Politics - UK Executive

Who was the first and longest standing prime minister?

Robert Walpole

How did Robert Walpole lose his power?

When he lost a vote of no confidence in parliament

In 1992 what codified guide sets out the duties and expectations of the prime minister and ministers?

The ministerial code

How is the PM an example of the UK’s uncodified constitution?

As the role of PM was never formally set up and relies on convention and tradition

What are patronage powers?

The ability to appoint key individuals to office

What happens when election result is not clear and when did this happen?

The monarch must exercise caution and abide by convention slide in 2017

In 2017 despite losing overall majority who was offered the first chance to form a government and why?

Theresa May as she was the leader of largest single party

Who did Theresa May make a ‘confidence and supply’ agreement with to remain PM?

The democratic unionist party (DUP)

What are the main reasons a PM leaves office?

Due to loss of election, health issues or pressure from parliamentary party

What might a PM do is they don’t feel secure?

Call another election in the hope of public endorsement

What does the cabinet office promote?

Efficiency and reform

How many people make up the cabinet office?

2,050

What quote said by Thatcher shows that the role of PM requires a lot of learning on the job?

“I’m not a good butcher but have had to learn to carve the joint”

What quote shows that the PM can’t simply command and demand total obidence?

“The need of the British gov is not a grand vicker”

How has the PM become more presidentialised?

Role become more autocratic and towering figure

What PM’s were seen as having a presidential style?

Thatcher and Blair

What did Blair’s former cabinet member Mo Mowlam say about his cabinet?

“Cabinet itself is dead, it doesn’t have a function to play”

Why was Blair’s government seen as a ‘sofa government’?

Due to his informal chats with government ministers

What is spatial leadership?

Where there is a sense of distance created between the PM and the rest of gov

Who had a spatial style of leadership?

David Cameron

What is an inner cabinet?

When the PM relies on a small inner circle

Who have the PM become increasingly reliant on?

Special advisors (SpAds)

In the Conservative Party 2017 manifesto what did they promise to offer working parents of 3+4 year olds?

30 hours of free childcare a week instead of 15 hours

What was the aim of the Tory’s 2017 manifesto pledge for working parents of 3+4 year olds?

To increase the number of parents in work and better kids social skills

What is a conviction politician?

A politician who has strong pre existing ideas on a range of issues

Example of a conviction politician?

Margaret Thatcher

What did Thatcher give council house tenants which enabled them to buy their own houses at a substantially reduced rate from local councils?

The ‘right to buy’

In 1981 how many households in England and wales were in social or council houses?

5.4 million

In 1991 how many households were in social or council houses?

4.5 million

What manifesto pledge did David Cameron later regret?

Promised to hold a referendum on the UK’s membership in the EU in 2015

What was the aim of the coalition agreement between the Tories and Lib Dem’s?

To provide a common plan for policy and offer political stability after the 2008-09 financial crisis

What did the coalition government promise to hold a national referendum on?

Using the alternative vote (AV) system

What was the AV vote defeated by?

67.9 / 32.1

What was the emergency legislation created in 2020?

Coronavirus Act 2020 which included penalties for things like social gatherings

What strategy used by Greta Thunberg affected recent givernment policy and urgency to reduce carbon emissions?

Global climate strikes by school kids

In 2019 the UK government pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions to what?

Almost 0 in 2050

Who said ‘moral duty to leave this world in a better condition than what we inherited’?

Theresa May

In the 1960s what was there liberalism towards?

Sex, marriage and women’s rights

What are the governments 3 options on policy making in relation to social attitudes?

Ignore it, delay it or embrace it

Who’s government in 1964-70 reflected changes in social attitudes in law?

Harold Wilson’s Labour gov

Examples of Harold Wilson’s changes in law to reflect social attitudes?

Legalised abortion up to 24 weeks and decriminalisation of male homosexuality

What were 2 major acts passed by David Cameron?

Education Act 2011 and Succession to the crown act 2013

Where was David Cameron an MP for from 2001-2016?

Witney

Failure of Cameron which lead to his resignation?

Calling the EU referendum when he wanted to remain

What scandal lead to the resignation of Boris Johnson?

Partygate scandal

How many and what elections did Tony Blair win?

3 general elections, 1997, 2001 and 2005

A success of Blair?

Got over 2 million people out of poverty and increased employment by 2.9 million

A failure of Blair?

Controversial involvement in Iraq war

Success of Winston Churchill?

