Abstract Both advocates and critics of the ‘presidentialization’ thesis agree that the British Prime Minister’s power depends on the effective use of the institutional and personal resources at his or her disposal. A good Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) can help them achieve that. Yet surprisingly little has been written about the role. Focusing on Ian Gow, PPS to Margaret Thatcher during her first term, allows us to explore the potential inherent in the job—one that, in addition to acting as a two-way conduit between prime minister and party, involves writing speeches, helping to appoint and control ministers, and advising on policy and general election timing. As such, it deserves more attention from those interested in the premiership and in parliament—and in the relationship between the two—than it has so far been accorded.
Tim Bale (Tue,) studied this question.
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