The person who leads the political party that wins the general election becomes Prime Minister (PM for short). Once in office, they choose MPs to help them run the Government. These people are called cabinet ministers. Together with the PM they make ideas and plans about how to run the country. These are called policies. The PM also organises the parliamentarians in their party to pass these policies into laws. The PM is involved in overseas engagements, visiting other countries and working with foreign leaders to make international policy. They are the leader of the House of Commons’ largest political party, which allows them to lead parliamentary questioning and debates.
As commander-in-chief, the Prime Minister decides whether or not to deploy British armed forces to any foreign intervention or war. They are also involved in the management of the economy and ensuring that there is enough money to pay for the nation’s public services. The PM is the main face of the government and their decisions are often influenced by public opinion. They are also concerned about the media and want to communicate a positive image of themselves and their government.
The Prime Minister chairs and leads cabinet meetings. They determine the agenda, sets out the terms of reference for Cabinet committees, and is the final arbiter on matters that are to be discussed at a cabinet plenary session. The Prime Minister also carries out ministerial functions and may be required to attend non-cabinet meetings, such as the European Council and the G8 Summit.