Unit 3: the Prime Minister & the Cabinet

Question 1

Who is the current PM?

Answer 1

Keir Starmer since 2024

Question 2

What does the cabinet manual say the PM is?

Answer 2

The head of the government

Question 3

What are the key functions of the PM?

Answer 3

Appoints the cabinet and government
Chairing the cabinet - sits as the chair in cabinet meetings
Oversees government ministers and manages the executive
Prerogative powers
Manages relations with parliament
Represents the UK in international relations e.g. Keir Starmer meeting with president of the US and France
Political and national leadership

Question 4

Prerogative powers

Answer 4

Powers held by the monarch, PM and government ministers that are used without the consent of the House of Commons

Question 5

What is the PMs office?

Answer 5

The 190 civil servants and special advisers who work for the PM e.g. Simon Case is the PMs most senior policy adviser - Secretary of the cabinet & Sue Gray was the chief of staff until there was a scandal

Question 6

What do the PMs office do?

Answer 6

Propose legislation and policy advice
Focus on communication between departments of the government

Question 7

6 powers of the PM?

Answer 7

1. Appoints the cabinet
2. Patronage
3. Authority in the cabinet
4. Party leadership
5. Policy making
6. Public standing

Question 8

What is meant by patronage as a power of the PM?

Answer 8

-refers to the power of an individual to appoint someone to an important position
-appoints life peers - like former MPs or party supporters who made significant contributions to areas of public life - alters party balance in lords e.g. Blair appointed 162 Labour peers
-the honour system - police inquiry into cash for honours - big donors of Labour were made peers - investigation ended in 2007 with no criminal charges but changed how the PM is involved in patronage - nominations considered by an honours committee now - made up of civil servants and independents and the PM accepts the list
-no role in judicial patronage

Question 9

What is meant by appointments to the cabinet as a power of the PM?

Answer 9

-people often accepted to cabinet as a reward for loyalty but the disloyal wont be appointed even if they are the best for the job e.g. Brown appointed chancellor of exchequer as he promised to not run against Blair in the 1995 leadership contest
-PM may face constraints during the election of the cabinet e.g. 2010 Cameron-Clegg coalition appointed 5 Lib Dem to cabinet
-experience considered and ideological differences considered - parties that contain one type of politician may not get the full support of the party e.g. Thatcher cabinet had Thatcherites and One Nation conservatives
-cabinet reshuffles happen e.g. James Cleverly was the secretary for education, foreign secretary, Home Secretary and was minister in other departments too - occur to appoint the most successful ministers and demote those who underachieved
-cabinet reshuffles aren’t always positive e.g. Thatchers downfall was caused by the removal of Sir Geoffrey Howe as foreign secretary in 1989

Question 10

What is meant by authority in cabinet as a power of the PM?

Answer 10

-core executive - heart of government - consists of organisations who coordinate central government activity
-chairs cabinet meetings, determines frequency of meetings, creates cabinet committees, appoints senior civil servants and manages agenda of meetings
-chair of cabinet = PM steers and sums up discussions but senior ministers can promote alternative viewpoints, PM may not give way
-PMs who are too indecisive or too dominating may weaken authority - must coordinate issues to create cohesion
-PM establishes cabinet committees - drive forward agenda e.g. 2016 where May established and chaired a new Economy and Industrial Strategy Committee
-agenda setting = controls info presented to ministers by determining which issues should be brought before the cabinet, deals difficult issues in bilateral meetings

Question 11

Bilateral meetings

Answer 11

Meeting between PM and department ministers

Question 12

What is meant by policy making as a power of the PM?

Answer 12

-involved in policy all over the departments
-play important role when crises occur and take an interest in economic and foreign policy
-2010 coalition limited Camerons ability to manoeuvre but he set the overall agenda e.g. determined responses to emerging issues like military intervention in Libya in 2011
-sets objectives, direct and coordinates policy in crucial areas but the PM needs support of senior ministers on major issues e.g. Chancellor Nigel Lawson and foreign secretary Geoffrey Howe forced Thatcher to shift government policy on the ERM in 1989 by threatening to resign

Question 13

What is meant by party leadership being a power of the PM?

