PM and Government

Question 1

what are the powers of the PM

Answer 1

• PM chooses a cabinet
• the PM can appoint and dismiss any minister without any qualifications
• PM appoints junior ministers
• PM leads the security service
• PM is ‘first lord to the treasury’ in charge of economic policy but delegates to chancellor to the exchequer
  chairs cabinet
• co-ordinates government from no 10 Downing Street
• controversially appoints senior officials

Question 2

PM dominate cabinet : case study thatcher - early cabinet

Answer 2

• Thatcher first took office, her Cabinet was a mix of Thatcherites and One Nation Torys - she called WWETs
• her early government was rather combative
• disagreements in cabinet consisted of secretary of states protecting their budgets form departmental cutbacks
• early loyal Thatcherites included Sir Keith Joseph

Question 3

PM dominate cabinet: thatcher case study, how she began to dominate

Answer 3

• around the 1981 budget, thatcher executed her Primeministerial duties by reshuffling cabinet
• brought in more Thatcherites into cabinet such as Nigel Lawson
• reports suggestt that thatcher had a more presidential style
• Spitting image satirical show in the 80s depicted Margret RThatcher as a school teacher rover cabinet with her condescending presidential role

Question 4

Arguments to go against prim minister can domin thatcherate cabinet -

Answer 4

ultimately was too presidential and too condescending towards her cabinet
- her own loyal Thatcherite supporters turned their backs on her and launched a leadership challenge against her with John Major succeeding her

Question 5

Pm dominate cabinet: case study Blair

Answer 5

• Tony Blair utilised a presidential approach over government
  he was quoted saying ‘ I lead my party, he follows his’ when talking about the leader of the opposition
• used his charming personality and charisma to win a large majority, and with that he was able to dominate cabinet and parliament
• often seen that Blair’s governments and cabinet were ‘sofa government’
• with the real decisions being made at 10 Downing Street
• He would often make decisions with few ministers who’s department was concerned in a matter, rather than meeting with the whole of cabinet
• cabinet would then at as a rubber stamp to the already made decisions
• examples of this would have been the decision to involve and enter GB into Iraq
• Blair would also controversially expose his cabinet to highly classified information to gain cabinets approval on a decision
• one minister was heard saying about the Iraq war that ‘if you heard the intelligence I have, you would want to go into Iraq too’

Question 6

against Blair dominate g cabinet

Answer 6

• his presidential style where he would confer with few ministers and make a decision before taking a matter to cabinet ‘sofa government’ was later is downfall as ministers felt as though they were not being listened too

Question 7

Arguments for how far the executive can dominate parliament

Answer 7

• parliamentary majority
• the power of party Whips
• the nature of policy
  the Salisbury convention
• the government control parliamentary agenda

Question 8

arguments against executive dominating parliament

Answer 8

• back bench business comitee

in party rebellions such as seen in the case of Boris Johnson where in 2022 he was met with 60 resignations and was forced to resign

• the House of Lords, the opposition parties are in place to hold the executive to account