prime minister & cabinet

Unit 2: Governing the UK Revision

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Prime Minister & Cabinet


The Government

Although this figure changes in general the government consists of 25 peers and 90 MP’s• 23 cabinet members- the head of government the

prime minister and secretaries of state, • 15 senior non cabinet posts – people who are not

important enough to be in the cabinet but still important i.e. the attorney general,

• 60 junior ministers – ministers of state working under members of the cabinet,

• 17 part whipps running the administration and ensuring MP’s stay in line.


Characteristics of government

• The 90 or so MP’s perform duties in government but also have constituencies to look after

• Other MP’s of the party are known as backbenchers and not bound by the same rules as frontbenchers

• All members of government are appointed by the PM• Members of the government are bound by collective

responsibility and must publically support policy no matter what they may believe; therefore they must also take responsibility for it. If a member of government is against policy they should resign.


Ministerial Selection• The prime minister decides upon a minister firstly

through the competence of the individual and secondly through political consideration.

• The minister should be politically reliable – accepting collective responsibility, junior ministers should have potential so that they can replace senior members at a later stage, ministers should preferably be ideologically united, have managerial skills


Forms of Government• Minority government – winning party fails to win an

absolute majority, find it difficult to pass legislation and financial budgets, they are therefore short lived

• Coalition government- shared appointment of posts and shared policies between two or more parties. Has happened in 1945 and in the Scottish parliament as well as at local government level.

• Majority coalition – between 2 parties to form govt• Grand coalition - form an overwhelming majority• Rainbow coalition - 1 large party and several others• National coalition - where all parties are called to join


Cabinet Government• The cabinet represented the collective identity of

the government• All important domestic and many foreign policies

were made within the cabinet• Policy needed full cabinet approval for it to be

official• Disputes would be resolved within the cabinet• The PM was first amongst equals and could be

voted against by the rest of the cabinet


Changing Cabinet-PM domination

• Howard Wilson realised he could control the cabinet through the help of a few close allies. The cabinet secretary who now served him almost exclusively, a few private advisors that he consulted in order to discuss strategy and his own force.

• He could control the political agenda of the cabinet.• He started having meeting with other cabinet ministers outside of cabinet

meetings in order to control what happened in them and reportedly even had the minutes of the cabinet changed to support his own conclusions.

• The media exclusively focussed on Wilson so he became the presenter and therefore maker of policy

• Thatcher took this too a new level by completely removing all her political opponents out of government and controlling the cabinet as Wilson had done. The media also focussed on Thatcher.

• Blair took this further by using Wilsons tactics of control and Thatcher’s strategy of media supremacy as well as controlling the flow of information to the governing community


Cabinet Committees• A group of about 5 cabinet ministers who meet to discuss

policy. To deal with decisions that need approval of more than one department.

• Some are temporary like the Olympics but others are permanent like economic development; and, national security, international relations and development.

• Issues too technical/complex for full cabinet to discuss, there is no time/information. When a decision of a committee is referred up its usually accepted. Increases PM’s control, he creates them, decides who sits on them and what their agenda is. It’s easier for him to control a smaller number


Marginalisation• The PM has increasingly taken power away from

the cabinet and given it to himself• Department don’t want to bring issues to the

cabinet• Cabinet committees are dealing with much of the

policy on their own• A lot of policy is now formed in downing street by

the PMs personal political advisors• The PM deals with individual ministers separately


Functions of the cabinet today

• Settling disputes between ministers• Making decisions that cannot be made elsewhere

– gain cabinet support, to save the PM embarrassment

• Dealing with domestic emergencies – it is good to have full cabinet backing at times of national security

• Determining presentation of policy• Legitimising decisions taken elsewhere -such as

in cabinet committees or


Formation of a cabinet• Vital part of PM’s powers of patronage, he appoints and can

dismiss senior members of government• The PM must decide if he wants a balanced cabinet or an

ideologically united cabinet. And which individuals he should choose.

