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Unit 4: Cabinet Government and Political Parties

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”?

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Unit 4: Cabinet Government and Political Parties

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  1. Unit 4: Cabinet Government and Political Parties Readings: Norton CH 4 and 5 Dunleavy CH 3 and 4

  2. 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?

  3. 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.

  4. The British Prime Minister • Current PM: Gordon Brown • High 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.

  5. Cabinet • Consists 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.

  6. 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 successfully • Callaghan was the last PM to lose a vote of confidence.

  7. 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 majority • 2) Appoint committee members on the basis of loyalty • 3) Can use the guillotine procedure in the Commons to speed up debate • 4) Ministers and whips can pressure MPs to overturn wrecking amendments; they have “carrots and sticks” at their disposal.

  8. Does Parliament Matter? • Commons oversight capability lackluster until the 1970’s • Oversight 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 oversight • Standing committees on EU, technology, and delegated legislation. • Lords also suffers from a lack of resources; staffing and office needs are very limited.

  9. Political Parties and Parliamentarism • Party 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: • Labourand 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.

  10. Political Parties as Organizations • Political 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.

  11. Center-Left: Labour • Eclipsed 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.

  12. Center: Liberal Democrats • Merged 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

  13. Center-Right: Conservatives • Historically, a party of the elite. • Shift to a “catch-all” party once Labourbecame 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

  14. The Nationalists: SNP and PC • SNP: Scottish Nationalist • PC: Plaid Cymru • Economically and socially left of center. • Both call for creation of a separate state • Although these calls are stronger in Scotland. • Have played a critical role in devolved institutions • Limited effect at the national level.

  15. Party Politics in Northern Ireland • DUP/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-left • SF and the DUP are on the rise • Moderate parties have lost some ground.

  16. The British Party System and Governance • Stage 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 politics • Thatcherism marked a return to a divided left and right. • Stage Three (1997-present): Convergence Politics • Blairism accepts some goals of Thatcherism; Conservatives accept some goals of Blairism.

  17. Stage One: Creating a Postwar Consensus • 1945: First Labour government elected. • Manifesto based on consensus created during interwar era to • 1) provide social security (BeveridgeReport) • 2) promote full employment • 3) reform of the educational system. • 1945-1948: National health care established. • 1948: National Health Service established.

  18. Stage One: Maintaining the Postwar Consensus • Keynesian 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.

  19. Stage One: Extending Consensus • 1951-1964 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 NHS • State began to charge for prescriptions to maintain NHS. • Parties continued to agree on ends but differed over the meansto achieving said ends.

  20. Stage Two: End of Consensus • The 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 elected • End of consensus

  21. Stage Two: Thatcherism • No nonsense approach to policymaking. • TINA: “There is no alternative” • 1) Reduce money supply to reduce inflation • 2) 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”

  22. Stage Two: Thatcher’s Out • Thatcher 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.

  23. Stage Two: The Road to Blairism • Labour drifted leftwards under the Thatcher government. • Was trounced in 1979, 1983, and 1987. • Remained committed to nationalization • Seen 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.

  24. Stage Three: Blair and New Labour • Blair 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.

  25. Stage Three: Blairism and Convergence • Economics: 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.

  26. Blatcherism? SIMILARITIES DIFFERENCES • 1) 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.

  27. Evaluating Blairism • New 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.

  28. 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.

  29. Next Unit • Theme: Campaigns and Elections • Readings: • Norton CH 7 and Dunleavy CH 1 and 5 • Finish Archer

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