The Executive - Prime Minister Case Studies

Harold Wilson As PM – 1964-70 & 1974-76:
  • Served in 2 non-consecutive terms: 1964-70 and 1974-76.
  • He appeared in tune with public opinion, as he appeared at east on TV and he wanted to modernise the UK.
  • His government increased welfare spending, reformed the education system and introduced liberal social reforms.
  • Government was forced to devalue the pound in 1967 which damaging Wilson’s credibility.
  • Critics said Wilson was focusing on short-term tactics and lacking principles or vision
  • His second term was dogged by difficulties as they only won with a three-seat majority and intra-party divisions were showing over the ECC membership. He decided to hold a referendum on it.
  • In the end he went after a vote on Scottish devolution failed and he lost a vote of no confidence by one vote.
Margaret Thatcher As PM – 1979-1992:
  • She created Thatcherism by having monetarism, privatising state-owned industries and reducing trade unions power.
  • She made less use of the cabinet than other PMs. She kept issues away from the cabinet and announced policy in them. Some said she was an example of using spatial leadership.
  • Her skilful ability to manage the cabinet cemented her authority when many doubted her
  • Victory in the 1982 Falklands War was seen as triumph and helped her win the election
  • By the 1990s, she had few allies left in the cabinet. Major exploited her weakness to joining the ERM.
  • She then failed to win the first ballot of he Conservative leadership election and when she met with her cabinet ministers one by one, when they refused to support her, she resigned.
  • Unpopular policy, low opinion poll ratings and cabinet divisions contributed to her downfall.
  • She was an author of her own misfortune as she ignored the concerns of ministers and she bypassed the cabinet.
  • The poll tax was a policy where council tax was paid by everyone with the introduction of the poll tax. As it docked the poor and allowed the rich to keep their money as thousands who had never paid local tax were being charged hundreds. Riots happened, people blamed the government. Checks and balances failed. Thatcher was forced to go and Major replaced it with a council tax.
Tony Blair As PM – 1997 - 2007:
  • When he was elected he had little time for cabinet meetings and preferred to conduct government business through bilateral meetings. He also used Spatical leadership and it was dubbed as ‘sofa government’.
  • He enjoyed his big majority, a strong position within the party and a loyal cabinet
  • He pursed a ‘third way’ that combined free markets economy, low taxes and a national minimum wage.
  • He played a key role in Constitutional reform especially in the Northern Ireland peace process.
  • His problems came in his second term, as he faced rebellion by MPs over Iraq, foundation hospitals and tuition fees with this, came a rating drop for him. His announcement that he would step down halfway through his 3rd term weakened his authority and he had to fend off attempts to remove him. By stepping down in June 2007, Blair jumped before he was pushed.
  • The agreement between Blair and Brown was unusual as Brown was the brains behind New Labour and many wanted him as the face. However, the decision between the two was mutual, one could not maintain his position without the other.
David Cameron As PM – 2010-2015:
  • Had a more collegial approach than Thatcher or Blair mainly because he was in the coalition.
  • Key decisions were taken by the ‘Quad’.
  • He appeared suited to the coalition and allowed ministers greater freedom to get on with their jobs.
  • Trouble began when he made U-turns on policy and the NHS reforms failed. Economic austerity was the defining position of the coalition and the Lib Dems accepted much of it.
  • As public spending was cut, Cameron’s credibility also decreased. But voters still trusted the Conservatives more than Labour.
  • The coalition stayed the full term but there was growing tensions.
  • In 2013 Cameron promised an in/out referendum on the EU and he legalised same-sex marriage.
  • His victory in the 2015 GE strengthen his position but with a small majority, he announced he would retire before the next GE. A year later he resigned when the UK voted for Brexit.
Theresa May As PM – 2016 -2019:
  • Early signs that she would be strong: cabinet reshuffle, support within the party, good opinion polls, mineral expertise.
  • Limits: Early GE calling, losing her majority, divisions within the cabinet over her leadership and policy direction, scale of policy challenges faced because of Brexit and a sharp reduction in her standings in the opinion polls.
  • Brexit, ERG and ultimately not having a majority saw her ending and Boris Johnson taking over.
at