How presidential is the premiership of Tony Blair.

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HOW PRESIDENTIAL IS THE PREMIERSHIP OF TONY BLAIR?

INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT

The traditional view of the UK’s constitutional arrangement of power in government has been that decision making in the executive rests with the cabinet, with the Prime Minister acting as “first amongst equals”. However, this has been challenged by many recently, who argue Margaret Thatcher in particular challenged and now Tony Blair has almost eliminated cabinet government, and is the most powerful Prime Minister in the modern era. Some have claimed that Blair is now more of a Presidential figure than a Prime Minister working within the context of cabinet government, in that he exercises personal control over the executive branch and we have an executive decision and policy making process based on an individual rather than a collective body.

Obviously there are some major differences between a Presidential system of government and the current British system. In the US, which is Presidential, you vote directly for who you want to become President. In Britain, you are voting for an individual who will become an MP in the Commons. The public has no direct say over who becomes PM; they have been chosen internally within the particular party. However, exit polls from the 2001 British general election do suggest that voters are increasingly influenced by the personalities of the party leaders. During the election campaigns of 1997 and 2001, the emphasis seemed to be towards a Presidential style, with the campaign focusing heavily on Tony Blair.

However while therefore it could be argued we are developing a Presidential system in terms of electing a national leader rather than a collective executive, in this essay we are mainly concerned with the claim that a growing similarity between the two systems is a Presidential dominance of the executive, whilst the Cabinet becomes a purely advisory body, in effect a ‘rubber stamp’. In this essay we will examine the evidence for centralised decision making in No 10 and also if the PM is developing something akin to a Presidential style "executive office" or PMs department of advisers, enforcers and public relations specialists accountable to and in direct service of the PM, offering the potential to personally direct the policy and decision making process across government and emphasise and promote the image of the PM personally to the party and public.

 It must be noted major structural differences within the British and US systems of government are seen in the separation of power within the US system. Power is devolved into three separate (in terms of power independently exercised and separately elected or selected) branches of government: the judicial, legislative, and the executive branch. The latter headed by the President implements the law but also in the modern era sets the policy agenda. This separation of power results in frequent gridlock, and a fairly insignificant President in terms of power compared to the PM in Britain. This and the diversity of the USA means less party loyalty and coercion, but in turn the President is not directly accountable to their party, unlike in Britain.  This means if Blair is succeeding in developing Presidential style executive decision making then he combines a high degree of party control not found in the US Presidential system with the personal control of the executive that is found in that system but not traditionally in the UK. This potentially means immense power for the Prime Minister, although as we will note he is still ultimately responsible to his party and Parliament.

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ARGUMENTS, DEBATES AND ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL

Despite some minor rifts within the cabinet, for example between Blair and Brown, the cabinet seems largely united in support of the PM. The PM’s dominance has increased as Blair removed those that he would not have originally chosen without being under pressure to do so, and those who have failed. The government is run on a tight rein from the centre. Number 10’s job is to drive policy forward, and to co-ordinate the work of the cabinet as a whole. The number 10 Policy unit has been strengthened, under the control, ...

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3/5 This is an interesting essay. What is here is really good - the depth of analysis is unusually strong, and is well focussed on the question. There are few sweeping statements, the structure is good and easily comprehensible, and the introduction and conclusion are good. However, what is missing here is any critical engagement with the academic literature. There are barely any academic sources and the referencing is insufficient. If the author had been more critical of factual statements, made reference to journal articles and more secondary academic literature, this could be a very good essay indeed.