Primus Inter Pares
Latin for 'first among equals' — the traditional view that the PM is simply the most senior member of a cabinet of equals rather than a dominant leader.
Real World
John Major's cabinet in the early 1990s operated closer to this model, with ministers like Michael Heseltine and Kenneth Clarke wielding significant independent influence over economic and European policy, sometimes openly challenging the PM's preferred direction.
Exam Focus
When evaluating PM power, use 'primus inter pares' as the counterargument to presidentialisation — examiners reward balanced analysis.
How well did you know this?