TOPIC 2- THE ROLE OF THE CABINET Flashcards
WHAT DOES THE CABINET DO?
- LEGITIMISE DECISIONS
- DELIBERATE
- DEAL WITH MINISTERIAL DISPUTES
- DEAL WITH EMERGENCIES E.G COBRA
- CHECK PM POWER
WHAT DETERMINES WHO IS PICKED AS A MINISTER?
MANAGERIAL SKILS/COMPETENCE
2. ALLIANCE/REWARDS
3. SILENCING OPPOSITION
4. POLITICAL BALANCE
5. ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY
6. DEMOGRAPHIC BALANCE
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF MINISTERS BEING APPOINTED DUE TO MANAGERIAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCE?
RISHI SUNAK WAS APPOINTED CHANCELLOR FROM 2020 TO 2022 DUE TO HIS BACKGROUND IN FINANCE AND HIS PERCEIVED ABILITY TO MANAGE THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A MINISTER BEING APPOINTED DUE TO ALLIANCE?
WES STREETING IS HEALTH SECRETARY AS HE SHOWED LOYALTY TO STARMER THROUGHOUT HIS LEADERSHIP CAMPAIGN.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A MINISTER BEING APPOINTED FOR SILENCING OPPOSITION?
ANGELA RAYNER IS DEPUTY PM AS SHE IS A POPULAR FIGURE AMONG LABOUR’S LEFT WING AND HOLDS A PROMINENT ROLE TO BOTH LEVERAGE HER APPEAL AND KEEP HER AS AN ALLY RATHER THAN A CRITIC.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OIF A MINISTER BEING APPOINTED FOR ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY?
SAVID JAVID WAS APPOINTED HEALTH SECRETARY FROM 2021 TO 2022 AS HE WAS WELL REGARDED WITHIN THE TORY PARTY. WAS APPOINTED AFTER HANCOCK’S RESIGNATION TO RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A MINISTER BEING APPOINTED FOR DEMOGRAPHIC BALANCE?
JOHN PRESCOTT WAS DEPUTY PM FROM 1997 TO 2007 AS HE REPRESENTED LABOUR’S WORKING CLASS ROOTS. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CONNECTING WITH TRADITIONAL LABOUR VOTERS WHO WERE WARY OF BLAIR’S MODERNISATION AGENDA.
WHAT IS INDIVIDUAL MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY?
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION BY WHICH MINISTERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PERSONAL CONDUCT AND THE ACTS OF THEIR DEPARTMENT.
IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES MAY A MINISTER RESIGN OR BE FIRED?
- PERSONAL SCANDALS
- MISHANDLING OF POLICIES
- POLICY DISAGREEMENTS WITH THE PM
- CABINET RESHUFFLES
- LOSS OF PUBLIC TRUST
WHY IS IT HARDER NOW TO DECIDE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A MISTAKE?
PRINCIPLE OF COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY MEANS THAT CABINET MEMBERS ARE COLLECTIVELY ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL DECISIONS EVEN IF THEY DISAGREE PRIVATELY.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF INDIVIDUAL MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY BEING UPHELD? (1)
MATT HANCOCK RESIGNED AS HEALTH SECRETARY IN 2021 AFTER ADMITTING HE HAD BREACHED HIS OWN DEPARTMENT’S COVID 19 REGULATIONS IN HAVING A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP WITH A COLLEAGUE.
WHAT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF INDIVIDUAL MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY BEING UPHELD?
AMBER RUDD RESIGNED AS HOME SECRETARY IN 2018 AMID PUBLIC OUTRAGE OVER THE WINDRUSH SCANDAL WHERE MEMBERS OF THE WINDRUSH GENERATION WERE WRONGLY DETAILED, DENIED LEGAL RIGHTS AND DEPORTED. RUDD LIED TO PARLIAMENT SUGGESTING THE HOME OFFICE DIDN’T SET INTERNAL TARGETS FOR DEPORTATION WHEN THEY DID.
WHAT IS COLLECTIVE MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY?
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION BY WHICH MINISTERS MUST SUPPORT CABINET DECISIONS OR LEAVE THE EXECUTIVE.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF A MINISTER RESIGNING AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING TO FOLLOW COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY?
FOREIGN SECRETARY IN 2003 ROBIN COOK RESIGNED OVER HIS OPPOSITION TO THE UK’S DECISION TO JOIN THE US LED INVASION OF IRAQ. DELIVERED A RESIGNATION SPEECH CITING HIS PRINICPLES AND OPPOSITION TO WAR.
WHAT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A MINISTER RESIGNING AS A RESULT OF NOT FOLLOWING COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY?
THEN FOREIGN SECRETARY BORIS JOHNSON RESIGNED FROM MAY’S CABINET IN 2018 OVER HER BREXIT PROPOSAL KNOWN AS THE CHEQUERS PLAN. THROUGH STRATEGY WOULD COMPROMISE BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY.
WHAT HAPPENS TO COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY DURING A COALITITON?
COALITION PARTNERS CREATE COALITION AGREEMENT THAT OUTLINES SHARED PRIORITIES AND AREAS OF COMPROMISE. FOR AGREED UPON POLICIES, COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY GENERALLY HOLDS. MINISTERS CAN PUBLICLY DISAGREE OVER SENSITIVE ISSUES WHERE PARTNERS HAVE IDEOLOGICALLY DIFFERENCES E.G TAX WITHOUT BREACHING COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY.
WHEN ELSE HAS COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY BEEN RELAXED?
1975 AND 2016 EU MEMBERSHIP REFERENDUMS. HAROLD WILSON IDENTIFIED THAT TO PREVENT RESIGNATION OF ANTI EUROPEANS, HE HAD TO ALLOW MINISTERS TO CAMPAIGN ON BOTH SIDES. AGREEMENT WAS TO ARGUE THEIR CASES IN PUBLIC THEN UNITE OVER THE REFERENDUM VERDICT.
WHY IS COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY NEEDED?
- SILENCING CRITICS
- PAYROLL VOTE
- PRIVACY
- UNITY AGAINST OPPOSITION
