With reference to the source how have Cabinet Ministers seen their power decline?
The rise in power of the Prime Minister at the expense of the Cabinet did not begin in 1997; it can be traced back more than four decades ago when Richard Crossman highlighted the phrase ‘Prime Ministerial government’ - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 2
Question 2
With reference to the source how have Cabinet Ministers seen their power decline?
The rise in power of the Prime Minister at the expense of the Cabinet did not begi... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:With reference to the source how have Cabinet Ministers seen their power decline?
The rise in power of the Prime Minister at the expense of the Cabinet did not begin in 1997; it can be traced back more than four decades ago when Richard Crossman highlighted the phrase ‘Prime Ministerial government’ - Edexcel - A-Level Politics - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 2
Step 1
Sofa government
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Answer
Cabinet Ministers have increasingly lost their collective decision-making power due to the rise of 'sofa government'. This practice involves bilateral meetings where many decisions are made outside the full Cabinet, limiting the involvement of all ministers.
Step 2
Media Scope and Demands
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The scope and demands of the media have overshadowed the importance of the role of a Cabinet Minister. This results in ministers being less visible and impactful in their official capacities.
Step 3
Presentation of Policies
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Ministers are often presented with policies that have already been decided by the Prime Minister, thereby reducing their ability to participate in meaningful discussions during Cabinet meetings.
Step 4
Lack of Participation
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The current structure means that ministers are not influencing policy discussions at Cabinet levels, leading to a lack of participatory governance.
Step 5
Burden of Governance
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The burden of government has become too great for effective control by the Cabinet, making it challenging for ministers to manage or counteract the decisions made primarily by the Prime Minister.
