Power of PM and Cabinet

• What does the cabinet consists of?

  20 to 25 senior government ministers who generally head large departments of state
• How often does the cabinet meet?

  Once a week for no more than 2 hours on a Thursday morning (though in a crisis it can also be summoned)
• What does the PM do during cabinet meetings?

  Sets the agenda, chairs and sums up the meeting and then approves the cabinet secretary’s minutes
• Votes are very rarely taken and although there can be intense debate and disagreement within cabinet, the prime minister expects all present to publicly support the government’s decisions and policies based on the principle of collective ministerial responsibility.
• If a member of the cabinet cannot publicly agree to a policy determined by cabinet, they should have to resign and join the back benches, where they are free to criticise the government.
• Since many decisions are taken elsewhere within the executive, a core function of the cabinet is to approve them, so providing them with the seal of government policy. This maintains the unity of the government. The cabinet provides the key forum in which government policies are legitimised.
• A key role of cabinet is to decide how the government will determine business. If controversial legislation is going to be introduced into Parliament, the cabinet will need to discuss how it is best presented and ministers will need to know when they should be available on the front benches to enthusiastically support it. The chief whip will also explain whether there is likely to be a sufficient government majority for a bill and so the cabinet may debate any concessions they may need to make in order to win parliamentary support.
• If a dispute between two departments of state is proving impossible to resolve, the issue may be brought to cabinet as a final court of appeal to resolve it. This was particularly significant when departments conflicts had to be resolved during the coalition
• Prime ministers also appoint cabinet committees to develop and implement specific policy. This can be an effective way of enhancing prime ministerial authority, since the prime minister determines the membership and the number and remit of the committees. The decisions of cabinet committees possess the same legitimacy as decisions of the full cabinet. The prime minister often chooses to chair committees on issues that are particularly important to the government. For example, Boris Johnson decided to chair the Covid-19 Strategy Committee and the Climate Action Strategy Committee.
• Factors that influence selection of Cabinet Ministers

  • Political allies
  • Different wings of the party
  • Potential rivals
  • Friends and Confidents
  • if a minister can bring a bit of ‘political gold dust’
  • good at their job
  • ideologically emblematic of what the government stands for
• Example of cabinet appointments due to being political allies who have been guaranteed a post

  George Osbourne (David Cameron) and Gordon Brown (Tony Blair)
• Example of cabinet appointments due to them representing an important section of the party

  David Cameron appointing Theresa May (right wing)

  Suella Braverman: New Right
• Example of cabinet appointment because they were considered ‘good at their job’

  David Cameron appointing Kenneth Clark
• Example of a minister being appointed for being a popular figure with the public and media

  Theresa May appointing Boris Johnson