3.3 The Prime Minister and the Cabinet

3.3.1 The power of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet

Role of cabinet

• Approve decision by providing them with the seal of government policy.

• Provides the key forum in which government policies are legitimised.

• Determines key issues of policy. In 1976, James Callaghan allowed the cabinet to freely debate whether or not to accept a loan from the International Monetary Fund

• Decides how the government

Cabinet meetings

• Cabinet consists of 20-25 government ministers who head their departments

• Generally meet once a week (Thursdays) for 2 hours

• The PM sets the agenda, chairs the meeting and agrees the minutes of the meeting

• There are no official votes in the meeting but often vigorous and heated debate about topics.

Key factors that influence cabinet selection

• Big Beasts- people who are important in the party that it’s impossible to keep out/influential members (whom you might disagree with though).

• Key Allies- giving them advancement and for support in Cabinet meetings.

• Potential Rivals for PM job- Keep your enemies closer…inside the cabinet they are bound by collective responsibility which means they cannot go against the government policy (cause you less issues).

• Party Unity- often need to have broad range of views from within the party to ensure support from all MPs on policy.

• Public Perception- how it looks to the public to have those members in the cabinet.