The Prime Ministers

What is the background of Margret Thatcher?

• 3 terms in office

• 1979-90

• Majorities of 44

• Conservative

What was Thatcher’s relationship with her cabinet?

She frequently over-ruled her cabinet during the first two years in office. She had a personalised style of leadership. However she was taken down by her cabinet. There were no rivals in her cabinet and she would set up the policies. After Michael Heseltine resigned in 1986, Thatcher had a loyalists cabinet who eventually brought her down.

What was Thatcher’s relationship like with Parliament?

She had a strong majority but she did face a second reading defeat for the Shop’s bill.

What was Thatcher’s media and public image?

Thatcher was very unpopular until the Falkland War in 1982. She was called the Iron Lady - she still managed to win.

What were the key events that shaped Thatcher’s premiership?

• Falkland War in 1982

• Thatcherism policy

• Miner’s strike victory in 1984

• Two key ministerial resignation

• Restricted UK’s economy - service jobs

What was Thatcher’s style of premiership?

Presidential

What else happened during Thatcher‘s premiership?

• She was a pragmatic PM - she did not face the miners during her first term

• The split in the Labour party helped her win the election.

• The SDP was formed at the back of Labour which caused Thatcher to become more radical

What are the strengths of Thatcher?

• Even when unpopularity she still managed to win over the electorate.

• She was cautious on public sector pay even though she wanted to constrain public spending.

• The Falkland War - she began to be more direct and seen as a leader (The Iron Lady)

What are the weaknesses of Thatcher?

• Sale of council houses - no affordable houses - Housing markers boom

• Europe - hostile to the EU and cabinet was against this

• Poll tax - biggest mistake - Scotland proposed massive opposition. The SNP rose in power in Scotland as the Conservatives became really popular

• She had populist outreach

What is the background of John Major?

• 1 ½ terms in office - 1990-97

• Majority of 102 (inherited from Thatcher), 21 in 1992 and 3 in 1994

What was Major’s relationship with his cabinet?

He tried to revive the cabinet govt system. He chaired the select committees - this allowed ministers to express their views of the often delayed decisions to resolve disputes.

What was Major’s relationship like with Parliament?

Inherited a majority and then a majority of 12 - his divided party made legislation harder to pass. He faced many backbench rebellions. He struggled to pass legislation such as the Maastrich Treaty - increased Europe intervention which passed by one vote.

What was Major’s media and public image like?

The media never forgave Major for the Starling crisis or the sleaze of his govt

What were the key events that shaped Major’s premiership?

• Victory in 1992 after council tax

• He gained 14 million votes - most voted for the Conservatives

• Won the leadership contest in 1995

• Black Wednesday in Sep 1992 - Starling crisis

What was Major’s style of premiership?

Cabinet govt

What else happened during Major‘s premiership?

• Chris Patterson and Major managed to change the Conservatives look different from Thatcher

• Council tax instead of poll tax

• Citizen charter - public services would have to give money to the public if they failed.

• Railway privatisation

What are the strengths of Major?

• Council tax - replaced poll tax

• 1991 Gulf War victory - made him very popular

What are the weaknesses of Major?

• Pull out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism - Black Wednesday occurred.

• Govt and MP scandals - made the govt look sleazy and mistrust from the public.

• Cabinet govt made them seem less effective

• Divided party - majority of 12; struggled to pass legislation

• Conflict over Europe also divided the party

What is the background of Tony Blair?

• 3 terms in office - 1997-2007

• Majorities of 179 (1997), 165 (2001) and 65 (2005)

What was Blair’s relationship with his cabinet?

He didn’t have a cabinet full of loyalists. Gordon Brown and Blair used to have disputed. He used bilateral and smaller govts with spads (Alastair Campbell)

What was Blair’s relationship like with Parliament?

With Blair’s largest majority, he rarely faced rebellions or defeats

What was Blair’s media and public image like?

During the 1997 campaign, the new rebranded Labour into New Labour. This helped Labour regain popularity. Blair himself was seen as dynamic younger leader.

What were the key events that shaped Blair’s premiership?

