Chapter 18

Chapter Summary

The Prime Minister stands at the apex within British government. The occupant of the office leads the Cabinet and heads the party that usually enjoys a clear majority in the House of Commons. A strong Prime Minister may thus be in a position to achieve desired out-comes. However, the extent to which prime ministers achieve what they want varies. Prime ministerial power is variable and not a constant. Power may ‘zig zag’ from one premier to another (Blick and Jones 2010) as well as within a premiership.

The extent to which prime ministers can achieve their goals depends in part on who the Prime Minister is: what they want to achieve, and their skills in getting their way, will – as we have seen – vary from premier to premier. The political climate, not least the relationship between different political bodies, can change. A Prime Minister may enjoy a good parliamentary majority and be returned at the next election with a small and potentially difficult majority. Events at an international or national level may blow a government off course. Prime ministerial power thus varies not only from premier to premier but also within a premiership.

The variability of prime ministerial power is exacerbated by international developments, over which the Prime Minister may have little or no influence. The Prime Minister can be and frequently is powerful, but ultimately is dependent on what one Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, allegedly summarised as ‘events, dear boy, events’.

Learning Objectives

• To describe the development of the office of Prime Minister.
• To identify the nature of prime ministerial power and the significance of the individual in the office.
• To describe the development and role of the Cabinet.
• To assess different explanations of the location of power at the heart of British government.

Quizzes

Test your knowledge with the Chapter 18 quizzes!

Quiz

Question 1

Who is generally considered to be the first British Prime Minister?

William Pitt the Younger

Robert Peel

Winston Churchill

Robert Walpole

Benjamin Disraeli

None

Question 2

The Prime Minister has was primary constitutional role

To act as head of state

To appoint the Speaker of the House of Commons

To serve as the head of government and lead the cabinet

To make laws without parliamentary approval

To oversee the judiciary

None

Question 3

What is the significance of the House of Lords Act (1999) in relation to the Prime Minister’s powers?

It reduced the number of hereditary peers, affecting the Prime Minister’s appointments

It increased the Prime Minister’s control over the House of Lords

It allowed the Prime Minister to appoint life peers

It made the House of Lords a fully elected chamber

It transferred powers from the Prime Minister to Parliament

None

Question 4

What is the doctrine of ‘collective ministerial responsibility’?

Ministers are individually responsible for their departments

The Cabinet must publicly support government decisions, even if they disagree privately

The Prime Minister has sole authority over policy decisions

The monarch can override Cabinet decisions

MPs must always vote with their party

None

Question 5

Which Prime Minister served the shortest tenure in UK history?

Andrew Bonar Law

David Cameron

Theresa May

Boris Johnson

Liz Truss

None

Question 6

Which power allows the Prime Minister to directly influence to structure of the government?

Controlling the Cabinet agenda

Appointing Supreme Court justices

Merging, abolishing, or creating government departments

Directly amending the constitution

Directing the House of Commons to override a voter

None

Question 7

Which of the following statements about the relationship between the Prime Minister and the Civil Service is correct

The Prime Minister directly controls all civil servants

The Prime Minister can remove any civil servant at will

Civil servants are appointed by Parliament

The Civil Service is independent, but the Prime Minister influences senior appointments

The Prime Minister is required to consult Parliament before hiring senior civil servants

None

Question 8

The First Lord of the Treasury is the formal title still held by the , although the position is more commonly known by a different name.

Question 9

Under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (2011), general elections were originally scheduled to take place every years

Question 10

Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) take place every

Time’s up

Discussion Questions

1.  To what extent has the power of the Prime Minister changed over time? Has the role become more “presidential,” or are there still significant checks on prime ministerial authority?
2. Some argue that the Cabinet has become less influential in recent decades, with decision-making becoming increasingly centralised in the Prime Minister’s Office. To what extent do you agree with this view?

Weblinks

10 Downing Street Official Website – The official website of the UK Prime Minister, providing updates, policies, and information on the government. (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/prime-ministers-office-10-downing-street)

UK Parliament – Prime Minister and Cabinet – A resource detailing the structure, responsibilities, and functions of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. (https://members.parliament.uk/government/cabinet)

Institute for Government – The Prime Minister and Executive Power – Research and analysis on the evolving role of the Prime Minister and executive decision-making in the UK. (https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk)

Hansard – Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) – Official transcripts of weekly sessions where MPs question the Prime Minister in Parliament. (https://hansard.parliament.uk)

Flashcards

Refresh your knowledge of key terms with this chapter’s flashcards

Timeline

List of Prime Ministers in the 21^st century

For Prime Ministers of previous centuries, and photos or paintings of each PM, visit the list on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/history/past-prime-ministers