The executive examples:

Question 1

Examples of ministers disagreeing and not resigning

Answer 1

• 2018-2019- May senior advisers disagree- Chancellor Hammond and BREXIT secretary David Davis challenging each other over free movement.
• March 2019- 13 conservative frontbenchers did not vote for the ruling out of a no-deal Brexit despite three line whips.

Question 2

Examples of ministers resigning when they do not agree with government policy?

Answer 2

• Boris Johnson and David Davis resigning over Chequers agreement.
• Ian Duncan smith resigning over cuts to disability benefits and capital gains tax.

Question 3

Examples of ministers deflecting bad publicity

Answer 3

• 2020 Gavin Williamson blaming OFQUAL.
• 2020 Matt Hancock blaming public health England for covid.
• Theresa May did not resign over lapses in border control she said Broady Clarke a civil servant had acted beyond his guidelines.

Question 4

Examples of ministers taking responsibility when they are clearly at fault (severe issue)

Answer 4

• Amber Rudd in 2018 resigning as home secretary when she mislead MP’s about the removal of illegal immigrants.
• Priti Patel resign over unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials.

Question 5

Examples of the ministerial code merely being a ‘convention’

Answer 5

• 2020 Priti Patel bulling civil servants- Boris refused to sack her.
• Vince cable not sacked as business secretary despite telling undercover reports that he had declared war on Murdock over his bid to take over sky.

Question 6

Examples of the importance of flexibility in the code?

Answer 6

• Cameron suspending collective responsibility over EU membership- campaigning for either side.
• Coalition- suspended in certain areas because of party differences.
• 2016 May- decision to grant Heathrow an extra runway.