Evaluate the view that since 2010 the UK has seen a return to cabinet government (Synoptic link needed)

Question 1

Agree: Return to cabinet government through the coalition

Answer 1

• There was a move towards Cabinet government during Cameron’s coalition government (2010-2015) due to there being no single party, majority government
• Due to Cameron’s cabinet having five Liberal Democrats MPs within it became more influential in shaping the government’s policy agenda
• For example, demands for constitutional reform from Liberal Democrats led to the 2011 AV+ referendum
• Also, Cameron was prevented from introducing tougher policies on people cheating the welfare benefits system because he required consensus from Liberal Democrat ministers in his cabinet
• This limited Cameron’s ability to run a prime ministerial style of government as he had to consult Cabinet more often.

Question 2

Disagree: There has not been a return to a cabinet government during the coalition:

Answer 2

• Within his coalition government of 2010-2015, Cameron was able to implement his austerity policies with little effective opposition from his coalition cabinet
• For example, in 2013, Liberal Democrat ministers sided with Conservative ministers to oppose a Mansion Tax, which they had previously supported, in order to maintain a strong coalition government
• EVAL: This could be determined to be a symptom of collective ministerial responsibility, in which the government has to appear united with a clear stance on policy areas

Question 3

Agree: Recent use of cabinet during crises:

Answer 3

• It can be argued that Cabinet has been increasingly used in times of crisis, suggesting a return to cabinet government
• In 2020, due to the COVID pandemic, many cabinet ministers took key roles in dealing with the national emergency
• Matt Hancock, the former Health Secretary, was an extremely important figure due to holding the government’s daily press briefings
• Cameron’s coalition government consulted parliament on foreign policy initiatives like the airstrikes to Syria in 2013, which was rejected by a vote in parliament
• ON THE OTHER HAND it could be determined that Johnson ran a ‘presidential style’ government due to being chief communicator during COVID, communicating to the public with emergency broadcasts

Question 4

Disagree: Many instances where PM did not consult Cabinet during crises:

Answer 4

• It can be determined that Cabinet has been less frequently utilised in times of crisis, signifying a move away from cabinet government
• In foreign policy, May bypassed Cabinet and parliament through using powers of royal prerogative to deploy troops to Syria (2018) perhaps showing a move towards ‘presidential style’ government
• Sunak has also increasingly taken personal control over foreign policy by representing the UK at global conferences such as G7 summit

Question 5

Agree: External influences may have weakened:

Answer 5

• It can be argued that since 2017, the power of the PM, which has been dependent on parliamentary majority and public and media perception, has increased the power of the Cabinet in decision-making
• For example, in 2022, the consequences from Party-Gate left confidence in Boris Johnson seriously weakened
• The Cabinet were extremely significant in this case, highlighting a swing back to cabinet government due to multiple ministerial resignations, like that of Sunak and Javid, leading to Johnson’s downfall, in which he ultimately resigned