Prerogative Powers in the UK

Prerogative power — the mysterious leftover toolkit of the British state. In this video, we break down what it is, where it comes from, who uses it, and why it still matters in modern UK politics. Perfect for Edexcel A Level Politics (UK Politics, Component 1), this lesson covers everything you need for the exam: 🔹 What prerogative powers are and how they developed 🔹 Key powers: deploying troops, dissolving Parliament, treaties, honours, and more 🔹 How the courts have constrained prerogative power (Miller I, Miller/Cherry, Evans, GCHQ case) 🔹 The role of Parliament and why prerogative power keeps causing controversy 🔹 Real-world examples from Blair, Cameron, May, Johnson and Sunak 🔹 Typical exam angles + how to write about prerogative power with confidence Whether you’re revising for mocks, catching up on missed lessons, or just trying to make sense of Britain’s oddly medieval constitutional furniture, this video should help. Links: Institute for government on parliamentary votes on military action: https://www.instituteforgovernment.or... Guardian on Cameron's Syrian shambles: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/... If you find it useful, hit subscribe — it helps more students find clear, jargon-free A Level Politics content.