PM asked by monarch to form a government on their behalf
RP powers are freely exercised by PM and shared with the executive - 2013 Ministry of Justice requested a post humous pardoning of Alan Turing for his 1952 convition of gross indecency with a man
Traditional authority/Royal prerogative
Monarch's approval gives the PM authority e.g. ceremonial 'kiss hands' ceremony'
Party authority
Usually the leader of the largest party in the HoC
No election necessary to change the PM if the party has lost faith in their leader
Since 1976, seven out of the last ten prime ministers (Callaghan, Major, Brown, May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak) became PM after the resignation of their predecessors
1990 - Thatcher replaced with Major
Party authority
Being party leader alows the PM to take the lead in policy making
Authority from the people
PM is NOT directly elected but is by convention an MP so has some sort of electoral legitimacy from the people
1963 - Lord Home formed a government after Macmillan’s resignation and renounced his peerage and fought a by election
Patronage
Guarantees the PM has people who owe them loyalty
PM has patronage over hundreds of appointments like goverment ministsers, heads of departments and peers
Parliament
Leader of largest party in Parliament BUT will lose authority if Parliament fails to pass legislation
1995 - Major angered by the disloyalty of the backbenchers resigned as party leader but not as PM, and in the leadership contest he was reelected, asserting his power
Parliament
PM is a member of the House of Commons!
Parliament
Every new Parliament recognises the authority of the new PM - only formal approval is the Budget/ vote of no confidence
