Court politics in the age of austerity: David Cameron's court, 2010-2016
Court politics in the age of austerity: David Cameron's court, 2010-2016
This chapter focuses on the ‘backstage’ politics of decision-making in élite networks, rather than the more common focus on the ‘front stage’ politics in the media spotlight. Court politics are commonplace but rarely analysed. This chapter focuses on the court of David Cameron, UK Prime Minister (2010–2016). It describes systematically the practices of the court ‘in action’. It explains why court politics matter by looking at the consequences of those actions. First, I describe my method—the thematic analysis of inside dopester accounts. Second, I describe the membership, and analyse the practices, of David Cameron’s court, covering its personnel; the PM’s tradecraft; storytelling; reshuffles, resignations and leadership challenges; the political games of barons, especially lying; informality; infighting; loyalty, betrayal, leaks and revenge; and rituals, focusing on language, gossip, humour and bullying. Finally, I explore the consequences of his court’s practices.
Core executive, court politics, prime ministers, cabinets, executive government, british government
79-121
Rhodes, R. A. W.
cdbfb699-ba1a-4ff0-ba2c-060626f72948
7 May 2022
Rhodes, R. A. W.
cdbfb699-ba1a-4ff0-ba2c-060626f72948
Rhodes, R. A. W.
(2022)
Court politics in the age of austerity: David Cameron's court, 2010-2016.
In,
Kolltveit, Kristoffer and Shaw, Richard
(eds.)
Core Executives in a Comparative Perspective : Governing in Complex Times.
(Understanding Governance)
1st ed.
London.
Palgrave Macmillan, .
(doi:10.1007/978-3-030-94503-9_4).
Record type:
Book Section
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the ‘backstage’ politics of decision-making in élite networks, rather than the more common focus on the ‘front stage’ politics in the media spotlight. Court politics are commonplace but rarely analysed. This chapter focuses on the court of David Cameron, UK Prime Minister (2010–2016). It describes systematically the practices of the court ‘in action’. It explains why court politics matter by looking at the consequences of those actions. First, I describe my method—the thematic analysis of inside dopester accounts. Second, I describe the membership, and analyse the practices, of David Cameron’s court, covering its personnel; the PM’s tradecraft; storytelling; reshuffles, resignations and leadership challenges; the political games of barons, especially lying; informality; infighting; loyalty, betrayal, leaks and revenge; and rituals, focusing on language, gossip, humour and bullying. Finally, I explore the consequences of his court’s practices.
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Published date: 7 May 2022
Keywords:
Core executive, court politics, prime ministers, cabinets, executive government, british government
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Local EPrints ID: 476257
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/476257
PURE UUID: d90a496e-564d-49ec-913a-0139aa5bfdba
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Date deposited: 17 Apr 2023 16:51
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:27
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Contributors
Editor:
Kristoffer Kolltveit
Editor:
Richard Shaw
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