PM and Executive

PM prerogative powers STRONG (2024 whip withdrawal)

In 2024, the Labour government withdrew the whip from 7MPs for voting to end the 2 child benefit cap (going against the government).

PM prerogative powers STRONG (peers appointments)

In Dec 2024, Starmer’s government appointed 30 new Labour peers in order to ‘swing Lords his way’. 6 Conservative peers were also appointed and 2 Lib Dem.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (Braverman)

Suella Braverman was initially Liz Truss’s Home Secretary, until she was forced to resign after sharing confidential cabinet information with a Tory MP. Rishi Sunak reappointed Suella Braverman to Home Office secretary in 2022 in order to placate the right-wing of the Conservative party. However, after defying a senior request, and writing a harsh article of policing, she was fired from cabinet in 2023.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (Johnson- the whip)

Johnson removed the whip from 20 MPs, allowing him to replace them in the 2019 general election with Brexit supporting candidates.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (Thatcher ‘dries’)

Thatcher appointed ‘dries’ (New Right Tories) to her cabinet, as they agreed with her policies.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (Gavin Williamson)

Former Chief Whip Gavin Williamson was reported to have said to an MP who needed help with financial difficulties “I own him.”

PM prerogative powers STRONG (Gaza)

Many Labour MPs were made independent since October 2023 for voting against party lines and even criticising the Labour party for not calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (British steel)

The Steel Industry Act 2025 proved the power of a strong government, as the bill passed Parliament in just 6.5 hours, as an emergency law allowing the Business Secretary the power to direct British Steel to prevent a Scunthorpe plant from shutting down.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (nationalising railways)

The 2024 Passenger Railway Services Act did not go through a public bill committee, but rather was scrutinised as a Committee of the Whole House. There were no amendments made, so the Report Stage did not occur either, proving how the government power to control the parliamentary timetable allows them to evade scrutiny.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (Sunak Rwanda- HoL amendments)

Sunak managed to push through the Rwanda bill, despite many protests from the HoL. The HoL put in 10 amendments to the Rwanda legislation in March 2024.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (2022, 2023)

Policing Act, Public Order Act

PM prerogative powers STRONG (bombing/drone strikes)

In 2018, Theresa May authorised the bombing of Syria, using her prerogative powers, without consulting Parliament. Sunak chose to carry out drone strikes on Yemen in 2023, without a parliamentary vote on it.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (Falkland Islands)

Thatcher in 1982 sent a force to liberate the Falkland Islands without consulting Parliament. After this, she called an election in 1983 to capitalise on her popularity.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (Fixed Term Parliament Act)

In 2022, the government scrapped the Fixed Term Parliament Act, returning the decision on when to call an election to the PM.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (Rachel Reeves commitments)

The executive sets the budget. Rachel Reeves (Chancellor) introduced several ‘long-term’ commitments, such as £5 billion to 1.5 million new homes being built, and increasing capital gains tax from 10% to 18% for the lower rate and 20% to 24% for higher earners.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (statutory instruments)

Over 500 statutory instruments were made in relation to the COVID pandemic. 600 statutory instruments made to the EU withrawal bill in 2018 by Theresa May.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (skeleton bill)

The Employment Rights Bill (2025) was introduced to Parliament in October 2024 and was a ‘skeleton’ bill, delegating huge powers to government ministers via secondary legislation.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (coalition)

During the coalition, Lib Dem and Tory peers voted together to form a bloc in the HoL.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (Parliament Acts)

The Parliament Act 1911 means the HoL cannot block finance/budget bills. The Parliament Act 1949 means the HoL can only delay legislation passing by a year. The Salisbury Convention means the Lords cannot examine legislation contained in a govt’s manifesto.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (BoJo UQs)

Boris Johnson sent his paymaster General to answer UQs relating to lockdown parties at number 10. The opposition shouted “where is he?” And “shame” to no avail.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (BoJo Liaison Committee)

Boris Johnson evaded attendance before the Liaison Committee after his lockdown parties. He was able to ‘get Brexit done’ using his 80 seat majority.

PM prerogative powers STRONG (BoJo peers into Lords)

BoJo 36 peers into lords including the nanny he looks after his children in 2019

PM prerogative powers WEAK (Wright reforms)

Wright reforms- Introduction of select committee chairs having fixed salaries and being chosen in a secret ballot created a viable career progression pathway without having to rely on the PM’s patronage power.

PM prerogative powers WEAK (May’s attempt to reshuffle ministers)

May’s attempt to reshuffle unfavourable ministers backfired when Jeremy Hunt refused to move from Health Secretary in 2018.

PM prerogative powers WEAK (Miller 1 and 2)

In the Miller 1 and 2 cases, the Supreme Court returned sovereignty back to Parliament by stopping May from triggering Article 50 (to begin Brexit), and from Johnson trying to prorogue Parliament to get the EU Withdrawal Act through.

PM prerogative powers WEAK (Welfare Reform Bill 2012)

The HoL has become more obstructive, with the Welfare Reform Bill 2012 subject to 7 defeats during its initial passage. Not just this, but the EU Withdrawal Act was so scrutinised by the HoL, that parliamentary ping pong had to be curtailed in 2020.

