Individual and collective reponsibility?

Question 1

What is individual ministerial responsibility?

Answer 1

Government Ministers are individually responsible for not only their own actions, but also for those of their department

Question 2

What is collective responsibility?

Answer 2

All ministers are collectively responsible as a government for its policy’s and performance passes

Question 3

How are ministers held individually responsible?

Answer 3

Forced to resign and to apologise

Question 4

Examples of individual ministerial responsibility? Priti Patel

Answer 4

International development secretary forced resign after failed to be honest with May about 16 unofficial meetings with Israel
After reignition told newspaper Boris knew

Question 5

Examples of individual ministerial responsibility? Andrew Mitchell?

Answer 5

Plebgate. Mitchell a chief whip, told to dismount his bike and walk with it through the pedestrian entrance, an argument occurred and it resulted in him calling the police office a pleb
Apologised and stayed in office but the police officer stuck to his side of the story and ultimately due to no agreement from either side Mitchell was forced to resign

Question 6

How are ministers held collectively responsible?

Answer 6

If they disagree with a policy they are expected to resign
Also is many people resign in parliament then ruling government could lose its majority and ultimately loose its place therefore everyone’s held accountable

Question 7

Example of collective responsibility- Ian Duncan Smith?

Answer 7

Conservative leader and work pensioner secrater 2010 till resign
Stated reason for reignitu was for cuts for weather benefits to disability benefit for gov reduccony gov deficit
Argued that instead cuts from better of older people
Some said resignation was due to cumulation long feud with treasury, or due to difficulty with George Osbourne
Also speculation over Brexit as he’s a Remainer

Question 8

Example of collective responsibility- Robin Cook and Iraq war?

Answer 8

Labour foreign secretary from 1997-2001. Made comment on blairs policy to invade iraq
Argued we should be allies with euro parties and the UN and not go with USA, but went to war anyway
Cook resigned as he didnt want to be associated with he war

Question 9

Examples of collective responsibility- Tracey Couch + fixed odd betting machine?

Answer 9

Sports minister resigned over delays of crack down of maxing stacks for fixed odd betting machine
Hammon said in budget speed cut in staks from £100 to £10
Couch believed it was unjustifiable and would cost levels of problem gamblers so she resigned

Question 10

7 quality’s MPs should follow?

Answer 10

-Selflessness
-Integrity
-Objectivity
-Accountability
-Openness
-Honesty
Leadership

Question 11

What are the different strains of collective responsibility?

Answer 11

Leeks
Dissent and non resignations
PM dominance

Question 12

What are the different strains of collective responsibility? Leeks?

Answer 12

disgruntled ministers and advisors may leek information on cabinet discussion to media
May want distraction about the policy or condition of gov, but don’t want to go to public with criticism e.g. Gavin Wilson

Question 13

What are the different strains of collective responsibility? PM dominance?

Answer 13

Some cabinet ministers in Baue and Thatcher time claim undermining collective responsibility by ignoring cabinet
Heselton Howe and Lawson in M. Thatcher’s gov contempt for collegiate

Question 14

What are the different strains of collective responsibility? Dissent and non resignation

Answer 14

Not resigning so PM has to sack them in order to look week
Alister Darlow refusing to resign

Question 15

What’s the difference between accountability and responsibility?

Answer 15

Accountability- Keeping public and parliament informed filled informed fully explaining govs policy action e.g. oral q’s
Responsibility’s- Accepting blame and praise for how they use their powers and fulfill duties e.g. parliament holding bad gov accountable by removing it

Question 16

What is the unamaity principles and why do ministers feel bound by decisions made in their absence?

Answer 16

All ministers ust support decisions in public even if they disagree
If they don’t agree with something t=it will have to be challenged with backbenchers
Prevents themselves from protecting themselves saying they don’t agree with it

Question 17

What is the confidentiality principle and why is it important?

Answer 17

In order to preserve appearance of gov whilst also allowing honest discussion, they expect it to stay parliament and confidentiality
Important because it gives us a clear idea of policy

Question 18

What is an example of a minister violating the confidentiality principle?

Answer 18

Givin Willison, leaking details of national security council. Decisions to allow chinese telectors firm huawei to build part of the UKs 5G wireless

Question 19

How can collective responsibility be said to provide clarity and why is such clarity important?

Answer 19

Because it gives the govt one voice
If policy’s unclear or constantly changing it can be difficult for people opposition to hold govt accountable and financial decisions

Question 20

Why can collective responsibility be broken?

Answer 20

It’s only a convention
If they break this their will be pressure to resign but they don’t have to