The Executive Flashcards
How many defeats did Blair and Thatcher suffer?
4 each
How many times was Theresa May’s brexit deal defeated?
3 times
How many ministers resigned Johnson’s cabinet in 2022 in a day?
53
Example of minister informing and explaining to parliament
Alistair Darling in 2007 explained loss of computer disks with details of people claiming child benefits
Example of Ministers explaining themselves to parliament (2004)
In 2004, Geoff Hoon had to explain why a soldier died in Iraq after MoD didn’t give enough body armour
Example of ministers misleading Parliament
Boris Johnson over partygate
Example of ministers apologising for their actions
In 2024, Tom Pursglove apologised for disruption caused by passport e-gate failures and responded within 6 minutes
Example of ministers refusing to apologise
Steve Barclay refused to apologise 8 times after a report blamed the government for errors during COVID-19
Example of ministers resigning
In 2005, David Blunkett resigned after breaking ministerial code
Example of minister resigning (2017)
Michael Fallon was forced to quite after allegations of harassment of female journalists
Example of ministers not resigning when they should
Priti Patel found to be in breach of ministerial code for bullying and didn’t resign
Example of Minister not resigning (2020)
Gavin Williamson didn’t resign after A-level results scandal and head of Ofqual did instead
Example of Blair being limited by Brown
Brown denied Blair’s wish to take Britain into the European single currency
Example of Blair being effective
Peace in Northern Ireland and establishing NI assembly
Example of major being ineffective economically
Black Wednesday
Example of Major policy that gained him popularity
Replaced poll tax with council tax
How many women were in Cameron’s 1st cabinet
4
How many ethnic minorities in Sunak’s cabinet
4/23
Example of ministers having experience
Ben Wallace is Secretary of State for defence and was a former soldier
Example of loyalists being appointed to cabinet
Kwasi Kwarteng
Example of cabinet appointments for ideological balance
May appointed Johnson and Davis (Brexiteers) to her cabinet
Example of PMs appointing those who lost leadership race
Johnson appointed Gove, Hancock and Raab after winning leadership race
Example of PMs establishing authority over cabinet
Truss removed Raab, Patel and Dorries
Example of chancellor having experience
Jeremy Hunt has 9 years of cabinet experience
Example of ministers being inexperienced
Kwasi Kwarteng had less than 2 years of cabinet experience
Example of CMR (2003)
Robin Cook resigned over the Iraq War
Example of CMR (COVID)
Lord Frost resigned over COVID Plan-B Restrictions
Example of PM setting cabinet agenda
May prevented a vote within cabinet on the option of a ‘no deal’ Brexit
Example of personal popularity of a PM
Johnson very popular following 2019 election
Following partygate he lost trust and popularity
Example of Cabinet holding power
In 1990, Geoffrey Howe resigned, triggering Thatcher’s leadership challenge
Example of PMs valuing loyalty over expertise
Johnson sacked Julian Smith as NI Minister despite being very effective and popular and restoring NI assembly
What % of bills are tabled by the executive
77%
For how long did Blair not lose a commons vote?
8 years
Example of PMs popularity increasing
Thatcher following the Falklands war
Example of moving away from cabinet government
Increasing influence of SPADs - Dominic Cummings
Example of increased use of informal groups
The Quad - coalition government
How many Statutory Instruments were made on the pandemic
500
How many statutory instruments were made to give effect to Brexit
600
