examples for the executive

Prime Ministerial Power & Presidentialism

📌 Boris Johnson’s Handling of COVID-19 (2020-2022)

Theme: Centralization of Power & Presidentialism

• What: Emergency powers & statutory instruments to enforce lockdowns.

• Impact: Bypassed Parliament, enhancing executive dominance.

• Media Control: Frequent briefings; personalized leadership.

• Comparison: Similar to Sunak’s Rwanda Scheme; both show centralized power.

📌 Boris Johnson’s ‘Partygate’ Scandal (2021-2022)

Theme: Accountability & Executive Dominance

• What: COVID-19 rule breaches; refusal to resign despite public outrage.

• Outcome: Reluctantly resigned due to overwhelming pressure.

• Significance: Showed how PMs can resist accountability when party support remains strong.

• Comparison: Contrast with Gavin Williamson’s swift resignation over bullying.

📌 Liz Truss’s Premiership (2022)

Theme: Fragility of Prime Ministerial Power

• What: Economic policies caused financial chaos; lost party support.

• Outcome: Forced resignation after 49 days (shortest-serving PM).

• Significance: Highlights limits of executive power when lacking party backing.

• Comparison: Contrast with Johnson’s resilience during Partygate.

collective ministerial responsibility

• suella braverman disagreed with Rishi Sunak’s policies

individual ministerial responsibility

📌 Priti Patel Bullying Allegations (2020)

Theme: Inconsistency of IMR

• What: Found to have breached Ministerial Code for bullying.

• Outcome: Boris Johnson chose not to dismiss her, revealing political influence over IMR.

• Comparison: Contrast with Gavin Williamson’s resignation

Amber Rudd - Windrush Scandal (2018)

Theme: Breakdown of CMR & Ministerial Accountability

• What: Amber Rudd resigned as Home Secretary over the Windrush Scandal, where legal Caribbean migrants were wrongly detained

• Significance: Example of CMR working effectively, as Rudd accepted responsibility for her department’s failures even though the policies began under Theresa May’s tenure as Home Secretary.

• Comparison: Contrast with Priti Patel’s bullying scandal where CMR wasn’t enforced.

Relationship Between Executive & Parliament

📌 Fixed-term Parliaments Act Repeal (2022)

Theme: Restoring Executive Dominance

• What: Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 restored PM’s power to call elections.

• Significance: Enhances executive power over Parliament, reversing previous limits.

• Comparison: Relates to Sunak’s ability to push Rwanda Scheme with majority support.

📌 Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Scheme (2023-Present)

Theme: Power Enhanced by Large Majority

• What: Policy to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, despite legal challenges.

• Significance: Shows how a large parliamentary majority allows Sunak to centralize power and push controversial policies.

impact of media image

Boris Johnson – "Boris Effect"

• Media Image: Charismatic, larger-than-life, humorous.

• Impact on Domination:

  • Won 2019 election with large majority (Brexit-focused).

  • Media scrutiny (Partygate) weakened his authority and led to resignation.

Tony Blair – "Cool Britannia" Image

• Media Image: Charismatic, modern, media-savvy.

• Impact on Domination:

  • Built public support for reforms (e.g., Good Friday Agreement).

  • Media image helped push through policies despite Iraq War controversy.

  • Maintained Cabinet loyalty through positive portrayal.