Transcript Powers & Limitations of the Prime Minister

Powers & Limitations
of the Prime
Minister
What are the Powers of the Prime Minister?
Are there Limitations to that Power?
1) Appointment & Dismissal of
Ministers
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This is often viewed as the most
important PM power.
It enables them:
- To reward Loyalty
- To dismiss Rivals
- To keep an eye on opponents
They can promote those with the
same policy ideas
PM Macmillan dismissed 24
Ministers in 1 day in 1962
The British Cabinet
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The Cabinet is a
group of key
Ministers that make
up the ‘Government’
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A Prime Minister can
promote / dismiss
into the Cabinet
Appointment of Cabinet
Committees
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Key Decisions and policies
are increasingly made in small
groups of Ministers working in
the Cabinet Committee
The PM decides WHO sits on
this & the ISSUES they deal
with
CRITICISM: Is it fair that a
small group of people have so
much power?
Other Appointments
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The PM can also appoint
many other KEY
OFFICIALS.
Top Judges
The Head of the Armed
Forces
Chairman of the BBC
All of these give the PM
considerable influence
2) Control of the Government
Agenda
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The PM has the power to
control their agenda
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If they feel Northern
Ireland is important they
can adjust their agenda –
ie Brown and Hillsborough
Talks
Government Agenda
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Other Examples
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Thatcher – Privatisation of
nationalised industries in
the 1980’s
Major – Introduction of
Citizens Charter / Europe
Blair – New Labour ideas
3) Control of the Civil Service
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The Civil Service is the
crucial administrative
structure helping to
Govern the Country.
Thousands of Civil
Servants run key
Government departments
Traditionally their role is
neutral – This is changing
Civil Service
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A Vital PM power is to
Appoint top civil Servants
who advise Ministers and
help them in the
administration of the
country
Many argue that Thatcher
and Blair ‘Politicised’ the
Civil Service by having
too much influence over
appointments
4) Control of Parliament
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This power is variable on
the election results.
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Blair’s huge majority gives
him greater control than
Majors for example.
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The PM can appoint
1)The Leader of the
HOC’s and 2) The
Leader of the HOL’s
He also appoints the
CHIEF WHIP – They are
responsible for ensuring
the Governments wishes
are carried out
5) Influence over the Media
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Some Prime Ministers
prove much better than
others at managing the
Media.
Blair was superb with
‘Spin Doctors’ employed
to give out the right media
message
This would also tarnish
his image
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Blair used powerful images and Spin to get
the right message across
He employed Media managers like Alister
Campbell to handle the Media
He held monthly Press conferences to make
himself accessible
Today YouTube and Twitter also play a part
6) Emergency Powers
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Like other Countries, the
UK PM also has
emergency powers – the
public will usually be
supportive in times of
National crisis
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Falklands & Miners Strike
7) Peerages and Honours
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The PM also has it within
their power to reward
loyal service or
achievement (or party
support) with Honours
This has been abused in
the past and has become
more regulated.
POLITICAL ADVISORS/ TASK FORCES
Critical development with
Unelected advisors
Emerging in key positions
PRIVATE OFFICE
Staffed by key civil
Servants- Makes sure the
PM is kept organised
and updated
PRESS OFFICE
Staffed by often powerful
figures who control
the message and
access to the PM
PM Aides
POLITICAL UNIT
Deals with solely party
Issues- a way of the PM
Communicating with the
party
POLICY UNIT
Gives the PM an
Independent source
Of ideas
VARIED FACTORS
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Electoral Performance – Blair & Thatcher
won 3 times!
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Policy Success – Thatcher – Privatisation/
Falkland War BUT Unpopular Poll tax
weakened her.
VARIED FACTORS
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Opinion Polls – Major suffered from Bad
polls / Blair had good polls
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Cabinet Influence – Thatcher controlled her
cabinet – but this led to turning its back on
her / Blair insisted on Cabinet obedience
Variable factors (continued)
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PARTY SUPPORT – Major was plagued with
backbench rivalry and opposition / Even Blair
had some backbench opposition
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SIZE OF MAJORITY – Blair passed his bills
easily due to his huge majority / Major
sometimes relied on smaller parties
Variable factors (continued)
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MEDIA SUPPORT/OPPOSITION ; The Sun
newspaper supported Major in the 1992
election – and claimed they helped him win!
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Blair controlled the Media very well
Variable Factors
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PM Personality: Thatcher and Blair were
dominant personalities which helped. Major
was not
Variable Factors
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State of Economy: A healthy economy will
help you win?
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In 1992 Britain was in a bad economic position
under John Major- Major won! In1997 Majors
economy was very strong- He lost to Blair
LIMITS ON PM POWER
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Prime Ministers have been described as
‘dictators’ They do however have several
Key limitations to their power….
1 ) PARTY LIMITATION
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The PM’s party usually supports their PM
completely….
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However there have been occasions when this
has not happened:
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Thatcher – Conservative MPs rejected her in
1990 believing she was now an electoral problem
 Major was unable to pass the Legislation he
wanted due to ‘backbench rebels’
 Blair had to rethink policies on Child Benefit and
Fuel tax due to backbench pressure.
2) PUBLIC OPINION
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Public opinion is unpredictable
It prevents PM’s from being TOO radical –
examples:
- Health reforms are necessary but may
cause a public backlash
- Blair was also wanting to move on the
Euro and European Constitution but
restricted as they are unpopular issues
- Thatcher had to drop the Poll tax over
public opinion
3) PARLIAMENT
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Parliament is SOVEREIGN – (All powerful)
It has the POTENTIAL power to remove any
PM
With Limited Control over House of Lords /
Effective scrutiny powers in Committees/
Parliament CAN make life difficult for PM’s
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Examples: Maastricht Treaty and Major
Westland helicopters and Thatcher.
4) CABINET
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Cabinet power can vary
considerably
The PM’s ability to control it
can depend on variable
factors.
Blair had control of his
cabinet up to 2005 ; Major
Struggled to control his
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Prime Ministers have no
department of their own
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They rely on their Ministers
to carry out their policies
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If a Minister does not agree
they may be sacked /
replaced or forced to resign
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A cabinet who are strongly
opposed to a policy may
cause a PM difficulty