The Prime Minister
The head of the UK government who leads the executive, chairs cabinet, and exercises significant powers including patronage and policy direction.
Real World
Tony Blair's dominance over cabinet from 1997–2007, making key decisions on the Iraq War in small 'sofa government' meetings rather than full cabinet, is often cited as evidence of a shift toward a 'presidential' style of prime ministerial power.
Exam Focus
Always assess whether PM power is structural or personal — examiners expect you to argue it varies by context, personality, and majority size.
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