The PM And The Executive- Prime Ministerial Profiles

Question 1

When was Margaret Thatcher in office ?

Answer 1

1997-1990

Question 2

Margaret Thatcher
Majorities

Answer 2

1979: 43,
1983: 144
1987: 102

Question 3

Margaret Thatcher

Description of political stance:

Answer 3

neo-liberal and neo-conservative

Question 4

Margaret Thatcher

Circumstances that increased her power:

Answer 4

+ Decisive parliamentary majorities.
+ Good image in a high proportion of the press.
+ Good public image among the middle classes.
+ Reputation for strength in foreign policy.
+ Respected by foreign leaders.
+ After 1983, led an ideologically united party.
+ Hailed a national hero following the success of the war to liberate
the Falkland Islands from Argentinian occupation.
+ There was an economic boom in the mid-1980s.
+ Strongly backed by cabinet atter 1983.

Question 5

Margaret Thatcher

Circumstances that limited her power:

Answer 5

+ Poor public image among the working classes.
+ Liberal and left-wing media criticised her heavily.
+ Obstinacy in pushing the unpopular poll tax policy led to her
downfall.
* In her latter years the economic situation began to deteriorate.
+ A small moderate group in the party opposed her implacably.

Question 6

Margaret Thatcher

Circumstances of her downfall:

Answer 6

Thatcher refused to drop her support for the introduction of an unpopular form of local taxation known as the poll tax.
When it was feared that the party would be defeated at the 1992 general election, a leadership challenge was mounted and Thatcher was replaced by John Major in 1990.

Question 7

Tony Blair
In office in?

Answer 7

1997-2007

Question 8

Tony Blair
Majorities

Answer 8

1997: 179
2001: 167
2005: 66

Question 9

Tony Blair

Description of political stance

Answer 9

moderate social democrat
(Third Way or New Labour)

Question 10

Tony Blair

Circumstances that increased his power:

Answer 10

+ Decisive parliamentary majorities.
+ Good image in a high proportion of the press up to 2003.
+ Charismatic public image among both the working and middle classes until 2003.
+ Positive image abroad until the Iraq War in 2003.
+ There was an economic boom in the later 1990s.
+ Respected by toreign leaders.
+ Led an ideologically united party.

Question 11

Tony Blair

Circumstances that limited his power:

Answer 11

+ Public image became tarnished in later years.
+ After 2003 faced strong opposition from the well-supported
Gordon Brown.
+ The Iraq War proved to be a disaster for his reputation.

Question 12

Tony Blair

circumstances of his downfall:

Answer 12

Blair’s reputation declined after the Iraq War. Increasing numbers of Labour members wanted to see Gordon Brown as their leader. Pressure built up as Brown became more popular. Blair resigned in 2007 in favour of Brown.

Question 13

David Cameron
In office in

Answer 13

2010-2016

Question 14

David Cameron

Majorities

Answer 14

2010: no majority
2015: 12

Question 15

David Cameron

Description of political stance:

Answer 15

socially liberal; New Right economic policy

Question 16

David Cameron

Circumstances that increased his power:

Answer 16

+ supported cabineties and comfortable in the media spotlight.

+ Few rivals in cabinet; enjoyed a close working relationship with chancellor George Osborne.

+ opposition Labour Party was weak and increasingly disunited.

Question 17

David Cameron

circumstances that limited his power:

Answer 17

+ Forced into coalition government in 2010. This severely reduced his control over government.

+ Won only a very narrow parliamentary majority in 2015.

+ constantly taced opposition from right-wing eurosceptics within
his own party.

+ Introduced a programme of severe and increasingly unpopular economic austerity.

Question 18

David Cameron

Circumstances of his downfall:

Answer 18

As a result of pressure from his own party and the rise of UKIP, Cameron was forced to promise a referendum on UK membership of the EU in 2016. When the outcome was to leave the EU after he had campaigned strongly to remain, he resigned.

Question 19

Boris Johnson
In office in

Answer 19

In office: 2019-2022

Question 20

Boris Johnson

Majorities

Answer 20

Majorities:
July-November 2019 no majority
December 2019: 80

Question 21

Boris Johnson

Circumstances that increased his power:

Answer 21

+ Gained a reputation for winning elections and referendums.
+ Won a personal mandate to ‘get Brexit done.
+ Had a loyal cabinet in first year in office.

Question 22

Boris Johnson

Circumstances that limited his power:

Answer 22

+Was seen as too reliant on close advisor Dominic Cummings.
The Covia-19 pandemic consumed the government’s agenda.
+ Criticised for several policy U-turns, including the provision of
free school meals during the summer holidays.
+ Divisions in the party have emerged over levels of public
spending.

Question 23

Boris Johnson

Circumstance of his downfall

Answer 23

• Accusations of unethical conduct and misuse of public funds.
• Declining public trust due to perceived mishandling of various issues, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit negotiations.
• Political infighting and loss of support within his own party, leading to calls for resignation or a vote of no confidence.
• Potential scandals or controversies involving personal behavior or professional decisions contributing to his downfall.