The power of the PM

Thatcher
1. Probably the most dominant politician of the modern period
  1. Strong control over Cabinet and Policy-making
    1. However, her style created enemies - she sacked a number of high profile cabinet members
      1. Hurd, Howe and Heseltine
        Freed from Collective Responsibility, they could attack Thatcher
        In 1990 she resigned after it was clear that significant numbers in her own party didn't support her
Major
1. In many ways he was a surprise PM
  1. He had to deal with a deeply divided party
    1. Europe was the key issue - the emergence of the Eurosceptics
      1. John Redwood was a leading opponent
        His majority was only 21 after the 1992 election
        This was reduced in by-election defeats during the 1990s
  2. The fact that he became PM without winning an election reduced his power before 1992
  3. Tried to be more collegiate but made him look weak
Blair
1. Won convincing majorities in 1997 and 2001
  1. This gave him parliamentary majorities of over 100
    1. Meant that he was protected from backbench rebellions
      1. Over 100 Labour MPs rebelled against the Iraq War but the measure still passed
  2. Labour had been out of power since 1979
    1. Many MPs were determined to make the most of this and support their leader
      1. Was used to pass important political reforms
      2. Party was ideologically united
  3. Faced little opposition from disunited Conservatives
2. Accused of being a control freak
  1. Control of what was said in public
    1. Use of spin doctors such as Alastair Campbell
  2. He was very good on the world stage and in front of cameras
  3. Opposition within his own party grew
    1. Retired in 2007
      1. However, many in his own party welcomed this
Brown
1. Like Major he was unelected
  1. At the start he was popular
    1. People welcomed the change from Blair
      1. But economic crisis started in 2008
        This greatly reduced his popularity and power
        Defeat in 2010 was almost inevitable
2. He was more collegiate in approach
  1. But this made him look weak
Cameron
1. He won the 2015 election with a small majority
  1. Increase in his power
    1. But the right-wing of his party was increasingly powerful
      1. Also the rise of UKIP
        Led to Brexit Referendum
        He resigned after losing
        Said he wasn't the right person to negotiate Brexit
2. Coalition PM
  1. Not having a majority affected his power
    1. Policy had to be a compromise with the Liberal Democrats
      1. The emergence of the Quad
        Cameron and Osborne; Clegg and Alexander
      2. For example, Lib Dems blocked boundary changes to constituencies
        Cameron had to keep Lib Dems in the Cabinet
May
1. Very early to be making judgements
  1. Small working majority of 17
    1. Could be vulnerable to rebellions
      1. Already a U-turn over NI increase for self-employed
        Signs of trouble over school budgets and grammar schools
    2. Major issue will be Brexit
      1. Will she be able to achieve anything else of substance?
  2. Has put potential rivals like Boris in the Cabinet
    1. But many Cameron supporters are on the backbenches
      1. Gove? Osborne?

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The power of the PM

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