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This book examines the UK prime minister's political leadership in the domestic executive. By offering a comparative study of the political leadership of James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair with regard to European monetary policy, it challenges the thesis that British prime ministers today have more power, resources and autonomy than their predecessors, giving them a greater capacity to act.
Taking key European monetary policy decisions by the British government between 1976 and 2007 as empirical cases, the book assesses the extent to which the political leadership of each prime minister was affected by the cabinet, the parliamentary party as well as the media, and the extent to which he or she was able to manage these factors. It becomes clear from this analysis that prime ministerial predominance is not as frequent as suggested, while collective leadership does not represent a return to cabinet government. Moreover, particularly the party in government affects the prime minister's leadership by shaping his or her options on appointments (and therefore the composition of the core executive), and through its behaviour in parliament, e.g. through rebellions or the threat of them.
List of contents
Preface.- Acknowledgements.- Prime Ministerial Political Leadership and British European Policy - An Introduction.- Theoretical Framework: Prime Ministerial Political Leadership in the British Political System.- The United Kingdom and European Monetary Policy 1976-2007: Exchange Rate Mechanism and Economic and Monetary Union.- European Policy-making and Coordination in Executive and Legislature 1976-2007.- Attitudes to European Integration.- Prime Ministerial Resources.- Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet Office as Institutional Resources of the Prime Minister in the European (Monetary) Policy Core Executive.- Prime Ministerial Management of the Actors in the European Monetary Policy Core Executive.- Prime Ministerial Management of the Parliamentary Party in European Policy.- Prime Ministerial Political Communication and Media Management in European Monetary Policy.- Conclusion: Prime Ministerial Political Leadership in British European (Monetary) Policy.-
About the author
Birgit Bujard is managing director of the German Society for Online Research (DGOF). Her research in political science focuses on British European policy and the relationship between Great Britain and the European Union.
Summary
Examines the UK prime minister’s political leadership in the domestic executive
Offers a comparative study of the political leadership of James Callaghan, Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair with regard to European monetary policy
Challenges the thesis that British prime ministers today have more power, resources and autonomy than their predecessors
