Evaluate The View That Prime Ministers Are Able To Dominate The Cabinet. (30)

AGREE Remove cabinet ministers and replace them with people who share their views

Sunak brought back Suella Braverman as Home secretary despite her being sacked by truss for breaking the ministerial code.

Minimises challenges to the PM and strengthens control of government decisions

AGREE PM can sack cabinet ministers

Sunak sacked Suella Braverman as home secretary after publishing an article accusing the police of "playing favourites" and describing protesters as "hate marchers"

Control who remains in cabinet

AGREE Key decisions can be taken outside of parliament

Tony Blairs "sofa government" informally made decisions with key advisors rather than the cabinet

Cabinets influence over government policy significantly limited

AGREE PM can use collective ministerial responsibility to control ministers

cabinet has to publicly agree with PM, if not they resign e.g. Tony Blair Iraq War - robin cook resigned as did not agree with Blair.

Limits ability to challenge the PM

DISAGREE PMs with a divided parties need to maintain a balanced cabinet

Theresa mays cabinet was balanced between Brexiters (e.g. Johnson) and remainers (e.g. Jeremy hunt)

Harder to manage cabinet as not made up of allies

DISAGREE Unpopular weak PMs are unable to control their cabinet

Theresea May: Boris Johnson expressed dissatisfaction with May publicly.

Johnson popularity in the CON party + her weakness meant she couldn't sack him.

Unable to dominate the cabinet

DISAGREE Cabinet resignations can weaken the power of the PM.

Thatcher: Geoffery Howe resignation speech - criticised thatcher's leadership encouraged many others to challenge her without support she was forced to resign

Boris Johnson: over 50 resignations in one week, including Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid

Power of PM declining, limiting ability to dominate