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Introduction to Politics

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Introduction to Politics 7 The executive It seems appropriate to begin our study of the three branches of government with by far the most powerful of them all – the executive. British politics is dominated by the executive to a degree without equal in the democratic world. Virtually every aspect of the political system centralises power into the hands of the executive, and for its part, the executive has always taken whatever opportunities where available to retain (and gain) power. There are three aspects of the executive we need to consider – the PM, Cabinet and the civil service. Obviously the Prime Minister is by far the most important element. Both Blair and Thatcher were dominant leaders who marginalised the role and importance of Cabinet. However this is not always the case, as John Major’s premiership graphically illustrated. What will we cover in this What are the powers of the Chapter? Prime Minister? What is the role of the Prime Minister? It is self-evident that the Prime Minister is the What are the powers of the Prime Minister? most powerful politician in the country. He – and he alone - can perform any of the following: What are the limitations on the power of the Prime Minister? Dissolve Parliament and therefore set the What is Cabinet government? date of the general election. What is Prime Ministerial government? Represent Britain as the Head of government. What is Presidential government? Take important decisions upon the basis of crown prerogative, such as sending British troops to war. What is the role of the Cabinet? Appoint/dismiss a variety of positions within What is meant by individual ministerial British political life on the basis of patronage. responsibility? These range from Cabinet members to life What is meant by collective ministerial peers to heads of QUANGOs.18 responsibility? Set the agenda for Cabinet meetings, decide On what basis are Cabinet ministers upon the frequency and length of such appointed? meetings and decide if a vote should be taken. Guide legislation through Parliament with the What is the role of the civil service? co-operation of Cabinet ministers. What is the relationship between the civil Lead the governing party. service and Cabinet ministers? To what extent has the civil service been What are the limitations politicised? on the power of the Prime Minister? What is the role of the Prime Minister? Power is often limited or constrained in some way, and the PM is no exception. If we take The Prime Minister is the head of the executive, each of the powers listed above, it is possible to having gained his position by virtue of being identify a limitation of some kind. For example: leader of the majority party in the House of Commons. All his power and authority derives The demos (or people) can remove the PM on the basis of a general election. He must also from the fact that he is first among equals (as call the date of an election within a five-year the term Prime Minister implies). period. 18 The acronym QUANGO stands for quasi non-governmental organisations, such as the BBC. introduction to politics...the executive...page 68 The PM must bargain with other nations within Whilst the PM is not quite the “elected dictator” the international arena, some of whom are envisaged by Lord Hailsham, he undoubtedly much more powerful than the United wields a considerable amount of power. One of Kingdom. He must also ensure that Britain the most illuminating quotes over the PM’s role abides by international laws and obligations. came from the former Liberal Prime Minister Whilst the PM has the power to take such life Herbert Asquith when he proclaimed that “the and-death decisions, the political stakes are sky-high. There is no clearer example than office of the Prime Minister is what its holder Iraq – which did more than any other issue to chooses and is able to make of it.” The Tory PM undermine the level of trust and confidence in Harold Macmillan’s quip was also revealing. Tony Blair. In stark contrast, Britain’s victory in When asked what was the greatest challenge the Falklands war helped Mrs. Thatcher win facing the PM, he replied “events, dear boy!” – the 1983 general election. and events really do have the capacity to Patronage can be a double-edged sword if weaken (and sometimes strengthen) the power handled badly. For instance the appointment of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that of four life peers by Tony Blair in 2006 was dogged by controversy, and is now widely in political life - even the most powerful can be known as the “cash for peerages” scandal. dislodged by the unexpected. Political events This led to Blair being questioned by the police often have the capacity to surprise – which is whilst in Number 10 Downing Street. one reason why it’s an interesting subject. The legislature. One of the main roles of the legislature is to scrutinise the actions of the What is the true extent of executive, and no PM can be absolutely sure the PM’s power? that his government’s programme will go through Parliament. For instance the planned Political commentators (and students) have government’s plans to increase the period by debated the true extent of the Prime Minister’s which a terrorist suspect could be held without powers for many years. Three distinct theories trial to 90 days was defeated in November 2005. have emerged, each one with a cogent explanation as to the true power of the PM. All PM’s must contend with Cabinet rivals, such as Gordon Brown during Tony Blair’s decade in We will now consider each of these, beginning office. Divisions within the executive can also with Cabinet government. limit the power of the Prime Minister, as was the case during Blair’s latter years. What is Cabinet government? The governing party does not necessarily give the PM full backing. After the 2005 general The theory of Cabinet government offers a very election Blair’s position was weakened due to traditional, if somewhat dated, view of the PM a lack of support within the Labour party over and his relationship with the rest of the Cabinet. education reforms, and the renewal of Britain’s According to this theory the cabinet is the centre nuclear deterrent. A more dramatic example of political power, and under the rules and occurred in November 1990, when the Conservatives removed Margaret Thatcher conventions governing the British constitution from office. the PM can only govern with the full support of introduction to politics...the executive...page 69 his Cabinet. Furthermore decisions are reached decision-making body. It is increasingly the case on a collective basis around the Cabinet table. that the PM (and a small group of allies and As such, the power of the PM derives from the advisors) take the most important political basis that he is – by definition - first among decisions. equals. There are two major factors explaining the Of all the theoretical explanations contesting the growth of Prime Ministerial power: debate over the power of the PM, cabinet The increasing focus of the media upon the government holds the least support amongst PM, often at the expense of other Cabinet political commentators. Whilst it may have ministers. accurately explained the power of the PM in the The public tends to approve of strong decisive days when the Cabinet met for several hours to leadership. Inevitably, this can only come from discuss important issues facing the country, it is the Prime Minister – and those at the very top a wholly unconvincing explanation of how Tony of what Disraeli called “the greasy pole” act Blair or Margaret Thatcher operated as Prime as if they instinctively know this. Minister. Only in the case of John Major’s cabinet As the result of a general election is greatly does the explanation of cabinet government affected by voters’ perception of the party leaders, hold any credence, but his period in office was it is undoubtedly the case that the PM is much atypical of recent Prime Ministers. more influential in terms of voting behaviour For many years cabinet government stood than the other Cabinet ministers. Inevitably this unchallenged as the interpretation of the UK strengthens the position of the PM – particularly system. It was only in the late-1960s that an if he is popular and likely to win the next election. alternative theory emerged. It derived from the In blunt terms, ministers are unlikely to challenge Labour cabinet minister Richard Crossman (the or undermine the authority of a PM that is Secretary of State for Housing and Local popular with the public. Secondly, it is widely Government in Harold Wilson’s Cabinet), who accepted that the electorate dislikes divided argued that “the post-war epoch has witnessed parties. As such, it might be in the self-interest the final transformation of cabinet government of a PM to marginalise his Cabinet in order to with prime ministerial government.” avoid the public becoming aware of divisions within the government, and potential rivals to What is Prime Ministerial his post. government? It would be easy to overstate the case for prime Prime Ministerial government is a more ministerial government. In the modern era the persuasive explanation than Cabinet government Cabinet still has a major role to play, and can at for one simple reason - the power of the PM times act as a constraint upon the power of the has expanded significantly since the 1970s. PM. Even during the early years of Tony Blair, Alongside this growth, there has been a decline Cabinet ministers had the capacity to defeat his in the significance of the cabinet as a collective plans – as in 1998 when Frank Field’s radical introduction to politics...the executive...page 70 proposals for welfare reform (strongly backed by Minister wields power within Parliament.
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