To what extent is Cabinet an important body? - Advantages and disadvantages table in A Level and IB Government & Politics

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Created by: Isabella
Created on: 14-05-13 12:03

To what extent is Cabinet an important body?

Advantages

Collective responsiblity- all government decisions have to be made together and all ministers have to accept them, publicly at least
Cabinet can overthrow the PM if they are getting unfavourable- done with Thatcher in 1990 and Blair in 2007.
PMS need to stay favourable to the party. PMs want to keep the party happy- unlikely to bypass cabinet to keep in party favour

Disadvantages

Cabinet can be bypassed- Blair did this with the building of Millenellium Dome
Kitchen Cabinet- Wilson started this. It is a small group of advisors and ministers, used to make decisions- presented as a fait accompli (a ready made decision) to the Cabinet
Bilaterals- single meetings between PM and individual ministers, started by Thatcher. Used to resolve issues.

Evaluation

To some extent, as they provide a sort of check to the PM, but it has been a declining body in recent years due to the growth of things like Kitchen Cabinets

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