The Prime Minister and the Execuative Flashcards
What are two examples of MPs resigning over collective responsibilities?
- Robin Cook resigned in 2003 as he could not accept collective ministerial responsibility for the government decision to invade Iraq.
- In 2010 two Lib-Dem junior ministers resigned over the government policy of increasing university tuition fees.
What are collective ministerial responsibilities?
- The convention that members of the cabinet should have a shared agenda of ideas publically, even if privately their views are different to that of the government.
- It is a convention that if ministers do not agree collectively, then they are expected to resign or will be sacked.
What is an example of disparity in a cabinet in the 90s over Europe?
- Split in the Cabinet between Euro-sceptics (e.g Michael Portillo) and euro-enthusiasts (e.g. Kenneth Clarke) were widely publicised in the media.
- However no one resigned.
How did the Cabinet play a large role in Thatcher’s fall?
- Internal divisions of the Cabinet eventually led to Thatcher’s fall. Outspoken members of the Cabinet over Europe eventually led to Thatcher’s dominance come to an end.
- At the same time Thatcher had lost the support of both her Cabinet and Parliament, leading to her resignation in leader elections/
What were the divisions of Theresa May’s government over Brexit?
- Disagreement over suggested transition period between Chancellor Philip Hammond (Proposed a 4 year period_ and David Davis (proposing a 2 year period).
- Hammond also claimed that there was consensus over free-movements following Brexit, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox however stated that consensus had not been reached.
What are two examples of Johnson deviating from collective ministerial responsibilities?
(during Theresa May’s time as PM)
- 2016 Johnson was outspoken over Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the MIddle East, stating they were waging a ‘proxy way’. This was against the agenda of the Government. He did not resign.
- In 2016 Johnson refused to support statements made by Davis that Britain may pay EU to access the free-market whilst on the Andrew Marr Show.
How did Boris Johnson and Dishy Rishi break ministerial code with their accounts of partygate?
Set out in the ministerial code, created under Major, ‘ministers give accurate and truthful information to parliament’.
-Both Johnson and Sunak said that they had not attended these events when there was copious evidence that they had attended said events. Neither of the pair resigned.
Who was sacked by May for indecent images on House of Commons computers?
(hint-Mr Ellershaw and Grass)
-Damien Green was sacked after he admitted he had lied about pornographic images on a computer. An investigation conducted by the cabinet secretary Jeremy Heyward.
What is an example, under Boris Johnson, of Ministers dodging individual ministerial responsibilities?
- Boris Johnson refused to dismiss Priti Patel after she was found to have used bullying behaviour, in breach of the ministerial code.
- The accountability of ministers in recent times has been in great decline. Ministers regularly are able to dodge resignation.
What is one way in which the PM can control the outcome of ministerial responsibility outcomes?
- The PM is in control of the ethics chief who would be the person to investigate potential breaches of the ministerial code.
- For example Boris Johnson denied power to his independent ethics chief, Christopher Geidt, when he was wanting to launch his investigations into affairs of Party-Gate.
What is an example of the executive consulting the public for consensus on new legislation?
(Hint David Cameron)
-2015 the government undertook a consultation exercise when considering its proposal to introduce an apprenticeship levy. Introduced 2017
What did the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act do?
When was it passed?
- Passed in March 2022 and meant that the Prime Minister could dissolve parliament whenever they wished.
- Repealed the Fixed Term Parliaments Act and placed the period of the sitting parliament back to maximum of 5 years rather than general elections every 5 years.