Answer 13

-better able to enact the governments programmes
-increased rebellions means PMs cannot rely on party for support and leadership is more challenging e.g. 7 labour MPs rebelled against keeping the 2 child benefit cap
-MPs of party elect leader so makes the removal of PM less likely but this can happen through a vote of no confidence e.g. Blair and Brown survived pressures to leave office BUT Truss was removed in 2022 after a rebellion of Tory MPs forced her to quit

Question 14

What is meant by public standing being a power of the PM?

Answer 14

-they are the communicator in chief for the government - articulate policy programmes and objectives, they appear twice a year before the House of Commons Liaison committee
-public satisfaction increases strength of the PM as they have more authority e.g. Blair was considered a strong leader until Iraq war
-has a high public profile, they provide political leadership at home and represent the UK internationally e.g. Blair made a signicant impact on the world stage and had strong relationships with the presidents of the US (Bush) - led to invasion of Iraq

Question 15

Who is the cabinet?

Answer 15

They are the secretaries of state for all of the government departments

Question 16

What are some of the members of the cabinet and their departments?

Answer 16

Angela Rayner - housing and levelling up
Rachel Reeves - chancellor of the exchequer
Bridget Phillipson - education
David Lammy - foreign office
Yvette Cooper - home office
Wes Streeting - health
Ed Miliband - green energy
Louise Haigh - transport

Question 17

What is collective ministerial responsibility?

Answer 17

-The idea that the government as a whole is responsible to the parliament for its actions
-In a vote of no confidence done by all parties, if they are defeated, all of the ministers would resign
-Ministers must resign if they publicly disagree with the governments policies but can have private disagreements

Question 18

What is individual ministerial responsibility?

Answer 18

-Civil servants should be loyal to their minister
-Ministers responsible to Parliament for their own departments through question time or through select committee scrutiny
-May resign if there are issues in the government department or if they have a personal scandal

Question 19

What are exceptions to collective responsibility?

Answer 19

Formal exceptions to the collective responsibility have been agreed by the prime minister and cabinet in exceptional circumstances

The exceptions are:
1. Temporary suspension during referendums e.g. 2016 EU referendum
2. Coalition e.g. 2010 Conservative-Lib Dem coalition - Cameron-Clegg
3. Free votes on issues on conscience e.g. 2024 - euthanasia

Question 20

2 examples of collective ministerial responsibility leading to resignation?

Answer 20

1. Robin Cook who was the former Labour foreign secretary from 1997 to 2001 commented on Blairs Iraq policy - Cook urged that Britain should work with the EU and UN and not go out on a limb with the USA - the government made the decision to join the USA due to pressure and the relationship with Bush
2. Mike Crockhart and Jenny Willott were two Liberal Democrat juniors ministers who resigned in 2010 rather than support the government polico of increasing university tuition fees to £9,000

Question 21

2 examples of individual ministerial responsibility leading to resignation?

Answer 21

1. Priti Patel held meetings with Israeli officials including the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu without May’s authorisation, there were up to 12 meetings which took place on a private holiday. Patel issued a public apology but this didnt stem from the revelations about her contacts writ Israel. On 8th November, se resigned after a meeting with May.
2. Matt Hancock was published in pictures kissing with his aide Gina Goladangelo on the 25 June by the Sun. Hancock resigned the next day. His resignation was called for by the Tories, the Labour MPs and the pressure group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice. He admitted that he broke Covid social distancing guidelines. He was the secretary for health, he made the guidelines and broke them in an affair.

Question 22

Who is involved in policy making?

Answer 22

PM
Secretaries of state/cabinet ministers/senior ministers
Special Advisers
Government departments
Civil servants
Ministers

Question 23

Civil servants

Answer 23

An official employed by the Crown - they provide policy advice to ministers, they typically have experience, expertise and access to information - they ate impartial and anonymous

Question 24

Special adviser

Answer 24

A temporary political appointment made by a minister

Question 25

What was the Poll Tax? When was it introduced? By who?

