Prime Ministerial Leadership Style

Prime Ministerial Leadership Style

1Wednesday 14th September 2011Miss Christian 12E F9 Lesson #1

Learning ObjectivesTo understand why there are different types of leadership styleTo identify the 4 types of Prime Ministerial styleTo examine case studies of prime ministerial style under Thatcher, Major, Blair, Brown and Cameron

What defines a leadership style?

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Prime Ministerial Leadership StylesDifferent Prime Ministers follow different styles of leadership because the way in which a Prime Minister behaves is subject to considerable external pressure, which varies from time to time, and which affects the type of leadership that is exercised.There is quite a body of literature on this subject, but one analysis which is particularly useful is that of Philip Norton. He divides Prime Ministers into four groups:

Types of Prime Ministerial StyleInnovatorsThey fight to become Prime Minister in order to achieve a particular programme, one that they have craftedIf necessary, they are prepared to push and cajole their party into supporting them in carrying out the programme.EgoistsThey seek power for the sake of having power. They are principally concerned with the here and now of British politics, operating in order to maintain their occupancy of No. 10. They will take whatever action they consider necessary to protect their position.ReformersThey seek power in order to achieve a particular programme of public policyHowever in this case it is largely dictated by the ideological agenda of their own political party. Balancers They seek to maintain stability in society. They are concerned with the current state of society, seeking to ameliorate tensions and avoiding policies that may prove socially divisive.Norton (1987,1988) identifies four main types of PM

Prime Ministers & Leadership StylesUsing the descriptions of the four different types of Prime Minister you are going to match the Prime Minister to the correct style they displayed.Identify the PM style of the following PMs and write a short explanation of why this is the case (remember this needs to be justified with an example from their premiership!)Read the biographies on the Number 10 website to help you decidehttps://www.gov.uk/government/history/past-prime-ministers Prime Ministers since 1945

Clement AttleeWinston ChurchillAnthony EdenHarold MacmillanAlec Douglas-HomeHarold WilsonEdward HeathJames CallaghanMargaret ThatcherJohn MajorTony BlairGordon BrownDavid Cameron

Prime MinisterDatesPartyStyleExplanation & ExampleClement Attlee1945-1951LWinston Churchill1951-1955CAnthony Eden1955-1957CHarold Macmillan1957-1963CAlec Douglas-Home1963-1964CHarold Wilson1974-19761964-1970L

Prime MinisterDatesPartyStyleExplanation & ExampleEdward Heath1970-1974CJames Callaghan1976-1979LMargaret Thatcher1979-1990CJohn Major1990-1997CTony Blair1997-2007LGordon Brown2007-2010LDavid Cameron2010-?C

The office of Prime Minister is what its holder chooses and is able to make of it.

H H Asquith

How accurate is this quote?

Case Studies; Prime Ministerial Styles

Spotlight onRead the handout.Thatcher as PMMajor as PMBlair as PMBrown as PMDo you agree with this analysis?Does it match the style you identified in your table?

YOUR TASK;

Using the websites listed on the handout you are going to write a short analysis of Cameron as PM.

You should;Write approximately 2 paragraphsInclude clear explanationUse contemporary examples to support your argument

HomeworkCameron PM Leadership Style Case Study