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The British Prime Minister in the Core Executive

Political Leadership in British European Policy

  • Book
  • © 2019

Overview

Authors:
  1. Birgit Bujard

    1. Cologne, Germany

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  • 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

Part of the book series: Contributions to Political Science (CPS)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Prime Ministerial Political Leadership and British European Policy: An Introduction

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 1-12

  3. Theoretical Framework: Prime Ministerial Political Leadership in the British Political System

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 13-30

  4. The United Kingdom and European Monetary Policy 1976–2007: Exchange Rate Mechanism and Economic and Monetary Union

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 31-40

  5. European Policy-Making and Coordination in Executive and Legislature 1976–2007

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 41-51

  6. Attitudes to European Integration

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 53-71

  7. Prime Ministerial Resources

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 73-85

  8. Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Office as Institutional Resources of the Prime Minister in the European (Monetary) Policy Core Executive

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 87-113

  9. Prime Ministerial Management of the Actors in the European Monetary Policy Core Executive

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 115-165

  10. Prime Ministerial Management of the Parliamentary Party in European Policy

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 167-189

  11. Prime Ministerial Political Communication and Media Management in European Monetary Policy

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 191-241

  12. Conclusion: Prime Ministerial Political Leadership in British European (Monetary) Policy

    • Birgit Bujard
    Pages 243-251

  13. Back Matter

    Pages 253-268
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Keywords

About this book

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. 







Authors and Affiliations

  • Cologne, Germany

    Birgit Bujard

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.

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