The PM and the cabinet

Question 1

E+A 3 prerogative powers of the PM

Answer 1

1. call an early general election,
   2001 or 2019
   this is normally done to enhance the chances of winning, as prime ministers often ‘go to the country’ when polls look
   favourable.
   You could also note that the FTPA has made this trickier but both May and Johnson managed to get around it and it is now dissolved.
2. award honours, not least life peerages. Examples could include recent peerages, such as Ian Botham and Jo Johnson
   done in a partisan way to boost the party’s strength in the Lords, but is also controversial as it is often linked to cronyism and corruption — cash for honours.
3. ministerial appointments, noting that all ministers are technically servants of the Crown, and this covers both Cabinet level posts, e.g. chancellor, as well as more junior ranks such as parliamentary private secretary (PPS)
   this gives power to prime ministers to promote favoured candidates and remove or sack less capable or less
   loyal individuals. But it should also be commented how prime ministers must be careful to retain both
   diversity (gender, ethnicity, etc.) and a spectrum of political views, such as Leave/Remain under May.

Question 2

E+A 3 factors that explain how pms select their cabinet

Answer 2

1. competence and qualities of individuals
   experience and ability, examples could include Howe from the Thatcher era and Brown from the Blair premiership (AO1). For competence often involves being a good media performer as well as being a competent administrator. On occasion,
   as with Hunt, a prime minister can find a cabinet minister too powerful to shift. The term ‘big beasts’ could be relevantly used here.
2. diversity, which extends to gender and ethnicity.
   several of Johnson’s key ministers are from ethnic miniority backgrounds, such as Patel and Sunak and Blairs Babes
   all modern cabinets have to appear representative of the nation. Long gone are the days when Thatcher could select an all-white male cabinet. The opposition and media would be
   quick to highlight any great gaps in representation. Note, though, that diversity is often much less evident
   in terms of educational background — private schools and Oxbridge still largely dominate most cabinet
   tables.
3. ideological balance from within the party,
   traditionally had to include leading figures from across the main factions of their party. Brownites and
   Blairites, ‘wets’ and ‘dries’ and Brexiteers and Remainers
   balance is crucial to keeping the party, and therefore the government, relatively united. Prime ministers who tend to favour only loyalists from the same wing of the party can easily find dissent and discontent building up on the backbenches, which can come back to haunt them, e.g. Thatcher.
   You could also note that balance does not necessarily translate into equal influence. Those from a different wing or outlook from that of the prime minister can often find themselves somewhat side-lined in decision-making.

Question 3

E+A 3 constraints on the power of the PM

Answer 3

1. constraints within the cabinet
   normally contain a range of views from within the party, such as Leave/Remain under May
   Most prime ministers are reluctant to forge ahead with a policy if there is considerable internal dissent or reservations within the cabinet itself
   ministerial resignations over policy (e.g. Cook and the Iraq War or Johnson as foreign secretary over Brexit) can seriously damage a prime minister’s standing.
   seek to achieve a consensus and retain the genuine support of their cabinet colleagues.
2. HOL
   all legislation must go through both chambers before receiving the royal assent, and that currently, unlike the Commons, no single party enjoys an overall majority in the Lords. F
   weak constraint on the prime minister due to the Parliament Act. The last prime minister who was effectively constrained by the Lords was Asquith and dlg pension bill. Explain that while the Lords can and do make amendments to government bills, e.g. Brexit, the prime minister and the government can easily ignore and overturn those it does not like by using its
   Commons majority.
   weakness of the Lords has led to some referring to the post of prime minister as an elective dictatorship, as there are few effective checks on a prime minister with a large Commons majority.
3. backbench rebellions, e.g. Brexit, Sunday trading or Syrian air strikes
   the most powerful constraints on a prime minister,
   especially if they only enjoy a small or non-existent commons majority.
   large-scale rebellions
   not only make a prime minister appear weak and unable to command total loyalty among their own party, but can even lead to the ignominy of a Commons defeat and a need to change direction and policy.
   However, you could also mention how some large rebellions (e.g. on same-sex marriage) do not necessarily lead to defeat if the measure is supported by some of the opposition parties.