PM prerogative powers WEAK (crossbenchers)

181 crossbenchers in HoL means there isn’t really a strong government majority.

PM prerogative powers WEAK (Standing order 24 and the Benn Act)

In 2019, Parliament took control of the agenda, with Theresa May’s Brexit deal suffering a defeat of 230 in the HoC. After this, Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn laid a motion of no confidence against Theresa May’s leadership, which was voted 306 against May to 325 for them. 6 months later May resigned.

PM prerogative powers WEAK (1979 Callaghan)

In 1979, James Callaghan was defeated by a vote of no confidence.

PM prerogative powers WEAK (BoJo 2022 no confidence)

In 2022, BoJo faced a vote of no confidence in his leadership. 148 in his party voted against him, citing partygate as their reason, out of 359. This meant he won the vote, but his credibility was massively damaged. He resigned a month later.

PM prerogative powers WEAK (Cameron 2013 fail)

In 2013, David Cameron failed to persuade parliament to vote in favour of military action against the Assad regime in Syria. 285 voted no to 272 yes.

PM prerogative powers WEAK (May and Callaghan defeats)

Theresa May suffered 33 defeats, and James Callaghan 34 defeats, in their 3 years each.

CABINET POWER (May’s Brexit related defeats)

Between 2017 to 2019, Theresa May’s party suffered 17 Brexit related defeats. May had to make sure her cabinet was a mix of ‘Brexiteers’ and ‘Remainers’ to keep the balance. From November 2017 to May 2019, 11 cabinet ministers resigned, mostly over Brexit. This damaged her authority and image.

CABINET POWER (Cameron CMR)

In 2015, Cameron was forced by his cabinet to suspend collective responsibility in the EU referendum campaign to allow ministers to express their personal views.

CABINET POWER (Thatcher and Blair politics/defeats)

Margaret Thatcher dominated her cabinet by ruthlessly removing her opponents. Tony Blair adopted a style of politics called ‘sofa politics’, where he would develop ideas with a few senior advisors and ministers outside of cabinet in informal discussions, and then present the cabinet with ideas that had already been decided upon. Both Thatcher and Blair suffered only 4 defeats in the Commons in their respective 11 and 10yrs as PMs.

CABINET POWER (Public Bill Committees)

Public Bill Committees, which propose amendments to legislation, are heavily dominated by government whips, with 99% of ministerial amendments passing. Only 8% of seats on these committees are allocated to MPs who sat on the relevant select committees, suggesting that their knowledge over this legislation is weak too. The govt only accepts an estimated 40% of select committee recommendations.

CMR/IMR (Amber Rudd)

In 2018, the Home Affairs select committee led an investigation into whether the Home Office had targets for deportation. The then Home Secretary Amber Rudd denied that they did, however her leaked emails later said otherwise. This led to her resignation.

CMR/IMR (payroll vote)

Ministers bound by collective responsibility are considered on the payroll vote, as they vote along party lines. As of March 2025, the payroll vote consists of an estimated 176 MPs.

CMR/IMR (Estelle Morris)

Former education secretary Estelle Morris resigned in 2003 after a series of controversies relating to A-Level standards and the failure of her department to meet the government’s own literacy/numeracy standards. (IMR)

CMR/IMR (Michael Fallon)

In 2017, defence secretary Michael Fallon resigned after revelations of inappropriate behaviour towards women. (IMR)

CMR/IMR (Anneliese Dodds)

Anneliese Dodds quit in Feb 2025 as international development minister over Keir Starmer's decision to slash the overseas aid budget to pay for an increase in defence spending. (CMR)

CMR/IMR (Louise Haigh)

In November 2024, transport minister Louise Haigh resigned after a past fraud offence was revealed. Starmer knew about the conviction, but only fired her after it was revealed to the press. (IMR)

CMR/IMR (Tulip Siddiq)

In Jan 2025, Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq resigned after an anti-corruption investigation in Bangladesh, suggesting her family embezzled up to £3.9bn from infrastructure spending in Bangladesh, linked to her aunt, the former Bangladeshi PM. (IMR)

CMR/IMR (Gavin Williamson)

In 2020, education secretary Gavin Williamson approved an Ofqual algorithm that downgraded A-Level results for thousands of students. This policy was eventually reversed, but the education secretary stayed in post. (Failure of IMR)

CMR/IMR (Priti Patel)

In 2020, home secretary Priti Patel refused to resign over a Cabinet Office inquiry that uncovered evidence of her bullying civil servants. (Failure of IMR)

CMR/IMR (Chris Grayling)

In 2019, transport secretary Chris Grayling didn’t resign after his department awarded a ferry contract for cross-channel transport in the event of a no-deal Brexit, even though the company that was awarded the contract owned no ferries. (Failure of IMR)

CMR/IMR (coalition)

During the coalition govt, CMR was only applicable to policies that both parties had agreed upon.

CMR/IMR (Gavin Williamson 2023)

Gavin Williamson had to resign in 2023 after text messages were leaked proving his bullying behaviour. (IMR)