The Prime Minister and the Executive
Evaluate the view that the conventions of ministerial responsibility no longer adequately account for the actions of ministers
AGREE DISAGREE
Governing has become more complex- changes to Provides scrutiny and prevents abuse of power by
legislation. This makes it hard to hold ministers to account. government officials. This allows them to stay representative.
Boris Johnson undoing the Fixed Term parliament act 2011. In 2018, Amber Rudd (Home Secretary) had misled HoC and
resigned after children of Windrush Generation were being
forced with deportation.
Individual ministerial responsibility is weak as there is no Individual ministerial responsibility has many recent accounts
specific way a minister can be sacked unless Prime Minister of conventions being held. They are informed that they
says so. If Johnson is fond of them, they are safe. In 2020, should know what occurs within their departments and if they
Priti Patel was accused of breaking the ministerial code of make an error of judgement, they should resign. In 2002,
conduct for bullying. PM asked for a report and stated he Estelle Morris resigned after admitting she wasn’t up to the
didn’t believe she was a bully and didn’t need to resign. job of Education Secretary. Couldn’t make literacy levels rise.
Collective ministerial responsibility can be dismissed when Collective ministerial responsibility does allow ministers the
PM wills it to. In June 2016, David Cameron allowed freedom to disagree with motions, just not in public. Unity is
ministers to express counterviews. important for a country to be run. They can resign if they
disagree with it so harshly.
Evaluate the view that prime ministers have become too powerful in recent years.
AGREE DISAGREE
Large majorities in the commons increase PM’s powers. PMs are limited by parliament if they don’t have a majority on
Blair, who had a majority of 173, was powerful and able to their side for legislative power. Cameron could not extend
push new labour into the force. military action in Syria because of this.
PMs who are electoral assets have few limitations on their PMs are limited by their party- can lose power bases within
power. Blair was a favourite and managed to stay in power their parties. This was seen in 2022 when a vote of no
for a long time confidence was called on Boris Johnson. Although he won,
this still undermines his power.
The PM's power over the cabinet is immense. They get to PMs are limited by their cabinet who do have authority and
decide who is in the cabinet and the seniority. Priti Patel has can limit the agenda. May allowed her cabinet to speak out
stayed in power for a long time, even after being accused of against her because of the amount of backlash she faced.
breaking the ministerial code of conduct.
‘The power of a Prime Minister comes mainly from his or her dominance over Parliament, rather than controlling the Executive.’
How far do you agree that it is a Prime Minister’s dominance over Parliament that largely determines his or her power
AGREE DISAGREE
Large majorities in the commons increase PM’s powers. The power of PMs comes from the dominance over the
Blair, who had a majority of 173, was powerful and able to executive. This provides a strong and united front to
push new labour into force. parliament, the public and the media. Boris Johnson.
A PM’s power is strengthened when they have a united PMs marginalize their cabinets to increase power. Blair used
parliamentary party. May had a disunited party which is why “sofa politics” to take important decisions outside the full
she faced several defeats. cabinet which increased his power as decisions were made
beforehand.
A PM’s power is strengthened when faced with weak Cabinets with opposing views are more likely to weaken the
opposition. In 1979, Thatcher was against Callaghan who powers of a PM. May was unable to exert collective
made a bad impression during winter of discontent. responsibility as many members were critical of her Brexit
deal. She let them speak against it and eventually lost.
Evaluate the view that the conventions of ministerial responsibility no longer adequately account for the actions of ministers
AGREE DISAGREE
Governing has become more complex- changes to Provides scrutiny and prevents abuse of power by
legislation. This makes it hard to hold ministers to account. government officials. This allows them to stay representative.
Boris Johnson undoing the Fixed Term parliament act 2011. In 2018, Amber Rudd (Home Secretary) had misled HoC and
resigned after children of Windrush Generation were being
forced with deportation.
Individual ministerial responsibility is weak as there is no Individual ministerial responsibility has many recent accounts
specific way a minister can be sacked unless Prime Minister of conventions being held. They are informed that they
says so. If Johnson is fond of them, they are safe. In 2020, should know what occurs within their departments and if they
Priti Patel was accused of breaking the ministerial code of make an error of judgement, they should resign. In 2002,
conduct for bullying. PM asked for a report and stated he Estelle Morris resigned after admitting she wasn’t up to the
didn’t believe she was a bully and didn’t need to resign. job of Education Secretary. Couldn’t make literacy levels rise.
Collective ministerial responsibility can be dismissed when Collective ministerial responsibility does allow ministers the
PM wills it to. In June 2016, David Cameron allowed freedom to disagree with motions, just not in public. Unity is
ministers to express counterviews. important for a country to be run. They can resign if they
disagree with it so harshly.
Evaluate the view that prime ministers have become too powerful in recent years.
AGREE DISAGREE
Large majorities in the commons increase PM’s powers. PMs are limited by parliament if they don’t have a majority on
Blair, who had a majority of 173, was powerful and able to their side for legislative power. Cameron could not extend
push new labour into the force. military action in Syria because of this.
PMs who are electoral assets have few limitations on their PMs are limited by their party- can lose power bases within
power. Blair was a favourite and managed to stay in power their parties. This was seen in 2022 when a vote of no
for a long time confidence was called on Boris Johnson. Although he won,
this still undermines his power.
The PM's power over the cabinet is immense. They get to PMs are limited by their cabinet who do have authority and
decide who is in the cabinet and the seniority. Priti Patel has can limit the agenda. May allowed her cabinet to speak out
stayed in power for a long time, even after being accused of against her because of the amount of backlash she faced.
breaking the ministerial code of conduct.
‘The power of a Prime Minister comes mainly from his or her dominance over Parliament, rather than controlling the Executive.’
How far do you agree that it is a Prime Minister’s dominance over Parliament that largely determines his or her power
AGREE DISAGREE
Large majorities in the commons increase PM’s powers. The power of PMs comes from the dominance over the
Blair, who had a majority of 173, was powerful and able to executive. This provides a strong and united front to
push new labour into force. parliament, the public and the media. Boris Johnson.
A PM’s power is strengthened when they have a united PMs marginalize their cabinets to increase power. Blair used
parliamentary party. May had a disunited party which is why “sofa politics” to take important decisions outside the full
she faced several defeats. cabinet which increased his power as decisions were made
beforehand.
A PM’s power is strengthened when faced with weak Cabinets with opposing views are more likely to weaken the
opposition. In 1979, Thatcher was against Callaghan who powers of a PM. May was unable to exert collective
made a bad impression during winter of discontent. responsibility as many members were critical of her Brexit
deal. She let them speak against it and eventually lost.
