THE CORE EXECUTIVE

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TOPIC 3:

THE CORE
EXECUTIVE
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS ESSAY PLANS (25
MARKERS)

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CABINET VS PRIME MINISTER

DEFINITIONS

ADDITIONAL
INFO

POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

POINT

EXAMPLE
EXPLAIN

INTRODUCTION
The meeting of senior ministers & heads of government departments. It is formally the key-decision making
body in the British government.
Deciding on major policy, Dealing with unforeseen major problems, Co-ordinating the policies of different departments,
Planning for the long term
The members of the cabinet exercise collective ministerial responsibility
Now plays a limited role in decision making, as key decisions are made elsewhere in the exec
Consists of 22 cabinet ministers that receive a full cabinet minister salary
Most cabinet ministers are heads of departments
E.g. Home secretary = Theresa May
CABINET
PRIME MINISTER
CABINET MINISTERS NEEDED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE
BILATERAL MEETINGS & BLAIR SOFA GOVERNMENT
Blair allegedly didnt understand economics reliant
Blair & brown discuss bank of England independence
on his chancellor, Gordon Brown
Ministers within the cabinet, specialise in certain area
Pm doesnt know everything reliant of specialists
Ignore cabinet
expertise
Make decisions themselves
pm cant ignore the cabinet or he/she will be
Cabinet ministers should traditionally be involved
embarrassed for not having the knowledge that is
required, for their job
IF IGNORED, THE CABINET COULD SPARK A
PM CHAIRS CABINET MEETING AUTHORITY IN THE
LEADERSHIP ELECTION
CABINET

Thatchers cabinet reshuffles annoyed cabinet,

Longest cabinet meeting was about the millennium dome,
backbench rebellions & cabinet ministers rebellions
in 1997
Held by john Prescott, Blair wasnt even there
contributed to Thatcher resigning
Sets agenda to what pm want to talk about can ignore
Put PM at risk PM need to include cabinet & be careful
issues he/she doesnt want to address
Set times, so can put issues he/she wants to ignore so
not to annoy them
he/she will run out of time
MAJOR POLICY DECISIONS NEED CABINET
MINISTERS (TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN)
PMS POWER OF PATRONAGE
APPROVAL, BEFORE BEING PUT INTO PLACE
All decision on HS2 - Patrick McLoughlin (Secretary of
Thatcher would fire & hire every time a cabinet minister
State for transport) must be consulted & must approve
annoyed her or went against her demands especially in
all decisions
1981
PM may think he can do what he wants & consult who
PMs ability to hire, fire & reshuffle cabinet minister
Can place allies in key roles
he wants (e.g. via sofa government)

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POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

In the end, needs cabinet approval - May make a

decision himself, but cabinet could reject - Thus
reliant on the cabinet
MINISTERS CAN RESIGN TO EMBARRASS PM

Robin cook (L Blair) 2003 resignation as he didnt

agree with governments decision on going for the Iraq
war got a round of applause from commons
televised thus embarrassed Blair &undermined Blairs
decision.

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ministers he know will support him = policy making &

approving stage is easier & more efficient = able to do
what he wants
PM must be careful with who he chooses to fire e.g.
brown (popular), by Blair didnt get on, but didnt want to
annoy party
PMS OFFICE HAS GROWN IN INMPORTANCE TO THE PM
Blair & Alistair Campbell
Traditional role admin & media
Now advisors make decisions before issues have reached
cabinet
Now turned to more for advise & support = should be
cabinets role

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CABINET = RUBBER STAMP?

