A senior defence minister's resignation is compared with the resignation of military leaders during the funding dispute. In this interpretation, a minister who is prominent within the governing party can affect its internal relationships and parliamentary position. Moving to the backbenches also removes the constraints of collective government responsibility. That gives the minister a different means of applying pressure from the one available to admirals or generals.
Notable Point · 47:57-48:37
Why a ministerial resignation can carry political weight
Party standing, parliamentary influence and freedom from collective responsibility help explain the political effect attributed to a senior minister's resignation.