The Prime Minister has become increasingly powerful over time, with some arguing the role has become similar to a presidency. Prime Ministers now emphasize personal leadership over the public and distance themselves from their party when needed. The office has also become personalized with the Prime Minister representing the party and its policies. Different Prime Ministers exhibit different styles of leadership from innovators seeking goals to balancers prioritizing stability. Thatcher was a dominant conviction politician while Blair centralized power and adopted a top-down style.

1. The Politics AssociationThe Politics Association
AS Government and PoliticsAS Government and Politics
Powerpoint PresentationPowerpoint Presentation
The Prime Minister

2. The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher
Conservative
1979 - 1990
John Major
Conservative
1990 - 1997
Tony Blair
Labour
1997 - ?
Head of theHead of the
executive branchexecutive branch
of theof the
government andgovernment and
chair ofchair of
the Cabinetthe Cabinet

3. The History . . .The History . . .
• 1688 – Glorious Revolution.1688 – Glorious Revolution.
• 1689 – Parliament passes Bill1689 – Parliament passes Bill
of Rights to curb powers ofof Rights to curb powers of
monarch.monarch.
• Tax, laws – now neededTax, laws – now needed
consent of Parliament.consent of Parliament.
• Monarch remained Head ofMonarch remained Head of
Executive and appointed aExecutive and appointed a
Cabinet to run country.Cabinet to run country.
• When the monarch stoppedWhen the monarch stopped
attending Cabinet meetings,attending Cabinet meetings,
the First Lord of the Treasurythe First Lord of the Treasury
took over.took over.
• The First Lord of the TreasuryThe First Lord of the Treasury
became known as the Primebecame known as the Prime
Minister.Minister.
Robert Walpole
was First
Lord of theTreasury
from 1721 to 1742.
Walpole was
probably Britain’s
first Prime Minister.

4. • Do anything toDo anything to
defend the UKdefend the UK
• Make treatiesMake treaties
• Take and giveTake and give
away territoryaway territory
• Control the armedControl the armed
forcesforces
• Make use ofMake use of
emergency powersemergency powers
• Confiscate /Confiscate /
destroy propertydestroy property
• Intern non-UKIntern non-UK
citizenscitizens
• Control how theControl how the
civil service workscivil service works
• Control patronageControl patronage
The PM and the ROYAL PREROGATIVEThe PM and the ROYAL PREROGATIVE
An important aspect of
the roles/powers of the
modern PM.
These powers were
originally held by the
monarch, and formally,
they still are.
As PM, Tony Blair can –

5. POWERS of the Prime MinisterPOWERS of the Prime Minister
Head of StateHead of State
&&
Head of GovernmentHead of Government
the difference between thethe difference between the
two roles istwo roles is
not always clear . . .not always clear . . .
Formal Powers
Mainly
PREROGATIVE POWERS
There is also a distinction
between Head of State
and Head of Government
Informal Powers
•Chief policy maker.
•Chief government spokesperson
•Leader of the Parliamentary Party

6. Head of StateHead of State
• Head of armed forces.Head of armed forces.
• Negotiate treaties.Negotiate treaties.
• Grant honours.Grant honours.
• Head of Civil Service.Head of Civil Service.
• Appointment of seniorAppointment of senior
judges, archbishops orjudges, archbishops or
bishops of the Churchbishops of the Church
of England.of England.
duties that would
normally
be carried out by a
President
in an elective
system and are therefore
outside party politics and
are conducted for the
whole nation

7. Head of GovernmentHead of Government
•• Appointment ofAppointment of
ministersministers
•• Dismissal ofDismissal of
ministersministers
•• Appointment ofAppointment of
heads of publicheads of public
bodiesbodies
•• Dissolution ofDissolution of
ParliamentParliament
•• Chair of CabinetChair of Cabinet
Concerns
party
politics

8. ‘‘Prime MinisterialPrime Ministerial
Government’ DebateGovernment’ Debate
• Shift from Cabinet to PrimeShift from Cabinet to Prime
Ministerial government.Ministerial government.
• Party system centralised underParty system centralised under
the control of the PM.the control of the PM.
• PMs more closely involved inPMs more closely involved in
foreign and economic affairs.foreign and economic affairs.
• Electorate encouraged to identifyElectorate encouraged to identify
government policies with partygovernment policies with party
leader.leader.
• Downgrading of Cabinet andDowngrading of Cabinet and
committees.committees.
Too much power?Too much power?
Is the Prime Minister now
effectively a President?
Does the Prime Minister now
have too much power?

