The Concept of Individual Ministerial Responsibility Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is Individual Responsibility in the context of ministerial accountability?
Convention by which ministers are responsible for their personal conduct and for their departments
This accountability is defined in the Ministerial Code issued by the Prime Minister.
What does Collective Responsibility entail for government ministers?
Ministers must support Cabinet decisions or leave the Executive
This means that once a decision is made, it is binding on all ministers.
What is the definition of Accountability in the political context?
Acceptance of responsibility for one’s own actions, implying transparency
It allows others to observe and evaluate one’s performance.
What document outlines the official definition of individual responsibility for ministers?
The Ministerial Code
This document is issued by the Prime Minister at the start of every new government.
What happens if a minister knowingly misleads Parliament?
They are expected to resign
Accurate information must be provided to Parliament.
Under what condition do ministers remain in office?
As long as they retain the confidence of the Prime Minister
This is a critical aspect of ministerial responsibility.
What was the outcome for Matt Hancock regarding the COVID-19 contract details?
He acted unlawfully but did not resign
This highlights issues with individual ministerial responsibility.
Who was found to have bullied civil servants but did not resign?
Priti Patel
Boris Johnson failed to sack her despite the independent investigation.
What was the consequence for Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak during the partygate scandal?
They failed to resign despite receiving fixed penalty notices
This raised questions about the enforcement of ministerial responsibility.
What are the three factors that determine a minister’s fate in the context of responsibility?
- How serious the issue is perceived to be
- The level of criticism in parliament and media
- The attitude of the Prime Minister
What does Collective Ministerial Responsibility require of ministers?
Public support for all government decisions
Discussions and disagreements must remain confidential.
What happens if the government is defeated in a vote of no confidence?
The government as a whole resigns
This underscores the collective nature of ministerial responsibility.
What is a common practice instead of resigning for policy disagreements?
Leaking dissatisfaction to the media
Resignations on policy grounds are rare.
Who resigned in 2003 in opposition to the Iraq war decision?
Robin Cook
He was the Leader of the House of Commons at the time.
Which minister resigned in 2014 due to disagreement over the Israel-Gaza conflict?
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi
She was the Minister of State at the Foreign Office.
What is one example of a suspension of collective ministerial responsibility?
Gordon Brown in 2008
Other examples include Harold Wilson and David Cameron.
Who made contradictory statements about the Human Rights Act in 2010-2011?
Ken Clarke and Theresa May
This is an example of a breach of collective responsibility.
What is a key reason for the importance of Collective Cabinet Responsibility?
It maintains respect from backbenchers for firm leadership
A divided cabinet can lose support and be exploited by the opposition.
Fill in the blank: David Blunkett resigned as Home Secretary in _______.
2004
Fill in the blank: Chris Huhne resigned as Energy and Climate Change Secretary in _______.
2012
True or False: Resignations due to policy disagreements are common among ministers.
False
More common are leaks to the media rather than public resignations.
