Is the PM still a dominant force in politics?

What does the authority of a PM depend on?

The circumstances in which they hold office

What economic policy did Cameron succeed in introducing in 2010-2015?

Austerity measures

What social policy did Cameron pass despite conservative backlash ?

Same sex marriage legislation

What did Cameron have to allow in 2011?

A referendum on the electoral system

What did Cameron fail to persuade parliament to support in 2013?

Support bombing President Assad

What did the EU referendum leading to Camerons resignation demonstrate ?

How a prime minister cannot always control events

What did the conservative and Lib Dem government provide Cameron with?

A stable government and the ability to fulfil mostly of his manifesto commitments

What did Cameron have to give up in the coalition?

5 members of the cabinet

What was the consequence of May losing her majority?

Threw her government into disarray and undermined her ability to provide the firm leadership she had promised

What does a presidential prime minister suggest?

* Increasingly dominant in cabinet
* Media has become obsessed with their characters and personal charisma allowing them dominate decisions

What did PM Harold Wilson Utilise ?

TV to reach out to public and Media opportunities such as photos

What has provided PM’s with an opportunity to act presidential in manner?

The media

What did the media focus on during the Falklands war and the miners strikes ?

Thatcher- not her cabinet

What was Blairs rhetoric seen as?

Highly personal, less ideologically driven

What were Blair’s high profile personal interventions crucial in?

Driving forward the Northern Ireland Peace Processes

who did Blair push the case for the Iraq war to in 2003?

The public

What becomes irrelevant according to the presidential model?

The cabinet

Why can the PM afford to ignore the cabinet?

They have their own popular mandate directly from the people from public acclamation

How did Blair further the presidential atmosphere in Downing Street ?

By closely modelling it to the white House

What was the consequence of Blair closely modelling the white House ?

* Chief of Staff established
* Prime Ministers Private Office and Cabinet Office enlarged to provide greater control from the centre and a more joined up gov

What did Cameron associate key decisions with in the media?

Himself not his government

What is an example of Cameron doing this?

* Personally putting forward case for gay marriage
* 2014 and 2016 referendums advocated to “stay together” and “remain”

How did the 2010,15 and 17 using TV debates further make UK politics more presidential?

Put the leadership qualities of he candidates on public display

What does a British PM not possess?

Their own electoral mandate

What does the authority of the PM depend on?

Having a parliamentary majority and retaining the support of the party

Why was Callaghan forced to call a general election in 1979?

He lost a vote of no confidence

Why did Thatcher resign in 1990?

Lost support of her cabinet

Why was May unable to be presidential in nature?

failed to engage with public in 2017 general election and lost her parliamentary majority

What may happen if a PM acts overly Presidential ?

They may antagonise parliament and lose their support