Answer 25

Poll tax = the ‘Community Charge’, it was a local tax introduced by Thatcher in 1990 that was paid by all taxpayers (except some), it replaced domestic rates - based on property value and only paid by property owners

Question 26

Why was the Poll tax supported? Why was it not? What did the unpopularity lead to?

Answer 26

Those who supported it argued that if every person had to contribute towards the cost of local services through a flat rate tax, local authorities would have to provide services more efficiently

Many people found the tax unpopular as millions of voters who had never before had to pay local taxes received large bills and blamed Thatcher. It would tax the poor more than it taxed the rich - regressive - many viewed this as unfair. Warning from the Chancellor and Treasury were not given due consideration and local authorities were not consulted fully.

People responded to the poll tax through riots in London in 1990 once the tax was introduced. Councils then found the poll tax difficult to administer and collect because many people refused to pay in protest too. 100 people injured. 300 arrested. 50,000 partook.

Question 27

What happened to Thatcher after the poll tax?

Answer 27

The poll tax was a failure for Thatcher and her ministers because Thatcher pushed the proposal through government and parliament without major amendment
Then, by late 1990, a a result, many Tory MPs recognised the electoral damage Thatchers policy would have so they voted against her in the Tory leadership contest
It was replaced by the council tax under Major

Question 28

When was the Invasion of Iraq? Who was it under?

Answer 28

The Invasion of Iraq to remove Saddam and to remove the WMD happened in 2003 under Blair

Question 29

What was Blairs justification for entering Iraq?

Answer 29

Blairs justification for entering Iraq was that it was for removal of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) but these weapons were never found and intelligence reports were later discretised
Justified it based on how many people were punished by the oppression, someone had their tongue cut out and tied up
Said that if they left Iraq, it would fall under Sadam and there would be no escape from it
Said it was necessary for the US to have good relations with the UK - retreating would ruin the UN and Iraqi people

Question 30

Why was the Iraqi Invasion faced with opposition? What did this mean for Blair and his ministers?

Answer 30

After the removal of Saddam, Iraq descended into anarchy
The 2004 report by Lord Butler noted that although the cabinet was brief in Iraq on 24 occasions in the year before the invasion, minsters were denied access to key papers
He had a ‘sofa government’ where he had informal discussions without all of the ministers present as he preferred to have informal conversations - didnt allow proper debates when it came to decisions.
2016 Chilcot Report concluded that other policy options weren’t explored properly and Blair disregarded wanting about the intelligence and consequences of military action and that the cabinet had not considered legal advice carefully
Family members died for no reason - catastrophe for the country - 179 British service personnel died and over 3500 injured

There was a sharp decline in public trust of Blair and his standing in the Labour Party was damaged
Reports published that exposed the ministers and their lack of research on the consequences of the invasion - there should’ve been more informed collective ministerial discussion

Question 31

What are the two case studies on policy making?

Answer 31

1. Poll Tax 1990
2. Invasion of Iraq 2003

Question 32

What are big beasts?

Answer 32

-Most ministers need the PM more than he or she needs them, but big beasts are needed by the PM
-Big beasts have a lot of power within their party, they have a lot of support among the ministers and backbenchers and among the media - have a lot of public support or respect and have a record of policy success in the eyes of the media
-Big beasts are aware that they are powerful, so they develop independent politics identities, allowing them to possess political leverage they can use for their benefit
-Their resignation would pose threat to the PM by weakening party supporting or damaging the public image of the PM
-A big beast can be a positive or a negative PM, they may pose threat to their leadership and constrain them but can also increase support.
-Big beasts can bandwagon (agree with PM) or balance (challenge PM), bandwagoning helps the PM to get a lot of support from backbenchers
-PMs do anything to make big beasts bandwagon, or they get on the beasts bandwagon

Question 33

Examples of big beasts?

