the Prime Minister

Question 1

who was technically the first PM?

Answer 1

Robert Walpole (not a formal role)

Question 2

how was the role of PM created?

Answer 2

in 1992 the Ministerial Code established the duties and expectations of the PM and gov. ministers

Question 3

how is the PM chosen?

Answer 3

the PM is the leader of the majority party. the monarch invites that leader to form and lead the government. If there’s no party with an overall majority, the monarch must exercise some caution and abide by convention.

Question 4

what are ways a PM can leave office, with examples

Answer 4

-defeat in a general election (Callagan)
-leave on health grounds (e.g. Wilson in 1976)
-resign mid term (e.g. Cameron)
-vote of no confidence (e.g. Theresa May)

Question 5

what is the core executive made up of?

Answer 5

• the Prime Minister and cabinet
  -senior civil servants
  -cabinet committees
  -the cabinet office

Question 6

what are the arguments for the PM becoming more presidential/ involving the cabinet less?

Answer 6

-Blair + Thatcher are claimed to have bypassed full cabinet meetings
-growth in the use of SpAds at the expense of seeking advice from the civil service
-the development of social media has led to a growing focus on the personality and style of individuals rather than the wider cabinet
-increased media scrutiny has led to more PMs focusing on the popular media to take their message directly to the people

Question 7

what are the arguments against the PM becoming more presidential/ involving the cabinet less?

Answer 7

-there haven’t been any formal changes in the power of PMs, and the role isn’t defined by constitution (as it is in US)
-not all PMs followed a presidential approach (e.g. Major, May)
-traditional sources of advice are still used (e.g. Chris Witty, a civil servant, gave the most powerful advice during COVID
-image conscious PMs would want to present themseves as collaborative in the media (e.g. Johnson during COVID)