changing role of the PM

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    Created by
    Amy

    Cards (15)

    • what did Gladstone say about the role of the PM?
      a PM cannot simply command and demand total obedience
    • what did Asquith say about the role of the PM?
      sometimes PM’s must make hard and tough decisions about ministerial colleagues and policy decisions
    • what did John Major say about the role of the PM?
      the role involves a lot of learning on the job
    • what did Thatcher say about the role of the PM?
      PMs must work hard to persuade cabinet ministers to fall in line
    • what did Blair say about the role of the PM?
      you learn on the job, start at least experienced and most popular, end at most experienced and least popular
    • what is there an accusation of in regards to the role of the PM?
      presidentialism
    • why was Blair accused of presidentialism?
      he ran a ‘sofa government’ - informal chats involving two or three ministers. He reduced the size of the cabinet and frequently didn’t listen to them
    • why was Thatcher accused of presidentialism?
      she was described as being intolerant and overbearing - her cabinet was described as being divided by the wets and the dries
    • why was the 2010 coalition accused of presidentialism?
      there was spatial leadership between the ‘quad’ and the cabinet
    • what has there been a growth in the use of?
      Special advisors (SpAds)
    • what is the difference between SpAds and civil servants?
      they are appointed personally and politically by the prime minister
    • who is Charlotte Owen?
      Boris Johnson’s ex-aide who he put on the honours list and then became a member of the HOL. She’s very inexperienced and has only been in politics for 5 years
    • how has the media increased the accusation of presidentialism?
      Elections have become more personalised
      24/7 news culture means leaders are expected to respond on a whole range of issues very quickly
      live TV debates
    • Case against presidentialism - weak and non existant majorities
      • Theresa May suffered two defeats in 2019, two cabinet ministers resigned, failed to get through her cabinet approved chequers deal and was forced out of office in June 2019
    • case against presidentialism - limitations of power
      • PMs are limited by their party, the cabinet, parliament and a coalition
      • cabinet legitimises policy
      • cabinet can drive a PM out by refusing to support them
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