Cabinet has no power Flashcards
(9 cards)
Question
Evaluate the view that the cabinet is no longer holds any power in the UK Executive.
Factors
- Role in Executive decisions.
- Patronage powers.
- Media/Public appearance
Judgement
Cabinet no longer holds power in the UK Executive
Weaker argument role in Executive decisions
→ In 2003 Blair had to bring Cabinet onside before Iraq War decision, he needed to know there was going to be no Cabinet rebellions before he announced the controversial decision.
→ The importance of Cabinet unity and support can be emphasised by those who failed to get Cabinet on board:
- Liz Truss’s Cabinet unity fractured during mini-budget crisis, leading to her downfall and subsequent resignation.
- Theresa May’s Cabinet splits over Brexit leads to her resignation.
→ During crises Cabinets remain highly important in legislation: COVID-19 COBRA meetings involved senior ministers from Cabinet.
Stronger argument role in Executive decisions
→ Boris Johnson’s chose to use “quad” meetings during COVID-19 over full Cabinet - this composed of himself, Sunak (Chancellor), Gove (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster) and Hancock (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care).
→ Under Blair there was much use of “sofa gov” sidelining formal structures.
- The plan to introduce foundation hospitals was not discussed in Cabinet. The policy was largely drawn up between Blair, Health Secretary Alan Milburn, and Blair’s advisers. When presented to Cabinet, there was little opportunity for dissent or amendment.
→ In the coalition gov. the Cabinet was sidelined for the “quad” that was comprised of - Cameron (PM), Clegg (Deputy PM), Osborne (Chancellor) and Danny Alexander (Chief Secretary to the Treasury).
- The government wanted to reduce the top rate of income tax from 50p to 45p for high earners. The decision was agreed within the Quad then presented to the Cabinet as a done deal.
Weaker argument patronage powers
→ Sunak (2022-2024) – Lacked full control over appointments. Had to keep Hunt as Chancellor for market stability and Suella Braverman as Home Secretary to appease the right-wing MPs.
→ Failure to Remove Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary (2016-2018): Despite his repeated public undermining of government policy, May kept Johnson in her cabinet for over two years.
→ Gordon Brown and Blair - Blair had to grant Brown significant autonomy over the Treasury, limiting his ability to intervene.
Stronger argument patronage powers
→ Thatcher promoting loyal “Drys”: She elevated Nigel Lawson to Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1983 and Norman Tebbit to key Cabinet positions, consolidating her influence.
→ Blair promoted loyal MPs like David Miliband and Alan Milburn to key cabinet roles.
→ May removed key figures associated with Cameron and “Remain”, such as Osborne, and appointed Brexit-supporting ministers like David Davis and Liam Fox. This demonstrated her ability to use patronage to consolidate power and shape the government in her image.
→ Johnson (2019-2022) – Asserted strong control over appointments. Appointed Priti Patel as Home Secretary and Rishi Sunak as Chancellor to align with his political goals.
Weaker argument media and public presentation
→ Theresa May – Brexit Divisions (2016–2019) - Her Cabinet was deeply split between Leavers and Remainers. High-profile resignations, like Johnson (Foreign Sec) and David Davis (Brexit Sec) in 2018, over her Chequers Plan for Brexit made May look weak and damaged her public image.
→ Margaret Thatcher: Cabinet divisions over Europe - Geoffrey Howe resigned in 1990, giving a devastating resignation speech criticising her leadership style and dismissive approach to Cabinet. This damaged the appearance of Thatcher and began the image of the Conservatives as the ‘nasty party’ which was maintained until Cameron.
Stronger argument media and public presentation
→ Blair lost support because people believed it was his decision to go to war with Iraq - there was a public protests about the Iraq War in which over 1 million protested in London (2003).
→ Poll Tax Protests (1990): The introduction of the Community Charge triggered mass protests, including the infamous Trafalgar Square riots. This demonstrates how the public wasn’t annoyed with Cabinet’s disunity over the poll tax but Thatcher’s decision to introduce it.
→Truss (2022): people were less worried about internal Tory divisions and more concerned with the cost of living and crashing of the economy. Public and media mockery (Daily Star’s “lettuce” stunt).
→ Sunak (2022-2024) - Never recovered from public perception of being “rich and out of touch” the Sky TV comment was part of his downfall.
→ Boris Johnson and Partygate - people were not concerned with the presentation of Cabinet as unified after COVID but with the rule breaking of the Prime Minister.
