The Core Executive 1
1. Powers of Patronage
The power of the PM to appoint someone to an important position
It is not available to other cabinet members
Most significant is the power to appoint government ministers, including the
allocation of cabinet roles and being able to dismiss a minister and to reshuffle
the cabinet
Appoints life peers to the HofL, gives PM power to alter the party balance within
the Lords
o LIMITATION: the Independent Appointments Commission makes
recommendations on non-party appointments to the Lords, PM only
makes political nominations which are checked by the commission
Limitation
Judicial and ecclesiastical appointments
o PM’s role in appointing judges and senior ministers of The Church of
England have been reduced by the Brown gov
o These appointments now done by Judicial Appointments Commission
The Honours System
o This role has been reduced
o Blair announced that the PM would accept the final list presented by
independent honours committee (as a result of the police inquiry into
“cash for honours” allegations, that donors to the Labour party were
awarded with peerages)
o Cameron was criticised for awarding honours to ministers who had been
dismissed in the 2012 cabinet reshuffle
2. Powers over the cabinet, civil service and government
Power over cabinet is greatly enhanced by his ability to promote or demote
political allies and potential rivals
Controls the frequency, agenda and minutes of cabinet meetings, also the
structure and composition of cabinet committees
Controls the appointments to and the operation of the higher levels of the civil
service
Limitations by CABINET
No formal mechanism exists by which the cabinet can remove the PM, can still
provide a meaningful check on prime ministerial power
The seniority of colleagues within one’s party might demand their inclusion in
cabinet
o Jack Straw in 1997 or William Hague in 2010
If PM excludes or forces out key figures, they can often become dangerous
enemies on the backbenches
o Michael Heseltine under Thatcher
3. Powers over Parliament
Single party gov: control the parliamentary timetable
Coalition gov: has to work to ensure that coalition partner is kept on-board
o The larger party in coalition still has ability to impose their will as the
leader of the single biggest party in the Commons
4. Powers over the agenda
Control of the executive + ability to control Parliament through Patronage and
as party leader -> key role in agenda setting and policy-making
Limitation -> legislative process (scrutiny)
5. Powers on the world stage
PM’s position as world leader is rooted in the prerogative powers to make war
and conclude treaties
Also enhanced by the rise of the mass media
Mass Media
PM, along with whole gov, is ultimately accountable to the public through
elections
Unpopular prime ministers likely to face party leadership challenges, prompted
by backbenchers who fear for their own electoral futures under the incumbent
Disappointing opinion poll ratings and bad results in local elections and by-
elections can prove to be damaging to a PM’s long term prospects
Ultimately, PM has no power without support of party.
Tony Bliar provoked massive backbench rebellions by pursuing policies that were
unpopular with the broader party (top-up fees)
Effectively forced to pre-announce his departure from office
