Role of the Prime Minister
Political Studies: Edexcel A Level, topic 10.3.1
Role of the Prime Minister
The prime minister has many roles including as head of the government and their party, national policy maker, government’s main spokesperson, key national decision maker, foreign policymaker and head of the armed forces.
Government head
- The prime minister is head of the government and responsible for the work of all government departments.
- As government head, the prime minister creates new departments and government roles, chairs cabinet meetings, decides who is on the cabinet committees, appoints government ministers and is head of the Civil Service.
- The prime minister is responsible for the government’s policy agenda and sets national policy.
- The prime minister decides which policies should be a priority for the government.
Party head
- The prime minister is their political party’s leader.
- Since 2022, Conservative Party leaders have been chosen by MPs and party members, although rules can change. Labour leaders are elected under a one-member-one-vote system.
- As party leader, the prime minister must keep the party united, successfully lead their party in elections, decide party policy and speak at the party conference to party members.
Decision maker
- The prime minister makes key decisions which are in the UK’s national security interests, often in times of crisis.
- The prime minister chairs the National Security Council’s weekly meetings, which consider the UK’s most important national security issues.
- The Prime Minister responds to national and international crises which affect the UK.
- In 2020, Boris Johnson chaired COBRA meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
International leadership
- The prime minister as commander-in-chief decides whether to deploy British armed forces to any foreign intervention or war.
- The prime minister is involved in overseas engagements, attending international conferences, visiting other countries and working with other state leaders to make international policy.
- Theresa May became prime minister in 2017 and visited over 30 countries.
- Rishi Sunak attended NATO and G7 summits in 2023–24.
Parliament role
- The prime minister leads parliament as the leader of the House of Commons’ largest party.
- As leader of the largest party, the prime minister answers Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) and uses the party majority to pass legislation.
- The prime minister organises their party’s majority in parliament to ensure that parliament will pass government policies into law.
Chief Communicator
- The prime minister communicates with the media and the public on government policy or to explain any issues or decisions of public importance.
- The prime minister communicates with the media in times of crisis to provide citizens with information.
- The prime minister seeks to manage the media through the Prime Minister’s Press Office which communicates a positive image of them and the government to the public.
Test yourself on Role of the Prime Minister
Which of these are roles of the prime minister?
Which office communicates a positive image of the PM to the public?