PM & Exec Flashcards

Question

external factors

Answer 1

-devolution erodes the power of Westminster and the PM

Answer 2

thatcher using task force in the Falklands without explicit parliamentary approval david cameron sent air strikes in the libyan civil war without permission

Answer 3

assist the senior ministers and are appointed by the PM but arent part of the cabinetw

Answer 4

special advisor eg Dominic Cummings

Answer 5

1974 Harold Wilson set up the Policy Unit in Downing St to provide him with his own support and advice in developing political strategy. - Tony Blair - John Powell said his appointment demonstrated 'a change from a feudal system of barons to a more Napoleonic system' PM having a chief of staff (John) - The establishment of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit and Prime Minister's Delivery Unit further challenged the autonomy of cabinet by setting their departments targets and monitoring their performance. - **Growing use of advisors SpAds** - **Less formal - sofa politics under Tony Blair where he would take informal mini meetings with ministers**

Answer 6

**2018, Jeremy Hunt actually refused Theresa May's attempt to move him from the then Department of Health and even managed to expand his role to being health and social care secretary.** **Cabinets made up of the most powerful ministers - you would like to keep them on side.** Can force the PM out if resigned eg Theresa May 11 resignations

Answer 7

emphasized collective decision-making and inclusivity. He aimed to involve more cabinet members in the decision-making process and sought to create a more unified cabinet.

Answer 8

Overall, the relations between prime ministers and their cabinets have become more centralized and less consultative since Margaret Thatcher’s era. There has been a shift towards a more presidential style of leadership, with prime ministers relying heavily on a few key advisors and diminishing the power of the cabinet. The approach to decision-making has varied, with some prime ministers favouring consensus and collaboration (eg cameron) while others have taken a more authoritarian stance (eg Boris). The challenges of Brexit have also had a significant impact on the relations between prime ministers and their cabinets, often leading to divisions and tensions within the government. (May)

Answer 9

2017 - international development secretary. In 2020, she faced criticism over allegations of bullying and breaches of the ministerial code. If the pressure to resign became too significant, she might have chosen to step down.

Answer 10

2018 Home Secretary she claimed windrush generation were treated 'fairly' when they were being mistreated. amid mounting pressure and criticism for the handling of the situation, she resigned

Answer 11

2021 health secretary Matt Hancock, the former Health Secretary, resigned following the revelation of his breach of COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. The release of images showing him engaged in an affair with a colleague caused public outcry and undermined his credibility.

Answer 12

A formal committee of leading government members, including heads of government departments. ## Footnote The Cabinet plays a key role in decision-making and policy formulation.

Answer 13

An informal group of advisers consulted by the Prime Minister, which may include some cabinet members and individuals outside of the cabinet. ## Footnote The Kitchen Cabinet can influence the Prime Minister's decisions significantly.

Answer 14

Constraints include Parliament, the Cabinet, public opinion, and party dynamics. ## Footnote These factors can limit the extent of a Prime Minister's authority.

Answer 15

It ensures that government ministers are accountable to Parliament for their actions and decisions. ## Footnote This concept is crucial for maintaining democratic accountability.

Answer 16

Collective responsibility means the government as a whole is accountable to Parliament, while individual responsibility holds ministers accountable for their own departments. ## Footnote Both concepts are fundamental to the functioning of the government.

Answer 17

* Propose legislation * Propose a budget * Make policy decisions ## Footnote These functions are essential for the operation of government and legislative processes.

Answer 18

The Prime Minister has the formal power to appoint ministers and senior figures such as important judges, to dissolve and recall Parliament. ## Footnote This power has been affected by the Fixed Term Parliament Act.

Answer 19

* Patronage * Control over the cabinet * Party leadership * Prime Minister's and Cabinet Office support * Media access ## Footnote These powers significantly enhance the Prime Minister's influence and authority.

Answer 20

All of its members would resign. ## Footnote This principle reinforces accountability in government.

Answer 21

To propose a budget following negotiations with other departments and in cabinet. ## Footnote The Chancellor plays a key role in economic policy-making.

Answer 22

Legislation where ministers are granted specific powers under laws passed by Parliament to make guidelines and regulations. ## Footnote This allows for more detailed implementation of laws without requiring new primary legislation.

Answer 23

between 1997-2010 40% of select committee recommendations were accepted

Answer 24

Privileges Select Committee in 2023

Answer 25

18/27 chairs are from the labour party

Answer 26

- ensure govt justifies its legislative programme - create public debate - provide an alternative to govt - use shadow ministers to scrutinise govt front benchers

Answer 27

20 opposition days are given to the parties, they can choose subjects to debate public bill committees, opposition MPs can scrutinise proposed govt legislation shadow ministers expose mistakes and failures opposition leader gets 6 questions in PMQs

Answer 28

- 2017 following a PMQ from corbyn, the govt stopped using a premium rate for universal credit queries - may 2025, starmer revealed plans to expand eligibility for winter fuel payment, U turn confirmed after questions from labour backbenchers

Answer 29

- 2017, May did not effectively answer PMQs 67% Hansard society poll, public feel PMQ is a way to score political points

Answer 30

- 2022 Hoyle granted Rayner question to JOhnson on if he had knowingly broken lockdown restrictions

Answer 31

- need to include those with exp adn ability in cabinet, eg Blair's power limited by Chancellor Brown May had to appt Bojo to her cabinet even tho he outwardly opposed her - pack with allies, liz truss did this to actualise her economic vision eg Kwasi Kwarteng, Therese Coffey - balanced cabinets - w rivals they are kinda bound by CMR, may cultivate loyalty. balance of cabinet needed to prevent alienation eg may needed hard and soft brexiteers (incorporated euro research group), coalition had 1/3 lib dems

Answer 32

c - admin where cabinet key position in development of policy pm - PM is dominant force in decision making, cabinet relegated to subordinate advisory role.

