Evaluate the view that the concepts of individual ministerial responsibility and collective ministerial responsibility are both still important. (Synoptic link needed)

Question 1

Agree: CMR assists resignations of PM when necessary

Answer 1

• CMR is arguably an important doctrine because it assists with the removal of incompetent Prime Ministers - resignations from within the Cabinet show a direct criticism of either policy decisions of the government or the PM themselves and therefore reflect an absence of confidence from the Cabinet
• Although winning the vote of confidence from his party in 2022, Boris Johnson faced 10 cabinets resignations following his violations of covid-19 resignations with attendance at numerous parties.
• Johnson won a vote of confidence which supposedly legitimised his governance, however, the Cabinet resignations reflected that contrary to the vote ministers had in fact lost confidence in his leadership and ultimately it was these resignations which forced him to resign as Conservative leader in 2022.

Question 2

Disagree: CMR is non binding on PMs:

Answer 2

• CMR is not binding upon the PM therefore the PM is not obligated to resign from leadership when Cabinet members resign.
• Apart from intense media scrutiny affecting the outcome of the next election for the Conservative Party, there was no requirement for Johnson to have resigned - although laughable, he could have continued to appoint new ministers and pursued with leadership until the next Vote of Confidence or General Election.

Question 3

Agree: Individual Ministerial Responsibility In Relation To Personal Conduct Remains Important

Answer 3

• In June 2021, then Health Secretary Matt Hancock resigned after a video showed him having an extramarital affair with a colleague, which also meant he had breached his own department’s COVID regulations.
• In April 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab resigned after allegations of bullying and mistreatment of staff from over 20 civil servants.
• These recent examples could be used to suggest that individual ministerial responsibility is highly important.

Question 4

Disagree: When a Prime Minister has low standards of personal conduct, themselves, IMR is therefore unimportant:

Answer 4

• This can be seen in particular under Boris Johnson. In 2022, the ‘Partygate’ scandal broke out in the media, revealing that there had been a number of parties in Number 10 during COVID lockdowns that had broken the government’s own laws and guidance. Boris Johnson and other key ministers attended, whilst Johnson specifically knowingly misled Parliament about the parties. Despite this, Johnson didn’t resign.
• Not only did Johnson not resign, he also revised the Ministerial Code in May 2022 to weaken the rules on individual ministerial responsibility so that ministers who breach the Ministerial Code are no longer expected to resign, but to publicly apologise and/or accept a reduction in their pay.

Question 5

Agree: CMR is flexible, a pm might choose to inact it only when its favourable

Answer 5

• Philip Hammond (2018-2019): As Chancellor, Hammond publicly opposed a no-deal Brexit and advocated for a softer exit, despite the government’s official stance under Theresa May. He was allowed to stay in the Cabinet due to the flexibility of the principle.
• Jeremy Hunt (2019): During the leadership contest in 2019, Hunt, then Foreign Secretary, openly disagreed with Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, yet he remained in the Cabinet, showing that ministers could express differing views within the government.