Answer 33

-CotE Nigel Lawson in 1989 after a policy clash with Thatchers economic adviser Alan Waters & deputy PM Geoffrey Howe in 1990 resigned after Thatcher said UK would never enter a single European currency, this led to the downfall of Thatcher
-For example, Brown had a large impact on Blair, he was able to gain a power base in the Treasury so could exert a lot of control onto domestic policy

Question 34

What has happened to the popularity of big beasts over time?

Answer 34

Big beasts are on the decline with Browns cabinet after 2007 having none and are being replaced by career politicians whose whole careers have been in Westminster

Question 35

What are career politicians?

Answer 35

Career politicians have very little experience in the outside world, and thus have little expert knowledge to bring into the Houses of Parliament from the world of work - they have worked in Westminster their whole life - different to big beasts in this way

Question 36

What factors can affect policy?

Answer 36

1. Manifesto pledges and promises
2. Personal convictions of the PM
3. Referendums
4. Deals with other parties
5. Responses to national crises or emergencies (medical, foreign or economic)
6. Mounting public pressure
7. Changing social and cultural attitudes

Question 37

What is a case study for fulfilling a manifesto pledge influencing government policy? (General info, positives, negatives)

Answer 37

-2017 manifesto promised to extend free childcare - Conservatives under May
-PM directed the policy

-Promised to offer working parents of 3 and 4 year olds 30 hours of free childcare not 15 hours
-Designed to increase the number of parents in work (and therefore paying taxes and contributing to the nations economy) who might not be able to afford the cost of childcare
-Children would also benefit from opportunities for socialisation and would be taught skills by nurseries

-Only those earning less than £100,000 were eligible and it was rolled out in operation by September 2017

Question 38

What is a case study for personal convictions of the PM influencing government policy? (General info, positives, negatives)

Answer 38

-1979 - Thatcher came to power
-PM directed the policy
-She had strong pre existing ideas on a range of issues one being her belief in a property owning democracy and her idea to shrink the state - through privatisation and right to buy

-1979-1990 = ‘Right to Buy’ allowing council how tenants to buy their own homes at a substantially reduced rate from local councils
-This policy of privatisation was continued under both Conservative and Labour PMs e.g. under Blair where the air traffic control system was privatised and Major sold off railways and electricity companies - must be good

-1981 - England and Wales had 5.4 million households in social or council housing but by 1991 - it dropped to 4.5 million - led to homelessness
-Gas, electricity and coal companies were sold off and privatised - allowed companies to not be regulated by the govenrment

Question 39

What is a case study for referendums influencing government policy? (General info, positives, negatives)

Answer 39

-2016 referendum - Conservatives under Cameron - Promised in 2015 manifesto
-52%-48% results in favour to leave the EU - different to what the PM and the MPs believed - unusual
-May reacted didn’t direct

-Cameron resigned leaving May to deal with the issue - even though she supported remain, she pledged to uphold the results - would allow for a moderate Brexit
-Policy making wasn’t conviction approach but democratic duty - PM reacted NOT directed

-Her attempts to see Brexit through to a definitive conclusion failed so she resigned in 2019 and was succeeded by Johnson who carried out Brexit - many see Brexit as a failure as it has been linked to economic and NHS failure

Question 40

What is a case study for deals with other parties influencing government policy? (General info, positives, negatives)

Answer 40

-the 2011 AV referendum
-2010 - Coalition Agreement signed between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrat’s - Cameron-Clegg
-Government directed

-Aim: to provide a common plan for policy and offer political stability in the aftermath of the 2008-09 global economic crisis
-There was an agreement in the terms to hold a referendum on the voting system for Westminster election - Lib Dem’s have long supported electoral reform and a more proportional system NOT FPTP - discriminates against smaller parties

-The promise was to hold a referendum on adoption the AV - not proportional voting system but did reform electoral system
-67.9% to 32.1% against it - only 41% turnout compared to 65% turnout in GE

Question 41

What is a case study for responses to national crises or emergencies (medical, foreign or economic) influencing government policy? (General info, positives, negatives)

