Prime Minister and the executive

The Executive

The Government

What is the chief secretary of the cabinet?

Country's most senior civil servant who provides guidance to the PM

Core executive

The network of institutions at the heart of the British government, including the Cabinet, the PM and the offices.

What role does the executive have in introducing legislation?

-It introduces new legislation based on the manifesto promises they made.

-It can also introduce legislation based in changing circumstances.

What is secondary legislation?

- It is where legislation that has already been passed is modernised by the executive.

- Some people see it as undemocratic as it bypasses parliamentary scrutiny.

How can someone become PM without being specifically elected?

They replace the leader of the largest party as with Rishi Sunak in 2022 as leader of the conservative party, replacing Liz Truss

Royal Prerogative

Discretionary powers of the Crown that are exercised in the monarch's name by government ministers.

What can the PM do as a result of Royal Prerogative?

- Chooses government members

- Makes senior appointments to the civil service

- Appoints people to the Lords

- Negotiates foreign treaties

- Directs military forces in combat

What are cabinet ministers generally in charge of?

Departments of state

the civil service

• the group of people whose job it is to carry out the work of the government

• defined by neutrality, not influenced by party politics

• Most government departments are run by ministers who are elected by politicians but they are administered by professional officials

ministers vs civil servants

MINISTERS

• Ministers are to be expected to run governmental departments in the sense that they make policy and oversee the work of civil servants

• Appointed by the PM, usually from the ranks of the majority party in the HoC

• All ministers must be MPs of peers, emphasising that the UK executive is a 'parliamentary' executive

CIVIL SERVANTS

• Civil servants are appointed government officials. They provide ministers w/ policy advice and how to implement governmental policy

• They are traditionally meant to abide by the following principles of permanence, impartiality etc

ministerial responsibility

• a fundamental constitutional principle according to which ministers are responsible to parliament for the conduct of the ministry and government

• there is individual and collective ministerial responsibility

Individual Ministerial Responsibility

• The constitutional convention that ministers are responsible, and will be held accountable, for their own, and their department's conduct

• implies civil servants are responsible to their ministers

• ministers not obliged to resign if failings are traceable to the action of civil servants, but they are responsible for informing parliament of the actions of their department

• individual responsibility is a convention

examples of IMR

• Amber Rudd, the previous home secretary, resigned in 2018 after she misled the Home Affairs Select Committee over her department’s targets for deporting illegal immigrants.

advantages + disadvantages

ADVANTAGES

• ensures someone is held accountable

• keeps civil servants on their toes, ensuring they act w/ care

• facilitates the work of the opposition, forcing someone to justify government policy to those seeking to expose policy/departmental failings

DISADVANTAGES

• Individual ministerial responsibility fails when ministers choose not to resign and blame others in their department for failings.
  

Collective Ministerial Responsibility

Members of the cabinet must publicly support all governmental decisions made in cabinet, even if they do not privately agree with them.

example of CMR

• Boris Johnson resigning as foreign secretary under Theresa May cabinet

• Boris openly rejecting May’s soft Brexit approach

advantages + disadvantages of CMR

ADVANTAGES

• Collective ministerial responsibility ensures the government appears united and that ministers support all other government members.

• Collective ministerial responsibility ensures a strong government as it means the government has a clear official position on policies.

• ensures personal loyalty to the PM

• solidarity within cabinet can strengthen the PM’s party and accelerate policy decisions and interests of the party

DISADVANTAGES

• Collective ministerial responsibility means that ministers have to defend policies they do not agree with, meaning policies can be forced upon them by the prime minister.

• forces cabinet ministers to publicly agree w/ PM so scrutiny could be reduced

Exceptions to CMR

• Temporary suspension during referendums

• Coalition government. Can't always have CMR as not all cabinet ministers are in the same party

• Free votes such as in the Assisted Dying Bill

What is the cabinet?

• a system of government where the cabinet is the central policy-making body

• cabinet used to represent the collective identity of the government

• all important domestic/many foreign policy decisions were made within cabinet

• any disputes within the government would be resolved within the cabinet

What happens within cabinet meetings?

There is a lot of debating and whilst there may be disagreement inside the meeting hour, CMR means that outside of the meetings they must be united.

Role of the cabinet

• legitimising policy so that it becomes official

• Coordinating government policy

• Providing a place for discussion

• Presenting bills

• Providing expert knowledge to PM

• dealing with emergencies and national crises

How do PM's stamp authority on cabinet

They advance key allies to senior positions so that they can provide support.

is cabinet still powerful - YES

- The cabinet can overrule or even remove the PM as seen with Thatcher. Thatcher pushed through the Poll tax against the advice of her cabinet and as a result lost party support which finally meant she had to resign.

- The PM will consult the cabinet in times of trouble as it is filled with experts in their field. 2018 Theresa May called a cabinet meeting to discuss military response to Syrian governments presumed use of chemical weapons.

- Legitimise decisions made by the PM. If the Cabinet does not agree they can resign which makes the party look divided, e.g. Boris

is cabinet still powerful - NO

- The existence of the cabinet does not prevent the existence of smaller groups of advisors. The cabinet is therefore only important if the PM allows it to be. e.g. Boris Johnson consulted his private advisors so much they are known as the "kitchen cabinet"

- It is easier for a PM to make decisions without the cabinet as although they must present a united front to the country, in cabinet meetings there can be a lot of disagreement. Tony Blair often used bilateral meetings with preferred advisors to resolve issues as it was quicker.

- PM has significant powers of patronage and so can push though legislation it really believes in. For example Maggie went against cabinet advice and implemented the poll tax.

Cabinet Government

A type of government where the cabinet plays a key role in the development of policy.

Prime-ministerial government

Prime minister is dominant and the cabinet is essentially a formality.

