Unit 4: Cabinet Government and Political Parties

Readings:Norton CH 4 and 5

Dunleavy CH 3 and 4

Guiding Questions What constitutes “the government” in the

British system?What is the role of the Prime Minister?

The Cabinet?Does Parliament “matter”?What are the major political parties in the

UK?How has the party system affected policy?

The British Executive Branch The legislative functions of the British

system are vested in parliament.The executive functions of the system are

vested in the government.Executive includes: the PM, Cabinet,

support staff and civil servants/bureaucracy.Whitehall-location of executive

agencies.10 Downing Street-Residence of the PM.

The British Prime MinisterCurrent PM: Gordon BrownHigh visibility enhances

position within party and parliament.

1) Selects the Cabinet “First among equals”.Position not created by

statute; created by convention.

2) Winning elections.3) Media campaigning.4) Maintain confidence of

party.5) Perform well in parliament.6) Balance domestic and

international politics.Performance/emphasis has

varied amongst PMs.

CabinetConsists of senior ministers chosen

from either the Commons or the Lords.Serves at the pleasure of the Prime Minister

Decisions have been increasingly centralized in PM’s office.

Once a decision is reached, all must support it publicly.

Ministers responsible for day-to-day functioning.

Does Parliament Matter?Halisham (1976): Coins the idea of the British

executive as an “elected dictatorship”Lawmaking functions are becoming increasingly

dominated by the government rather than parliament. Elected government is expected to pass the legislation

listed in its manifesto.But oversight functions of Parliament are reduced as

members wanting to join cabinet have incentives to toe the party line.

Ability to vote “no confidence” exists; rarely used successfullyCallaghan was the last PM to lose a vote of confidence.

Does Parliament Matter?Governments control the parliamentary timetable.Nearly all bills need government support for passage.

Private members bills are very difficult to enact.Governments have a lot of tools to enact their

legislation.1) Generally have a parliamentary majority2) Appoint committee members on the basis of loyalty3) Can use the guillotine procedure in the Commons

to speed up debate4) Ministers and whips can pressure MPs to overturn

wrecking amendments; they have “carrots and sticks” at their disposal.

Does Parliament Matter?Commons oversight capability lackluster until the 1970’sOversight reform evolving.

1) Select committees created to scrutinize how policies are implemented

2) National Audit Office examines how public funds are spent

3) Joint Committee on delegated legislation oversees statutory instruments.

Time constraints, party loyalty incentives, and small budgets hamper effective oversight.

Expertise of Lords often used as a basis for oversightStanding committees on EU, technology, and

delegated legislation. Lords also suffers from a lack of resources; staffing and

office needs are very limited.

Political Parties and ParliamentarismParty discipline is higher in the UK (and other

parliamentary systems) then it is in presidential systems.Key given the confidence relationship.

Nationally, there are “two and a half” dominant parties:Labour and the Conservatives(Tories).and the Liberal

Democrats.New parties are springing up but not winning seats in

the national Parliament.BNP, UKIP, Respect

Nationalist parties are strong in Wales (PC) and in Scotland (SNP).

Northern Ireland has its own party system.

Political Parties as OrganizationsPolitical parties seek members to assist

with campaigns, provide support, and fund party activities.

Party membership is declining across the board.Membership dues are declining.

Party members are likely to be more ideologically driven than the mass electorate.

Both Labour and the Conservatives have struggled to balance support within their party with maintaining the support of the electorate.

Center-Left: LabourEclipsed Liberals in

early 1900’s.Draws support from the

working classes.Historically, “socialist”

in ideology.party drifted towards

the center under Blair.Rejection of

commitment to nationalization critical for making the party “electable”But this has split the

party.Classification: social

democratic.

Center: Liberal DemocratsMerged with the Social

Democrats in 1988.Mixture of old Liberals and

disgruntled Labour members.Attempts to coalesce with

Labour at national level have come to naught.

Economically liberal; socially libertarian.

Seat share has been on the rise; electoral system disadvantages the party.

Often a protest vote; could hold the balance of power in a hung parliament.

Classification: liberal

Center-Right: ConservativesHistorically, a party of the

elite.Shift to a “catch-all” party

once Labour became electorally viable.

Economically liberal; historically socially conservative.

Leadership under David Cameron makes a return to government conceivable for the first time since 1992.Social conservatism

weakened under current leadership.

Classification: conservative

The Nationalists: SNP and PCSNP: Scottish NationalistPC: Plaid CymruEconomically and socially

left of center.Both call for creation of a

separate stateAlthough these calls are

stronger in Scotland. Have played a critical role

in devolved institutionsLimited effect at the

national level.

Party Politics in Northern IrelandDUP/UUP: represent

Protestant (Loyalist) voters.DUP is more extreme.Both are center/center-

right.SDLP/SF: represent

Catholic (Nationalist) voters.SF is more extreme.Both are center/center-

leftSF and the DUP are on

the riseModerate parties have

lost some ground.

