ministerial responsibility

why are ministers likely to fight over funding?

due to limited resources

what is the role of the chancellor?

to control the allocation of money and is routinely asked for it

how is secrecy an area of collective responsibility?

cabinet discussions are kept secret so that disagreements do not become apparent to outside observers

how are decisions as binding an area of collective responsibility?

all ministers must accept the final decision made at cabinet level even if they argued against it during discussions, if they cannot do this they should leave the cabinet

how is Robin Cook an example of a cabinet minister who resigned over collective responsibility?

resigned in 2003 as commons leader over the Iraq war

how is Anneliese Dodds an example of a cabinet minister who resigned over collective responsibility?

resigned in 2025 as international development minister over Starmer's decision to cut the international aid budget to fund increased defence spending

how is expected resignation after losing a vote of no confidence an area of collective responsibility?

the whole cabinet should stand down as we,, as the PM

who was the last government to lose a vote of no confidence?

James Callaghan's labour government in 1979

why must the importance of collective responsibility be plain?

ministers need to have a coherent, single view in public to maintain the public's confidence

what are examples of the PM suspending collective responsibility over specific issues?

the UK/EU membership referendums (1975 and 2016), and the alternative vote referendum (2011)

how is Boris Johnson an example of a cabinet minister undermining collective responsibility through leaks of information to the press?

as foreign secretary under PM May he wrote articles for the press to undermine the cabinet and PM

what is individual ministerial responsibility?

each minister is accountable to the PM, parliament, and the public for both their actions and those of their departments

what is an example of a ministerial resignation over accepting the blame for an error or injustice within their department?

Claire Perry as rall minister in 2016 admitted her departments failure to deal with resolving issues of reliability and overcrowding

what is an example of a ministerial resignation over unwillingness to accept collective responsibility over policy?

Paul Bristow was dismissed in 2025 for calling a ceasefire in gaza

what is an example of a ministerial resignation over refusal to follow orders from the PM?

Sajid Javid resigned as chancellor in 2020 over his refusal to accept advisers chosen by Boris Johnson

what is an example of a ministerial resignation over inability to deliver a policy promise in their own department?

sports minister Tracey Crouch resigned in 2018 over delays to a crackdown on maximum stakes for fixed odds betting machines

what is an example of a ministerial resignation over personal misconduct?

David Blunkett was forced to resign from Blair's government for the second time in 2005 for not consulting the advisory committee on business appointments before accepting a position as director at DNA bioscience

what is an example of a ministerial resignation over political pressure?

the 2022 mini budget caused issues for Liz Truss, causing chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to be sacked as political pressure mounted within the party

what is an example of a ministerial resignation over mass resignations to undermine or remove a PM?

Theresa May suffered multiple resignations over her brexit deal

what are key areas of individual ministerial responsibility?

delegation as the PM cannot do everything, and accountability as an expert is always there to answer for what is being done

what can ministerial resignation over individual responsibility depend on?

the ministers importance to the PM, the popularity of their party, and past reputation