UK Executive: Prime Minister And Cabinet

Question 1

What are some main functions of the pm

Answer 1

-selecting cabinet and all junior gov posts
-being dominant figure in core executive
-being party leader
-chairing cabinet meetings

Question 2

What are the main powers of the executive

Answer 2

-appointment and dismissal of ministers by the prime minister, and other patronage powers
-deployment of uk armed forces
-making and ratifying treaties
-organisation and structure of civil service

Question 3

Is the pm becoming too presidential?

Answer 3

Some explained that the traditional model of the cabinet ceases to exist.
This was shown through Margaret Thatcher (1979-90) and Tony blair (1997-2007)

Question 4

What was blairs gov preffered as

Answer 4

Sofa gov
Known for involving two or three ministers including the pm to full length cabinet discussions

Question 5

What was thatchers style of gov known as

Answer 5

The ‘wets’ and ‘dries’
Dissenters= wets
Supporters= dries

Question 6

What were the pm relying too much on and what do they do

Answer 6

Relying too much on spAds (Special advisors)
SpAds are political and personal appointments made by the pm.
Known for having too much influential power over the pm

Question 7

What are examples of spads

Answer 7

Tony blairs press secretary allistair campbell who famously intervened in a interview by saying ‘we dont do god’ from a religious question

Question 8

What are factors against presidentialism

Answer 8

Pm with weak or non existent parliamentary majority are in a diff position
E.g may suffered a crushing defeats in jan and march 2019 over proposed brexit deal. Happened through her divided cabinet (chequers deal) in which the following days of this 2 cabinet ministers resigned (David davis (brexit secretary) and boris johnson)

Question 9

How is policy made? Give some examples

Answer 9

-manifesto pledges and promises
-personal conviction of the pm/ party leader although these usually reflected point above
-outcome of referendums

Question 10

What are patronage powers

Answer 10

Powers to dismiss or appoint cabinet ministers

Question 11

What is collective responsibility

Answer 11

Its where all members of the cabinet and gov must support the pm and gov policy in the public

Question 12

What are cabinet committees

Answer 12

-group of ministers that take collective decisions
-comprise ministers from several related departments to enable joined up gov
-decisions are binding

Question 13

What are examples of committees and what do they function

Answer 13

Covid 19 strategy committees
Function: oversee the gov response to the pandemic

Question 14

Does the cabinet gov still exist?
(YES)

Answer 14

-remains key forum for high level policy making
-can still influence policy
-too many cabinet resignations can lead to a sign of weakness and not strength

Question 15

Does the cabinet gov still exist?
(NO)

Answer 15

-many decisions are made at cabinet committee level or bilerateral meetings (undermine collective responsibility)
-many meetings are quite brief. Cabinet used much more frequently to resolve or artribate disputes between departments
-pm can appear strong and decisive by removing opponents over time

Question 16

What are the 5 main occasions of ministerial resignation

Answer 16

-accepting blame for an error within their department
-unwillingness to accept collective responsibility over policy
-inability to deliver a policy promise in their department
-personal misconduct
-political pressure

Question 17

What are examples of not accepting collective responsibility

Answer 17

2003 two labour front benchers, robin cook and clare short resigned over iraq war