Prime Minister and Executive Flashcards
(50 cards)
1
Q
What is the executive?
A
The decision making branch of government, centred on the prime minister and Cabinet and its committees
2
Q
What is the cabinet?
A
The group of senior ministers, chaired by the PM, which is the main collective decision making body in the government.
It consists of 20-23 senior ministers, and there are several senior figures who are not members of the Cabinet but attend its meetings
Administrative support an help in delivering policy is provided by the Cabinet Office, headed by the Cabinet secretary, the UK’s most senior civil servant
3
Q
What is a minister?
A
A member of either the House of Commons or House of Lords who serves in government, usually exercising specific responsibilities in a department
4
Q
What is a government department?
A
A part of the executive, usually with specific responsibilities over an area, such as health, education or defence. They are each headed by a Cabinet minister and supported by several junior ministers responsible for specific aspects of the department
5
Q
What are executive agencies?
A
Semi-independent bodies that carry out some of the functions of government departments e.g. the DVLA which is overseen by the Department for Transport
6
Q
What is the structure of the executive?
A
- The Prime Minister
- The Cabinet
- Government departments
- Executive agencies
7
Q
What are the main roles of the executive?
A
- Proposes legislation
- Proposes the budget
- Makes policy decisions
8
Q
The role of the executive in proposing legislation
A
- The executive introduces proposals for new laws or amendments to existing laws
- The executive announces a new programme at the start of each parliamentary session in the King’s Speech, which is read out to both houses by the monarch, but written by the government
- The May 2015 Queen’s Speech reflected the priorities of Cameron’s government; referendum on membership of the EU, measures to endure decisions affecting England, or England and Wales would only be taken with the consent of MPs from those parts of the UK, legislation to protect essential public services against strikes
- Most legislation is in a party’s manifesto as it means it cannot be opposed due to the Salisbury convention (1945)
- The executive doesn’t confine itself to measures proposed in a party manifesto at a general election, it also has the power to introduce legislation to contend with emergencies, and to amend existing statutes to bring the UK into line with international law - known as a ‘doctor’s mandate’
- Ministers will often consult with interested parties, such as pressure groups and professional bodies before introducing legislation. e.g. in 2015 the Cameron government undertook a consultation exercise with employers on its proposal to introduce an apprenticeship levy
- Most legislation passes through Commons without problems as the government has a majority
9
Q
The role of the executive in proposing the budget
A
- The government needs to raise revenue in order to fund public services and to meet its spending priorities.
- The budget is created by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in consultation with the Prime Minister
- The budget is an annual statement of the government’s plans for changes to taxation and public spending
10
Q
Key things in the 2024 budget
A
- The rates of income tax, VAT and National Insurance for employees to remain the same, but income tax bands to rise in line with inflation
- Legal minimum wage to rise from £11.44 to £12.21 (left wing)
- £3 cap on bus fares
- Air Passenger Duty to increase
- Day to day spending on NHS to rise by 4.7%
11
Q
The role of the executive in making policy decisions
A
- Policy decision is different from passing legislation as this involves a more long-term approach. Policy decisions can be based on events and ideology.
- Ideology - an all-encompassing vision which directs and decides actions and approaches to particular issues
Case studies in ideological application:
- Unions calling strikes; right wing ignore, left wing resolve, listen and raise pay
- Universal credit; right wing are less willing to give, left wing want easier access to universal credit
- Taxes on small businesses: right wing want to lower taxes, left wing want higher taxes
12
Q
The development of the Downing Street Machine
A
- Following the poor relationship between John Major’s government and the press, when Tony Blair’s New Labour came to power, they were determined to exercise control over the media
- Blair appointed Alastair Campbell to do this as his “Communications Advisor”
13
Q
Campbell - “spin doctor”
A
Because of his close relationship with the media, he and those around him became known as ‘spin doctors’, so-called because they were concerned with the press presentation of government policy
14
Q
Who was the first SPAD?
A
Marcia Williams - SPAD to Harold Wilson
‘To get access to Harold, you had to keep on the right side of Marcia’
15
Q
Example of bad use of SPADs
A
- Theresa May used Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill
- There were allegations of Hill bullying ministers, with claims that she screamed and swore at minsters
- Critics demanded the pair must go if May wanted to avoid a quick leadership contest
- Many didn’t like their closed style of government
- Hill and Timothy decided May’s manifesto, which then lost her the election, so they had to resign
16
Q
Cummings and the management of Johnson’s government
A
- Johnson employed Cummings as his SPAD (Cummings was the head of the successful Vote Leave campaign)
- After the splits in May’s cabinet, Cummings decided to take a hardline approach;
- Regular Friday afternoon briefings for cabinet minister and civil servants on strategy
- The sacking of a high profile advisor (who was escorted from Downing Street under armed guard) after Cummings suspected her of leaking information
- The sacking of 21 Tory MPs when they defied the whip and voted against the government
- The prorogation of Parliament
- The decision to fight the 2019 election on the campaign of ‘Get Brexit Done’
17
Q
What are the two aspects of ministerial responsibility?
