1. Implications for the role, status and
operation of the Cabinet and
relationship with the PM

2.  Cabinet meets every Tuesday and longer
meetings (2hours) compared to Blair (45mins)
 Genuine discussion of policy eg
Comprehensive Spending Review (October
2010) discussed by Cabinet 9 times
 Reality of having to work with LD ministers
meant discussion and negotiation crucial to
coalition survival
 ‘to coalitionise’ – process by which decisions
are made

3.  Under more stress because the government is
made up of 2 partners
 Cabinet committees revived
 All papers for cabinet committees must state
what has been done to ensure collective
approval
 Policy must be checked against coalition
agreement

4.  PM and deputy PM bilaterals – all big issues
resolved at this level...................
 QUAD – PM/deputy PM/chancellor/chief
secretary to the Treasury
 Trilaterals –PM and deputy PM resolve issues
with appropriate minister
 Return to a more personal and informal style of
decision making rather than whole Cabinet?

5.  Cabinet divided into 2 spheres – LD and
Conservative
 Clegg manage LD members, while Cameron
controls the Conservative wing

6.  Some policies cannot be agreed eg AV, House
of Lords reform

7.  PM does not have a free hand
 Has to divide coalition cabinet seats between
the 2 partners
 New appointments agreed with Clegg eg
replacement of Huhne