be collectively supported by all Cabinet members, at least in public and that they are all jointly responsible for the decisions.
How is the doctrine of collective responsibility modified under a coalition?
When there is no agreement between coalition partners, there’s an agreement to differ whereby ministers can express their own party’s views. E.g. in 2010 the new coalition agreed to differ on the issue of Trident renewal and the desirability of promoting nuclear energy - Lib Dems oppose development of new nuclear plants, while Conservatives see it as a key element in the battle against climate change.
What happens if a minister can’t submit to collective responsibility?
If a minister can’t accept a Cabinet decision and wants to publicly oppose it, they must resign, e.g. Robin Cook, Former Foreign Secretary, resigned in 2003 due to the decision to invade Iraq.
What does collective responsibility give the government?
Unity and stability
How can collective responsibility be criticised?
It stifles public debate and it’s difficult for Parliament and the media to understand how government reaches its decisions. If ministers aren’t prepared to debate government policy in public it becomes difficult to make them accountable for those decisions.
Define individual ministerial responsibility
Individual ministerial responsibility is a doctrine that suggests that every minister is individually responsible for all the activities of their department and their personal conduct. Responsibility means that they must be prepared to face criticism from Parliament, including its select committees and in extreme circumstances it’s expected that they should resign
Define role responsibility
If a minister is incompetent they will resign, for example, Estelle Morris, the Education Secretary, resigned in 2002 as she felt she hadn’t been as effective as she should have been in managing her department.
Define personal responsibility
Personal responsibility means that if their personal lives are deemed to undermine their credibility, they will resign e.g. Chris Huhne, the Environment Secretary, in 2012 due to allegations that this wife took points on her driving licence for him.
