UK Executive

Question 1

How many are employed in the civil service, where is the main office?

Answer 1

5370
70 Whitehall

Question 2

How many SPADs did Sunak, Blair, and Brown have

Answer 2

Sunak 41
Blair 84
GB 74

Question 3

How many ad hoc groups were there in 2018, give a few examples?

Answer 3

15 in total
Violence against women and girls, Wu exit, Borders and Social care

Question 4

What is SAGE and what is there role?

Answer 4

Scientific advisory group for emergencies
Provides a single source of scientific and technical advise

Question 5

Who led SAGE in covid 19?

Answer 5

Govt chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Valance and Chief medical officer Sir Prof Chris Whitty

Question 6

Which figures in May’s cabinet were divided?

Answer 6

Chancellor - Hammond
Brexit Sec - Davis
Foreign Sec - Johnson

Question 7

What had happened to May’s cabinet by June 2018?

Answer 7

Davis and Johnson had both resigned

Question 8

What comment did Vince Cable make about May’s cabinet?

Answer 8

It was ‘in a state of civil war’

Question 9

What issues strained May’s cabinet ?

Answer 9

Saudi Arabia, Heathrow, Brexit and the ‘Trojan Horse Plot’

Question 10

What issue almost caused May to reign - what year was this?

Answer 10

2011
Lapses over border control - said Brodie Clarke has acted beyond the limits given to him

Question 11

Why did Amber Rudd resign in 2018?

Answer 11

Resigned as Home Sec. after she inadvertently misled parliament over whether she knew about targets to avoid illegal immigrants

Question 12

Why did Mark Harper resign and in what year?

Answer 12

2014
His cleaner did not have the right to work in the UK

Question 13

Why did Brooks Newmark step down?

Answer 13

He was found to have sent explicit images to an undercover reporter

Question 14

Which notable appointment did Brown make?

Answer 14

Ed Balls - his former personal advisor

Question 15

Examples of ‘big beasts’ being appointed to cabinet’

Answer 15

Boris Johnson in May’s cabinet
Vince Cable in the Coalition

Question 16

In which year did David Cameron promote two women to cabinet ?

Answer 16

2011

Question 17

Thatchers Cabinet (1979-90)

Answer 17

• Bilateral meetings used instead
• Relied on accountable advisors e.g Chief economic advisor Sir Alan Walters (1981-83, 1989)
• Later constructed a cabinet of allies e.g. William Whitelaw who servedas home sec and deputy pm

Question 18

Majors Cabinet (1990-97)

Answer 18

• More cabinet centered
• Each minister felt they had a n influence which they did not want to jerpodise

Question 19

Blair (1997-2007)

Answer 19

• Sofa government
• Focus on a united front for the media
• Neglect of cabinet critised e.g Butler Report which stated this ‘reduced scope for informed, collective, political, judgement’

Question 20

Brown (2007-10)

Answer 20

• brought his inner circle to cabinet e.g. Ed Balls
• not liked and faced many challenges from backbenchers e.g Lancashire Plot 2008

Question 21

Cameron (2010-16)

Answer 21

• Popularity increased but 11% behind in the polls
• Had to balance the Lib Dems
• In Early 2011 50% believed he was doing a ‘good job’
• BJ constant presence
• Accused if being a ‘maid’ for the Lib Dems

Question 22

May (2016-19)

Answer 22

• Barley known by other MPs
• Had 51 resignations (33 relating to Brexit)
  -12 cabinet departures
• More resignations than Thatcher or Blair