The Prime Minister

1
The Prime Minister
2
'primus inter pares'

• Primus inter pares means 'first among his/her
  equals'.
• First among equals is a phrase which indicates
  that a person is the most senior of a group of
  people sharing the same rank or office. An
  example of this in the UK is the Prime Minister.

3
'primus inter pares'

• The phrase "Prime Minister" literally means
  "primary minister" or "first minister."
• As such, the Prime Minister is traditionally
  considered to be "first among equals" he is the
  most senior of a group of ministers, rather than
  holding an office that is superior to that of
  ministers.
• It is debatable whether this description of the
  Prime Minister's role is accurate

4
'primus inter pares

• the PM can be argued to be first among equals.
  Eg the leader of his party in the House of
  Commons the head of government he represents the
  country abroad

5
the PM can be argued to be not first among
equals he has more power than the rest of the
ministers in the Cabinet

• eg he has the right to select his cabinet, hand
  out departmental positions, decide the agenda for
  cabinet meetings which he also chairs.
• If a politician wants to make progress from
  backbench to Cabinet, that politician will have
  to impress the party leader, who will be either
  the Leader of the Opposition or Prime Minister.
• he can dismiss ministers if this is requiredhe
  exercises wide powers of patronage and
  appointments in the civil service, church and
  judiciary

6
PMs Office

• The Blair government has seen an increase in the
  powers of the PM and a reduced role for the
  cabinet
• An increasing number of special advisers have
  been appointed to work and lead the 3 units of
  the PMs office

7
PMs Office

• In 2002-3 the government employed 74 special
  advisors at a cost of 5.4 million
• This contrasts with the position in 1997 when
  Blairs Policy Unit employed just 12 special
  advisors

8
PMs Office

• Many commentators are of the opinion that the the
  special advisors have increased the PMs capacity
  to direct and control policy and departments
• Also the increasing links between the PMs office
  and the cabinet office can be argued to be having
  the effect of creating a single executive office
  similar to the USA

9
PMs styles policy

• Individual PMs adopt different styles, they have
  individual strengths and personality traits
• Innovators have a personal agenda which they want
  to put there own mark on

Thatcherism
10
PMs stylespolicy

• Reformers adopt policies and goals that have been
  established by others
• Major adopted Thatchers policies to suit his own
  needs in the 1990s

11
PMs individual styles

• Egoists are mainly concerned with their own image
  and desire to hold power
• Give an example of this type of PM

• Balancers have a different aim they try to keep
  various factions content and see themselves as
  providing the best compromise

or
12
Tony Blair

• More of an innovator and an egoist
• Since 1997 can be argued the Labour government
  embarked on a constitutional revolution e.g.
  devolution, House of Lords reform
• Also Blairs personal campaign to improve public
  services

13
Tony Blair

• He can also be regarded as an egoist as it can be
  argued that he has strengthened his control at
  the expense of cabinet decision making
• Personality cult Blairism

14
Driving force behind New Labour

• Blair has put his own personal stamp on the
  government
• Efforts have been made by special advisors to
  manage his public image
• A similar role to that of the American president?

• US style elections centre on candidates
• key messages were given in 1997, American style
  pledges

15
Driving force behind New Labour
http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4424594.stm

• However unlike the US president the PM is not the
  head of state
• British people do not elect PM directly
• Opposing politicians do not support the PM with
  the exception of times of conflict