To What Extent is the PM Free From Political Constraints?

To What Extent is the PM Free From Political Constraints?There be numbers of constraints on the Prime attend. The main constraints are constitutional, political, administrative and in-person. The finality making body in Britain is incarnate the Prime curates role is to leave leadership within a footlocker context in which collective responsibility remains the rule. seeial appointments require some recognition of the contract for political balance and administrative efficiency, there is similarly pressure from colleagues or the media to promote certain people- The popularity of a Prime Minister ciphers, to some extent, on the media coverage they receive. Which troupe the Prime Minister represents puke also venture media coverage. The press in Britain is biased in its coverage and editorials- some cover are committed to certain parties. This means in practice that Cabinets halt individuals whom the Prime minister would rather be without. All Prime Ministers at least listen to advice from senior colleagues before making appointments.The power of stick out enables a Prime Minister to hire and fire whoever he/she pleases. However, they essential consider each(prenominal) types of party opinion when making their selection when allocating ministerial office, as it would non be wise for the eyeshade minister prolong storage locker positions to their loyal sponsorers. Ministers should represent a balanced team in terms of age, experience and forms of thinking within the party if they are not to become alienated from the backbenchers. Backbenchers whitethorn also be a constraint, though they risk loss of promotion prospects. Parliament as a total should be a key constraint and the Lords ascendancy been more ready in opposing brass bills since the 1980s, but their power is limited. The need to slip by the cabinet balanced and to adjust its composition in the light of changing circumstances is illustrated by the cabinet reshuffle forced upo n Margaret Thatcher in 1989. Nigel Lawson, the prime minister of the Exchequer had resigned following conflicts with the Prime Minister over economic form _or_ system of judicature and the role of her economics special advisor Alan Walters.There are also constraints on the dismissal of ministers. If the PM sacks too many ministers too a great deal it implies poor judgement and the premenstrual syndrome authority will be undermined an good example of this would be Macmillans night of the long knives in 1962 when he sacked vii Cabinet ministers overnight. This damaged his own standing and caused resentment in the party.A further constraint would be political e.g. John Majors government was constrained by ideological splits in his party, making it difficult to manage, in particular as it had a small majority. The larger the government majority in the House of Commons, the stronger the governments position and with it the power of the Prime Minister. A minority government may be in the weakest position of all would need to compromise with parties on the floor of the house. This makes it much more difficult for the Prime Minister to take a strong line on any insurance policy. e very(prenominal) bit constraining, are economic factors e.g. in the early 1990s Britain suffered a severe economic recession, this led to falling popularity, which, in turn created stronger political constraints.The worldly-minded party illustrates the strength a prime minister can pucker from the backing of a united party, it also shows the weakness that can reach the leader of the same party when it is divided. The thing that divides a political party most, is unpopularity and fear of electoral losses e.g. this is true for the Major government which was seen as weak and divided. A leaders popularity is likely to depend on the farming of the delivery, the international importance of the country or the general mood of the country, all of which are, to a greater or lesser exten t, foreign the control of the prime minister.The party may remove a sitting Prime Minister but this is quite rare, this was however the case with Thatcher in 1990. Thatcher resigned after losing the support of senior colleagues (Lawson and Howe) and a huge section of the majority parliamentary party.Cabinet revolts limit a PMs policy-making power. Apart from drawing up the party manifesto, most Prime Ministers do not initiate policy- they have a small staff and most expertise and information and elaborate information is located in individual departments. It is therefore difficult for PMs to interfere constantly in the work of a department. Consensus between PM and Cabinet over policies is normal. When revolt do occurs do occur they may suggest misjudgment or mismanagement by a Prime Minister e.g. policy toward europium caused Major problems of party management. Major resigned the party leadership in 1995 in an onset to put to rest persistent cabinet and party disagreement over Eu rope.The Prime Minister can attempt to keep certain issues off the cabinet agenda in couch to avoid difficult discussions. The period of time in which an issue may be left off a cabinet agenda depends part on the personalities of the cabinet ministers. On occasions the Prime Minister will be defeated in cabinet. As Primus inter pares (first amongst equals), the Prime Minister, different the American president, is not able to overrule the cabinet. Prime ministers cannot make policy without the support of cabinet colleagues because they do not have the time to control every issue. Moreover, the Prime minister cannot implement policy without the backing of ministerial departments.A final constraint on the Prime Minister is personal constraints the PM is limited in terms of energy, resources and time. The PMs special concerns (foreign affairs, the economy and security services) are vulnerable to setbacks e.g. Security service disasters undermined Macmillan and problems over Europe de stroyed the authority of Thatcher and Major.Overall, the constraints on the Prime Minister are very loadive because they prevent the PM from being too dominant a figure. Collective responsibility makes sure there is a balance of power. It can be argued however, that even a strong Prime Minister such as Margaret Thatcher is subject to constraints both inside and outside the cabinet. The constraints that arise depend upon the state of the Economy, the size of the government majority, the character and length of tenure of the PM him/her self. The most effective constraint are those that act upon the cabinet from outside Whitehall, such as the state of the economy, as the Prime Minister has no way of controlling theses. It should certainly have a great effect on the relationship between the Prime minister and the cabinet.