changing role of the PM

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