Ketaki Zodgekar
Research Assistant
All work
Payroll vote
The 'payroll vote' is the body of MPs who hold offices that require them to support the government.
How big is the Labour government’s majority?
There are 650 seats in parliament. At the general election, the government won 411 of them.
What happens if a prime minister loses their seat in a general election?
At every general election there is a possibility that a party's leader would not be returned to parliament.
Special advisers and the Johnson government
How Boris Johnson's changes to the role of special advisers disempowered ministers and undermined the quality of decision making in government.
Party conferences
Every autumn, UK political parties hold their annual conferences – gatherings of politicians, party members and affiliated groups.
Direct ministerial appointments to the House of Lords
If the prime minister wants to appoint a minister who is not a sitting MP or serving peer, they must ennoble them.
Keir Starmer's first shadow cabinet
Following his election as leader of the Labour Party on 4 April 2020, Keir Starmer conducted an extensive reshuffle of the shadow cabinet.
Sam Gyimah
Sam Gyimah reflects on working across two departments, dealing with prison riots and government’s relationship with universities.
Acting prime ministers
The UK does not have a formal constitutional role of a deputy or caretaker prime minister who would step in if the PM were unable to perform their job
Special advisers
Special advisers (SpAds) are political appointees hired to support ministers.