Answer 41

-Covid-19 pandemic
-2020 - it became clear the world would have a pandemic - happened under Johnson and the Conservatives
-PM must appear to be calm and decisive
-Emergency legislation often needs to be passed and PMs must be seen to react and respond and make up policy as they go along
-govenrment reacted

-Social distancing introduced and pubs and gyms closed
-Coronavirus Act 2020 was emergency legislation that issued penalties to those who broke the guidelines by attending social gatherings
-Rishi Sunak (chancellor) announced measures to help businesses and workers to survive the economic downturn - initial promise to cover 80% of wages for employees furloughed or unable to work

-Johnsons reaction to such an unpredictable event was limited as they didnt know how dangerous the disease was so it was only limited to travel restrictions and everything remained open
-Government policy became more draconian to protect the economy when the disease became clear - such as construction of temporary field hospitals like the Nightingale Hospital
-Coronavirus Act confused people on whether you could go on a walk
-Government reacted to what had to be done - some failures such as PartyGate and 7th most casualties in the world

Question 42

What is a case study for mounting public pressure influencing government policy? (General info, positives, negatives)

Answer 42

-1960s - time of rapid social change in the UK - swinging sixties - liberalisation of attitudes towards sex, marriage and women’s rights
-most governments were pragmatic and in touch with voters but some were cautious to avoid losing votes among the traditional and to not divide their party by accepting the changes
-Government reacted to what was happening not directing

-Harold Wilsons Labour Government 1964-70 - embraced change
-E.g. abortions legalised up to 24 weeks of pregnancy in Abortion Act 1967, they ended the death penalty and made divorce easier in the Divorce Reform Act 1969
-Many of these measures were enacted by PMBs but with government support - reflected wider changes didnt carry them out

-more traditional citizens didnt support this

Question 43

What is a case study for changing social and cultural attitudes influencing government policy? (General info, positives, negatives)

Answer 43

-the campaign for drastic action to deal with climate change
-Proves public opinions has had an influence on government policy as the government reacted
-Pressure groups such as the Extinction Rebellion used direct action to draw attention to the issue alongside high profile figures such as Swedish Greta Thunberg
-Thunbergs strategy of global climate strikes by school students was embraced by many UK schoolchildren

-The highlighting of ecological issues has impacted government policy and attempts to decrease carbon emission
-2019 - UK government pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero by 2050 under May
-Climate Change Act 2008 - 80% reduction in emissions
-Committee on Climate Change (CCC) - independent adviser on climate change to the government

Question 44

Why is it difficult to create policy that reacts to national emergencies?

Answer 44

Unpredictable and there is wide range of things it could be - pressure
Limited resources
Hard to think of the long term effects
It may be unclear on what the real issue is, there may be research needed and more info to decide the next steps

Question 45

Core executive

Answer 45

The organisations and actors who coordinate central govenrment activity

Question 46

Facts about the frequency and length of cabinet meetings?

Answer 46

The length and the frequency of cabinet meetings has fallen since the 1950s - meets once a week when parliament is in session but used to meet twice a week - meetings lasted between 30min-1hr with Blair

Question 47

Cabinet committees

Answer 47

Sub committees of the cabinet appointed by the prime minister to consider aspects of government business - most decisions are taken up within these committees - only when a final verdict isn’t reached, they are taken into account, with chairmanship and membership being done by the PM

Question 48

What are the types of cabinet committees? With definitions

Answer 48

-Ministerial standing committees - permanent for the PMs term of office - determine the direction and detail of policy
-Ministerial sub committees - report to standing committees
-Ad hoc committees - temporary committees set up to deal with a particular issue
-Implementation task forces - track progress on policies that cross departmental boundaries

Question 49

Cabinet office

Answer 49

Government department focused on supporting the cabinet system and the PM and managing the civil service created in 1916 - perpares agedna and calls meetings, it acts as a facilitator in asks of disputes

Question 50

Cabinet system

Answer 50

The cabinet and its associated bodies including cabinet committees and the Cabinet Office

Question 51

Who is the current secretary to the Cabinet?

