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The power of the prime minister and cabinet to dictate events and…
The power of the prime minister and cabinet to dictate events and determine policy
Harold Wilson
Two non - consecutive terms
First (64-70)
In tune with public opinion
At ease on television
Technocrat who sought to modernise Britain
Increased welfare spending, reformed the education system and introduced liberal social reforms
Short - lived Department of Economic Affairs and Ministry of Technology
Devalue pound in 1967
Damaging credibility
Worsen industrial relations
Government proposals for trade union reform were shelved after opposition from the TUC
Only steel was re - nationalised
Second (74 - 76)
Labour was a minority
Intra - party divisions
EEC Referendum
Suspend collective responsibility
Margaret Thatcher
Conviction politician who gave her name to a new with ideology
Overturned postwar consensus
Monetarism
Privatising state - owned industries
Reducing trade union power
Made less use of cabinet than predecessors
Skilful management
Cement authority
Refusal to bow to pressure to tone down monetarist budget of 181 proved decisive
Thatcher was able to construct ideological allies
'Iron Lady'
1990
Thatcher had few allies in Cabinet
John Major: relative weakness to persuade for ERM
Economic problems
Poll tax
Cabinet divisions
Ignoring ministers concerns
Bypassing cabinet
Low poll ratings
Tony Blair
First years
More dominant than Thatcher
Little time for cabinet government
Bilateral meetings
Informal meetings
'sofa government'
First two terms
Big parliamentary majority
Loyal cabinet
'Third Way'
Free market economics and social justice
Key role in Irish peace process
Second term
Rebellions over Iraq
Foundation hospitals
Tuition fees
Fall in opinion polls
Invasion of Iraq (2003)
Brown had unparalleled influence over welfare and social policy
Blair and Brown made the banks independent
David Cameron
Collegial approach
Regular Liberal negotiation
Bilateral meetings
Coalition constrained patronage and dictate policy
Criticised for U - turns
Radical plans by Lansley were not spotted
Austerity
Return to Thatcherite politics
Osborne cut public spending significantly
Missed deficit reduction
Growing tensions and intra - party divisions
Many Conservatives voted against the legislation of same - sex marriage
2015
Strengthened Cameron's position
Small parliamentary majority
Resigned due to Brexit decision
Theresa May
Strength
Reorganisation of the cabinet system, with the prime minister carrying out a cabinet reshuffle
Significant party support - 199 members
Strong performance in opinion polls
Her extensive ministerial experience
Limits
Damage to personal authority caused by calling an early general election, then performing badly in a campaign in which she chose to focus on her 'strong and stable' leadership
Losing parliamentary majority and reliant on the DUP
Divisions within the cabinet and among MPs over her leadership
Scale of the domestic and foreign policy challenges posed by Brexit