Evaluate The View That The Conventions Of Individual Ministerial Responsibility and Collective Ministerial Responsibility Are Both Still Important.

Question 1

P1: CMR Disagree (Wilson, May, Cameron)

Answer 1

1. Ministers must support and defend all of the governmentʼs policies in public and in the media. CMR has had to be relaxed on a number of occasions in order for the government function effectively.
2. 1975 European Communities Referendum, Harold Wilson allowed ministers to campaign on both sides of the argument in order to prevent resignations by anti-Europeans.
3. LD ministers were allowed to abstain in votes on: the construction of
   nuclear power stations, tax allowances for married couples, higher education
   funding and the renewal of Trident.
4. Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson consistently leaked his dissatisfaction with government policy and briefed against TM, including writing critical weekly articles in the Daily Telegraph. Yet, due to his popularity
   within the Conservative Party, particularly with Brexiteers,she wasnʼt able to sack him.

Question 2

P1: Disagree CMR (Sunak, Truss Starmer)

Answer 2

1. In June 2023, Sunak gave Tory MPs a free vote on Johnson’s suspension; some ministers, like Badenoch and Mordaunt, abstained out of loyalty, breaking collective responsibility.
2. Tobacco and Vapes Bill in April 2024, which sought to incrementally
   increase the legal smoking age, Badenoch and Steve Baker voted against the measure, citing personal and constituency
   concerns. (free vote).
3. Starmer also decided to hold a free vote on the contentious Private Members Bill about
   assisted dying in late 2024 for the same reason.
4. October 2022, Leader of the HoC Penny Mordaunt and Welsh Secretary Robert Buckland publicly opposed Liz Trussʼ governmentʼs policy that
   benefits shouldnʼt rise with inflation, but werenʼt forced to resign

Question 3

P1: CMR Agree

Answer 3

1. Ministers rarely criticise government policy publicly, and PMs can use patronage to enforce unity.
2. SuellaB sacked (Nov 2023).Published an unauthorised Times article criticising the Metropolitan Police over pro-Palestinian protests. Accused police of “playing favourites” and protesters of being “hate marchers”. Not approved the article – breach of the ministerial code.
3. Supreme Court ruled the legal definition of “woman” under the Equality Act is based on biological sex. The whole cabinet publicly aligned with the new definition, including Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson. Ministers quickly adapted public statements to defend government policy, even if privately they disagreed.
4. Anneliese Dodds resignation (Feb 2025). Resigned as International Development Minister over Starmer’s decision to cut the international aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI. Letter ‘removing food and healthcare.’

Question 4

IMR Definition:

Answer 4

One key aspect of the convention of individual ministerial responsibility and the most common
cause of resignations on the grounds of ministerial responsibility is in relation to the personal conduct and professionalism of ministers. If their personal conduct falls below what is expected of them, they are expected to offer their resignation.

Question 5

P2: IMR in relation to personal conduct Agree

Answer 5

1. Matt H caught on CCTV having an extramarital affair with an aide. Breached his own department’s COVID-19 social distancing rules. Resigned, but only after intense media and public pressure – initially just apologised.
   Shows IMR, enforcement depends on media backlash, not principle.
2. Andrew Gwynne sacked (Feb 2025), Health Minister. Leaked WhatsApp messages showed him making offensive comments (e.g. wishing a pensioner who didn’t vote Labour would die). Government stated this violated the standards expected in public office.
3. Tulip Siddiq resignation (Jan 2025). Linked to an anti-corruption probe in Bangladesh. Referred herself for investigation; cleared of breaching the ministerial code. Still resigned due to a “serious conflict of interest” perception of impropriety, not just proven misconduct.
4. Starmer revised the Code to curb PM dominance, letting the ethics adviser launch investigations independently.

Question 6

P2: IMR in relation to personal conduct disagree

Answer 6

1. Depends on the PM.
2. 2022 Partygate scandal revealed government parties during COVID lockdowns, which J attended and knowingly misled Parliament about, yet he did not resign.
3. Revised the Ministerial Code in May 2022 to remove the expectation that ministers resign for breaches; instead, public apology or pay reduction sufficed.
4. Key terms like ‘honesty,’ ‘transparency,’ and ‘accountability’ were removed from the Code’s foreword.
5. PMs often enforce IMR selectively, influenced by political popularity and media scrutiny: Louise Haigh resigned in 2024 over a past fraud conviction only after media pressure, despite Starmer knowing earlier.
6. Priti Patel was found to have bullied civil servants in 2020 but did not resign, nor was she forced to, due to her political influence and popularity within the party

Question 7

P3: Agree IMR in relation to responsibility for department

Answer 7

1. IMR also requires ministers to be accountable for their department’s policies, performance, and failures. Ministers are expected to resign if their department fails significantly or they cannot effectively manage it.
2. In 2002, Estelle Morris resigned as Education Secretary after failing to meet literacy and numeracy targets, admitting she was not suited for the role.
3. Ministers must provide accurate information to Parliament and resign if they knowingly mislead it.
4. Amber Rudd resigned in 2018 after misleading the Home Affairs Select Committee over deportation targets amid the Windrush scandal.

Question 8

P3: IMR in relation to department

Answer 8

1. Individual ministerial responsibility for departmental failures is often seen as less important today because ministers may avoid resigning to protect their careers, especially if supported by the Prime Minister. Accountability has shifted somewhat to civil servants, who sometimes take the blame instead of ministers.
2. In 2020, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson stayed in office despite the GCSE/A-Level exams algorithm failure; the civil servant head of Ofqual resigned instead.
3. Ministers closely allied to the Prime Minister often avoid resignation despite major failures. In 2023, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan did not resign over the RAAC concrete crisis in schools and instead blamed others, showing a lack of acceptance of individual responsibility.