PM and executive Nathan

Powers of Executive and PM

Executive:

• introduces legistlation (manifesto pledges or ‘doctors mandate’)

• Introduces budget

• Secondary legislation through statutory instruments (used to abolish maintenance grants 2016)

PM:

• Appointments - cabinet, life peers, civil servants and judges

• Foreign affairs - treaties, controls military and trident

Individual and collective ministerial responsibility

Individual:

• ministers responsible for both Dept actions and conduct

• Rudd resigned after misleading HoC over existence of deportation targets BUT Lamont remained chancellor after black Wednesday

• Hancock resigned after kiss-gate during Covid

Collective

• all ministers must publicly support Govt

• Robert Jenrick resignation 2023 (Rwanda) BUT Johnson openly criticised May’s Brexit plan as foreign sec

Cabinet Functions

• Approves dept decisions

• Determines policy e.g., chequers plan 2018

• Resolves inter-departmental conflicts (coalition govt)

Cabinet selection

• Loyalty appointments - e.g., Dowden as Sunaks DPM

• Inclusion of other ajar figures/factions in the party - Braverman as home sec, Johnson sorting sec

• Greater diversity

• Excerpting - Ben Wallace Defence sec

Is cabinet significant?

Yes:

• used to make decisions during crises (e.g., falklands war)

• Natures govt unity (black wednesday)

• Can challenge PM authority

No:

• Size means More of a ‘rubber stamp’, with PM preferring ‘sofa government’ - Blair

• Creation off PMs policy unit, delivery unit and director of comps

• Downing Street → Whitehall

PM presidentialised?

Yes:

• Pms often public figures who address nation - thatcher, Blair ect (and election debates)

• Personal support staff shifts decision making towards PM

No:

• Authority still dependant on parliamentary support (Callaghan)

• Uncharismatic PMs (major, Brown, may)