Answer 33

head of state - feb/march 2025, starmer represented the UK in foreign policy meetings on Ukraine, bilaterally with trump. or 2009 Brown hosted G20 west wing - downing st growin into a west wing, providing admin support = less reliance on cabinet. spads are enelected and hired by PM to develop govt strat, 119 in starmers gov (128 in sunaks), dominic cummings held lots of power despite being unelected PM presidential - Foley's concept of spatial leadership suggests that PM is becoming more like presidents by distancing themselves from party, and more personal popularity eg 2019 bojo distances, presents as change and a move from auterity. 52% of electorate thought he would be a "completely new type of PM"

Answer 34

ability to act presidentially is limited by the personality and events outside their contorl, PMs who lack charisma are unlikely to act presidentially eg major, brown, may. MPs hampered by majority, cameron struggled as he was in charge of coalition PM is NOT head of state, moarch is the onw present and central for state visits eg starmer gave trump a letter from king charles with an invite for a 2nd state visit feb 2025 NO West wing - UK govt operates on core-exec model where power is fragmented, PM is "first among equals", cannot control all policy PM still relies on ministers to run their depts while relying on cabinet decision making to settle disputes and pass policy. eg Sunak gave hunt and cameron large autonomy to shape policy and dominate govt messaging (cameron leg UK-US attacks on Houthi rebels in Yemen) may needed big beasts eg johnson to keep brexiteers' favour not actually seperate, still can be held accountable to their party PMs rely on party to pass govt legislation agenda. plus, PM accountable to public thatcher, may, truss and johnson all removed by their cabinets

Answer 35

- proposing primary legislation thru bills in parliament - negotiating treaties and trade agreements, executive can shape the UK's foreign and economic policies by agreeing to international treaties and trade deals without needing to conslt parl (brexit exception). eg 2025 deals with EU - adding 9 billion to economy by 2040, make food cheaper. 225 UK/USA deal reduces tariffs, saving steel industry from 25% to 0% - military defence, deployment of troops, decl of war, drone strikes - setting annual budget, proposes at least 1 formal budget, updated seasonally thru spring and autumn statements. presented by chancellor

Answer 36

- guided by establishing authority in a loyal base of support in cabinet - key posts held by euroskeptics who supported boris. Dominic Raab was foreign secretary 2019-21 and had resugned from may's cabinet over her brexit deal - experts in positions eg both cancellors Javid and Sunak (2020) had relevant experience (sunak was an investment banker) - kept cabinet unity when in 2020 he supported priti patel when bullying allegations caused inquiry - johsnon did not initially see matt hancock's affair as a firing offense, only when prompted by media = suggests johnson was a leader who did not want his cabine tto be dictated by external pressures - johnson needed to assert authoirty and ensure committments to brexit was delivered without delay - sidelined cabinet, using it as a rubber stamp for decisions made elsewhere in sub-committees (COVID and Brexit) - social distancing measures meant key meetings were held by "core 4" johnson, gove, sunak and hancock as zoom was ineffective

Answer 37

- inherited a minority govt, limiting his power. he purged 21 tory MPs for opposing a no-deal brexit attempted to prorogue parliament for 5 weeks in 2019 unlawful - secured 80 seat majoirty in dec 2019, allowing him to pass EU withdrawal act = left UK 31 jan 2020 - launched economic support thru furlough - decision making slow (late lockdown announced and PPE shortages) - vaccine rollout in 2021

Answer 38

- dominic cummings - Johnson's chief advisor had major influence early on, shaping centralised decision making (also behind 2016 leave campaign). later forced out after a power struggle and turned on johnson - 2nd ministerial "dead wood", removed ministers with poor reputation eg Gavin Williamson

Answer 39

- position weakening, scandals like partygate led to vote of no confidence = HE WON BUT 41% didnt support him - lost 2 by-elections - johnson's evasive responses to questions about de. chied whip Chris Pincher's allegations of sexual misconduct - inflation rose to 9.1% - javid resigned as health sec due to boris' moral conduct and sunak resigned over economic differences. says that followed, 60 ministers resigned adn boris announced his resignation in july 2022.

Answer 40

- 21 seat majority - replaced unpopular poll tax that forced thatcher out of office with less controversial council tax - worked well with Bush Sr in the first Gulf War

Answer 41

- collegial - allowed for more discussion, acting in a more inclusive way. - lack of ideological commitments seems attractive but also was occasionally a weakness to not be firm - also meant that multilateral decision-making was slower

Answer 42

- did not have control over black wednesday, damaging his rep of competence + confluct over EU was rife in cabinet - maastricht treaty - the basis for the formation of the EU, set financial and cultural standards for potential member states and defined criteria for membership in the monetary union. faced huge tory backbench rebellion eg 1993 UKIP was founded + 40 tory mps defied the govt during mastricht ratificaiton - sleaze, series of financial and sexual scandals incl junior ministers and backbenchers

Answer 43

- rsigned leadership, told euroskeptics to "shut up or put up" = tied ratification of maastricht to vote of confidence - won the ensueing ledership ballot 218-89 to redwood but the 89 does dhow divisions - chancellor kenneth clarke helped major regain control of the eocnomy after 1993 through thatcherite fiscal discipline - introducing the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and fiscal restraint.

PM & Exec Flashcards

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