• Political allies from the past, representing an important part of society, a rebel that could be dangerous outside, those with great potential, personal friends, popular figures, retaining political identity, finally able to do a good job


Functions of the Prime Minister• Chief policy maker – he has the final say on policy• Head of government – can make and abolish committees and

departments. Head of civil service. Chairs cabinet meetings. Determining who holds the posts of ministers, senior judges and arch bishops.

• Chief government spokesman – represents policy to the media• Commander in chief of the armed forces – on behalf of

monarch, committing troops declaring war and head of intelligence services

• Chief foreign policy maker – negotiating with other countries, signing treaties and chairing international meetings

• Parliamentary leader – it is the role of the prime minister to lead his party in parliament, both the House of Commons and House of Lords


Sources of prime ministerial power and authority

• The ruling party - PM has support of party and the rest of the country in ordinary members. Party won the general election he carries elective authority.

• Prerogative powers – the powers that the PM can practice on behalf of the monarchy as it would be undemocratic for the monarch to have these powers.

• The prime minister can claim personal mandate as more and more people take into account the party leader when voting

• Parliament – can claim parliamentary authority as long as he has a majority.


Prime Ministerial PowerFormal (all)• Appointment and dismissal of

ministers• Granting peerages and other

honours• Head of the civil service• Appointment senior judges and

bishops• Determining the date of the

general election• Commanding the armed forces• Conducting foreign relations• Maintaining national security• Chairing cabinet meetings

Variables• Making government policy• Parliamentary leadership• Controlling cabinet• National leadership


Limits on Prime ministerial power

• The size of the majority in the House of Commons – john major just 21, tony blairs majority of over 100

• Having a united party – as seen with Cameron and brown over the expenses issue

• Public and media profile – Blair and Thatcher.• Support of cabinet and parliament – as if these

overrule him there is nothing he can do• Confidence of the party


Presidential Government• Effectively head of state - the

country unites behind the PM in times of national emergency – Diana

• Large amount of personal advisors – cabinet office serves the PM not government, policy directorate and strategy unit playing key parts.

• Controls foreign policy- Blair supporting US in the middle east, world environmental issues, EU

• Build up of special leadership – Thatcher used her own advisors instead of the chancellor major was forced out due to having political enemies

Not Presidential Government• Office of PM is flexible and

depends on what the holder wants to make it

• PM’s seem to be more presidential through the media but in reality are not – Thatcher sacked

• As the PM tries to stretch power the constraints become more powerful – Thatcher’s enemies turning on her

• Even though he appears to be he is not actually head of state.


Ministers and departments• Department has two heads one minister

“secretary of state” and one civil servant “permanent secretary”.

• Therefore each department has a political structure, the minister then junior ministers then private political advisors; and administrative structure the permanent secretary and a large number of civil servants who are supposed to be neutral.


Role of the Civil ServiceTasks of the civil service• Gather information for policy

making• Provide alternative courses of

action• Advise on consequences of

decisions• Draft legislation• Provide briefings for other

ministers• Advise on implementation

methods• Organise implementation of

policy• Draft answers for ministerial

questions

Features of a civil servants job• Must display no political

allegiance• Permanent wish to move up

through the ranks• Keep their jobs when the

party changes• May only suggest alternative

in a neutral way• Identify possible outcomes in

a neutral way• Largely anonymous• Cannot be held publically

accountable


Role of a MinisterTasks of a minister • Set the political agenda• Determine priorities for action• Decide between political

alternative• Obtain cabinet and PM’s

approval for policy• Steer proposals through

parliament• Be accountable to parliament

for policies and implementation

• Account to parliament for general performance of their department

Features of a ministers job• Politically committed to one

party• Temporary only hold office as

long as PM wishes• Will lose office if party loses

power• Are expected to make political

decisions• Make judgements about

outcomes of those decisions• Have a public profile• Publically accountable for

their department


prime minister & cabinet

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