Activity 1: Create a timeline outlining the Prime Ministers of the UK and various Cabinet ministers since 1979

 

Learning objective: To remember the key functions of the UK Cabinet and analyse the way in which different PMs have managed Cabinet appointments

Suitable for: Individual work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 2
• An A3 piece of paper or access to a presentation programme such as Microsoft PowerPoint

Outline of activity:

Create a timeline outlining the Prime Ministers of the UK and key Cabinet minister since 1979.

Include the following Cabinet posts:

• Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Home Secretary
• Foreign Secretary

Select two or three of the following Cabinet posts as well:

• Secretary of State for Health
• Secretary of State for Education
• Secretary of State for Transport
• Secretary of State for Social Security / Work and Pensions
• Secretary of State for Defence
• Secretary of State for Trade and Industry / Business

Need some help? Why not refer to section 2.1 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• Which Cabinet posts are more likely to be occupied for longer periods of time?
• What does the differing nature of ministerial turnover say about the hierarchy within Cabinet?
• Do you think changes in Cabinet membership make collective government decision-making easier or harder?
• In what circumstances might changes to Cabinet be made?

Activity 2: Make a poster outlining the role and powers of the Prime Minister

 

Learning objective: To understand and evaluate the role and powers of the Prime Minister

Suitable for: Individual or paired work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 2
• An A3 piece of paper or access to a presentation programme such as Microsoft PowerPoint

Outline of activity:

Create a poster/mind map outlining the powers of the Prime Minister.

For each power you come up with, provide a rating out of five assessing how important you feel this power is.

Need some help? Why not refer to sections 2.2.3 and 2.3 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• What are the various powers the Prime Minister has?
• How important would you consider each of these to be?
• Which powers are more important than others?

 

 

 

Activity 3: Pretend you are doing an interview with two former Prime Ministers

 

Learning objective: To enhance understanding of the ways in which different PMs have approached the role and the constraints on power that PMs face

Suitable for: Individual or paired work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 2
• Access to word-processing software

Outline of activity:

Pretend you are doing an interview with two Prime Ministers. Pose questions and think up answers (no more than two pages) based on what you know about the Prime Ministers you have chosen.

Choose from the following Prime Ministers: Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair, John Major, and Margaret Thatcher.

Try and pick Prime Ministers who had contrasting fortunes in office (e.g. Theresa May and Tony Blair).

If working in a pair, take it in turns to respond as a particular Prime Minister. If you wish, you could record each other’s answers as well as write them down.

Need some help? Why not refer to sections 2.1.2, 2.3.3, and 2.3.4 of the book?

Answer guidance: Some questions to consider:

• What style of Prime Minister were they? How would you characterize their style of government?
• What were their relations like with the members of Cabinet?
• What constraints did the Prime Ministers face? To what extent were they able to overcome these?
• What impact did political circumstances have upon their governments?
• How do you think they would assess their performance as Prime Minister? What would they consider to be their successes and failures?
• How do you think they would assess their performance relative to other Prime Ministers?

 

 

Activity 4: Debate the question “Is collective government the right way to govern the UK today?”

 

Learning objective: To apply knowledge of the concept of Cabinet government and analyse its contemporary operation

Suitable for: Pair or group work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 2

 

Outline of activity:

With a partner or in a group, hold a debate regarding the question: “Is collective government the right way to govern the UK today?”.

One side should argue the case that collective government is the right way to govern the UK today. The other side should argue the case that it is not the right way to govern the UK today.

Take 10-15 minutes to make notes in support of your case. Each side then has up to five minutes to outline their case before the other responds.

Need some help? Why not refer to section 2.1 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• What are the benefits of collective government decision-making?
• What are the disadvantages of collective government decision-making?
• What are the alternatives to collective government decision-making?
• What would be the advantages of the Prime Minister holding greater power? What would be the disadvantages?

 

 

Activity 5: Create an essay plan for the question: “What are the most important limits to a Prime Minister’s power?”

 

Learning objective: To evaluate the factors that can limit a Prime Minister’s power

Suitable for: Individual work

You will need:

• To have read Blick, A. (2021), UK Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, Chapter 2

Outline of activity:

Write the outline of an essay plan to answer the question ‘What are the most important limits to a Prime Minister’s power?’

Make notes on what you would include in each paragraph of your essay, making sure to include all sides of the argument.

 

Need some help? Why not refer to sections 2.3.2, 2.3.3, and 2.3.4 of the book?

Answer guidance:

Consider the following questions:

• In what way does Cabinet government limit a Prime Minister’s power? How are Prime Ministers able to overcome these limits?
• What factors outside government can limit a Prime Minister’s power? How important are these limitations? In what ways could a Prime Minister overcome these limits to their power?
• Can you give an example of a Prime Minister who has experienced the various constraints you discuss?
• To what extent is it more beneficial for a Prime Minister to accept and operate within the constraints on their power rather than try to overcome them?