Brought Britain to victory in WW2

A failure of Winston Churchill?

In 1945 election he didn’t understand people and their problems

A success of Theresa May?

National debt decline and cut of income taxes

A failure of Theresa May?

Failed to secure parliamentary support as in 2017 she lost Tory majority

Example of PM having power over cabinet?

Theresa May moved 15 ministers and chancellor when she became PM

Who dismissed 1/3 of the cabinet in 1962?

Harold Macmillion

Who did Thatcher demote to a backbencher?

Foreign secretary Jeremy Howe

How many committees did Johnson implement to deal with COVID?

4

Who’s style of government didn’t easily fit with the committee system?

Blair’s

What was Thatcher’s policy priority?

Privatisation

What was Blair’s policy priority?

Modernaisation

What is the role of the cabinet office?

To support the PM to effectively run gov

What are people who work in the cabinet office called?

Civil servants

Who appointed the first Special advisors (SpAds) in the 1960s?

Harold Wilson

What are SpAds?

Political and personal appointments made by PM

Who were Theresa May’s principle SpAds?

Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill

In Dec 2019 how many SpAds were there in Boris’s government?

108

Who said Labour had an increasingly small number of advisors who made decisions in private without proper discussion?

Clare Short

Thatcher and Blair had a large majority but what wasn’t always guaranteed?

Loyalty on the backbench

What does primis inter parisis mean?

First among equals

Who are the civil service?

Neutral and senior figures who normally remain in post when the gov changes

What is the role of the executive?

To set political priorities then decide on policy often at cabinet meetings

Where do major acts get discussed before in parliament?

By the cabinet then once approved at cabinet level sent to parliament

What is a key role of the executive especially the chancellor and treasury?

To make decisions on taxation and government spending

Who discusses where taxpayers money is spent?

Ministers and departments

What does being the national first responder mean?

In times of national emergency the executive are needed to quickly put together emergency measures

What trade deal did the UK sign in 2023?

The comprehensive and progressive agreement for the trans-pacific partnership (CPTPP)

What did the introduction of poll tax in 1990 show about policy making?

How policy making can affect the opinion of the PM and the dangers of rejecting advice of political allies

Impacts of the decision to invade Iraq in 2003?

Over 180 British lives lost, series of official reports criticising Blair’s gov

What does the decision to invade Iraq in 2003 show about policy making?

Blair should’ve involved his cabinet in this decision not done it alone

What were domestic rates?

A property tax payed by homeowner or landlord not renter

What is a poll tax?

A property tax payed by all adults

What did the decision to call an early election in 2017 show about May?

Revealed her as a weak public campaigner

What did May’s decision to call an early election show?

Capitalising on perceived political advantage and overconfidence

How many cabinet ministers have been sacked, forced out or quit since 2010?

39

Why did Chris Huhne quite his job as energy secretary?

Because he was charged with perverting the course of justice over a historic speeding case

Why was Andrew Mitchell (chief whip) forced out?

After he allegedly called police officers “plebs”

What is collective responsibility?

When ministers should support government policy in public

Why does collective responsibility happen?

To show government unity and without it government can be chaotic and divided

When was collective responsibility suspended?

During referendums in 1975, 2016 EU, 2016 3rd runway at Heathrow and 2011 AV referendum

How did Liz Truss undermine collective responsibility in 2018?

By criticising colleagues in a speech

What is individual responsibility?

The requirement that all ministers are responsible for their own actions while in public office

Ministerial accountability definition?

The convention that ministers must explain and justify their actions and decisions particularly before parliament and its committees

Why are ministerial resignations rarely due to policy failure?

Policy is agreed and decided upon collectively and support of PM

Example of policy failure?

Callaghan chancellor 1967 devaluation of sterling

Reasons why ministers resign?

Personal misconduct, unwillingness to accept collective responsibility over policy, inability to deliver policy promise, accepting the blame for error in their dep, political pressure

Who accepted the blame and resigned after mishandling the compulsory purchase and re-letting of 725 acres of farmland?

Sir Thomas Dugale

What rail minister in 2016 took blame regarding issues on trains such as unreliability?

Claire Perry

Who resigned for personal reasons and struggling with “balancing my own life against the demands of office”?

Simon Clark in 2020

Who didn’t accept collective responsibility on cuts to benefits and got in a feud with the treasury over universal credit?

Iain Duncan Smith (pensions secretary 2010-2016)

Who didn’t accept collective responsibility on Britain working with the US in the Iraq war?

Robin Cook