The Executive

Question 1

How many defeats did Blair and Thatcher suffer?

Answer 1

4 each

Question 2

How many times was Theresa May’s brexit deal defeated?

Answer 2

3 times

Question 3

How many ministers resigned Johnson’s cabinet in 2022 in a day?

Answer 3

53

Question 4

Example of minister informing and explaining to parliament

Answer 4

Alistair Darling in 2007 explained loss of computer disks with details of people claiming child benefits

Question 5

Example of Ministers explaining themselves to parliament (2004)

Answer 5

In 2004, Geoff Hoon had to explain why a soldier died in Iraq after MoD didn’t give enough body armour

Question 6

Example of ministers misleading Parliament

Answer 6

Boris Johnson over partygate

Question 7

Example of ministers apologising for their actions

Answer 7

In 2024, Tom Pursglove apologised for disruption caused by passport e-gate failures and responded within 6 minutes

Question 8

Example of ministers refusing to apologise

Answer 8

Steve Barclay refused to apologise 8 times after a report blamed the government for errors during COVID-19

Question 9

Example of ministers resigning

Answer 9

In 2005, David Blunkett resigned after breaking ministerial code

Question 10

Example of minister resigning (2017)

Answer 10

Michael Fallon was forced to quite after allegations of harassment of female journalists

Question 11

Example of ministers not resigning when they should

Answer 11

Priti Patel found to be in breach of ministerial code for bullying and didn’t resign

Question 12

Example of Minister not resigning (2020)

Answer 12

Gavin Williamson didn’t resign after A-level results scandal and head of Ofqual did instead

Question 13

Example of Blair being limited by Brown

Answer 13

Brown denied Blair’s wish to take Britain into the European single currency

Question 14

Example of Blair being effective

Answer 14

Peace in Northern Ireland and establishing NI assembly

Question 15

Example of major being ineffective economically

Answer 15

Black Wednesday

Question 16

Example of Major policy that gained him popularity

Answer 16

Replaced poll tax with council tax

Question 17

How many women were in Cameron’s 1st cabinet

Answer 17

4

Question 18

How many ethnic minorities in Sunak’s cabinet

Answer 18

4/23

Question 19

Example of ministers having experience

Answer 19

Ben Wallace is Secretary of State for defence and was a former soldier

Question 20

Example of loyalists being appointed to cabinet

Answer 20

Kwasi Kwarteng

Question 21

Example of cabinet appointments for ideological balance

Answer 21

May appointed Johnson and Davis (Brexiteers) to her cabinet

Question 22

Example of PMs appointing those who lost leadership race

Answer 22

Johnson appointed Gove, Hancock and Raab after winning leadership race

Question 23

Example of PMs establishing authority over cabinet

Answer 23

Truss removed Raab, Patel and Dorries

Question 24

Example of chancellor having experience

Answer 24

Jeremy Hunt has 9 years of cabinet experience

Question 25

Example of ministers being inexperienced

Answer 25

Kwasi Kwarteng had less than 2 years of cabinet experience

Question 26

Example of CMR (2003)

Answer 26

Robin Cook resigned over the Iraq War

Question 27

Example of CMR (COVID)

Answer 27

Lord Frost resigned over COVID Plan-B Restrictions

Question 28

Example of PM setting cabinet agenda

Answer 28

May prevented a vote within cabinet on the option of a ‘no deal’ Brexit

Question 29

Example of personal popularity of a PM

Answer 29

Johnson very popular following 2019 election Following partygate he lost trust and popularity

Question 30

Example of Cabinet holding power

Answer 30

In 1990, Geoffrey Howe resigned, triggering Thatcher’s leadership challenge

Question 31

Example of PMs valuing loyalty over expertise

Answer 31

Johnson sacked Julian Smith as NI Minister despite being very effective and popular and restoring NI assembly

Question 32

What % of bills are tabled by the executive

Answer 32

77%

Question 33

For how long did Blair not lose a commons vote?

Answer 33

8 years

Question 34

Example of PMs popularity increasing

Answer 34

Thatcher following the Falklands war

Question 35

Example of moving away from cabinet government

Answer 35

Increasing influence of SPADs - Dominic Cummings

Question 36

Example of increased use of informal groups

Answer 36

The Quad - coalition government

Question 37

How many Statutory Instruments were made on the pandemic

Answer 37

500

Question 38

How many statutory instruments were made to give effect to Brexit

Answer 38

600