A* Essay Plan Individual Ministerial Responsibility and Collective Responsibility
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Course
Paper 2: UK Government
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
A full A* Essay Plan that evaluates the extent to which IMR and CMR remain operative in the UK's political system.
This helped me to achieve 80/84 (high A*) in the UK Gov paper and a high A* overall in Politics. I now study at the University of Cambridge.
Evaluate the view that conventions of individual and collective ministerial responsibility are no
longer upheld [30]
Need desirable as well as normative
Introduction Discuss:
Individual ministerial responsibility:
ministers are responsible for both their
actions and those of the civil servants in
their departments (+ ALBs – arm-length
bodies).
Collective: all ministers collectively
responsible for government policies, must
agree, and if they dissent should resign.
Paragraph 1: Weak argument point 1: Weak argument point 2:
Individual 2nd principle – if minister makes error of
ministerial 1st principle of IMR is effectively upheld – judgement: In 2017, reports emerged that
responsibility ‘ministers must be prepared to be then-International Development Secretary
accountable to Parliament’ – select Priti Patel had arranged meetings with
committees. Equally, in Feb 2022, Patel several Israeli politicians without approval
appeared on Home Affairs Select from the Foreign and Commonwealth
Committee. Office – breach of the ministerial code.
After details of two similar meetings
Amber Rudd resigned in 2018 after emerged, Patel resigned.
‘inadvertently misleading’ Parliament –
claimed that she was not aware of target
of 10% increase in deportations when
leaked 2017 letter published by Guardian
(media) suggested otherwise. Upholds 1st
principle – accountable to Parliament.
Personal conduct (4th principle – usually
quick to resign. In June 2021, Matt
Hancock resigned as Health Secretary after
the Sun (media) published images of him
breaching social distancing rules w/ Gina
Coladangelo. Clear example of individual
ministerial responsibility being upheld.
Equally, Gavin Wiliamson resigned as
Defence Secretary in 2019.
Sajid Javid resigned in Feb 2020 after being
instructed to replace all advisers with
people chosen by Johnson and Cummings
– chose to resign.
Strong argument point 1: Strong argument point 2:
2nd principle of ministerial responsibility BUT Patel initially allowed to remain in
has been eroded – no longer effectively post after details of the first meeting
upheld. emerged – sanctioned by PM. Suggests
IMR being eroded.
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