A
Individual Ministerial Responsibility (IMR)
Collective Ministerial Responsibility (CMR)
18
Q
What does the ministerial code say?
A
‘Ministers have a duty to parliament to account, and be held to account for the policies, decisions and actions of their departments and agencies. They are obliged to give accurate information to parliament, and if they knowingly mislead parliament, they are expected to resign. Ministers… only remain in office for so long as they retain the confidence of the PM’
19
Q
Why may a minister be forced to resign?
A
- Personal Misconduct
- Mistakes made by the department
- Publicity/parliament reaction
- Attitude of the PM
20
Q
Examples of resignations as a result of IMR
A
Damien Green under May:
- resigned about the presence of pornographic images on his HoC computer
- May said she was ‘extremely sad’ about losing him and it was ‘with deep regret and enduring gratitude for the contribution you have made over many years that I asked you to resign from the government’
- Heywood found that Green had twice breached the ministerial code because his misleading comments - said he ‘didn’t download or view’ - and had fallen short of the 7 principles of public life
- His lie was the main reason for his resignation
David Laws under Cameron:
- resigned as chief secretary to the Treasury after admitting he claimed expenses to pay rent to his partner
- Following his resignation, Cameron said he was an ‘honourable man’ and wanted to see him serving again in the future
21
Q
What is collective ministerial responsibility?
A
The convention that minister must support all decisions of the government in public. Cabinet discussions (and disagreements) must be confidential
22
Q
What is one positive of CMR?
A
Cabinet are more united and therefore more stable
23
Q
What is one negative of CMR?
A
Undemocratic as minsters can’t give their full opinions
24
Q
Examples where PMs have set aside CMR?
A
Starmer allowed ministers to not have to follow the party whip and allowed them to vote with their conscience when voting on the Assisted Dying Bill
Cameron allowed minister to choose how they voted during Brexit
25
Examples of resignations because of CMR and IMR
2014 - Baroness Warsi, Minister of State at foreign office, and minister for fait and communities because she disagreed with government policy on the Israel-Gaza conflict (CMR)
2014 - Maria Miller, Culture secretary resigned because of parliamentary expense claims related to her family homes (IMR)
2012 - Chris Huhne, energy and climate change secretary resigned because he was charged with perverting the course of justice over an earlier speeding prosecution (IMR)
2012 - Andrew Mitchell, chief whip, resigned because he was accused of insulting policemen on duty in Downing Street (IMR)
2011 - Liam Fox, defence secretary, resigned because he allowed a personal friend to accompany him as an adviser to official meetings (IMR)
26
Which PMs had a good/bad relationship with their cabinet?
Good:
Tony Blair - had his first resignation after 5 years
Bad relationship:
Sunak - cabinet fell apart; Braverman and Jenrick both resigned and attacked him
Thatcher (at the end) - Cabinet brought her down (all advised her to resign); 'treachery with a smile on its face'
27
Which PMs had a good/bad SPAD?
Good:
Blair with Campbell
Bad:
Theresa May - spads caused her to loose her majority
28
Which PMs had a good/bad media image?
Good:
Blair to start - even got the Sun (right wing) to support him, 'things can only get better'
Thatcher - Iron Lady
Bad:
Truss - Lettuce
May - Maybot
Starmer? - 2 tier Keir
29
Which PMs had a good/bad electoral success?
Successful:
Blair - 179 seat majority, biggest since 1935, won 3 consecutive elections, most electorally successful labour PM
Thatcher - 144 seat majority, won 3 consecutive elections
Bad:
May - lost her majority, had to enter into a confidence and supply agreement with the DUP
30
What PM's were good/bad at dealing with events?
Good:
Blair; Diana's death - 'the people's princess'; 9/11 - 'we are all Americans tonight'
Thatcher - Fauklands war - won her the next election
Starmer and riots
Johnson and Ukraine
Bad:
Truss and Queen's death
31
What PM's were effective/ineffective?
