{"id":61,"date":"2025-08-07T20:42:21","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T20:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/politicsuk\/?p=61"},"modified":"2025-10-10T12:57:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T12:57:22","slug":"chapter-18","status":"publish","type":"content","link":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/politicsuk\/part-5-the-executive-process\/chapter-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 18"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\tHome<\/a>\n<\/span>\u203a<\/span>\n\tPart 5 \u2013 The Executive Process<\/a>\n<\/span>\u203a<\/span>\n\tChapter 18\n<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 18<\/h1>\n\n\n

The core executive: The Prime Minister and Cabinet<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chapter Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Prime Minister stands at the apex within British government. The occupant of the office leads the Cabinet and heads the party that usually enjoys a clear majority in the House of Commons. A strong Prime Minister may thus be in a position to achieve desired out-comes. However, the extent to which prime ministers achieve what they want varies. Prime ministerial power is variable and not a constant. Power may \u2018zig zag\u2019 from one premier to another (Blick and Jones 2010) as well as within a premiership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extent to which prime ministers can achieve their goals depends in part on who the Prime Minister is: what they want to achieve, and their skills in getting their way, will \u2013 as we have seen \u2013 vary from premier to premier. The political climate, not least the relationship between different political bodies, can change. A Prime Minister may enjoy a good parliamentary majority and be returned at the next election with a small and potentially difficult majority. Events at an international or national level may blow a government off course. Prime ministerial power thus varies not only from premier to premier but also within a premiership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The variability of prime ministerial power is exacerbated by international developments, over which the Prime Minister may have little or no influence. The Prime Minister can be and frequently is powerful, but ultimately is dependent on what one Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, allegedly summarised as \u2018events, dear boy, events\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Learning Objectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • To describe the development of the office of Prime Minister.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • To identify the nature of prime ministerial power and the significance of the individual in the office.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • To describe the development and role of the Cabinet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • To assess different explanations of the location of power at the heart of British government.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Quizzes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Test your knowledge with the Chapter 18 quizzes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Quiz<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n