The Prime Minister is the head of government, leading a Cabinet and overseeing policy. The Prime Minister is also accountable to parliament, appearing at Question Time and responding to inquiries. Prime Ministers are elected by their political party and must maintain the support of voters to stay in power.
The prime minister is the leader of the governing party and therefore has the ability to dictate how the Cabinet should operate, although they must take into account the views of other members of the cabinet as well. They also control patronage appointments for those in their party, as well as determining the responsibilities of ministers and what areas their portfolio will cover.
In the past, prime ministers were heavily involved in the day-to-day running of government and had a monopoly over official policies. However, over time the position has taken on more of a ceremonial role and its powers are now largely defined by convention rather than by legislation.
Theresa May’s tenure as prime minister has so far been dominated by Brexit and it remains to be seen whether she can manage the challenges ahead. Other prime ministers have been very successful at managing their cabinet, and as a result remained in power for long periods of time. Sidney Holland and Keith Holyoake were examples of this, both serving for decades in office until stepping down under internal pressure.
The best prime ministers are able to focus on their grand themes and avoid getting bogged down in the minutiae of government. Those who can do this successfully have a strong ‘authentic voice’, as Seldon put it. It is this voice that will be heard and remembered, even if the prime minister is no longer in office.
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