How much power does the Prime Minister really have over the Cabinet and events?
Component 3.2 to 3.3: individual and collective ministerial responsibility, the factors governing the PM's selection of ministers and the balance of power between PM and Cabinet, illustrated by one pre-1997 and one post-1997 Prime Minister.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on ministerial responsibility and prime ministerial power, covering individual and collective ministerial responsibility, the factors that shape the relationship between the PM and Cabinet, and the powers of the PM to dictate events and determine policy, illustrated by one pre-1997 and one post-1997 Prime Minister.
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What this dot point is asking
Edexcel wants you to explain individual and collective ministerial responsibility, the factors governing the PM's selection of ministers and the balance of power between the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, and to illustrate the PM's power to dictate events and determine policy using one pre-1997 and one post-1997 Prime Minister. This is examined through the 30-mark source and essay questions.
Ministerial responsibility
Both conventions are flexible and contested. Individual responsibility rarely forces resignation for departmental error alone (ministers distinguish policy from operational failures), though personal misconduct still does. Collective responsibility was suspended during the 1975 and 2016 EU referendums, and resignations on principle (for example over policy disagreements) show it in action.
The balance of power between PM and Cabinet
The factors that shape the relationship are the analytical core:
- The Commons majority. A large majority frees the PM; a small or non-existent majority empowers the Cabinet and backbenchers.
- Party unity and authority. A united, loyal party strengthens the PM; division (the Conservatives over Europe, Labour over Iraq) weakens them.
- Personality and political capital. A dominant, popular PM can lead; a weakened one must concede to colleagues.
- The Cabinet's composition. Powerful, independent ministers and rival factions constrain the PM's freedom.
Two Prime Ministers: dictating events and policy
Edexcel requires one pre-1997 and one post-1997 PM, studied for both control and a lack of control.
Tony Blair (1997 to 2007, post-1997). With landslide majorities Blair governed in a presidential, bilateral style, sidelining full Cabinet for "sofa government", a strong Number 10 and special advisers, and dominating policy (constitutional reform, public-service investment). Yet he was constrained by Gordon Brown's control of economic policy, faced a major rebellion over the 2003 Iraq war, and was eventually pressured to set a departure date, showing the limits of dominance.
Margaret Thatcher (1979 to 1990, pre-1997). Thatcher was a famously dominant PM who drove policy (privatisation, the poll tax) and marginalised opponents, but her isolation from Cabinet and party over Europe and the poll tax led senior colleagues (Howe, Heseltine) to turn against her, and she was forced out in 1990, the clearest demonstration that a PM ultimately depends on Cabinet and party support.
Examples in context
- Blair's "sofa government" and dominance of policy, the model of a presidential PM.
- Thatcher's fall in 1990, the classic proof that the PM depends on Cabinet and party.
- Theresa May after 2017, a PM constrained by a hung parliament and a divided party.
- The suspension of collective responsibility in 2016, showing the convention's flexibility.
Try this
Q1. Explain and analyse three factors that strengthen the position of the Prime Minister. [9 marks]
- Cue. Patronage, a large Commons majority and party unity, each developed with a named PM.
Q2. Evaluate the view that the Cabinet is no longer an important decision-making body. [30 marks]
- What the marker wants. A two-sided AO1 to AO3 essay weighing the rise of bilateral and Number 10 government against the Cabinet's role in legitimising policy and constraining the PM, using named PMs and reaching a judgement.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of Pearson Edexcel exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Edexcel 201920 marksEvaluate the view that the Prime Minister now dominates the Cabinet. Reworded from a 30-mark essay to fit the schema; argue both sides and reach a judgement, using examples from at least two Prime Ministers.Show worked answer →
A Section A 30-mark essay (shown as 20), marked on AO1, AO2 and AO3. Build two-sided arguments using named PMs.
Dominance: the PM appoints and dismisses the Cabinet, controls the agenda, uses bilateral and "sofa" government and special advisers (Blair's presidential style), and commands the party and media, so power has become prime ministerial.
Limits: the PM depends on Cabinet and party support and can be brought down by it (Thatcher in 1990, Johnson in 2022), big beasts and factions constrain choices, and a weak or minority government empowers the Cabinet (May after 2017), so dominance is conditional.
A Level 5 answer judges that prime ministerial power varies with personality, majority and circumstance rather than being fixed, applying at least two PMs.
Edexcel 202120 marksExplain and analyse three factors that affect the power of the Prime Minister over the Cabinet. Edexcel 9-mark 'explain and analyse' style; develop each point.Show worked answer →
An "explain and analyse three" question is AO1 and AO2 only. Choose three distinct factors and develop each.
One: the size of the Commons majority, where a large majority frees the PM (Blair 1997) and a small or no majority constrains them (May 2017 to 2019). Two: party unity and authority, where a united party strengthens the PM and a divided one threatens them (Major over Europe). Three: the power of patronage, where the ability to hire, fire and promote ministers gives the PM leverage over colleagues.
Markers reward three accurate, distinct factors, each developed with a named example and a clear analytical link to prime ministerial power.
Related dot points
- Component 3.1: the structure of the executive (PM, Cabinet, junior ministers and departments), its main roles (proposing legislation and a budget, making policy), and its main powers including the royal prerogative and secondary legislation.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on the structure, role and powers of the UK executive, covering the Prime Minister, Cabinet, junior ministers and government departments, the roles of proposing legislation and a budget and making policy, and the powers of the royal prerogative, initiating legislation and secondary legislation.
- Component 4.2 to 4.3: the relationship between the executive and Parliament, the effectiveness of each in holding or dominating the other, and the aims, role and impact of the European Union on UK government.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on the relationships between the branches, covering the balance of power between the executive and Parliament, how effectively each holds or dominates the other, the concept of elective dictatorship, and the aims, role and impact of the European Union on UK government before and after Brexit.
- Component 2.1 to 2.4: the structure and role of the Commons and Lords, their comparative powers, the legislative process, and how Parliament interacts with and scrutinises the executive.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on Parliament, covering the structure and functions of the House of Commons and House of Lords, their comparative powers, the legislative process and the Salisbury Convention, and how select committees, backbenchers, the opposition and question time hold the executive to account.
- Component 1.1: the nature of the UK constitution (unentrenched, uncodified, unitary), the twin pillars of parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law, the five main sources, and the debate over codification.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 2 answer on the UK constitution, covering its uncodified, unentrenched and unitary nature, the twin pillars of parliamentary sovereignty and the rule of law, the five main sources (statute, common law, conventions, authoritative works and treaties), and the debate over codification.
- Component 3A.3: the formal and informal sources of presidential power, the relationships with Congress and the Supreme Court, the limitations on the president, and the debate over the imperial presidency, with reference to presidents since 1992.
An Edexcel A-Level Politics Component 3 answer on the US presidency, covering the formal constitutional powers and informal sources of power such as executive orders and the power of persuasion, EXOP, the relationships with Congress and the Supreme Court, the limitations on presidential power, and the debate over the imperial presidency, with reference to presidents since 1992.
Sources & how we know this
- Pearson Edexcel A-Level Politics (9PL0) specification — Pearson Edexcel (2017)