9. ‘‘PM as President’ Debate – FORPM as President’ Debate – FOR
• Thatcher as PM – ‘quasi-monarchical’Thatcher as PM – ‘quasi-monarchical’
(Johnson).(Johnson).
• Thatcher’s as ‘mother of the nation’.Thatcher’s as ‘mother of the nation’.
• Reduction of Cabinet meetings.Reduction of Cabinet meetings.
• PM as the ‘focal point of the modernPM as the ‘focal point of the modern
Cabinet’ similar to stature of USCabinet’ similar to stature of US
President.President.

10. ‘‘PM as President’ Debate – AGAINSTPM as President’ Debate – AGAINST
• Practical restrictions on PM’s power toPractical restrictions on PM’s power to
hire and fire.hire and fire.
• Limits on involvement of PM in initiationLimits on involvement of PM in initiation
of policy.of policy.
• Limits to the extent that a PM canLimits to the extent that a PM can
control all government business.control all government business.
• PM’sPM’s cancan be powerful – but need to havebe powerful – but need to have
colleagues all on board. Good examplescolleagues all on board. Good examples
– Thatcher’s downfall and Major’s– Thatcher’s downfall and Major’s
weakness after 1992.weakness after 1992.

11. The ‘PM as President’ debate looks most
appealing when used to analyse PM’s with
large majorities – such as Thatcher and Blair.
KEY ARGUMENT . . . KEY
ARGUMENT
from ‘TALKING POLITICS’ the
journal of the Politics Association
M. Foley, in ‘Presidential Politics in Britain’, Talking
Politics, Vol.6.3, Summer 1994, identifies four key
features of the American presidency that have been
adopted by Prime Ministers in the UK.

12. Foley’s argumentFoley’s argument
Public LeadershipPublic Leadership
• US Presidents – increased appeals to public over heads of Congress.US Presidents – increased appeals to public over heads of Congress.
• UK Prime Ministers – a less strict social order, impact of television as key to politicalUK Prime Ministers – a less strict social order, impact of television as key to political
communication –communication – ‘leader’s relationship with public now central and decisive.’‘leader’s relationship with public now central and decisive.’
Spatial LeadershipSpatial Leadership
• US Presidents – attempts to distance themselves from presidency when expedient thingUS Presidents – attempts to distance themselves from presidency when expedient thing
to do.to do.
• UK Prime Ministers – similar ‘distancing’ to give impression of being on the side of theUK Prime Ministers – similar ‘distancing’ to give impression of being on the side of the
citizen: i.e. Major + Citizen’s Charter, Blair’s willingness to disown ‘corrupt’ MPs andcitizen: i.e. Major + Citizen’s Charter, Blair’s willingness to disown ‘corrupt’ MPs and
councillors prior to any investigation.councillors prior to any investigation.
The Personal FactorThe Personal Factor
• US President – represents image of party and its programme.US President – represents image of party and its programme.
• UK Prime Minister – office now personalised with personality central to public evaluation.UK Prime Minister – office now personalised with personality central to public evaluation.
The Cult of the OutsiderThe Cult of the Outsider
• US President – Nixon, Reagan, Clinton - positioned as ‘outsiders’ without the vestedUS President – Nixon, Reagan, Clinton - positioned as ‘outsiders’ without the vested
interests of ‘insiders’.interests of ‘insiders’.
• UK Prime Minister – Thatcher, Major, Blair – all have positioned themselves as outsiders,UK Prime Minister – Thatcher, Major, Blair – all have positioned themselves as outsiders,
either from Whitehall or their respective parties.either from Whitehall or their respective parties.

13. Foley’s conclusion . . .
UK Premiership has turned into an authentic British
presidency – not a version of the US presidency.

14. Prime Ministerial StylesPrime Ministerial Styles
FOURFOUR possible types of Prime Minister – the type reflects theirpossible types of Prime Minister – the type reflects their
ambitions and their particular path to power.ambitions and their particular path to power.
INNOVATORSINNOVATORS
• Wish to achieve some future goal.Wish to achieve some future goal.
• Ideologically motivated.Ideologically motivated.
• Will risk being unpopular.Will risk being unpopular.
• Not all his/her party may agree.Not all his/her party may agree.
• Goal / aim – very personal to the innovator.Goal / aim – very personal to the innovator.
REFORMERSREFORMERS
• Seek power in order to achieve future goal.Seek power in order to achieve future goal.
• Ideologically motivated.Ideologically motivated.
• Goal formulated with, and agreed by, the party.Goal formulated with, and agreed by, the party.
• Goal / aim – not as ‘personal’ as the innovator.Goal / aim – not as ‘personal’ as the innovator.

