The PM and Executive unit 2

• In 1965 George Jones argued PM power is dependent on a range of factors and limitations, this became the elastic band theory.

  a Powerful PM can extend his power but it will eventually snap back.
• Harold Wilson 1974-76: resigned due to ill health.

  Decriminalised some homosexuality and abolished the death penalty.
• James Callaghan 1976-79: Lost vote of no confidence and election.

  Winter of discomfort and failure to control trade unions. Constant industrial strikes, lib-lab pact: lib dems voted for labour if labour proposed Scottish and Welsh devolution referendums (defeated).
• Margret Thatcher 1979-90: resigned after leadership challenge 

  Economic policy: Thatcherism and deindustrialisation, Falkland’s, privatisation, deregulation.
• John major 1990-97: defeated in election.

  Continued privatisation, kept Britain in the ERM, sleaze and series of scandals. 
• Tony Blair 1997-2007: Resigned due to party pressure.

  Labour reforms: devolution, HOL, good Friday agreement, judiciary, and Human rights. Iraq war, greater spending.
• Gordon Brown 2007-2009: defeated in the election.

  Financial crisis, bigot gate. 
• David Cameron 2010-2016: Resigned due to losing the Brexit vote.

  Gave the public the choice on Brexit, legalised same sex marriage, coalition and AV referendum, rise in tuition fees, austerity, 
• Theresa May 2016-19: resigned due to Brexit and party pressure.

  Called shock 2017 snap election with hopes to increase majority led to loss of majority lost 12 seats, dementia tax, Windrush scandal.
• Boris Johnson 2019-22: resigned due to scandal and handling of covid.

  Won conservative majority, passed Brexit deal after winning election, slow response to covid, party gate
• Liz Truss 2022-22: resigned due to party pressure and economy.

  Trickledown economics, £ fell to £1:$1.07, inflation at 11%, cut of taxes. 
• Rishi Sunak 2022-present: 

  Stop the boats, halved inflation, Rwanda sceme.
• Role of the PM

  ·      Chief policy maker 

  ·      Leader of largest party 

  ·      Head of cabinet 

  ·      Sets legislative agenda (kings’ speech)
• Role of the Cabinet 

  ·      Approving policy 

  ·      Settling disputes

  ·      Policy drafting and presentation.
•  

  Role of special advisors 

  ·      Contribute to the shaping or directing of official policy.

  ·      Work with think tanks and lobbyists.

  ·      Often in charge of communication (Spin doctors 
• Government departments

  ·      23 departments 

  ·      Home office has one secretary of state and 4 junior ministers.

  ·      Develop and implement specialised policies. New departments can be created.
• Senior civil servants 

  ·      Present politicians with information and options. 

  ·      Enact policy.

  ·      Run departments.
•  

  Senior members of governing party 

  ·      1922 committee, parliamentary labour party are consulted on decisions.
• Functions of the core executive 

  1.  Manage the budget. 

  2.  Organise defence. 

  3.  Make policy decisions, sets priorities and policy direction.

  4.  Conducts foreign policy 

  5.  Manages key services.

  6.  Secondary legislation 

  7.  Passing the manifesto 

  8.  Responding to a crisis and showing leadership
• “first among equals”

  First= dominant member of cabinet 

  Equals= not in complete control
• Prerogative powers

  (powers held on behalf of the monarch)

  ·      Determines the membership of government. E.g. cabinet and ministers.

  ·      Makes senior appointments to the civil service and judiciary.

  ·      Appoints life peers.

  ·      Negotiates treaties.

  ·      Directs military forces. 

  ·      Nuclear responsibility.
• Leader of the majority party in the HOC

  ·      Party discipline allows for command of the majority.

  ·      Ability to push through policy.

  ·      PMs position depends on confidence of parliament and party. 
• Role as leader in the country and world

  ·      Personality and media focus on the PM

  ·      Strong popularity can be extremely powerful.
• Formal powers (powers that all PMs have)

  Patronage:

  ·      Appointing cabinet 

  ·      Appointing ministers 

  ·      Appointing peers, judges and civil service.

  Chairing cabinet 

  Foreign policy leader

  Commander in chief 

  Signing foreign treaties and international agreements.

  Ability to call and early election with 2/3 majority.

  Power to recall parliament 
• Informal powers (powers that vary depending on circumstance)

  Controlling and setting government policy 

  Controlling and setting the legislative agenda.

  Economic leadership

  Media focus and platform

  National leadership.
• Patronage powers 

  ·      PM can appoint and dismiss any minister in government 

  ·      Can place allies and reward supporters.

  ·      Can dissolve/ recall parliament (call a general election)

  ·      Command armed forces

  ·      Control civil service. 
• Limitations of patronage powers

  ·      Big beasts have to be included due to party unity and representation.

  ·      Top talent must be picked for cabinet

  ·      PMs should seek a social balance for cabinet.

  ·      Rivals may be more damaging outside cabinet.
• PMs Powers over government and cabinet 

  ·       PM calls, chairs and sets the agenda for cabinet meetings.

  ·      Controls discussion.

  ·      Establishes cabinet committees.

  ·      Cabinet limited by CMR

  ·      PM may rely on close circle of advisors. 
• Limitations of the PMs powers over gov and cabinet

  ·      PMs position is dependent on cabinet support.

  ·      Requires cabinet support on major decisions.

  ·      Big beasts have their own authority.

  ·      Threat of resignations.

  ·      Support conditional on PM popularity and success.
• PMs Powers over the party

  ·      Party, cabinet and parliament are loyal to PM as party leader.

  ·      Majority in the commons.

  ·      Party discipline and fear of re-election.

  ·       Party members recognise party success
• PMs power over the partys Limitations 

  ·      Loyalty dependent on possibility of re-election

  ·      Back bench rebellions are possible.

  ·      Risk of confidence vote or no confidence vote leading to leadership challenge.

  ·      PMs with small majorities are limited.

  ·      No majority in lords. 
• Institutional support for the PM

  ·      Growth of the PMs office including the policy unit, press office and cabinet office.

  ·      Increased use of special advisors.

  ·      Reformed by Blair.

   
• Limitations of the institutional support provided to the PM

  ·      No formal PMs department

  ·      Power of other large, rival departments.

  ·      Difficult to be in control across government.

  ·      Weaker than other countries

  ·      All cabinet members have offices.
• Elastic band theory: George Jones
• Variable factors determining the power of the Prime Minister

   

  1.  PM style and personality

  2.  Size of majority

  3.  Cabinet

  4.  Popularity: PM must be an electoral asset. 

  5.  Strength of the opposition

  6.  Media

  7.  Events
• Sources of PMs advice

  1. PMs office
  2. Individual Ministers and informal groups
  3. Cabinet
• Special advisors: temporary civil service, appointed by the PM, work in all government departments. Increased in use: major (35 advisors), Johnson (113).
• Role of SPADs: provide political advice separate to the civil service, control the information given to the media from departments.

  Shifted decision making from cabinet to PM and his SPADs as these roles where traditionally done by the civil service and cabinet ministers.

  Johnson: Dominic Cummings. May: Nick Timothy (wrote manifesto).
• PMs office: not a government department but an office (smaller). Blair reformed it in 2000 to become a virtual department with more presidential theme and titles e.g. Chief of staff. Staffed by career civil servants and special advisors. It is a vital source of advice over policy, communications, relations with the media and public engagement.
• ·      Jeremey Hunt: Treasury 

  ·      Oliver Dowden: Deputy PM

  ·      James Cleverly: Sectary of state for the Home office