the prime minister and the cabinet Flashcards
The prime minister and the cabinet
What is a ‘sofa government’
informal decision making circle of primeminister and their advisers
The prime minister and the cabinet
Give an example of a sofa government
Tony Blair had a sofa government to discuss policy which included his chief of staff johnathan powell and his communications director alistair campbell
The prime minister and the cabinet
What is a cabinet government
When the prime minister has equal decision making powers to the other members of the cabinet
The prime minister and the cabinet
Give an example of a cabinet government
2010 - David Cameron ran a cabinet style governmnet due to coalition with Liberal-Democrats
individual and collective responsibility
Give an example of Liam Fox and his individual minsterial responsibility
2011 Liam Fox resign as defence secreetary after he brought someone to 18 foreign trips despite them having no relevence to the business
individual and collective responsibility
Give an example of an advanatge of individual ministerial responsibility
in 2017 Micheal fallon resigned as defense secretary after claims were made about his sexual conduct
individual and collective responsibility
Give an example of individual ministerial responsibility failing
In 2011 - Home secretary Theresa May refused to resign after allowing weaker border checks in the UK allowing foreign criminals and terrorist suspectcs to enter
- instead she blamed the UK head of border force Brodie clarke
individual and collective responsibility
What is collective ministerial responsibility?
If an individual minister publicly disagrees with cabinet decisions then they must resign from the government
individual and collective responsibility
Give an example of an MP resigning due to collective ministerial responsibility
In 2018 - Bojo resigned as foreign secretary after disagrreing with the governments ‘cheques deal’ when leaving the EU
individual and collective responsibility
what is an advantage of collective ministerial responsibility
Ensures that the government appears united and all in support of one another with clear policies
individual and collective responsibility
Give an example of sucessful collective ministerial responsibility
2013 - Lib Dems sided with Conservative ministers with rejecting a ‘mansion tax’ which they had previously supported - ensuring a strong coalition government
individual and collective responsibility
What is a disadvantage of collective ministerial responsibility
Ministers often have to defend policies which they do not agree with that can be forced upon them by the prime minister
individual and collective responsibility
Give an example of a disadvantage of collective ministerial responsibility
2003 - Tony Blairs cabinet were not asked if they approved of the invasion of Iraq until 3 days before the invasion where they felt forced to agree to war
individual and collective responsibility
What is a relaxed collective ministerial responsibility
When a PM wants to keep a politician on their cabinet but knows that they cannot support a particular issue
individual and collective responsibility
Give an example of relaxed collective ministerial responsibility
David Cameron relaxed collective ministerial responsibility during the EU referrendum - allowing ministers to campagn for or against leaving the EU
Power of the PM
Give an example of the PM using their PM power prior to 1997
1982 Margaret Thatcher and Falklands war - used her crown progative powers to bypass parliament approval regarding the response to argentina’s invasion of the falklands islands
She rejected Micheal foot (leader of the opposition) call for a vote by saying that it was the governments righ to act independently on matters of national security
The power of the PM
GIve an example of the PM using their power from 1997 to present
2003 - Tony Blair’s invasion of iraq used his crown progotive powers
Many people saw this as an abuse of this power
The power of the PM
How have the Powers of the PM been reduced in foreign policy?
In 2013 - David Cameron gave parliament more opportunity to limit the crown progative
in 2013 he wanted to send UK forced into syria but was rejected by the commons
Parliamenst holding the executive to account
What are ministers questions
Backbencher MP’s and Lord peers can question ministers on the activity of their department and make sure they know all of their departments work
Parliamenst holding the executive to account
Give an advantage of PMQ’s
Important way of parliament directly holding the executive accountable
Parliamenst holding the executive to account
Give a disadvantage of PMQ’s
Labelled ‘punch and judy’ politics due to it turning into an unruly shouting battle
Speaker John Bercow called PMQ’s a ‘shouting match every wednesday lunchtime’
Parliament and executive: Committees
Give 2 advantages of select committees scrutinising the government
- can question ministers in more detail than question time
- can publish reports which ministers must respond to in 60 days
Parliament and executive: Committees
Give an example of a select commitee report which must be responded to in 60 days
2023 Public accounts committe - report on NHS backlogs and waiting times
called on governments failing to reduce waiting times
Parliament and executive: Voting
Give an example of sucessful backbench rebellion in the commons
Voted against the government with a 309-305 vote with 12 conservatives going against their own party in favour of giving parliament a vote on the final deal of brexit
Parliament and executive: Voting
Give an example of how HOL vote can scrutinise the executive
By voting against passing legislation
in 2016-2017 the Lords defeated 38 pieces of legislation
Parliament and executive: Voting
What are 3 reasons parliamentary votes are ineffective
- back bench rebellions are rare due to 3 line whips
- large majority makes it difficult for government to be voted against
- lords can only delay bills and propose amendments and the government can veto any delays
Parliament and executive: Voting
Give an example of a sucessful vote of no confidence
PM James Callaghan called a vonc in 1979 which made him resign and call a general election which he lost
Parliament and executive: Voting
Give an example of a VONC restoring government authority
John Major called a VONC in 1993 bc MP’s were opposed to his governments support for the macchstrict treaty
Executive holding more power than parliament
What is an elective dictatorship
Where the executive dominates the legislature
mainly when the government has a large majority in the commons
Balance of power
What did the wrights committee in 2009 grant
further power to select
committees:
reduce number of committees
give MP’s more voting power on the chairs of committees
Balance of power
Give an example of a select committee from the 2009 reforms
the backbench business committee
Balance of power
Give an example of the government consulting parliament before military action
Sought parliaments approval in sending UK forces to Syria in 2013
Balance of power
Give an example of the government not consulting parliament before military action
2018 - Theresa May send air strikes to syria without consulting parliament first
Balance of power
Give an example of the HOL holding power against the HOC
HOL defeated government in 2017 to enable people doing apprentiships and are under 20 to claim child benefits
imbalance of power
Give an example of the executives dominance
Tony Blairs majority government was only defeated 4 times during it’s 10 years in power
Parliamentary sovereignty
How many people voted in the brexit refferendum
33.5 million
sovereignty
what are 4 ways that soverignty has moved away from parliament
- to the executive with the PM using progotive powers
- judiciary due to 1998 HRA
- european union
- other political institutions such as devolved nations