15. Prime Ministerial Styles (continued)Prime Ministerial Styles (continued)
EGOISTSEGOISTS
• Power is sought for its own end.Power is sought for its own end.
• Key motivation – self regard,Key motivation – self regard, notnot ideology.ideology.
• Act and think in the present, not the future.Act and think in the present, not the future.
BALANCERSBALANCERS
• Main aim – peace and stability, in country and party.Main aim – peace and stability, in country and party.
• Some balancers seek office, some do not.Some balancers seek office, some do not.
• Those who don’t – usually ‘compromise’ candidates in leadershipThose who don’t – usually ‘compromise’ candidates in leadership
elections.elections.
Key point to remember –Key point to remember – PMs may have more than one style or mayPMs may have more than one style or may
change their style to suit the bigger political picture.change their style to suit the bigger political picture.

16. Margaret Thatcher’s STYLEMargaret Thatcher’s STYLE
• Dominant personality.Dominant personality.
• ‘‘Conviction’ politician.Conviction’ politician.
• ‘‘Radical vision’.Radical vision’.
• Good at leading from the front.Good at leading from the front.
• Party had no choice but toParty had no choice but to
follow.follow.
• Good at getting her own wayGood at getting her own way
when popular.when popular.
• Innovative policies in face ofInnovative policies in face of
opposition.opposition.
• Good at ‘hiding’ – i.e. kept herGood at ‘hiding’ – i.e. kept her
distance from a mess.distance from a mess.

17. John Major’s STYLEJohn Major’s STYLE
• Initial attempt to NOT be Thatcher.Initial attempt to NOT be Thatcher.
• Early image of a consensusEarly image of a consensus
leader.leader.
• 1992 Election – contrast with1992 Election – contrast with
Thatcher.Thatcher.
• AfterAfter 1992 – difficult for Major to1992 – difficult for Major to
notnot follow practices/stylesfollow practices/styles
associated with Thatcher.associated with Thatcher.
• Major increased formal linksMajor increased formal links
between party management andbetween party management and
Cabinet.Cabinet.
• Continued and developedContinued and developed
Thatcher’s radical agenda.Thatcher’s radical agenda.

18. Tony Blair as PRIME MINISTERTony Blair as PRIME MINISTER
• Government centralised at Downing Street.Government centralised at Downing Street.
• ‘‘Top down’ style, not collegiate.Top down’ style, not collegiate.
• Key agents of advice – Cabinet Office, PM’sKey agents of advice – Cabinet Office, PM’s
Office.Office.
• ‘‘Unprecedented centralisation.’Unprecedented centralisation.’ PeterPeter
Hennessy.Hennessy.
• 40 Cabinet meetings a year under Major,40 Cabinet meetings a year under Major,
fewer under Blair.fewer under Blair.
• Blair’s preferred style – one to one meetings.Blair’s preferred style – one to one meetings.
• Blair’s emphasised role as governmentBlair’s emphasised role as government
spokesperson – increase in his personalspokesperson – increase in his personal
authority.authority.
• Increased role of a ‘core executive’ andIncreased role of a ‘core executive’ and
personal advisers displaying intensepersonal advisers displaying intense
personal loyalty to him.personal loyalty to him.

19. Tony Blair as PRIME MINISTER (cont)Tony Blair as PRIME MINISTER (cont)
• Large Labour majorities since 1997 – strengthenedLarge Labour majorities since 1997 – strengthened
Blair’s control over Parliamentary party andBlair’s control over Parliamentary party and
ministers.ministers.
• Blair has made significant use of committees,Blair has made significant use of committees,
ministerial groups and quangos – substantial scopeministerial groups and quangos – substantial scope
for patronage by Prime Minister.for patronage by Prime Minister.
• Blair and Thatcher –Blair and Thatcher – separated at birth?separated at birth? SimilaritiesSimilarities
include sense of ‘conviction’ politics and lack ofinclude sense of ‘conviction’ politics and lack of
distinct ideology. Similarities also in sense ofdistinct ideology. Similarities also in sense of
‘charisma’ and ‘strong leadership’.‘charisma’ and ‘strong leadership’.
• Differences between Blair and Thatcher – Blair (inDifferences between Blair and Thatcher – Blair (in
early years in power) willing to apologise and willingearly years in power) willing to apologise and willing
to experiment with policy making process.to experiment with policy making process.