The British Party System and GovernanceStage One (1945-1979): Consensus politics

Labour and Conservatives accepted expanded social welfare system and an interventionist state in the economy.

Stage Two (1979-1997): Return to politicsThatcherism marked a return to a divided

left and right.Stage Three (1997-present): Convergence

PoliticsBlairism accepts some goals of Thatcherism;

Conservatives accept some goals of Blairism.

Stage One: Creating a Postwar Consensus1945: First Labour government elected.Manifesto based on consensus created

during interwar era to 1) provide social security (Beveridge Report)2) promote full employment3) reform of the educational system.

1945-1948: National health care established.

1948: National Health Service established.

Stage One: Maintaining the Postwar ConsensusKeynesian economic model adopted. Use monetary policy to promote full

employment.Management of economy rather

than nationalization. 1951: Conservatives elected.

Did not end consensus.Accepted expanded welfare state and

Keynesianism.

Stage One: Extending Consensus1951-1964 Conservatives maintained and

expanded these programs without increasing taxes.

1960’s associated with decline in empire and an economic downturn, but living standards continued to rise.

Minor tweaks needed to maintain the NHSState began to charge for prescriptions

to maintain NHS.Parties continued to agree on ends but

differed over the means to achieving said ends.

Stage Two: End of ConsensusThe 1970’s brought economic instability.1974-1979 saw several switches in

governments in response to economic decline.Hung parliaments coupled with

continued political unrest and instability empowered the extremes in both parties.

1979: Thatcher’s Conservatives electedEnd of consensus

Stage Two: ThatcherismNo nonsense approach to

policymaking.TINA: “There is no

alternative”1) Reduce money supply to

reduce inflation2) Undermine deals over

wage increases with government employees and trade unions.

3) Reduce the public sector and encourage free market economy (privatization).

4) Free labor by weakening trade unions.

5) Restore law and order.Return to “values”

Stage Two: Thatcher’s OutThatcher wins big in 1983 and 1987

Labour is not seen as viable.1990: After 11 years, support for Thatcher was

waning both within her party and within the electorate.The poll tax proved to be Thatcher’s undoing within the

electorate.Vow to “go on and on” fostered a revolt within the party.Inability to obtain a win in the first round of a leadership

election led to her ouster. John Major becomes PM; continues privatization, but

changes his relationship with the Cabinet.Less “heavy handed” than Thatcher.

Stage Two: The Road to BlairismLabour drifted

leftwards under the Thatcher government.Was trounced in 1979,

1983, and 1987.Remained committed

to nationalizationSeen as both anti EU

and anti US.Was ahead in the polls

in 1992, but Tories pulled out a win.Loss in 1992 led to re-

examination of policies.

Stage Three: Blair and New LabourBlair and Brown both discuss

running for the Labour leadership.“Agreement” between the two

that Blair will lead first and then turn over to Brown will motivate the Blair/Brown relationship.

Tony Blair becomes leader of the Labour party in 1994.Electability key to winning the

leadership.Sought to moderate Labour’s

position on nationalization.Triangulation (placing New

Labour in between Conservatives and Old Labour) was a double edged sword.

Stage Three: Blairism and ConvergenceEconomics: promote financial stability and low

inflation.Favors state activity in society (i.e. state role in

health care and education): Old Labour. But allow for individual choice: New Labour.

Shift towards “quasi-federalism” via devolution.Pro US/EU policy.

A shift from previous Labour leadership.Conservatives under Cameron have accepted

many of these ideas.

Blatcherism?SIMILARITIES DIFFERENCES1) Similar relationships

with Cabinet.Decisions made before

consulting with entire cabinet.

2) Support of free market mechanisms.

3) Continue reduced role for unions.

4) Foreign policy similar regarding US.

1) Blair declared support for universal health care, Thatcher wanted to reduce

the state’s role.2) Blair favored devolution;

Thatcher favored centralization.

3) Foreign policy differed over EU. Thatcher opposed

deepening, Blair more supportive.

4) Stress on traditional values differs across governments.

Evaluating BlairismNew Labour as “Post Thatcherite and social

democratic”Made Labour electable, but…Unclear Blair has transformed his party (but then

again, neither did Thatcher).Does not share the same feelings towards Labour

as Brown. Blair is more instinctively Liberal; Brown is more

instinctively Labour.Devolution and support for free market probably

solid under Brown; both supported by the Conservatives.

Continued convergence likely in the short term.

Conclusions National politics is still dominated by Labour

and the Conservatives even though many contend their politics are converging.

The possibility of a “hung parliament” boosts interest in the Liberal Democrats.

New political parties are rising within the electorate; the electoral system for Parliament all but shuts these parties out in Westminster.

Differing electoral systems for the European Parliament and devolved institutions give these parties a voice in European and regional institutions.

Next UnitTheme: Campaigns and ElectionsReadings:

Norton CH 7 and Dunleavy CH 1 and 5

Finish Archer