How Powerful is the British Prime Minister?
...e full cabinet. Blair is presidential in his approach to policy making as well as major decisions; he consults with his advisors and few ministers in informal meetings. With the Collective responsibility policy still very strong, ministers are left with little choice to resign if they are in disagreement with the Prime Minister, which many are reluctant to do. Both Thatcher and Blair set the cabinet agendas and leave off key issues if they feel that the cabinet will be in disagreement. The Prime Minister also controls the hierarchy of Whitehall meaning that they are in charge of their minister’s advisors. Mrs Thatcher and Blair are considered to be the most dominant and powerful Prime Minister’s of all time, who generally tended to lead the cabinet. When Thatcher was in office it was thought that cabinet government was dead. When John Major replaced her, he tended to ‘use’ and consult with the cabinet. All major decisions were brought through cabinet first and collective responsibility was less stringent under his premiership. Because of this Major was seen as a weak leader who ‘hid behind the cabinet.’ Even members of the cabinet used to leak information to the press. The Cabinet is also powerful and arguably more so than the Prime Minister. Cabinet is a tradition that has worked since its existence. It is the decision making body in the government. The heavy task of running the country is impossible for one person to do and for this the Prime Minister needs the cabinet to help him. The many departments need to be represented in a cabinet. The Prime Minister is required to consult the cabinet on all decisions and should follow their views, even if it goes against their own. Through Mrs Thatcher’s premiership she constantly ignored the cabinet and went against them. Because of this Michael Hestletine, Nigel Lawson and Geoffrey Howe resigned as cabinet members. This is very damaging for the Prime Minister as it shows there is not consensus and major disagreements. Their resignations, as well as the majority of the cabinets failing support was the reason for Mrs Thatcher being forced to resign as Prime Minister in November 1990. The cabinet is the core executive of the government and the Prime Ministers power is constrained to their support. Cabinet and not the Prime Minister agree many important matters. However the power of the cabinet and the Prime Minister is dependant upon the support of the Commons. For example James Callaghan lost a motion of no confidence in the House of Commons due to the se...