section 7: The Prime Minister and the Excutive

Question 1

The formal power of patronage allows PM to control policy and events

Answer 1

Liz Truss’ firing of Kwasi Kwartang after disastrous 2022 Autumn Mini-budget

Question 2

Formal power of commander in chief of the armed forces allows PM to control policy and events

Answer 2

2003 - Tony Blair’s decision to sned troops into Iraq despite public pushback

Question 3

Collective Ministerial Responsibility creates a strong, united & decisive front for the government

Answer 3

2023 Immigration policy by Suella Braverman

Question 4

The media views the PM as a president and like head of state especially in times of crisis

Answer 4

Boris Johnson and daily briefings during COVID 19

Question 5

Cabinet ministers take the lead on government policy areas

Answer 5

BoJo - delegated economic responsibility to Rishi Sunak and ‘Eat Out to Help Out’
Rishi - Suella Braverman and Immigration Policy 2023

Question 6

The PM is not directly elected

Answer 6

voted as leader of the party not directly by electorate e.g. Liz Truss voted by 80000 conservative party members, out of 66 million UK population

Question 7

If a PM has a large mandate then more likely to be presidential

Answer 7

Johnson won 48 more seats in 2019 general election

Question 8

By convention, the PM cannot commit armed forces without parliamentary approval

Answer 8

David Cameron asking Parliament for approval for air raids in Syria 2013

Question 9

A unified cabinet has the ability to overrule the PM

Answer 9

David Cameron didn’t have unified support for ‘Remain’ 2016
Theresa May was overruled with Boris Johnson as foreign secretary despite being a ‘remainer’ to uphold democratic decision to leave the EU

Question 10

A unified cabinet can force a PM from office

Answer 10

Boris Johnson’s eventual resignation in July 2022 - influx of resignations e.g. Rishi and Sajid Javid after Chris Pincher story revealed

Question 11

Significance and amount of decisions made outside the cabinet has also increased

Answer 11

2010 Quad - David Cameron, Nick Clegg, George Osbourne and Danny Alexander similar to Tony Blair’s ‘sofa gov.’
Whatsapp messages during COVID 19 response leaked from Matt Hancock by Telegraph in March 2023

Question 12

Decisions made outside of cabinet are still made by cabinet members

Answer 12

David Cameron unable to legitimise decisions made in Quad without the cabinet

Question 13

Collective Ministerial Responsibility is no longer important as disagreements are often leaked to the media and commonly known

Answer 13

Matt Hancock’s leaked WhatsApp messages showed disagreement during covid e.g. ‘Eat out to help the virus get about’ BUT after had left office
Rishi Sunak’s suggestion of easing travel restrictions leaked to Sunday Times in Aug 2021 - strained Rishi and Boris relations - said by Kwasi Kwartang (current business secretary)

Question 14

Collective Ministerial Responsibility can force a PM from office

Answer 14

July 2022 - Boris Johnson
October 2022 - Liz Truss over Mini-budget

Question 15

Individual Ministerial Responsibility isn’t always followed

Answer 15

Partygate fines in 2022 for 2020 didn’t make PM or chancellor resign
Sunak fined in January 2023 for not wearing seatbelt by Leicestershire Police

Question 16

Collective Ministerial Responsibility can be suspended

Answer 16

Brexit vote in 2016
Same-sex marriage in 2013
3rd Runway at Heathrow in 2017
Under coalition suspended for various issues e.g. Replacement of Trident

Question 17

Cabinet ministers have a reduced time in office

Answer 17

Average length of tenure is 8 months since 2019 vs. 1974-2023 2.1 years