DEFINITIONS

ADDITIONAL
INFO

POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

POINT

EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

POINT
EXAMPLE
EXPLAIN

INTRODUCTION
The meeting of senior ministers & heads of government departments. It is formally the key-decision making
body in the British government.
Deciding on major policy, Dealing with unforeseen major problems, Co-ordinating the policies of different departments,
Planning for the long term
The members of the cabinet exercise collective ministerial responsibility
Now plays a limited role in decision making, as key decisions are made elsewhere in the exec
Consists of 22 cabinet ministers that receive a full cabinet minister salary
Most cabinet ministers are heads of departments
E.g. Home secretary = Theresa May
NO
YES
CABINET MINISTERS NEEDED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE
BILATERAL MEETINGS & BLAIR SOFA GOVERNMENT
Blair allegedly didnt understand economics reliant
Blair & brown discuss bank of England independence
on his chancellor, Gordon Brown
Ministers within the cabinet, specialise in certain area
Pm doesnt know everything reliant of specialists
Ignore cabinet
expertise
Make decisions themselves
pm cant ignore the cabinet or he/she will be
Cabinet ministers should traditionally be involved
embarrassed for not having the knowledge that is
required, for their job
MAJOR POLICY DECISIONS NEED CABINET
CABINET MEETINGS ARE NOT USED EFFECTIVELY - PM
MINISTERS (TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN)
CHAIRS CABINET MEETING AUTHORITY IN THE
APPROVAL, BEFORE BEING PUT INTO PLACE (DEAD
CABINET
NOT RUBBER STAMP)
All decision on HS2 - Patrick McLoughlin (Secretary of
Longest cabinet meeting was about the millennium dome,
State for transport) must be consulted & must approve
in 1997
Held by john Prescott, Blair wasnt even there
all decisions
Sets agenda to what pm want to talk about can ignore
PM may think he can do what he wants & consult who
issues he/she doesnt want to address
he wants (e.g. via sofa government)
Set times, so can put issues he/she wants to ignore so
In the end, needs cabinet approval
he/she will run out of time7meeting not used effectively
May make a decision himself, but cabinet could reject
used to keep cabinet happy
Thus reliant on the cabinet
Just approve PMs decisions, less discussion
CABINET MEETINGS UNIFY THE GOVERNEMNT
PMS OFFICE HAS GROWN IN INMPORTANCE TO THE PM

Blair & Alistair Campbell

Especially during a coalition
Traditional role admin & media
Thus remain essential
Now turned to more for advise & support = should be

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POINT

ROLE: DEAL WITH CRISIS & EMERGENCIES

2013 west country floodings = emergency cabinet

meeting was held
Cabinet committees COBRA = 7/7 bombings

Essential to unexpected events / crisiss / emergencies

Although bilateral meetings can still be used

EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

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cabinets role
CABINET MINISTERS MAKES DECISONS WITHIN THEIR
DEPARTMENTS
Michael Gove (Lord chancellor, secretary of state for
justice) known to make major decisions within his
department & use cabinet meetings as a means of
approving the decision rather that making or developing
the decision

PRESIDENTIAL PRIME MINISTER

DEFINITIO
NS

INTRODUCTION
The idea that UK prime ministers have taken on some of the characteristics of presidents because of the
emergence of a personalised form of leadership. Characterised by spatial leadership & public outreach. The
concept of presidentialism does not claim necessarily that the office of UK prime minister is becoming the same
as that of the US president
POWERS
CONSTRAINTS

POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

PMS USE OF HIS OFFICE

Similar to how president uses EXOP (executive office of
the president)

Office located in 10 Ding Street like EXOP located in

white house

Traditional role admin & media

Now turned to more for advise & support = should be
cabinets role
Similar to how president uses EXOP

POINT
EXAMPLE
EXPLAIN

GRABBING MEDIA NEWS MILKING

Samantha Cameron (D.Cs wife) referred to as Sam

cam in celebrity gossip columns
Similar to how the media follows the 1st lady, e.g.

IF IGNORED, THE CABINET COULD SPARK A

LEADERSHIP ELECTION
Thatchers cabinet reshuffles annoyed cabinet,
backbench rebellions & cabinet ministers rebellions
contributed to Thatcher resigning

Put PM at risk PM need to include cabinet & be careful

not to annoy them

MAJOR POLICY DECISIONS NEED CABINET MINISTERS

(TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN) APPROVAL, BEFORE
BEING PUT INTO PLACE
All decision on HS2 - Patrick McLoughlin (Secretary of
State for transport) must be consulted & must approve all
decisions
PM may think he can do what he wants & consult who he

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POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

