Evaluate the view that collective responsibility has a positive impact on the UK’s political system
Introduction Define: Argument:
Paragraph 1: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Accountability Collective responsibility confers excessive
power on the Prime Minister by narrowing
the scope of dissent in government.
Collective responsibility stipulates that all
ministers must publicly support
government policies, even if they privately
disagree with them. Prime Ministers can
therefore rely on the payroll vote, which
has increased considerably in recent years.
270 ministers – bound by collective resp.
Payroll vote has increased.
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
CR ensures ministers are held accountable: Collective resp. can also ensure govt is held
Gavin Williamson was fired by Theresa accountable by ministers: in 1990,
May in 2019 after a leak from a National Geoffrey Howe resigned from his post as
Security Council meeting on Huawei. Deputy PM, citing dissatisfaction with
Williamson suspected of authorizing the Thatcher’s dictatorial, ‘kitchen cabinet’
leak – collective responsibility ensures that leadership style. Less than a month after
held accountable. Howe’s resignation, Thatcher had left
office.
Paragraph 2: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Clarity and The convention of collective resp. can be PMs can also be too weak to enforce the
uniformity of ‘stretched’: after backbench MPs voted convention: Theresa May was unable to
policy + against the 2012 House of Lords Reform fire cabinet ministers who, in March 2019,
policymaking Bill, which had been championed by the defied the whip and abstained on a
Lib Dems, Nick Clegg instructed Lib Dem motion ruling on a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
MPs to support an opposition
amendment. This delayed constituency
boundary reforms that were backed by the
government – effectively forced the PM to
suspend collective responsibility.
Fact that it CAN be suspended (this is a
direct feature + consequence of CMR
itself).
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
BUT collective responsibility is crucial in Javid and Sunak
providing clarity – if the govt’s position on
an issue is unclear, or if policy appears to
be constantly changing, it becomes
difficult for opposition parties and voters
to hold the government collectively
accountable, and for businesses to make
Introduction Define: Argument:
Paragraph 1: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Accountability Collective responsibility confers excessive
power on the Prime Minister by narrowing
the scope of dissent in government.
Collective responsibility stipulates that all
ministers must publicly support
government policies, even if they privately
disagree with them. Prime Ministers can
therefore rely on the payroll vote, which
has increased considerably in recent years.
270 ministers – bound by collective resp.
Payroll vote has increased.
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
CR ensures ministers are held accountable: Collective resp. can also ensure govt is held
Gavin Williamson was fired by Theresa accountable by ministers: in 1990,
May in 2019 after a leak from a National Geoffrey Howe resigned from his post as
Security Council meeting on Huawei. Deputy PM, citing dissatisfaction with
Williamson suspected of authorizing the Thatcher’s dictatorial, ‘kitchen cabinet’
leak – collective responsibility ensures that leadership style. Less than a month after
held accountable. Howe’s resignation, Thatcher had left
office.
Paragraph 2: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Clarity and The convention of collective resp. can be PMs can also be too weak to enforce the
uniformity of ‘stretched’: after backbench MPs voted convention: Theresa May was unable to
policy + against the 2012 House of Lords Reform fire cabinet ministers who, in March 2019,
policymaking Bill, which had been championed by the defied the whip and abstained on a
Lib Dems, Nick Clegg instructed Lib Dem motion ruling on a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
MPs to support an opposition
amendment. This delayed constituency
boundary reforms that were backed by the
government – effectively forced the PM to
suspend collective responsibility.
Fact that it CAN be suspended (this is a
direct feature + consequence of CMR
itself).
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
BUT collective responsibility is crucial in Javid and Sunak
providing clarity – if the govt’s position on
an issue is unclear, or if policy appears to
be constantly changing, it becomes
difficult for opposition parties and voters
to hold the government collectively
accountable, and for businesses to make