• Up to 2003, the UK’s economy was strong. Health and education was improving.

• Blair managed to intervene in Sierra Leone

What was Blair’s style of premiership?

Presidential style e.g. making the Bank of England independent

What else happened during Blair’s premiership?

• Brown was responsible for most of the economic policies

• Bank of England privatisation (New Labour policy)

• Building the O2

• Iraq War

What are the strengths of Blair?

• Blair placed a strong emphasis on strengthening the centre of UK govt - Govt ministers had less autonomy as they worked centrally (central agenda)

• PM’s delivery unit sought to drive reform in the public sector

• Charismatic and attention to details with policy

• Media trained - Euro zone reform

• Devolution, HRA, minimum wage

• Won the biggest majority

What are the weaknesses of Blair?

• After the Iraq war in 2003, Blair’s reputation didn’t recover

• People thought he was too close to the USA

• Cash for Honours - big scandals and policy inquiry

• Relationship with Brown was poor which created factions

• Lack of ministerial roles

What is the background of Gordon Brown?

• Less than one term - 2007-10

• Inherited a 65 majority

What was Brown’s relationship with his cabinet?

Some MPs weren’t convinced by Brown‘s leadership. There were 3 attempts to remove him - James Pernell‘s resignation from cabinet failed to take down Brown

What was Brown’s relationship like with Parliament?

Brown tried to reform parliament with more constitutional roles for them to check the executive

What was Brown’s media and public image like?

Brown’s poor poll ratings and economic uncertainty - the media highlighted the party‘s decisions to make them look weaker

What were the key events that shaped Brown’s premiership?

• International Banking Crisis - recession in 2008;

• Didn’t call on election in Autumn 2007.

• He lacked a strong majority.

• The public debt

What was Brown’s style of premiership?

Cabinet govt - he tried to strengthen their power

What else happened during Brown’s premiership?

• Not a natural leader - following Blair was difficult

• Authority was weakened after he tried to replace Darling with Ed Balls (loyalist)

• Reforms to the Commons

• The public didn’t trust Labours economic policy

What are the strengths of Brown?

• His experience as a chancellor, helped the impacts of the financial crash

• Reforms to the Commons

• Allies were loyal

What are the weaknesses of Brown?

• Poor communicator

• 3 attempts to remove him

• Obsessed with the newspaper and media image

• Lost 2010 election

• Poor broader party management

• Blamed for not foreseeing the economic crash

What is the background of David Cameron?

• Two terms 2010-16

• 2010 coalition; 2012 majority

What was Cameron’s relationship with his cabinet?

During the coalition, a kitchen cabinet was formed. Hands off approach - ministers to have a great deal of autonomy with their departments which helped the two parties unify.

What was Cameron’s relationship like with Parliament?

After 2015, Cameron had less opposition as Labour was divided; More vulnerable to backbench rebellions.

What was Cameron’s media and public image like?

Compared to Miliband and Clegg, Cameron seemed like a good leader. Many scandals but he kept a good reputation until 2016

What were the key events that shaped Cameron’s premiership?

• Brexit referendum

• Progressive policies

• Austerity

What was Cameron’s style of premiership?

Prime ministerial

What else happened during Cameron’s premiership?

• U-turns and poor management

• Special advisor’s fell from 25 to 19

• He had problems exerting his own personal power so he relied on George Osborne and Theresa May.

• Resignation of Ian Duncan Smith

• Kept Gove and Johnson close

What are the strengths of Cameron?

• Progressive policies

• Scottish referendums

• Detoxifying the brand and moderates - success with election victory

• Managed to end public deficit with austerity

• Kept the coalition together

What are the weaknesses of Cameron?

• Couldn’t control the Eurosceptics in his party led to the referendum

• MPs defecting to UKIP

• Failure to reform the NHS and policy U-turns

What is the background of Theresa May?

• 3 years in office

• Conservative party

• Before 2017 - majority of 12; 2017 minority govt with the DUP deal

What was May’s relationship with her cabinet?

