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Access to the media
. The growth of mass media since WW2 (especially 1970s and TV) has been a major factor for the PM
. Information is 24/7, comment is instant in a social media age - much of which focuses on the PM or is used by the PM - This is a significant cause for the notion that we have a 'presidential prime minister'
Media strengthens or weakens the PM
. Growth of the 'political celebrity' - Power to go direct to the public, E.g John Major 'put up, or shut up' speech in 1995 - The speech showed power as it made everyone focus on him but there was weakness in making the speech in the first place
. Media's obsession with personality and image means focus on person, not party - Wasn't as important in the past, E.g Roosevelt was a cripple
. Control/'spin' enables the PM/No 10 to try and lead the political narrative - E.g Thatcher and Bernard Ingham, Blair and Alastair Campbell, Brown and Charlie Whelan, Cameron and Andy Coulson...then Theresa and Fiona Hill until snap election
Rise of the spin doctor
. The rise of 'spin' is a feature of PM leadership - A constant process of trying to dominate the media/political agenda
. A 'dark art' (post Blair years it has become an issue of concern)
. It has lead to a whole new actor in UK politics - the 'spin doctor'
Spinning the media - techniques
. Leaks - those attributable briefings
. Vetting of information/arguments before being released to the media
. Feeding stories to sympathetic ears
. Releasing information close to media deadlines, to prevent questioning
. Burying news - releasing information that's bad on a day no one will notice
. Backing certain newspapers/outlets so criticism is muted
Media bad influence
. Bad stories - e.g policy blunders, such as 'dementia tax' (Blair taxing the elderly) or poor leadership, such as May's 2017 and Brown's 2010 election
. Problems can be turned into a crisis, e.g Greenfell Tower fire
. Emphasis on 'spin' can be counter-productive leading to credibility issues - E.g Blair dodgy dossier leads to the Hutton Inquiry and David Kelly's death
Constraints on PM powers
. The Cabinet*
. The media
. The party**
. Events
. The electorate
Constraints on PM examples
. Cabinet 'big beasts' - those who have seniority in office, party standing and public profile
. 1990 - Thatcher was ultimately removed by a 'cabinet coup' (Geoffrey Howe, DPM)
. 1997-2007 - Blair and Brown's political 'relationship'
. 2010-15 Cameron constrained by coalition
. 2017 May's loss of a majority (and the DUP?)
Other facts
. The social mobility board set up after May becoming PM - Dec 2017 All four members have resigned, such as Alan Milburn, in protest at the lack of progress towards a "fairer Britain" - as all her energy is being put into Brexit and lacks power due to her no majority
. May received a secret letter from Boris Johnson and Michael Gove giving her instructions on how to orchestrate a hard Brexit - She has to follow or she'll lose some of the little support she has
. Leave means leave letter published December 2017
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