Michelle Obama
Media sees D.Cs wife as a celebrity, just like 1 st lady
PMS PERSONALITY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT
STRONGLY IN GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNS
USED IN NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING BY OPPOSITE
PARTY
Ed Miliband looked down upon in 2015 general election
campaigns
Conservative used this to promote their party
Media portrayed Ed M, as not tough enough to be PM

played to Torys advantage

Attack ads of opposite party vital part of US
presidential election campaigns

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wants (e.g. via sofa government)

In the end, needs cabinet approval - May make a
decision himself, but cabinet could reject - Thus reliant
on the cabinet

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CIVIL SERVANTS & MINISTERS RELATIONSHIP (THEAKSTON MODELS)

DEFINITIONS
ADDITIONAL
INFO

POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

INTRODUCTION
CIVIL SERVANTS An official employed in a civil capacity by the crown, responsible for policy advice or policy
implementation
MINISTERS A member of government with specific responsibilities within a department
THEAKSTON MODELS the four models of ministerial-civil servant relationship identified by Kevin Theakston in 1991
Talking Politics article entitles Ministers & mandarins
MINISTERS POWER > CIVIL SERVANTS
CIVIL SERVANTS POWER > MINISTER
WHIEHALL COMMUNITY MODEL WORK IN
CIVIL SERVANTS = PERMANENT
COLLABORATION
Justine Greening shifted from transport to

development aid = CSs remained the same

Demonstrated by ADVERSERIAL MODEL
Work in the interest of their department
CS oppose ministers CS outnumber ministers, 10:1,
Model suggests that ministers & civil servants get along
minister just go along with CS
CS not passive
because they have similar interests
CS use their Oxbridge background & good
Civil servants want a strong leader/minister who can
connections to benefit ministers & gain power &
secure a large budget from the treasury
influences as a department
MINISTERS TURN TO SPECIAL ADVISORS (SPADS)
Every minister has 2 or 3 SPADs

80 SPADs in PMs office

CS are meant to be advising their minister
Minister could turn to SPADs instead & leave CSs to do the
paper work & report writing

Ministers then take all the credit while CSs remain

anonymous
Show ministers power over the CSs
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MODEL
MINISTERS IN CHARGE

Civil servants advise to ministers ministers are the decision

makers
Civil servants serve the ministers providing information in an

impartial (neutral) manner

Model supported by concept of individual ministerial
responsibility

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WORK TOGETHER

PUBLIC CHOICE MODEL

Suggests that ministers & civil servants are convincing & acting in a deceitful
manner to grow their inefficient bureaucracies
Work together to grow dept and gain more of budget

COALITION ON CABINET & PM

INTRODUCTION
DEFINITIONS
POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN
POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

GOOD
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL DISPUTES
Theresa May vs Michael Gove over Islamic
extremism in schools
Coalition government = 2 parties = more likely to
be more disputes = cabinet meets more often to
settle dispute = cabinet power

BAD
BILATERAL MEETINGS & BLAIR SOFA GOVERNMENT

Blair & brown discuss bank of England independence

Ignore cabinet
Make decisions themselves
Cabinet ministers should traditionally be involved
CABINET MEETINGS ARE NOT USED EFFECTIVELY - PM
CHAIRS CABINET MEETING AUTHORITY IN THE CABINET
Longest cabinet meeting was about the millennium dome, in
1997
Held by john Prescott, Blair wasnt even there
Sets agenda to what pm want to talk about can ignore issues
he/she doesnt want to address
Set times, so can put issues he/she wants to ignore so he/she
will run out of time7meeting not used effectively used to
keep cabinet happy
Just approve PMs decisions, less discussion
PMS OFFICE HAS GROWN IN INMPORTANCE TO THE PM
Blair & Alistair Campbell
Traditional role admin & media
Now turned to more for advise & support = should be cabinets
role

UNDERMINE PMS POWERS OF HIRE & FIRE

Brown (popular), by Blair didnt get on, but didnt

want to annoy party
Ministers already annoyed at coalition government
PM needs to be careful not to annoy them any
further = could trigger cabinet ministers to begin
to rebel

POINT
EXAMPLE

EXPLAIN

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Bodies within the core exec e.g.: inner cabinet, bilateral meetings, PM's Office, Cabinet Office, Kitchen Cabinet etc
What is the function of the cabinet?
What is the role of Ministers?
Ministerial resignations
What is the civil service? & what reforms have occurred?