Ruthless organisation - sacked George Osborne - authority; Need for balance constrained by the volatile party. Senior cabinet resignations damage authority and becomes divided.

What was May’s relationship like with Parliament?

Lack of majority - Parliament tried to take over the timetable - they defeated her and the role of the DUP - She won the confidence vote but she was defeated

What was May’s media and public image like?

Initially it was positive - seen as competent and firm. After the 2017 election, she wasn’t seen as popular but awkward and remote figure.

What were the key events that shaped May’s premiership?

• 2017 election campaign

• Brexit- overwhelmed her premiership

What was May’s style of premiership?

Cabinet govt but failed

What are the strengths of May?

Potential to be powerful with the majority

What are the weaknesses of May?

• Couldn’t command authority - Chequers Meeting 2018 - MPs were able to go against her easily

• Lack of communication - leadership

• Lack of majority - couldn’t control cabinet and faced many defeats

• Impacted massively by Brexit - couldn’t complete manifesto

What is the background of Boris Johnson?

• 2019-22

• First minority govt

• 80 seat majority

• Conservative - Estonian faction

What was Johnson’s relationship like with Cabinet?

Cabinet of loyalists - no opposing views e.g. Nadine Dorris

What was Johnson’s relationship like with Parliament?

Bad at first (minority) - loses 6 votes; Covid then disrupts then factions formed such as the Covid Research Group - 100 MPs voted against lockdown rules; Labour voted alongside them.

What was Johnson’s media and public image like?

Good public image until partygate

What were the key events that shaped Johnson’s premiership?

• Covid-19 lockdown

• Brexit deal

• Fixed Penalty notice

• Ukraine invasion

• Mass resignations

What was Johnson’s style of premiership?

Presidential

What else happened during Johnson’s premiership?

Changed opinions based on the person - spatial leaderships

What are the strengths of Johnson?

• Won a 80 seat majority

• Managed to deliver Brexit

• 2019 election - winning the Red wall and across the class divide

• Parliament against the people narrative

What are the weaknesses of Johnson?

• Ministerial resignations - 60 junior minister

• Partygate

• Prorogation of Parliament

• No confidence vote

• Benn Act - minority govt

• Attitude - taking it seriously?

• Chris Pincher scandal

• Fixed Penalty

• Dominic Cummings influenced

• Spads - Lee Caines and Dominic Cummings

What is the background of Truss/Sunak’?

Truss: 45-49 days, Inherited majority from Johnson, Conservative party

Sunak: 2022-24, Conservatives, majority of around 40

What was Truss/Sunak’s relationship with his cabinet?

Truss: Got rid of Kwarteng and put in Jeremy Hunt and loyalists.

Sunak: It was a balanced cabinet - people like Braveman and Hunt

What was Truss/Sunak’s relationship like with Parliament?

Sunak: Won the Windsor Framework - reopened Stormont. He’s backdownn three times due to backbench pressure. With the Rwanda Bill - almost lost at second reading which is rare.

What was Truss/Sunak’s media and public image like?

Truss: Poor media coverage - 10% public approval - turned against her post-mini budget

Sunak: Poor media coverage, not viewed as a strong leadership

What were the key events that shaped Truss/Sunak’s premiership?

Truss: Mini-budget, Queen’s funeral

Sunak: Cost of living crisis and inflation, Brexit and Northern Ireland, Stop the Boats and the Rwanda Bill, Local elections, loss of ministers

What was Truss/Sunak’s style of premiership?

Sunak: cabinet govt

What else happened during Truss/Sunak’s premiership?

Sunak: 18-20 points behind the Labour party - 7 behind in the local elections

What are the strengths of Truss/Sunak?

Truss: Diverse cabinet

Sunak: Winsdor framework, Rwanda Bill passed

What are the weaknesses of Truss/Sunak?

Truss: Mini budget, Jeremy Hunt and the U-turn

Sunak: Relations between his backbenchers were crumbling, internal fighting on defense spending, Rwanda bill and the struggle to pass the bill, his leadership hasn’t shifted the polls, not being able to reform the agenda - overtaken by events, local election failure and loss of 2024 general election