Effective:
Atlee - 5 giants; still in place today
Blair; achieved what he set out to; lots still in place
Ineffective:
Truss - crashed the economy, only there for 49 days
Sunak - couldn't control cabinet
May - promised to sort out Brexit, but didn't
32
What is elasticity theory?
The theory that the more a PM pushes against the barriers of their office, the more likely the constraints will pull them back into place
- because the constitution is uncodified, their are no set boundaries on the role of the PM
33
Thatcher and elasticity theory
- Geoffrey Howe turned on Margaret Thatcher because she refused to set a date to enter the ERM and refused to discuss it - he and Nigel Lawson threatened to resign if she didn't, and as a result she demoted Howe from foreign minister to leader of the HoC
- There was a conflict between Nigel Lawson (chancellor) and Alan Walters (SPAD) because Lawson's views on economics weren't welcome, but Walters' were - Lawson felt he couldn't do his job as he was constantly being undermined by Walters - said if Thatcher didn't sack Walters then he would resign
- Thatcher didn't think that she should have to campaign for people's votes in the leadership race, but people held this against her as her competitor Micheal Heseltine had been canvasing votes - she didn't have support so Major took her place in the second ballot and won
- 'Treachery with a smile on its face' refers to Thatcher feeling betrayed by her cabinet as they had had a meeting while she was away agreeing that she would not win. When she met with each Minster individually, and each said that she would loose but they would support her if she stood in the second ballot
34
Boris Johnson and Elasticity Theory
How Boris dominated cabinet:
- Big majority which gave him legitimacy and authority
- Made pandemic decision without consulting parliament for votes
- Reliance on SPADS - sacked 21 MPs during Brexit wars because spad said to
- Recogniseable and popular personality in the media
- Appointed only Brexiteers to cabinet
How Boris stretched things too far:
- Too reliant on SPADs; Cummings caused Chancellor Said David to resign, and when Cummings resigned, he betrayed Johnson's secrets
- Became too reliant on CMR; made ministers lie in interviews about Downing Street parties
- Appointed people based on loyalty rather than merit, left weak people in power at a time of national emergency and made able colleagues resentful (Williamson @ Education, Hancock @ health)
- Resignations of Sunak and David started the ball rolling for mass resignations and eventually bought him down
35
What factors does a PM take into account when appointing minsters?
- Importance of including individuals with experience and ability; general ability as an administrator and communicator is more important that detailed knowledge of a particular policy area; Thatcher said she needed to 'groom people' to take over
- Establishing a PM's authority, stamp their own authority on government; May sacked George Osborne almost immediately and 9 senior ministers in the next 48 hours
- Rewarding loyalty and including key allies - but also conciliating potential rivals; May had Johnson, Major had to appoint Heseltine
- Maintaining a balance between different factions to maintain party unity; May had brexiteers (Johnson) and remainers (Amber Rudd) , sunak attempted too - Braverman Thatcherite where he was One Nation
- Meeting expectations of diversity; Margaret Becket foreign secretary 2006 was the first woman to hold one of 3 most senior positions under PM; Truss had no white men in 4 most important minsters
36
What factors affect the power relationship between the PM and Cabinet?
- Management skills of the PM; a determined and astute PM will exploit the elastic nature of the office to assert control over the cabinet - Thatcher began by building her cabinet in her image and dominating, but this began to undermine her
- PM's ability to set the agenda; decisions are rarely taken by holding a vote in cabinet and the views of senior ministers hold the most weight - Wilson refused to discuss devaluation of point, Thatcher refused discussions about ERM
- Use of Cabinet committees and informal groups to take decisions - Blair and Brown's decision to place management of interest rates in hands of the BoE, under the coalition there was 'the Quad' (Cameron, Clagg, Osborne and Alexander) met regularly to solve and prevent disputes
- Development of PM's office (SPADS) and cabinet office; PM has access to more resources than other ministers - Wilson created Policy Unity (1974) to gain an overview and drive policy across departments, close cooperation between both offices under Blair to support coordination and implementation of policy
- Impact of the wider political and economic situation; PM with large majority will find it easier to dominate - Thatcher and Fauklands, Starmer and riots, Johnson and covid/ukraine, Brown and financial crash, May and grenfall,
37
Tulip Siddiq resignaton
- Resigned because her family is seen as corrupt and she is responsible for anti-corruption
- Resigned under IMR - doesn't relate to a cabinet decision
- Starmer said 'door remains open' for her and praised her work
38
What are the main powers of the Executive?
Royal prerogative powers
Initiation of legislation
Secondary legislative power
39
What is royal prerogative?
A set of powers and privileges belonging to the monarch but normally exercised by the PM or Cabinet, such as the granting of honours or of legal pardons
40
What are the main prerogative powers?
