The UK Executive EXAM Flashcards
Function of the Executive (x3)
Decision making branch of government
Proposing legislation (Manifesto + Doctor’s Mandate)
Propose the Budget
Powers of the PM (x4)
Prerogative powers e.g. sign treaties, appoint minister (used to declare elections until 2011 Fixed Term Parliament Act and used to declare war until Iraq 2003 and Syria 2013)
Can propose legislation and use whips
Power of patronage (appointing MPs to Cabinet)
Influencing the media (Tony Blair hired Alistair Campbell as his press secretary to help set a media agenda that was favourable towards him.
Individual Ministerial Responsibility
Individual ministerial responsibility is the convention that ministers will resign if they mess up. Amber Rudd, the previous home secretary, resigned in 2018 after she misled the Home Affairs Select Committee over her department’s targets for deporting illegal immigrants.
Prime Minister Appointing Ministers (x4)
Experience and ability
Rewarding loyalty
Meeting expectations for diversity (John Makor came under fire for appointing no women to his 1990 Cabinet)
Satisfy factions such as how in 2016 Theresa May appointed Boris Johnson (Leaver) and Amber Rudd (Remainer)
Prime Minister VS Cabinet (x4)
In 2016 Theresa May sought to establish her authority over Cabinet by sacking many previous ministers including George Osborne
Blair was a presidential prime minister with a sofa government and kitchen cabinet
The PM can appoint ministers, control the agenda of Cabinet meetings, but the Cabinet can oust the PM (Thatcher) and prevent the PM looking weak
Theresa May created a committee for leaving the EU
Collective Ministerial Responsibility
Collective ministerial responsibility is the principle that ministers must support Cabinet decisions or resign. It is suspended on ethical issues and the 2016 EU Referendum.
In 2016 Iain Duncan Smith resigned over cuts to disability benefits and in 2018 Boris Johnson resigned as foreign secretary as he disagreed with the government’s ‘Chequers deal’ for leaving the European Union.
Advantage of Individual Ministerial Responsibility
Individual ministerial responsibility holds the government accountable for their behaviour to the public.
Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, resigned in 2017 after claims were made against his sexual conduct.
Disadvantage of Individual Ministerial Responsibility
Individual ministerial responsibility can fail when ministers choose not to resign and blame others in their department for failings.
In 2011 the Home Secretary Theresa May did not resign over weakened border checks which allowed foreign criminals and terrorist suspects into the UK, instead blaming Brodie Clark, the head of the UK Border Force at the time.
Advantages of Collective Ministerial Responsibility
Collective ministerial responsibility ensures the government appears united and thatsthe government has a clear official position on policies.
In 2013 Liberal Democrat ministers sided with Conservative ministers in opposing a Mansion Tax, which they had previously supported, which ensured a strong coalition government.
Disadvantages of Collective Ministerial Responsibility
Collective ministerial responsibility means that ministers have to defend policies they do not agree with, meaning policies can be forced upon them by the prime minister.
Members of Tony Blair’s Cabinet were not asked for their approval on invading Iraq in 2003 until three days before the invasion, where cabinet ministers claim they were forced to agree to war.
Constraints on the PM’s Power (x3)
Cabinet. The PM is “PRIMUS INTER PARES” which means they have an equal say on policy as other cabinet members. A lack of support from cabinet colleagues weakened Thatcher’s power and brought an end to her time as prime minister.
Contrastingly, Tony Blair ran a “kitchen cabinet” and a “sofa cabinet”, reducing contact and power of the cabinet as he reduced the length of meetings from two hours to 45 minutes.
Elections. In 2010 Prime Minister Gordon Brown was replaced by David Cameron after winning less votes and losing the general election. In 2017, Theresa May lost 13 seats, meaning that she had to govern a minority government, and this made passing legislation difficult (attempted to pass Withdrawal Agreement 3x)
Contrastingly, Johnson’s 80 seat majority in the 2019 election empowered him.
Events and Media Response. The coronavirus pandemic meant that Boris Johnson had to redirect all his focus onto decreasing the R number. The media portrayed Theresa May’s response to Brexit as weak and disastrous. Contrastingly, Thatcher’s response to the 1982 invasion of the Falklands was seen as huge success, and her letters to the families of fallen soldiers was seen as compassionate.
The Prime Minister is presidential (x3)
Foley’s theory of presidentialism and spatial leadership
1) Use of Media
Blair was successful at cultivating this image, using the media and hanging out with Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Victoria Adams.
Furthermore, during the coronavirus pandemic, daily briefings and the creation of a Downing Street Press Briefing Room occurred.
2) Use of a ‘ sofa government’, where the PM conducts the bulk of meetings with special advisers and officials, rather than full cabinet
Blair ran a ‘sofa government’ and May was attacked for using her advisers too much in the
2017 general election’
3) Increased use of special advisers personally loyal to the PM, such as May’s reliance on Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy, or Boris Johnson’s reliance on Dominic Cummings
PMs have not become “Presidential” (x3)
1) The Cabinet is an instrumental part of the government machine as the PM must retain their confidence or risk government splits. It is worth noting that it was a lack of support here which became important in removing Mrs. Thatcher in 1990.
2) Theresa May was not the strong presidential figure described in Foley’s theory of presidentialism and spatial leadership
3) The PM may act like a president, but that does not make them one constitutionally, and they are not Head of State, and it is much easier for them to be removed than it is for a president
