| What is Individual Ministerial Responsibility? | -IRM is the Principle that Ministers are Responsible to their Actions and Personal Conduct for their Work and Department
-IRM is a Constitutional Convention |
| What are the 4 Elements of IRM? | -Ministers to be Accountable to Parliament from the Policies their present and Departments Decisions. Answer Questions, give Evidence to Select Committees and Justify Actions
-IF a Minister makes an Error then they should Resign. Amber Rudd had inadvertently Misled Parliament whether She knew about Regional Removal Targets for Illegal Immigrants
-If the Department makes a Fault, the Minister must Resign, even if not Involved. Education Secretary Estelle Morris resigned in 2003 after her Department failing to meet Literacy and Numeracy Standards
-If the Conduct falls below Acceptable Levels they must leave and be Dismissed by the PM. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon resigned in 2017 after Bad Behaviour with Women |
| How has IRM been held up recently? | -Minsters are starting to Not Take Responsibility for their Policy Failures or personal Error Judgements
-Minsters may not even take Responsibility for their Personal Conduct |
| How has Ministers making a Serious Error not been Reinforced lately?(EX) | -Gavin Williamson allowed a Ofqual Algorithm which Downgraded A Level Students Results for Thousands
-This Policy was soon Reversed but Gavin took no Responsibility
-2020, Education Secretary |
| How has Minsters accepting Errors from Poor Departmental Performance not been Reinforced lately? (EX) | -2019 saw Chris Grayling not resigning after his Department [Transport] gave a Ferry Contract for Cross-Channel Transport in case a No Deal Brexit occurred, but the Company given the Contract had 0 Ferries |
| How has Minsters Personal Conduct being Poor not fall Short of what is Expected not been Reinforced lately? (EX) | -Priti Patel, Home Secretary, did not Resign over her Inquiry that she was Bullying Civil Servants |
| Why has IRM started to erode? | -Ministerial Resignations makes the Government look weak, so they may aim to 'Ride out the storm'
-Ministers have perhaps shown loyalty, and can expect a degree of the same support if things go wrong for them. This can mean they are less likely to be Sacked and won't 'jump the ship' |
| What is Collective Ministerial Responsibility? | -Refers to the Unconstitutional Convention that Ministers supports Government Decisions in the Public. Privately, he can complain. Failure to do so should lead to a Resignation |
| What are the Principles of Collective Ministerial Responsibility. | -All Members of Government responsible for Government Policies
-Ministers supports all Gov Policies in Public even if they have doubts (Express them Privately instead.)
-Ministers who oppose a Key Gov Element Policy, and won't defend it in Public, should Resign
-If a Ministers Dissents without Resigning, then they may be Booted by the Prime Minister |
| Why is CRM important? | -Portrays a Sense of Government Unity
-Help the Prime Minister maintain Dominance
-Gets rid of Dissidence within the Government
-Helps Ministers express Doubts in Private
-Protect Individual Ministers from Pressure if Government takes Collective Responsibility for a Policy |
| Name some Examples that has happened over the past 2 Decades (EX) | -Robin Cook (Foreign Secretary) Labour: Resigned over Government Decision to Intervene in Iraq
-Iain Duncan Smith (Work & Pensions Secretary) Conservative: Resigned over Proposed Cuts to Disability Benefits
-Sajid Javid (Chancellor) Conservative: Resigned over his refusal on accepting his Advisors that were Chosen by Johnson
-Lady Sugg (Junior Foreign Office Minister) Conservative: Resigned over the Ending of sending 0.7% UK GDP as Aid |
| How can a Coalition Government affect CMR?
(EX) | -During 2010-2015, CMR was Abandoned for Policies where Lots of Disagreement was around - Trident Nuclear Missile System and the EU |
| How can Issues diving up the Cabinet affect CMR?
(EX) | -Divides from Brexit went out into Public during May's PM. Several Cabinet Ministers (Johnson) criticised her for refusing to take a 'No-Deal' Brexit off, while others wanted a Harder Stance on Europe.
-Up to 17 Ministers resigned over her Brexit Strategy |
| How can the PM lacking Authority affect CMR?
(EX) | -May failing to get a Majority at 2017 greatly affected her Power. Cabinet Members were 'plotting her downfall' from the Election Night Onwards, and yet, saw No Consequences. |
| How can Personality clashes force Cabinet Members to divide and affect CMR?
(EX) | -Blair and Brown had a Rivalry that Split the Cabinet to Brownites or Blairites. Leaks of their disagreements occurred, but no one was Sacked over this |
