Over‐rating Prime Ministers?

The British Prime Minister in an Age of Upheaval, by Garnett, Mark. Polity Press. 277 pp. £18.99 Mark Garnett has written a witty and highly readable book that should stimulate reassessment the conventional wisdom on role Ministers politics. style is unusual for author from university department politics, all livelier that. Noting Dominic Cummings's desire to bring ‘weirdos misfits with odd skills’ into government machine, observes this chief policy adviser ‘wanted cast his net wider than Conservative Party membership, despite its abundant stock individuals who fitted job description’. More seriously, concludes ‘Only constitutional convention composed entirely “weirdos misfits” could convince itself current makes any kind sense liberal democracy’. right note increasing prominence accorded Minister, detriment other ministers, almost certainly correct seeing Thatcher premiership as point at which trend became more pronounced. Perceptively, he Ministers’ not matched their power over policy. They may possess patronage healthy democracy, but they wield far less like imagine many others expect (and too wish) them wield. Garnett's organised around six roles plays, each chapter: ‘Majority leader’, ‘Cabinet-maker’, ‘Policy-maker’, ‘Communicator Chief’, ‘Speaker Britain’ ‘Election winner’, apt observations showing limitations pitfalls them. Some these conflict others. time spends fulfilling photo-opportunity assignments, does Boris Johnson (whether dressed white coat hat, wasting overworked hospital staff, looking butcher doctor; wearing hard hat factory offering soundbite interviewer payroll; or feeding lamb bottle Midlands farm), there coordinating Notoriously, did attend five early meetings Cobra were assessing evidence implications developing pandemic. Those have attended, something absurd about way journalists opposition politicians alike, when identify problem, demand personally takes charge it. Even much workaholic Margaret Gordon Brown, it counterproductive overload agenda, case premier uninterested detail Johnson, still sense. idea one individual make big decisions across wide range areas little common either pluralist democracy good governance. expected take, she will know background nuances each. In practice, de facto policies flow premier's unelected aides special advisers. Their role, turn, be expense elected holding ministerial office departmental civil servants whose ethos public service institutional memory been treated disdain. can delude themselves thinking are great policymakers within government, political commentators interviewers collude Thus, ITV UK editor, interviewing Tony Blair, refers him ‘the architect devolution’ Scottish component ‘his plan’ (https://www.itv.com/news/2021-04-27/tony-blair-admits-weaknesses-of-devolution-failed-to-end-calls-for-independence). Blair quite rightly said ‘If Labour hadn't implemented manifesto commitment do devolution 1997, union would already tatters’, occasion, untypically attributing major party rather himself, was correct. There no reneged inherited John Smith supported such Cabinet heavyweight Scots Donald Dewar, George Robertson (with enthusiasm) Robin Cook. fact, 1997–2010 governments had most lasting impact date largely first term, own admission, least command agenda. economic those years—the establishment minimum wage, independence Bank England, creation Sure Start programme greatly helped disadvantaged children—were Brown's Blair's. changes, probably significant legacy Labour's thirteen years power, came government's term (when Cabinet's composition mainly determined members’ earlier election Shadow parliamentary Party). legislation overseen well-organised committees, chaired Lord Chancellor, Derry Irvine, sharp contrast ‘sofa government’ led (in process dominate) join W. Bush neo-con instigators disastrous invasion Iraq. Of advances—the devolved legislatures Scotland Wales, power-sharing Northern Ireland, Freedom Information Act, Human Rights removal 90 per cent hereditary peers House Lords—the only played decisively valuable part Ireland settlement. Yet, routinely, refer ‘Blair's’ even project cult backwards speak ‘Attlee's National Health Service’ founding modern welfare state. As Attlee never dreamt making claims. foreign policy—an area now option heavily involved—Attlee reminded Harold Laski ‘Foreign affairs capable hands Ernest Bevin’, remark unlikely made her Foreign Secretaries (at rate, post-Carrington) followed her. Bevin, course, usually saw eye eye, didn't, ready defer Secretary. (For example, favoured drastic reduction Britain's Middle Eastern commitments, try press against Bevin's opposition.) touches some this, well-informed observer occasionally erring matters fact. He writes ‘On retirement Sir Coles 1984 [Thatcher] appointed Charles Powell’. When Powell succeeded private secretary June year, latter returned high-flying career Commonwealth Office. It 1989 knighted; 1994 Head Diplomatic Service. On important point, while sceptical boasts ‘punching above weight’ internationally, sweeping downplaying Thatcher's global stage. exceptionally policy—Britain's relationship two ‘superpowers’ ending Cold War—she ‘realist’ expect. What possible President Ronald Reagan's vast esteem She favourite leader margin wielded influence him. surprisingly, established strong Gorbachev staunchest supporter among conservative leaders worldwide. Her Policy Adviser, Percy Cradock, remained suspicious perestroika-era Soviet leadership, found listen doubts raised Gorbachev, complained memoir ‘acted conduit Reagan, selling Washington man business with, operating agent both directions’. Whatever comparisons drawn, Johnson's exploits vivid illustration fact characterized excessive constructive symptom, cause, dysfunctional government: serious nuisance abated interests unfortunate seek governing fast-fracturing country. A ‘nuisance abated’ bit comedown after swashbuckling criticism previous 250 pages. And why ‘unfortunate’? If greedy, appear be, ‘fortune’, literal sense, former Ministers. fundamentally, want exercise policy? can, doubtless should, set tone government; play (although wise so close cooperation Secretary); accept responsibility coordination coherence policy, although also task ministers collectively, whether inner Cabinet, committees full Cabinet. seems consign history, along responsibility, essentially pre-1979 phenomenon. But Blair-led carefully designed—the changes—emerged collective discussion and, immediately, senior minister Minister. Almost passing, proposes, remedy ills policymaking, formal Minister's Department, ‘lavishly endowed … brightest best Whitehall elsewhere’. This surely last thing we wish for. Department further concession creeping presidentialism needs resisted reversed accommodated. dangers concentrating office—even if remain true democratic values. rediscover merits dispersed independent standing collectively settle differences influence, relying powers persuasion, pulling rank. University Oxford. Archie Factor: Thatcher, End War reviewed PQ, vol. 91, 4, 2020.