Prime Minister Influence: 1997 to present (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note

Tony Blair's approach to leadership

Key policies

• Constitutional reform, including:

  • devolution for Scotland and Wales

  • the Human Rights Act

  • reform of the House of Lords

• Increased spending on health and education

• Introduced the National Minimum Wage

• Expanded civil rights

Achievements

• NHS modernisation through the NHS 2000 Plan

• Increased numbers of doctors and nurses and reduced waiting times

• Major constitutional reforms enacted

Failures

• Decision to invade Iraq (2003)

  • Controversial intelligence on weapons of mass destruction

  • Damaged public trust

  • Sparked mass protest

  • Divided the Labour Party, with 139 MPs opposing the war

• Introduction of university tuition fees, seen as a betrayal of Labour values

Cabinet

• Often bypassed full Cabinet discussion

• Relied on a centralised core executive

• Used bilateral meetings and advisers

• Strong media control and use of spin

• Cabinet influence reduced in favour of PM dominance

Your syllabus calls for two prime minister case studies, one pre-1997 and one post-1997. In reality you need more to ensure you are able to fully evaluate relevant questions

David Cameron's approach to leadership

Key policies

• Coalition policies (2010–15) reflected compromise between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats

• Austerity policies in response to the financial crisis

• Welfare reform, including Universal Credit

• Referendums on:

  • the AV voting system

  • Scottish independence

  • UK membership of the EU

Achievements

• The budget deficit reduced from 10% of GDP (2010) to 4% (2015)

• Delivered multiple referendums

• Oversaw military intervention in Libya and Syria

Failures

• The decision to call the EU referendum resulted in a vote to leave

• Party divisions deepened

• Austerity increased inequality and food bank use

• Universal Credit rollout led to delays and hardship

Cabinet

• Coalition required negotiation and compromise

• Liberal Democrat ministers constrained PM power

• Relied heavily on The Quad rather than full Cabinet

• PM authority weakened by the coalition context

Rishi Sunak's approach to leadership

Key policies

• Five priorities:

  • halving inflation

  • growing the economy

  • cutting debt

  • reducing NHS waiting lists

  • stopping the boats

• Policies were partly constrained by inheriting a long-running Conservative government

Achievements

• Negotiated the Windsor Framework on Northern Ireland

• Stabilised the Conservative Party after Johnson and Truss

• Advanced the immigration control agenda

Failures

• The cost-of-living crisis continued to affect low-income households

• The Rwanda asylum policy failed to deliver its objectives

• Conservatives suffered a landslide defeat in the 2024 general election

Cabinet

• Used reshuffles to restore stability

• Brought back experienced figures, including David Cameron as Foreign Secretary

• Leadership style more collective and pragmatic

• Short tenure limited long-term Cabinet cohesion

Keir Starmer's approach to leadership

Key policies

• “Six First Steps for Change”, including:

  • achieving economic stability

  • reducing NHS waiting times

  • establishing Border Security Command

  • establishing Great British Energy

  • tackling anti-social behaviour

  • recruiting 6,500 teachers

Achievements (to end 2025)

• Reoriented Labour towards the political centre

• Great British Energy Act received royal assent (May 2025)

Failures (to end 2025)

• U-turns on winter fuel payments

• Cabinet resignations created controversy

• 2025 Budget controversy over tax rises and deficit claims

Cabinet

• A moderate, collective leadership style

• Greater use of traditional Cabinet channels

• Less reliance on informal sofa government

Andy Burnham’s approach to leadership

Key policies

• A “cost of living government”, including:

  • removing VAT on household electricity for six months from October 2026

  • a £2 bus fare cap outside London throughout 2027

  • a 20% cut in business rates for most pubs, clubs and live music venues from April 2027

• Ending long-term rough sleeping, backed by £340m over three years

• Re-industrialising the UK, plus education reform and more council housing

• Closer ties with the EU, with a UK–EU summit taking place in November 2026

• Scrapping Starmer’s digital ID plan, with the savings used to pay for the electricity VAT cut

Achievements to date

• A record level of support from his MPs when he became leader, giving him a strong early authority over his party

• A “Burnham bounce” in the polls, with approval ratings higher than Starmer’s ever were (though the polling expert John Curtice called it “real but not massive”)

• Cost-of-living measures announced quickly, although several don’t start until 2027, so their impact can’t be judged yet

Failures and criticisms to date

• The first Budget (late October 2026), delivered by Chancellor John Healey, was widely called “underwhelming”. The Resolution Foundation, a think tank, called it “scattergun”. Burnham himself admitted it wasn’t what he’d want “in an ideal world”.

• A reported clash between Burnham and Healey after the Treasury reversed a planned boost to miners’ pensions at the last minute

• Self-imposed limits: sticking to Labour’s 2024 manifesto and the existing fiscal rules restricts how far he can go

• The early-release scheme for prisoners was paused for review, then went ahead in October with changed rules

  • It was criticised by campaigners, including the widow of PC Andrew Harper

Cabinet

• A major reshuffle

  • Rachel Reeves, David Lammy and Darren Jones left the government, and 13 of the 22 Cabinet members were appointed to new roles

• Allies brought back, including Louise Haigh, Angela Rayner (Housing) and Wes Streeting

• A new Office for the Prime Minister and the Cabinet

  • This strengthens the centre of government and may point to a more centralised style.

• “No.10 North”

  • This is a second base in Manchester, where Burnham expects to work at least one day a week

• Gender parity in Cabinet attendance for the first time, and a record 61 parliamentary private secretaries

  • PPSs are MPs who act as unpaid assistants to ministers, and having so many also increases the number of MPs bound to vote with the government

• It’s too early to say whether Burnham's leadership will be collective or presidential

  • Early signs of tension with the Treasury suggest the relationship with his Cabinet is still developing