Importance of cabinet

• Governmental functions of the cabinet

  • Policy formulation
  • Dealing with crisis
  • Controlling the parliamentary agenda
  • Approving decisions made elsewhere
  • Settling disputes
• The role of the cabinet in policy formulation


  The cabinet often sets out the government's general principles over what legislation should contain
• The role of the cabinet in dealing with crisis


  The cabinet often meets during difficult periods to present a 'show of unity and to agree a way forward. After Black Wednesday when Interest rates rocketed in 1992, the cabinet met to agree economic policy.
• The role of the cabinet in controlling the parliamentary agenda


  The cabinet can be the forum whereby ministers compete to win parliamentary time for the legislation their departments wish to pass
• The role of the cabinet in approving decisions made elsewhere

  Cabinet is an 'endorsing body, approving policies formulated elsewhere (such as in small cabinet committees)
• The role of the cabinet in settling disputes


  The cabinet allows secretaries of state to advocate for their policy positions and to compromise where necessary. The decision to scrap the Educational Maintenance Allowance for sixth-form students was only agreed upon once senior Liberal Democrat cabinet members in the coalition government were satisfied.
• How governmental functions are carried out elsewhere

  1. Detailed work on Individual policy is carried out in smaller groups. The ban on smoking in pubs was debated in cabinet, but the actual wording of the text was drafted by the Department of Health

  2. In a crisis, the prime minister often relies on small teams of experts and advisors, or upon COBRA (COBR). During the Iraq War, Blair relied on just a few ministers, including Geoff Hoon (defence secretary) and Jack Straw foreign secretary

  3. Decisions on which legislation to prioritise are made elsewhere. In the 2010-15 coalition, the 'quad' met each week to discuss Liberal Democrat and Conservative priorities

  4. The prime minister can establish cabinet committees, which discuss, propose and, in some instances, decide policy. Boris Johnson created various Covid-19 committees that were tasked with implementing policies relating to health, economic matters and public services

  5. Most disputes are resolved elsewhere, usually involving bilateral meetings between individual cabinet members and the prime minister. In 2017 Theresa May and her chancellor Phillip Hammond held tense discussions over whether to scrap the planned rise in national insurance contributions