The Relationship Between The Prime Minister And Cabinet Flashcards
What are some of the institutional powers of the prime minister
-appointing + dismissing ministers - cabinet reshuffles
-chairing weekly cab meetings + setting the agenda - authority over cab
-dictating policy priories
-command a commons majority to get legislation through as party leader
What are some of the personal and political powers of the prime minister
-effective management of colleagues in cabinet + backbenchers
-personal qualities as an effective communication + national leader
-ability to unite + rally their party
-skill managing economy + handling unexpected challenges in office
-momentum + political capital from leading party to victory in election enabling them persuade + lead effectively
What re these institutional powers + personal powers dependent on
-opinion poll ratings + results of by-elections + local council elections
-personalities in their cab + party
-potential leadership challenges
-strength + threat of opposition party
How do the patronage powers have influence over the cabinet
-powerful weapon - PM hire + fire ministers at will without approval of parl
-when first appointed PMs usually radically alter their cab e.g. May took over from Cameron 2017 she removed 15 ministers incl chancellor Osborne
What is a limitation to this patronage power
-PM must be careful maintain balance within cab - diversity + policy positions
-e.g. May has to include both Leave + Remain supporters in her cabinets + Blair had to include ‘big political beast’ Brown as his chancellor
How does the prime minister exercise formal control over the cabinet
-PM dictate when + where cab meets - normally in cab too, but sometimes different e.g. Blair + ‘sofa gov’ where he would sometimes dictate policy on sofas in Downing Street
-also collective responsibility - all cab members supposed to support cab decisions + if disagreement the resign
However, where does this authority over the cabinet fall
-agreement with cab never automatic - depends on key personalities in cab
-e.g. Blair never able convince chancellor Brown support UK adopting the euro currency
-ministers can also leak discussions to the media despite cab meetings meant be private - Johnson when PM 2019 est. new ministerial code stating ‘there must be…no leaking’
How does the prime minister dictate policy priorities
-modern PMs with strong majorities able exert influence + political principles like Blair + Thatcher but also those elected in clear mandate like ‘Get Brexit Done’ for Johnson 2019
-e.g. Thatcher able to do what she sort to do like major programme of privatisation + reducing TU power
However how is their dictating of policy priorities of cabinet limited
-PMs bound by their manifesto pledges + constrained by unfolding developments
-many policies also require cooperation of political players outside UK e.g. Brexit with the EU + other member states having to agree the PMs desired deal
How does the PM as party leader have control over cabinet
-PM enjoyed additional resources as party leader like guarantee of policies + legislation through parl given overall majority
-leader lisp elected by their MPs + party members which gives strong legitimacy to their authority
However where does this authority as party leader slip
-party loyalty is conditional not absolute
-e.g. thatcher forced out by own MPs + May 2018 narrowly survived the when Tory MPs rejected no-confidence motion by 200 votes to 117 but showed high levels discontent within her party
What are the powers and the resources of the cabinet compared to the PM
-cab far fewer resources as members position due entirely to PM + too much dissent to PM can lead to being sidelined or demoted in next reshuffle
-however they do wield some power to check on PM in multiple ways
How do cab ministers wield power over the PM regarding running their own departments
-most run own departments so while adhering to commonly agreed policies they have degree of autonomy over policy details
-e.g. introduction of universal credit a complicated policy so while PM set the tone + clarify expectations they are unlikely get involved in policy minutiae as unlikely to micromanage all senior ministers
How do cab ministers wield power over the PM regarding their own links to the media
-links to media + pressure groups - can leak info + brief journalists against policies the PM wishes to pursue
-e.g. 2019 defence sec Williamson sacked for allegedly leaking to press details from a National Security Council meeting over security threat allowing Chinese tech giant a role constructing Br 5G network which Williamson was against from beginning
How does cabinet wield more power over the Pm regarding their power of resignation
-biggest weapon is their power of resignation of their own accord
-large numbers of ministers resigning signifies a weak and divided government
-e.g. May had 35 ministerial resignations in c.3 yrs such as Davis Brexit sec + Johnson foreign sec July 2018
What is the impact of personal and political powers
-important in helping a leader dominate their cab + gov
-this is through political capital - the trust + readiness to follow a leader due to their previous achievements like winning elections + high in polls e.g. Blair April 1998 68% in the polls
-political capital also enables PMs to shift balance of power + policy position wi5in their cabinet promoting loyalty + marginalising critical voices
