This document discusses the powers and limitations of prime ministers in the UK. It examines the experiences of several past prime ministers, including Jim Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown. Some key lessons from their experiences are that most prime ministers last about 10 years now before being replaced, external events play a large role in their success or failure, and how they are perceived as handling those events matters more than the events themselves. Personal attributes like personality, media image, and the stature of their predecessor also influence prime ministers' effectiveness.
This document discusses the powers and limitations of prime ministers in the UK. It examines the experiences of several past prime ministers, including Jim Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown. Some key lessons from their experiences are that most prime ministers last about 10 years now before being replaced, external events play a large role in their success or failure, and how they are perceived as handling those events matters more than the events themselves. Personal attributes like personality, media image, and the stature of their predecessor also influence prime ministers' effectiveness.