ETV MR is no longer meaningful or enforced

Points for

• CMR has come under strain with high-profile ministers disagreeing but not resigning. 

• CMR can be, and has been suspended, suggesting it is flexible, a political decision rather than strictly enforced rule. 

• IMR is avoided when ministers seek to shift the blame to avoid negative publicity.  

Points against

• CMR remains important and relevant, and ministers continue to resign in opposition to policy decisions 

• It is good government to suspend CMR over issues that transcend party politics and where there has been prior agreement to do so.  

• IMR continues to apply and ensures ministers are held accountable for their performance and decisions 

examples of ministers disagreeing and not resigning

• Gordon Brown: role = chancellor, between 2001-07  had many public disagreements on the Euro and spending, often contradicting cabinet without resignation.

•   Boris Johnson & David Davis = foreign Sec and Brexit Sec – 2016-19, public criticism of Brexit strategy. Persistent dissent without resignation.  

Examples of ministers resigning due to CMR x3

• Robin Cook – Leader of HoC, former Foreign Sec – 2003- resigned in opposition to the Iraq war, could not support the war with good conscious 

• Lord Frost – Brexit Sec 2021 – resigned over Covid restrictions believing it was a self-inflicted catastrophe on the economy, publicly opposed it   

• Anneliese Dodds – International Development minister, former shadow chancellor – 2025 – first big resignation under Starmer – over cuts to aid – could not publicly defend agreed spending priorities 

examples of CMR being suspended

• 2016 during EU referendum Campaign  

  • Represented irrevocable split in Gov 

  • Cameron’s resignation the day after the referendum suggested the thought that the suspension of CRM would unify the Cabinet was simply an illusion  

• David Cameron – AV Ref 2011 

  • Con-LD coalition divided over electoral reform  

  • Ministers permitted to campaign on opposing sides of AV  

  • Enabling the government to function despite internal disagreement  

examples of CMR allowing issues to transcend party politics

• Assisted Dying Bill  

  • Kier Starmer allowed Free vote suspending collective responsibility for Labour MPs and Ministers

• 2024 Smoke Free generation bill 

  • Rishi Sunak allowed free vote, suspending CMR 

  • Policy raised civil liberties and long term life-style regulation concerns making enforced unity inappropriate  

Analysis on why PMs suspend CMR

• reduces party divisons and increases legitmacy of decisions

• helps build cross party support

• strengthen constituency link? strengthening democracy

examples of IMR being avoided

• Gavin Williamson – 2020, Education Secretary, Exam grades algorithm failure, was supported by the government who said they has “full confidence” in him blaming instead Chief education civil servant Jonathon Slater 

• Priti Patel – 2020 Home Sec. - bullying civil servant – who later resigned and got a £25,000 pay out from Gov – tax payer money – Patel remain as minister overruled standards adviser 

• Kier Starmer blaming civil servant Olly Robbins over Mandelson vetting controversy - forced to resign

examples of IMR working

• Matt Hancock – 2021 –  health Sec. Resigned after breaching social distancing regs with an aide  

• Amber Rudd – Home Sec. 2018 – after misleading Parliament over deportation targets during Windrush scandal  

• Angela Rayner – Deputy PM – 2025 – breaching ministerial code after failing to pay stamp duty on 2^nd home