Answer 51

Nick Thomas Symods

Question 52

What are the 4 functions and roles of the cabinet?

Answer 52

1. Register and ratify decisions
2. Discuss and make decisions on major issues
3. Receive reports on key developments
4. Settle disputes between government departments

Question 53

What is meant by registering and ratifying decisions as a function and role of the cabinet?

Answer 53

-decisions on most issues are taken in cabinet committees, bilateral meetings or correspondence between departments
-If the PM and minister agree on policy, other ministers are unlikely to change the decisions and are discouraged from reopening issues
-Ability to decide policy is limited by the infrequency of meetings and the nature of policy - ministers have little time to study policy in departments that arent theirs as they lack expertise and may not see the relevant documents
-Turnover of ministers also limits their impact
-Ministers from 60s and 70s reveal that issues such as EEC membership were discussed for a lengthy time before reaching a decision but Blair avoided this - preferred to have key discussions with small groups of ministers

Question 54

What is meant by discussing and making decisions on major issues as a role and function of the cabinet?

Answer 54

-play a large role in decision making particularly with sensitive issues, in times of crises and emergencies where there must be quick reaction or when departments and committees haven’t reached an agreement
-PM makes final decision but the cabinet can warn and advise - PM sums deicisions and announces verdict
-Votes are rarely taken or they would reveal divisions
-Role is advisory even in major issues
-PM may also keep a sensitive issue away from cabinet to minimise them being challenged, which is what thatcher did when she opposed entry to the ERM and didnt want open discussion to not allow people to persuade others to support this - drove a wedge between the PM and the ministers

Question 55

What has happened to the function or role of discussing and making decisions on major issues?

Answer 55

Ken Clarke, a minister under thatcher, major and Cameron said that cabinet discussion declined significantly and in Camerons cabinet meetings, departmental reports were read not discussion

Question 56

What is meant by receiving reports on key developments as a role and function of the cabinet?

Answer 56

-allows ministers to keep abreast of events and discuss policy priorities
-Parliamentary business, economic and home affairs and foreign affairs are part of the formal cabinet meeting agenda
-Leader of commons and lords outline the following weeks business in the parliamentary report - reflects cabinets role in timetabling government bills and ministerial statements
-Ministers may wish to clarify or question policy, they may offer personal view or the view of the department but the cabinet isn’t a debating society and discussion is limited
-Small number of interventions are taken

Question 57

What is meant by settling disputes between govenrment departments as a role and function of the cabinet?

Answer 57

-if an issue cant be settled in a cabinet committee or bilateral meeting, it may be referred to the cabinet
-Some appeals may be over spending allocations or which department will lead legislation and competing departmental claims
-Cabinet judges the strength of the cases and reaches a decisions - doesn’t always work well
-1985 - Westland affair - Hesteline secretary for defence resigned because thatcher said the cabinet wouldnt hear his appeal against the cabinet committee decion on the award of a defence contract.

Question 58

Reasons for why the cabinet is not submissive to the PM?

Answer 58

-There are practical limits on the prime minister’s patronage powers: potential rivals may have strong claims for inclusion in the cabinet.
-Senior ministers can frustrate the prime minister’s policy preferences by working together to oppose them or by threatening to resign.
-Ministers with concerns about decisions that affect their department can refer issues to the cabinet as a final court of appeal.
-Government departments provide ministers with expertise and support.
-Senior ministers who are popular with the public or their party may gain additional influence.

Question 59

Reasons for why the cabinet is submissive to the PM?

Answer 59

-The prime minister can appoint his or her supporters to cabinet and dismiss ministers who disagree with his or her preferred policy.
-The prime minister has significant control over the cabinet agenda, steering and summarising discussions as they see fit and without having to call a vote.
-Many decisions are taken outside of the cabinet, often in bilateral meetings between the prime minister and a cabinet minister.
-The Prime Minister’s Office has expanded and plays a greater role in directing and coordinating policy across government.
-The prime minister can claim a personal mandate from the public and their party