The Prime Minister and the Cabinet

Question 1

What is the Cabinet?

Answer 1

1. 20-25 senior government ministers who generally head departments of state.
2. Usually meets once a week for no more than 2 hours on a Thursday morning.

Question 2

Roles of the Cabinet:

Answer 2

1. Provides the key forum where government policies are legitimised.
2. Can determine key issues of policy (1976 James Callaghan allowed the Cabinet to freely debate whether to accept a loan from the IMF).
3. To decide how government will determine, especially controversial, business. How to best present it and the chief whip will explain if there is sufficient support for it.
4. If a dispute between 2 departments of state is proving impossible to resolve the issue may be brought to cabinet to resolve as a final court of appeal.
5. Can appoint cabinet committees to develop and implement specific policy.

Question 3

How is the cabinet selected?

Answer 3

1. The PM decides it and the PM puts their own stamp on the government.
2. They do not have an entirely free hand.
3. There are some high profile people who’s exclusion is impossible. (Impossible for Blair to not make Brown the chancellor of the exchequer), given his grasp of economics and their agreement to share the top jobs in government.

Question 4

PM appointing allies to senior positions:

Answer 4

1. Margaret Thatcher relied on the advice and support of William Whitelaw, her 1st home secretary. Norman Tebbit (Employment) and Cecil Parkinson (party chairman), who shared her political views.
2. After his 2nd landslide victory TB appointed Labour modernisers Alan Johnson (Education) and Alan Milburn (Health) to provide his government with continued reforming momentum.
3. TM in 2016 was determined to get rid of the ‘Notting Hill’ public school ‘chumocracy’ that DC created, sacked George Osborne, chancellor of the exchequer to look less elitist.

Question 5

Why would a PM appoint a rival to government?

Answer 5

1. Binds them to CMR so they cannot publicly criticise the government.
2. By rewarding them with high office, they may cultivate their loyalty.
3. Theresa May tolerated BJ’s broad interpretation of CMR as her position was safer with him in government that outside of it.

Question 6

Examples of PMs balancing their cabinet: TB

Answer 6

1. John Prescott who served at deputy prime minister from (1997-07).
2. He was from the working-class left of the Labour Party and had had a career in the merchant navy.
3. He gained influence as a militant member of the National Union of Seamen and then entered Parliament.
4. By appointing him to such a prominent role in government, Blair reassured the left of the party that New Labour had not entirely abandoned its socialist ideology.

Question 7

Examples of PMs balancing their cabinet: TM

Answer 7

1. TM became PM in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit referendum.
2. She gave prominent cabinet positions to both Leave and Remain politicians.
3. Remain: Phillip Hammond (Chancellor) and Amber Rudd (Home Secretary).
4. Leave: Boris Johnson (foreign secretary) and David Davis (Brexit Secretary).