Relations between the branches case studies

Question 1

times when the government has enjoyed a large single majority in the commons

7 times

Answer 1

• 1983
• 1987
• 1997
• 2001
• 2019
• 2024

Question 2

times the government was united around a dominant ideology

four times

Answer 2

• 1983-92 (Thatcherism)
• 1997-2005 (New Labour)
• 2019 (pro Brexit)
• 2020-1 (first part of covid?)

Question 3

times the oppositon was fragmented or weak

twice

Answer 3

• 2015-20 (corbynn ‘too left’ for his party)
• 2024 (under Badenoch and Sunak)

Question 4

times the government was led by a dominant leader

three times

Answer 4

• 1979
• 1997
• 2024

Question 5

times the government had no majority or a very small one

four times

Answer 5

• 1992 (conservatives with a 21 seat majority)
• 2010 (coalition)
• 2015 (conservatives had a 12 seat majority)
• 2017 (minority government)

Question 6

times the governing party is split on issues

four times

Answer 6

• 1992-97 (conservatives divided over europe)
• 2010-15 (coalition period and split over europe)
• 2017-19 (Brexit)
• 2021-22 (some tories begin to oppose lockdowns and partygate also splits the party)

Question 7

times the government faced a strong and united parliamentary opposition

one time

Answer 7

• 2022-24 (Starmer became good at PMQs and could unpick events well)