A Prime Minister is the leader of a country’s government in a parliamentary system. This is a senior position involving long hours, short holidays and tall orders.

They set the agenda for their government at both a day-to-day and a strategic level, appointing cabinet officials and overseeing government agencies. They also need to lead their political party, and will be expected to stand for a general election at some point.

The Prime Minister chairs the Cabinet, which is the main decision-making body in the UK Government. This can be difficult, because there are often differences of opinion between different departments. The Prime Minister needs to manage this effectively, or their leadership could appear weak. The Prime Minister has a wide range of powers, but it is important to remember that these are not absolute and that the sovereign retains many statutory powers, including the right to dissolve Parliament.

As well as dealing with domestic issues the Prime Minister must be able to negotiate effectively with other governments, particularly on international matters. This can involve persuading other leaders to agree with a particular policy or course of action.

If the Prime Minister resigns or is dismissed, they must leave office and the Queen must invite someone else to become prime minister. The Queen’s private secretary will take soundings, via the Cabinet Secretary, to establish who is likely to be the best choice to replace them, taking into account the preferences of members of the cabinet.