The executive: central, devolved, and local government

Attorney-General v Jonathan Cape Ltd (1976) - Lord Widgery CJ said that collective Cabinet responsibility means that any policy decision reached by the Cabinet has to be supported thereafter by all members of the Cabinet whether they approve of it or not, unless they feel compelled to resign. 

Geoffrey Marshall, Ministerial Responsibility (1989) - identified three elements of the collective Cabinet responsibility convention;

• The confidence principle: this means that a government must have the confidence of the House of Commons to remain in power. 
• The Unanimity principle: this means that, with the exception of free votes authorised by the Prime Minister or an agreement to differ, all the members of the government must speak and vote together in Parliament. 
• The confidentiality principle: this principle allows frank ministerial discussions within Cabinet and government. 

R v Secretary of State for the Home…