Frequently Asked Questions
Which historical cabinets can I choose from?
On the web, you build a cabinet from ministers who served from 1997 onwards. In the Downing Draft app, you can also choose from cabinets going back to 1964, including Wilson, Heath, Callaghan, Thatcher and Major governments. Download the app to play with the wider selection.
What is the longest possible premiership?
Survive long enough and you can clock up well over a decade in office, past the fifteen year mark if you really get it right. That is longer than any real modern Prime Minister has managed. Most governments end a good deal sooner.
Can you beat Margaret Thatcher's time in office?
Yes, but it is hard. Thatcher lasted around eleven and a half years, the longest of any modern PM. Beat that and you are in genuinely rare company. Build a capable, united cabinet, deliver your signature pledge, and keep both the public and your own party onside long enough, and the record is yours.
Why did my government collapse so quickly?
Welcome to government. Usually it is one of a few things: ministers in roles that did not suit them, a cabinet that never gelled, a plan that pulled in different directions, or political capital spent faster than you earned it. Change the mix and see if you can hold it together.
Can I play again with different choices?
Absolutely, and you should. The cabinets you can draw are shuffled each time, so a fresh run with different priorities, a different style or a different team can send you down a completely different path.
Can I share my result?
Yes. Every game ends with a shareable result and a preview card you can post anywhere. Send it to friends, challenge them to last longer, and see who ends up on the right side of history.
Is there a more involved way to play?
Yes. Career Mode is available in the Downing Draft app. You lead a government across multiple terms, manage your cabinet, set your manifesto, respond to crises, make delivery choices and fight elections. Your decisions affect how the government performs and whether you stay in office. Get the app.
Do my choices really affect the result?
They do. Your priorities, governing style, cabinet appointments and ministerial roles all shape performance, public support and election prospects. In Career Mode, your manifesto, crisis responses and delivery decisions matter too. Download the app to play Career Mode.
Where can I get the app?
Downing Draft is available on iPhone, iPad and Android. The app includes Career Mode, cabinets going back to the 1960s, Analyst Mode and a mobile-friendly way to play. Get the app.
Enough reading. Build your government and see how you do.