What are the Powers of the Prime Minister?
Are there Limitations to that Power?

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This is often viewed as the most important PM power.
It enables them:
- To reward Loyalty
- To dismiss Rivals
- To keep an eye on opponents
They can promote those with the same policy ideas
PM Macmillan dismissed 24
Ministers in 1 day in 1962

 The Cabinet is a group of key
Ministers that make up the ‘Government’
 A Prime Minister can promote / dismiss into the Cabinet

 Key Decisions and policies are increasingly made in small groups of Ministers working in the Cabinet Committee
 The PM decides WHO sits on this & the ISSUES they deal with
 CRITICISM: Is it fair that a small group of people have so much power?

 The PM can also appoint many other KEY
OFFICIALS.
 Top Judges
 The Head of the Armed
Forces
 Chairman of the BBC
 All of these give the PM considerable influence

 The PM has the power to control their agenda
 If they feel Northern
Ireland is important they can adjust their agenda – ie Brown and Hillsborough
Talks

 Other Examples
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Thatcher – Privatisation of nationalised industries in the 1980’s
Major – Introduction of
Citizens Charter / Europe
 Blair – New Labour ideas

 The Civil Service is the crucial administrative structure helping to
Govern the Country.
 Thousands of Civil
Servants run key
Government departments
 Traditionally their role is neutral – This is changing

 A Vital PM power is to
Appoint top civil Servants who advise Ministers and help them in the administration of the country
 Many argue that Thatcher and Blair ‘Politicised’ the
Civil Service by having too much influence over appointments

 This power is variable on the election results.

Blair’s huge majority gives him greater control than
Majors for example.

 The PM can appoint
1)The Leader of the
HOC’s and 2) The
Leader of the HOL’s
 He also appoints the
CHIEF WHIP – They are responsible for ensuring the Governments wishes are carried out

 Some Prime Ministers prove much better than others at managing the
Media.
 Blair was superb with
‘Spin Doctors’ employed to give out the right media message
 This would also tarnish his image

 Blair used powerful images and Spin to get the right message across
 He employed Media managers like Alister
Campbell to handle the Media
 He held monthly Press conferences to make himself accessible
 Today YouTube and Twitter also play a part

 Like other Countries, the
UK PM also has emergency powers – the public will usually be supportive in times of
National crisis
 Falklands & Miners Strike

 The PM also has it within their power to reward loyal service or achievement (or party support) with Honours
 This has been abused in the past and has become more regulated.

POLITICAL ADVISORS/ TASK FORCES
Critical development with
Unelected advisors
Emerging in key positions
PRIVATE OFFICE
Staffed by key civil
Servants- Makes sure the
PM is kept organised and updated
PRESS OFFICE
Staffed by often powerful figures who control the message and access to the PM
POLITICAL UNIT
Deals with solely party
Issues- a way of the PM
Communicating with the party
POLICY UNIT
Gives the PM an
Independent source
Of ideas

 Electoral Performance – Blair & Thatcher won 3 times!
 Policy Success – Thatcher – Privatisation/
Falkland War BUT Unpopular Poll tax weakened her.

 Opinion Polls – Major suffered from Bad polls / Blair had good polls
 Cabinet Influence – Thatcher controlled her cabinet – but this led to turning its back on her / Blair insisted on Cabinet obedience

 PARTY SUPPORT – Major was plagued with backbench rivalry and opposition / Even Blair had some backbench opposition
 SIZE OF MAJORITY – Blair passed his bills easily due to his huge majority / Major sometimes relied on smaller parties

 MEDIA SUPPORT/OPPOSITION ; The Sun newspaper supported Major in the 1992 election – and claimed they helped him win!
 Blair controlled the Media very well

 PM Personality : Thatcher and Blair were dominant personalities which helped. Major was not

 State of Economy : A healthy economy will help you win?
 In 1992 Britain was in a bad economic position under John Major- Major won! In1997 Majors economy was very strong- He lost to Blair

 Prime Ministers have been described as
‘dictators’ They do however have several
Key limitations to their power….


The PM’s party usually supports their PM completely….
 However there have been occasions when this has not happened:
 Thatcher – Conservative MPs rejected her in
1990 believing she was now an electoral problem
 Major was unable to pass the Legislation he wanted due to ‘backbench rebels’
 Blair had to rethink policies on Child Benefit and
Fuel tax due to backbench pressure.

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Public opinion is unpredictable
It prevents PM’s from being TOO radical – examples:
- Health reforms are necessary but may cause a public backlash
Blair was also wanting to move on the
Euro and European Constitution but restricted as they are unpopular issues
Thatcher had to drop the Poll tax over public opinion

 Parliament is SOVEREIGN – (All powerful)
 It has the POTENTIAL power to remove any
PM
 With Limited Control over House of Lords /
Effective scrutiny powers in Committees/
Parliament CAN make life difficult for PM’s
 Examples: Maastricht Treaty and Major
Westland helicopters and Thatcher.

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
Cabinet power can vary considerably
The PM’s ability to control it can depend on variable factors.
 Blair had control of his cabinet up to 2005 ; Major
Struggled to control his

 Prime Ministers have no department of their own
 They rely on their Ministers to carry out their policies
 If a Minister does not agree they may be sacked / replaced or forced to resign
 A cabinet who are strongly opposed to a policy may cause a PM difficulty