The changing relationship between PM and cabinet

Question 1

What 4 eras can PM/cabinet relations be split into?

Answer 1

• Up to the 1960s
• 1960-2010
• 2010-2019; weakened party rule
• 2019 onwards

Question 2

Describe PM/cabinet relations up to the 1960s

Answer 2

The PM was the first among equals; they dominated the cabinet but could not control it completely. The PM had to carry the cabinet with them and allow debate. Generally referred to as cabinet government

Question 3

How is the 1960-2010 often described?

Answer 3

Prime ministerial government

Question 4

What was the cabinet expected to do during the 1960-2010 era

Answer 4

Support the PM and legitimise their decisions

Question 5

How did PMs dominate the cabinet during the 1960-2010 era?

Answer 5

They sidelined the cabinet so that it became relatively unimportant

Question 6

Describe Harold Wilson’s model of prime ministerial government

Answer 6

Allowed cabinet ministers to play a prominent role and develop their own policies, but he managed the overall thrust of government by manipulating the agenda and reaching individual agreements with ministers

Question 7

Describe Thatcher’s model of prime ministerial government

Answer 7

Dominated through force of will; ruthlessly marginalising or removing her opponents

Question 8

Describe Blair’s model of prime ministerial government

Answer 8

Developed sofa politics; developed policy outside of meeting with advisers and senior ministers and presented them to the cabinet. Blair took the dominant role on issues and ministers would have policy imposed upon them

Question 9

Define sofa politics

Answer 9

Controlling the policy making process by meeting with ministers outside of cabinet, often with advisers in attendance

Question 10

What was the Coalition Agreement?

Answer 10

An agreed set of policies negotiated before the two parties entered the coalition

Question 11

How much control did Clegg and Cameron have over the cabinet respectively?

Answer 11

Cameron controlled the 22 Conservative posts, while Clegg controlled the 5 Lib Dem posts

Question 12

How did collective responsibility work in the coalition?

Answer 12

It applied to all policies included in the Coalition Agreement, but on other policies, ministers were allowed to disagree publicly

Question 13

How did Cameron marginalise most of the coalition cabinet?

Answer 13

By working with an inner cabinet

Question 14

Define inner cabinet

Answer 14

A small group of very senior ministers who dominate policy development

Question 15

Why are inner cabinets common?

Answer 15

Because the entire cabinet is too big to serve the PM constantly

Question 16

Name the 4 men that made up the quad

Answer 16

• Cameron
• Osborne
• Clegg
• Alexander

Question 17

What were the three reasons that the coalition years were such a golden age for the cabinet?

Answer 17

• It was used to solve inevitable coalition disputes
• It was used to present policy in a way that would satisfy both parties
• If there was a disagreement as to whether something fell within the Coalition Agreement, the cabinet would be called to resolve the issue

Question 18

What did Boris Johnson do after the 2019 GE?

Answer 18

Returned to the prime ministerial government of the 1960-2010 era

Question 19

Why was Sajid Javid replaced by the more complaint Rishi Sunak?

Answer 19

H resigned after his advisers were replaced by advisers selected by the PMs inner circle