PMs are too powerful

Question 1

Question

Answer 1

Evaluate the view that Prime Ministers have too much power.

Question 2

Factors

Answer 2

• Cabinet authority
• Policy making role
• Public standing

Question 3

Judgement

Answer 3

They are powerful but not TOO powerful.

Question 4

Weaker argument Cabinet authority

Answer 4

Patronage Powers:
→ Johnson placing pro-Brexit people within government.
→ Thatcher removing the ‘Wets’ from her government after her re-election in 1983.

By-passing of Cabinet:
→ Tony Blair: Decision to go to war with Iraq. Making the Bank of England independent.
→ Theresa May: May did try to bypass Cabinet - she relied on Ollie Robins and sacrificing her Brexit Secretaries such as David Davis.

Question 5

Stronger argument Cabinet authority

Answer 5

Limits to patronage:
→ Sunak had to keep Hunt as Chancellor because another change could spook the markets.
→ Cameron was limited by his coalition he had to have Liberal Democrat leaders in his government (this formed the ‘Quad’).
→ Opposing powers - Blair knew that he had to keep Brown in a strong Cabinet position. May knew she had to keep Johnson in her Cabinet in the hope of collective responsibility.

Consultation of Cabinet:
→ At the end of Johnson’s time in office both Sunak and Javid resigned to check Johnson’s power.
→ Even the most powerful PM have to consult Cabinet/Ministers - Brown refused to have the Euro, refused to increase defence spending.

Question 6

Weaker argument policy making role

Answer 6

FPTP Majorities:
→ Blair was able to pass the policy of increasing tuition fees to £3,000/year, despite rebellions in his party.
→ Blair didn’t face a single defeat in the Commons between 1997 and 2005 - showing how the system allows the PM to be too powerful.

Direction of Policy:
→ When PMs have a mandate to carry out a particular policy they are usually strong in passing that legislation - Johnson and Brexit, Thatcher and Privatisation.

Question 7

Stronger argument policy making role

Answer 7

Backbench Rebellions:
→ May’s negotiated Brexit deal was rejected 3 times in the Commons, including by large margins.
→ Even strong PMs suffer with backbench rebellions, Thatcher was unable to prevent rebellions on divisive policies like Sunday trading laws in 1986.

Institutional Checks:
→ House of Lords:
- Blair had over 300 Lords defeats.
- Thatcher: the Lords blocked reforms such as compulsory local government competitive tendering in 1989.
→ Supreme Court:
- Rwanda Bill was deemed unconstitutional.

Question 8

Weaker argument public standing

Answer 8

Presidential PMs:
→ Blair’s presidential style:
- Post 9/11 relationship with the USA.
- His ‘People’s Princess’ speech after her death filled a gap the royal family wasn’t occupying.

Crises Management:
PMs often get all of the praise for crises management:
→ Thatcher took the salute from returning soldiers after the victory of the Falkland’s War.
→ Boris Johnson took all the credit for “getting Brexit done” when in actuality other members of government such as Lord Frost and Dominic Cummings were the main drivers behind the final Brexit deal.

Question 9

Stronger argument public standing

Answer 9

Poor Policy Choices:
→ Blair’s and Iraq
→ Thatcher and the ‘poll tax’.

Scandals:
→ John Major’s Conservative government was surrounded by scandal:
- The “Cash for Questions”.
- Sex Scandals: Transport Minister Steve Norris admitted to having 5 affairs. .
→ 2024: Partygate, the Picher Affair, Hancock’s adultery, Liz and the Lettuce, Sunak and Sky TV.

Poor Presentation:
→ Despite having all the ‘ingredients’ to be a strong PM (large majority, party unity) Starmer fails to be a strong PM because of poor media presentation - his poll ratings. Despite having 98% fame on YouGov Starmer currently has a popularity of 27% (13/02/25).