The UK Government

The Prime Minister

The Prime Minister (PM) leads the political party in power. They appoint members of the Cabinet and control important public appointments.

The PM’s official home is 10 Downing Street, in central London, near the Houses of Parliament. The PM also has a country residence called Chequers.

The Prime Minister can be changed if:

• Members of Parliament (MPs) in the governing party choose to replace them, or
• They decide to resign.

Usually, a Prime Minister resigns if their party loses a General Election.

The Cabinet

The Prime Minister appoints around 20 senior MPs to become ministers in charge of government departments.

These include:

These ministers form the Cabinet, a committee that usually meets weekly to make key decisions about government policy.
Most of these decisions must be debated or approved by Parliament.

Each department also includes:

• Ministers of State, and
• Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State,
  who manage specific areas within their department.

The Opposition

The second-largest party in the House of Commons is called the Opposition.
Its leader becomes Prime Minister if their party wins the next General Election.

The Leader of the Opposition highlights the government’s weaknesses and failures.
They do this publicly during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), held weekly when Parliament is sitting.

The leader also appoints senior MPs as shadow ministers, who make up the shadow cabinet.
Their job is to challenge the government and present alternative policies.

The Party System

Anyone aged 18 or over can stand for election as an MP.
However, most candidates are nominated by one of the major political parties:

• Conservative Party
• Labour Party
• Liberal Democrats
• Or parties representing Scottish, Welsh, or Northern Irish interests.

Some MPs are independents, representing local or single-issue causes.

Political parties encourage the public to:

• Join discussions,
• Help with election campaigns, and
• Contribute to costs.

They have local branches in most constituencies and hold annual conferences to shape policy.

The Civil Service

Civil servants help the government create and carry out its policies.
They also deliver public services.

Civil servants:

• Are accountable to ministers,
• Are chosen on merit,
• Must be politically neutral.

People apply for civil service jobs through open competition.
Civil servants follow core values: Integrity, Honesty, Objectivity, and Impartiality.

Local Authorities

The UK’s towns, cities, and rural areas are managed by elected councils, or local authorities.
Some regions have both district and county councils, while most large towns and cities have a single local authority.

Local authorities provide services funded by:

• Central government, and
• Local taxes.

Many local authorities appoint a mayor as a ceremonial leader.
In some towns, the mayor is directly elected and leads the administration.

London has 33 local authorities, including the Greater London Authority and the Mayor of London, who coordinate city-wide policies.

Local elections for councillors are usually held in May each year.
Most candidates stand as members of a political party.

Devolved Administrations

Since 1997, some powers have been devolved from the UK government to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, allowing them more control over local matters.

• The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly (now the Senedd) were created in 1999.
• The Northern Ireland Assembly also exists but has been suspended several times.

The UK government still controls areas such as: Defence, Foreign Affairs, Social Security, and most Taxation.

However, devolved administrations manage services like education and other public services.
Each has its own civil service.

Key Points

• The Prime Minister leads the government and lives at 10 Downing Street.
• The Cabinet includes around 20 senior ministers.
• The Opposition challenges the government and has a shadow cabinet.
• The UK has a multi-party system and pressure groups influence policy.
• The Civil Service is neutral and serves the government.
• Local councils manage local services and may have elected mayors.
• Devolution gives Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland control over local issues.