ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by explaining the emergence of the Prime Minister as the dominant defence policy actor in Britain since 1945. It reviews the power of the Prime Minister and critically assesses the debate about the modern ‘presidentialism’ of the role. It argues that an accurate vision of the British Prime Minister depends on focusing less upon the potential powers than the very real constraints upon the exercise of those powers. On this basis, the chapter moves on to consider the operation of broader core executive, the defence policy-making triumvirate of Prime Minister, Defence and Foreign Secretary and the resources available for the Prime Minister to participate in this process. It then goes on to assess the various methods of defence policy-making employed by British Prime Ministers from Margaret Thatcher to Boris Johnson before considering the relationship between the Prime Minister and the Defence Secretary over the last 40 years.