How does the fusion of the Legislative and the Executive powers give the PM significant power?

Because the government votes on legislature in the house of commons and due to CMR they are unlikely to vote against it. This gives the PM a massive advantage and effectively creates an elected dictatorship.

How do individual meetings show PM's to be presidential?

The PM meeting with a small group of advisors is seen as presidential as usually those people will be picked bcz they agree with the PM and so they face little opposition.

How can the PM reshape the party agenda to suit their own vision?

Again, if you have enough of a majority you can get anything through which can become dangerous. The leader can change the direction the party heads in.

How does the power of patronage give the PM Presidential power?

The PM has power to remove people that they don't agree with them, similarly they can pack the cabinet with people who they know will agree with them

What political limits are there to patronage?

• There are situations beyond the control of the PM which means they cant simply pick anyone to go in their cabinet.

• for example, it is a convention that the labour party appoints the previous shadow cabinet as the governing cabinet

Circumstances for loss of power

There was massive controversy over the legality of the Iraq war. Blair failed to consult the cabinet about it and many members of the Government were annoyed about this. He became very presidential and preferred bi-lateral meetings as a pose to full cabinet meetings. Blair realised that his party had turned to support Gordon Brown and resigned.

impact of media on PM dominance - POSITIVE

Increased Public Support

• Media portrayal: Positive coverage boosts the Prime Minister’s public image and credibility.

• Impact on Parliament: High public approval can give the PM the political capital to push through policies, as MPs are less likely to oppose a leader who is popular with the electorate.

Party Loyalty and Cohesion

• Media portrayal: A PM who is seen positively in the media can maintain party unity by encouraging loyalty from Cabinet ministers and backbenchers.

• Impact on Parliament: The PM can avoid internal party dissent and secure majority support for policies in Parliament, as MPs are less likely to rebel against a leader who has a strong public image.

EXAMPLE

Tony Blair (1997-2007)

• Positive Media Image: Charismatic and media-savvy, Blair was often portrayed as the dynamic, modern leader of "New Labour".

• Domination of Parliament: Blair’s public popularity helped him push through reforms, maintain Cabinet loyalty, and secure a large majority in Parliament. His positive media image contributed to his political dominance for much of his tenure.

impact of media on PM dominance - NEGATIVE

Media Scrutiny Can Amplify Weaknesses

• Argument: Even with a positive media image, the intensity of media coverage can shift quickly, turning from favorable to critical when things go wrong.

• Impact on Parliament: A PM may face increased pressure from within their own party or the public if the media starts highlighting failures or scandals. This can lead to weakened authority in Parliament, making it harder to maintain control.

• Example: Boris Johnson had a positive media image in 2019, but scandals like Partygate and the media’s criticism of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic eventually weakened his position, leading to resignations from MPs and ministers.

Public Image May Not Translate to Political Power

• Argument: A positive media image can mislead the public into thinking the PM has widespread support, but this does not always translate into political control in Parliament. MPs often prioritize their constituents' interests or party loyalty over media perceptions.

• Impact on Parliament: Even with strong media support, MPs may refuse to support the PM if they believe certain policies are unpopular or would harm their re-election prospects.

• Example: Theresa May had a strong media image at the start of her leadership, but her inability to secure a deal on Brexit and the 2017 snap election undermined her position in Parliament, leading to loss of support from MPs.

impact of PM personality - POSITIVE

Charisma and Leadership Appeal

• Argument: A charismatic and strong-willed PM can inspire loyalty from their party and MPs, even in the face of opposition. A confident, dynamic leader is often seen as someone who can lead with authority, which can foster support in Parliament.

• Impact on Parliament: Charismatic leaders are more likely to unite their party, maintain party discipline, and motivate MPs to back key votes, increasing their power in Parliament.

• Example: Tony Blair, with his charismatic leadership, successfully pushed through significant reforms, maintaining unity within the Labour Party and ensuring parliamentary support for major policies like the Good Friday Agreement.

impact of PM personality - NEGATIVE

Personality Can Be Divisive

• Argument: While a strong personality can inspire loyalty, it can also alienate MPs who disagree with the PM’s leadership style or policies. If a PM’s personality is seen as overbearing or autocratic, it can lead to rebellion from within their own party.

• Impact on Parliament: A PM who lacks the ability to connect with MPs on a personal level or ignores party concerns may face opposition from within Parliament, undermining their authority and making it harder to push through legislation.

• Example: Theresa May, despite her strong personality and reputation for decisiveness, faced growing opposition from her own MPs over her handling of Brexit, leading to rebellions within her party and her eventual resignation.

impact of parliament majority on PM dominance - POSITIVE

Reduced Threat from Backbenchers and Opposition

• Argument: With a large majority, the PM is less likely to be challenged by backbench rebels or opposition parties because the sheer number of MPs supporting them ensures a solid majority on votes.

• Impact on Parliament: This reduces the likelihood of rebellion within the PM’s own party and weakens the power of opposition parties in influencing legislative outcomes.

• Example: Boris Johnson (2019-2022) had a large 80 seat majority after the 2019 general election, which allowed him to pass the Brexit deal and other key policies, despite significant opposition from parts of the Conservative Party and the wider public.

impact of parliament majority on PM dominance - NEGATIVE

Backbench Rebellions and Internal Party Divisions

• Argument: Even with a large majority, a PM may face rebellion from backbenchers or factions within their own party, especially on divisive issues. A strong majority does not guarantee complete party loyalty.

• Impact on Parliament: The PM may still face internal dissent, with MPs from their own party voting against key policies, undermining the PM’s authority and control over Parliament.

• Example: Theresa May (2016-2019) had a large majority early in her leadership but faced rebellions from Conservative MPs over her handling of Brexit, leading to the failure of her deal and her eventual resignation.