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Home , Andrea Leadsom, Chris Huhne, Damian Green, Danny Alexander, Ed Davey, Esther McVey

DECEMBER 2017 www.hoddereducation.co.uk/politicsreview

Cabinet resignations Emma Kilheney looks into two recent Second resignation resignations from May’s cabinet One week after Fallon’s resignation , the n November 2017 prime minister international development secretary, resigned from her was forced to reshuffle her cabinet following the post after mounting pressure on her to do so. While Iresignation of two ministers within 1 week. in on a private trip over the summer, Patel had engaged in 12 meetings with top Israeli politicians First resignation including the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She Defence secretary resigned on failed to disclose these meetings to the prime minister 1 November after admitting that his behaviour towards or the Foreign Office, breaking ministerial rules. Patel women had fallen ‘below the high standards’ required. had discussed using UK foreign aid to assist the Israeli He had been accused of inappropriately touching army in carrying out ‘humanitarian aid’ in the Golan a number of journalists and making unsuitable Heights. May told Patel that she was right to resign and comments to in cabinet meetings. emphasised that relations between the UK and Israel Fallon was replaced by former chief whip Gavin must be done formally and through official channels. Williamson, who has only been an MP since 2010. A Patel was replaced by , who had close ally of May, he led her campaign to become prime been tipped a few days earlier as a replacement for minister in 2016 and backed the ‘remain’ side of the EU Michael Fallon. Mordaunt, who like Williamson was referendum campaign. He attended a comprehensive only elected as an MP in 2010, was promoted from her school in Scarborough and his appointment continues post as minister for disabled people. Unlike Williamson, May’s preference for non-privately educated MPs — her she supports and she backed Andrea Leadsom, cabinet features the lowest number of such MPs since not Theresa May, in the 2016 Conservative leadership 1945. Williamson has little defence experience. His campaign. Her appointment ensured that the balance of priorities are national security and a continued focus ‘remain’ and ‘leave’ supporters in the cabinet remained on countering so-called Islamic State. unchanged. Mordaunt’s new appointment means that Julian Smith, Williamson’s deputy, replaced him as MP has become minister for disabled chief whip and Esther McVey was appointed deputy people, and has replaced Newton as a chief whip. junior minister in the . Next page DECEMBER 2017 www.hoddereducation.co.uk/politicsreview

Table 1 Cabinet resignations since 2010

Cabinet Date of Name position resignation Reason for resignation Replacement Priti Patel International 8 November Personal misconduct — broke the Penny Mordaunt development 2017 by failing to disclose meetings. secretary Sir Michael Defence 1 November Personal misconduct — inappropriate behaviour Fallon secretary 2017 towards women. Iain Duncan Work and 28 March 2016 Disagreed with the government about cuts to Smith pensions disability benefits. secretary Culture 9 April 2014 Personal misconduct – expenses scandal relating to secretary funding a home for her parents at the taxpayers’ expense. Lord Leader of the 7 January 2013 Wanted to pursue other career interests. Lord Hill of Strathclyde Oareford Andrew Chief whip 20 October Personal misconduct — allegedly called a Downing Sir George Mitchell 2012 Street policeman a ‘pleb’. Young Energy secretary 3 February 2012 Personal misconduct — charged with perverting the course of justice after getting his wife to take his speeding points to avoid a driving ban. Defence 14 October Personal misconduct — broke the ministerial code secretary 2011 by allowing his advisor into defence meetings. Chief secretary 29 May 2010 Personal misconduct — expenses scandal relating to the Treasury to rent payments made to his partner.

Another resignation to come? must expect to receive criticism from parliament and , and May’s deputy, select committees. They must resign if necessary over is another potential cabinet casualty after pornography departmental failures, political errors or personal was alleged to have been found by police on his misconduct. Although ministers do not always resign, parliamentary laptop in 2008. Green is also being most do so to save the whole government from investigated after being accused of inappropriately embarrassment. Only the prime minister can remove touching and texting a party activist in 2015. individual ministers from office — only the prime minister can do so. Why do cabinet ministers resign? Individual ministerial responsibility is the convention Weblinks to follow up that every minister should be responsible for all the activities of their department and their conduct. They Find out more about the movement of ministers during the coalition: http://tinyurl.com/ya956gaf Questions and during the Blair and Major governments: http://tinyurl.com/y9unsnd9 1 Why were the recent cabinet resignations particularly problematic for Theresa May’s government? Find out more about our full Did you like 2 Do you think that the doctrine of individual range of magazines and online this article? responsibility helps or hinders the UK system of archives of back issues at Tell us what government? www.hoddereducation.co.uk/magazines you think