Award honours
Declare war and authorise the use of the armed forces
Sign treaties
Take action to maintain order in case of emergency
Grant and withdraw passports
Grant legal pardons
Appoint ministers and other senior office holders
41
What is initiation of legislation?
- Executive controls most of the parliamentary time available for legislation
If the government has a majority in Commons, it can usually rely on the party shipping system and the power of patronage to push through its programme
The executive has many tools to strengthen its hold over the passage of legislation; 'allocation of time motion' - allows the government to curtail debate on the individual clauses of a bill and applies only in the commons
42
What is secondary legislation?
Legislation made without passing a new act of parliament, instead the government uses powers created by an earlier act
The most common form of secondary legislation is statutory instruments which enable a government to modify or repeal existing legislation with our introducing a new bill
43
What is individual responsibility?
The principle by which ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for their departments
Ministers are obliged to give accurate information to parliament and if they knowingly mislead parliament, they are expected to resign
Ministers must 'only remain in office for so long as they retain the confidence of the prime minister'
44
What is a presidential government?
An executive dominated by one individual. This may be a president, but can also describe a strong, dominant PM
45
What factors affect the relationship between the PM and cabinet?
Management skills of the PM
PM's ability to set the agenda
Use of cabinet committees and informal groups to take decisions
Development of the PMs office and the cabinet Office
Impact of the wider political and economic situation
46
How do the management skills of the PM affect the relationship between the PM and cabinet?
A determined and astute PM will exploit the elastic nature of the office to assert control over the Cabinet, and will use the right to appoint and dismiss ministers to reshape the cabinet
This power should be deployed with care
Thatcher built a her cabinet in her image, promoting supporters such as Nigel Lawson and Norman Tebbit, however towards the end of her premiership, her dominance of the Cabinet and alienation of senior colleagues was starting to undermine her position. Resignation of Geoffrey Howe triggered a leadership challenge in 1990, but thatcher found she had lost the support of her cabinet, leading to her resignation
47
How does the PM's ability to set the agenda affect the relationship between the PM and cabinet?
Decisions are rarely taken by holding a vote in cabinet; the views of the most senior figure will usually command more weight and most ministers will be too concerned with their individual departmental responsibility to challenge the consensus view on a matter of which they may have limited knowledge
The PMs traditional right to chair meetings and sum up at the end is an important source of influence
They can also keep certain items off the agenda e.g. Harold Wilson refused to discuss the devaluation of the pound in 1964-67
48
How does the use of Cabinet committees and informal groups to take decisions affect the relationship between the PM and cabinet?
By choosing membership of committees that have been used to take decisions, the PM can exercise a significant degree of control
On entering number 10, Theresa May decided to chair 3 important committees
Many decisions are taken in smaller groups involving the PM and one colleague e.g. decision to place management of interest rates in the hands of the BoE was taken between Blair and Brown and the rest of the cabinet were informed later
Under the coalition, the presence of 2 parties meant that it was necessary to have more discussion of policy in the Cabinet, but even then an informal body, known as the 'Quad' (Cameron, Clegg, Osbourne and Danny Alexander) met regularly to solve difference between the coalition partners
49
How does the development of the PM's office and the Cabinet Office affect the relationship between the PM and cabinet?
PM has access to more resources than other ministers
Wilson created the Policy Unit in 1974 to enable the PM to gain Ian overview and to drive policy across departments
Under Blair there was close cooperation between the Cabinet office and PMs office to support the coordination and implementation of policy
Cameron allowed a more 'hands off' approach to government departments, allowing individual ministers more autonomy, but after some policy embarrassments her strengthened the centre by creating a Policy and Implementation until in 2011
Press Office gained importance under Blair as part of the newly created Communications and Strategy Directorate
50
How does the impact of the wider political and economic situation affect the relationship between the PM and cabinet?
Degree to which the PM can dominate cabinet is affected by a variety of external pressures
A PM with a large parliamentary majority and united party (Blair) will find it easier to gain ascendancy than one without - like Major, whose control of the Commons was precarious from 1992 onwards
Popularity with the public, a booming economy and ability to master events all strengthen the hand in dealing with the cabinet
Thatcher's standing improved enormously after victory in the 1982 Fauklands War
Brown was harmed by his decision to not hold a general election on becoming PM after allowing expectation of a contest to build, his authority was undermined by the financial crash, and the weakness of his position was underlined in 2009 when it became known that his chancellor, Alastair Darling refused to take another post so that Blair could replace him with Ed Balls
