Prime Minister & Cabinet: Relations
Political Studies: Edexcel A Level, topic 10.3.5
Prime Minister and Cabinet Relations
The relationship and balance of power between the Prime Minister and Cabinet regularly change depending on the Prime Minister and their approach to government.
Use of Prime Minister's powers
- The use of the Prime Minister’s powers over the Cabinet will determine the relationship between them and the importance of the Cabinet’s role.
- The Prime Minister decides what is on the Cabinet’s agenda, chairs Cabinet meetings, and summarises decisions at the end of meetings.
- The Prime Minister decides how often Cabinet meetings should take place and for how long.
Prime Minister's use of the Cabinet
- The Prime Minister’s use of the Cabinet for key policy decision making will affect relations.
- Prime Ministers using an inner circle of advisers rather than the full Cabinet to make decisions can weaken the Cabinet’s power.
- Prime Ministers may operate an inner Cabinet or sofa government, which is an informal type of decision-making between the Prime Minister and advisers, rather than through the Cabinet.
Example of a sofa government
- PM Tony Blair’s ‘sofa government’ involved discussing policy in detail with special advisers and his close team.
- Advisers included his chief of staff Jonathan Powell and communications director, Alistair Campbell.
Cabinet members
- The strength of Cabinet members influences the relationship between the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- Strong Cabinet members, with influence in the party, are more difficult for the Prime Minister to ignore.
Media focus
- The media’s focus and portrayal of the Prime Minister help to determine how strong the Prime Minister is.
- More media focus on the Prime Minister than on the Cabinet gives the Prime Minister more authority, as they are the main communicators of government policy to the public.
- The media can also weaken the Prime Minister’s authority by criticising and undermining them.
Prime minister’s popularity
- A Prime Minister’s popularity among ministers and the public will affect their relationship with the Cabinet.
- A more popular and successful Prime Minister with voters and Cabinet ministers is likely to have greater control over the Cabinet.
- A less popular Prime Minister has less support from the Cabinet, leading to ministerial resignations, which damages the public image of the Prime Minister and government.
Test yourself on Prime Minister & Cabinet: Relations
What is the name for an informal type of decision-making between Prime Minister's and their closest advisors?
Which statements are true about the Prime Minister and Cabinet's relationship?