What is the principle of Collective Ministerial Responsibility?

The principle of Collective Ministerial Responsibility is fundamental to the functioning of the UK government. It establishes that all government ministers are expected to publicly support the decisions and policies agreed upon by the government, even if they personally disagree with them. This ensures a united front when communicating with the public and the legislature, promoting stability and coherence in government policy. The principle helps maintain trust in the government's leadership and reinforces the idea that decisions are collective rather than isolated to individual ministers.

The other options do not align with the established principles of this responsibility. Allowing ministers to publicly disagree with government policies would undermine the unity and coherent decision-making of the government. Serving independently from party ideology would contradict the collaborative nature required in a ministerial team, as ministers are often expected to align with party views. Lastly, the idea that ministers can introduce their own laws without approval fails to acknowledge the structured legislative process that typically requires collaboration and agreement within the government and parliament.