The PM and Cabinet Flashcards
Cabinet collective responsibility
Cabinet members must support the work of cabinet and not undermine it. if they disagree they have to resign.
Cabinet collective responsibility example
Robin Cook.
Resigned over the handling of the Iraq war in 2005.
The PM. Main roles.
Leading the government.
Selecting the cabinet and all junior govt posts.
Being the dominant figure in the cabinet.
Representing the country abroad through G7 summits.
Being party leader.
being defender and explainer of government policy.
Chairing cabinet meetings.
Heading the civil service.
being the Monarch’s first minister and Primus inter praries within the cabinet.
Primus iner Pares
First amongst equals within the cabinet.
Core executive
The collective term for the key players in policy making. Includes the PM, cabinet and its various committees, cabinet office and senior civil servants.
Cabinet committees
Groups of ministers that take collective decisions, many of them routine.
The composition are decided by the prime minister.
Decisions are as binding as if they were made by the rest of the cabinet.
There was a significant reduction of the main committees in 2017. Four of them became chaired by PM.
National security council
The forum for main discussion and consideration of government objectives for national security. Not the same as the emergency council called COBRA.
European Union exit and trade committee
Oversees the UK’s relationship with the EU.
Covid 19 strategy committee
Oversees the government’s response to the pandemic and plots the direction for the recovery strategy.
The Prime Minister as a player in policy
Most prime ministers enter Number 10 with a clear policy conviction.
Often have a stapling like Camerons ‘Big Society’.
They have a hugely significant role in the executive and have control over policy direction. With a working majority they are able to control parliament.
The Cabinet’s role in policy making
Normally discuss and debate policy initiatives and rubber stamp them. When there are disputes these are resolved at cabinet meetings. Considerable power. More powerful depending on the level of division the party. Weaker the PM, the stronger the cabinet. Much of Brexit negotiations were done in cabinet.
Senior civil servants role in policy making
Offer advice and guidance to government. Crucial to the actual delivery of policy. Inflence ministers by ‘Speaking truth unto power’. In early 2022 Head of the Civil service and cabinet secretary was Simon Case. Unbiased and their objective position delivers the best result. Provide experience in legislating. Increase share of responsibility.
SpAd role in policy making.
party political figures hand picked by the prime minister. Temporary civil servants- not required to offer advice. Normally replaced by an incoming PM. There were 113 advisors in March 2021. Have assumed more power over recent years- Dominic Cummings and Tony Blair. Frequently seen as having the ear of the Prime Minister. Be controversial figures.
The relationship between PM and Cabinet
The Relationship should be Harmonious and Fruitful because the cabinet is selected by the Prime Minister. The PM and Cabinet are usually from the same party.
This is often not the case due to factions and different interests arising.
Most parties contain ‘big beast’ politics who cannot be left out of the cabinet- Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt and Michale Gove.
Factions often then form around these indivduals- ‘Blairites’.
Each minister is also lobbying for departmental resources.
Individual (Ministerial) responsibility
The notion that each Minister is responsible for the actions of their departments.
Involves answering questions in the commons.
Should resign if responsible.
If broken the ministerial code the member should resign. Even the PM has been accused of breaking the ministerial code (BJ in 2022).
Priti Patel also broke the Law when she held secret meetings with Israel during May’s administration.
minister should resign over departmental failings.
Cabinet collective responsibility
The convention that all ministers and not just those in the cabinet are bound by govt politics. A minister that cannot support govt policy must resign. Free votes are not bound by the convention. By leaking documents to the press and speaking off the record some ministers breach collective responsibility. Robin Cook- Iraq war.
Resignation of Sir Thomas Dugdale
In 1954 he resigned as minister for agriculture to accept individual responsibility. Serious failings were made by civil servants over the compulsory purchase of farmland. While having no involvement he resigned to take full responsibility for failing to know and deal with what took place.
Ian Duncan Smith’s resignation
Work and pensions secretary in 2016 resigned to take collective ministerial responsibility. This is because he felt that cuts to disability benefits were a step to far.
Why else to ministers resign or loose office?
-Removed to make way for fresh faces
- Seen as underperforming
- Poor health. (James Brokenshire as NI secretary).
- Personal scandal- Matt Hancock
Poll tax case study Context
After a manifesto pledge to reform local taxation approaches and frustration over labour councils spending lots of money which wasnt being passed along in rates. The poll tax was a regressive flat tax payed to all residents. This first trialled in Scotland but proved difficult to implement. Criticism over Thatchers style was brewing.
Poll Tax case study- outcome
Strong hostility with many refusing to pay.
Mass protests with violence.
The policy was scrapped after Thatcher’s resignation.
Relationships between Govt and Parliament- Theory
Should be checked and answerable to parliament. Govt should be able to get business through due to the limited power of the Lords and power of Whips.
Relationships between Govt and Parliament- Reality
Most effective scrutiny comes from committee.
Theatre of Punch and Judy politics and party loyalty often overrides the effective functioning of the executive.
Ministers more likely will resign over personal failings rather than policy positions.
Rebellion of backbenchers means that the govt doesn’t always have a smooth ride through the commons.
