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

AGREE 1
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.

DISAGREE 1.1

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)

DISAGREE 1.2

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.

AGREE 2

PM can bypass the government when determining policy through informal committees, SPADs and the growth of downing street

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

T May and Johnosn used cabinet committees to make decisions on important issues

T may used committee on exiting the EU to make important decisions on Brexit.

Johnson used for Brexit.

DISAGREE 2

PM still relies on cabinet ministers to run their departments and also cabinet decision making to settle key disputes and pass policies.

T May seeking to introduce Brexit deal, the hard Brexiters in her cabinet including Johnson had a lot of influence due to their support among the party which forced T May to make a harder Brexit deal.

When developing policy David Cameron had to consult key members of cabinet particularly Nick Clegg to ensure they would have wide support.

AGREE 3

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.

DISAGREE 3

 

Cabinet resignations can weaken the power of the PM.

Thatcher: Geoffery Howe resignation lead to her downfall. Howe 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

AGREE 4

 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”