The Prime Minister and the Cabinet

Prime Ministers have many powers that can only be exercised effectively with the support of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is the group of high-ranking government ministers selected to run the Departments of State, such as the Foreign Office, Home Office, Ministry of Defence and Treasury.

The Prime Minister chairs the regular Cabinet meetings and sets the agenda for those meetings. During these meetings decisions on implementing government policy will be made. Through the Cabinet Office, which monitors the activities of all the Departments of State, Prime Ministers maintain an overview of how Cabinet decisions are being implemented. The Prime Minister also appoints smaller committees within the Cabinet and will often sit on the most powerful of these. Prime Ministers have tended, in recent years, to have an 'inner' Cabinet of very close colleagues. On major issues, this group will often have decided the outcome of a Cabinet meeting before it begins.

Prime Minister at Cabinet meeting

Cabinet Ministers have been known to rebel, despite the control wielded by the Prime Minister. This may result in a Cabinet 'reshuffle'; where members of the Cabinet are moved or removed, while others, more loyal or compliant, will be appointed. However, the Prime Minister must be careful not exercise too much control in this way as it is important that he retain the loyalty of his backbench MPs for the stability of the party.