PM dominates Core Exec

  1. Institutional Dominance

  • Power of Patronage: Power of Patronage; May in 2016 removed all key Cameron allies, Thatcher in 1980s removing all Wets, Sunak removing Braverman in 2023, Starmer removing Haigh in 2025.

  • Cannot Always use Patronage due to weakness: Theresa May, failed reshuffle in 2018 led to Justine Greening resigning and Jeremy Hunt promoted rather than being moved. Truss in 2022 having to sack Kwarteng and replace with Hunt

  1. Bypassing Cabinet

  • Growth of Personal Staff: Blair est. PM’s Strategy Unit in 2002 and Delivery Unit in 2001, Creation of Policy Unit in 1974. Allowed PM to control govt. policy as staff answered to them.

  • Informal Decision making: Blair’s “Sofa Politics”, Cameron’s “Quad”, Theresa May Special advisors - Fiona May and Nick Timothy.

  • Powerful Cabinet members that can overrule PM: Chancellor Gordon Brown 1997-2007 to make economic policy and dictate policy via spending. Sunak 2022 resignation effectively forced Johnson out.

  1. Party and Electoral Leverage

  • Blair 1997–2005: Huge Labour majority meant Cabinet ministers rarely challenged him.

  • Johnson 2019–2021: Conservative majority allowed him to push Brexit strategy and COVID policies.

  • Limits: Minority government or party rebellion can constrain PM—e.g., Theresa May 2017–19 struggled to get Brexit deal through, limiting Cabinet control.