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Our next unelected PM?

Darat

Lackey
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Darat
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(There is a chance I suppose that the next Tory leader won't be able to continue the S&C deal with the DUP so an election may be forced on them. But I'm not expecting that to happen.)

So who do you think our next PM will be?

Johnson "career advisor said it's my turn and I'll scream and scream and scream if I don't get it this time"?

Hunt - for the gift his name is for comedians?

Or one of the seemingly two dozen others who have put themselves forward?
 
I nominate Donald J. Trump. He's on his way there soon; if you suck up to him he'll probably jump at it. Heck, his mother was born in Scotland so he can likely claim citizenship!
 
I posted in the Brexit thread prior to May's resignation that it was Boris' time.

You should be grateful another Bullingdon Boy is waiting in the wings to step into the breach and lead Mother England to its rightful place in international obscurity.
 
Come on Darat, you know better than the OP. All PMs are unelected until their colleagues give them the nod. I’m sure every contributor in this thread knows that PMs aren’t publicly elected, but lurkers may not.

Anyway Boris to inherit the poison chalice. He will be comic relief until, and tragically, that idiot Corbyn takes over as last person (and party) standing.
 
lionking said:
Come on Darat, you know better than the OP. All PMs are unelected until their colleagues give them the nod. I’m sure every contributor in this thread knows that PMs aren’t publicly elected, but lurkers may not.
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Is that really an accurate use of the phrase? I don't think so. I thought that PMs that come to power during a general election are considered elected. Not being directly elected isn't the distinction between elected and unelected.
 
RecoveringYuppy said:
Is that really an accurate use of the phrase? I don't think so. I thought that PMs that come to power during a general election are considered elected. Not being directly elected isn't the distinction between elected and unelected.
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In which case all PMs are 'elected', either at a GE or by the party. I'm with lionking on this - either way, there is no such thing as an unelected PM.
 
RecoveringYuppy said:
Is that really an accurate use of the phrase? I don't think so. I thought that PMs that come to power during a general election are considered elected. Not being directly elected isn't the distinction between elected and unelected.
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Not at all. It’s entirely possible to have an election completed and the presumed PM found to have committed a serious crime, maybe treason, rape, massive fraud. The party room would drop him or her like a sack of spuds and go for someone else.

Yes, highly unlikely, but you see my point.
 
GlennB said:
In which case all PMs are 'elected', either at a GE or by the party. I'm with lionking on this - either way, there is no such thing as an unelected PM.
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Just google the phrase. There is quite definitely such a thing.

lionking said:
Not at all. It’s entirely possible to have an election completed and the presumed PM found to have committed a serious crime, maybe treason, rape, massive fraud. The party room would drop him or her like a sack of spuds and go for someone else.

Yes, highly unlikely, but you see my point.
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No. I don't see your point. You forgot to say whether that PM would be considered unelected or not and why.

May be it would be simpler if you just stated your definition of "unelected"?

From what I can tell, the definition hinges on whether the PM faced a general election. In your example, would that case be considered "close enough to a general election" and be considered elected or would it be considered "unelected" because this was unknown to the electorate at the time of the election?
 
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RecoveringYuppy said:
Just google the phrase. There is quite definitely such a thing.



No. I don't see your point. You forgot to say whether that PM would be considered unelected or not and why.

May be it would be simpler if you just stated your definition of "unelected"?

From what I can tell, the definition hinges on whether the PM faced a general election. In your example, would that case be considered "close enough to a general election" and be considered elected or would it be considered "unelected" because this was unknown to the electorate at the time of the election?
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All the election does is makes you a local member of parliament. It does not accord you ministerial nor prime ministerial status. Those roles are voted by the elected party. This is pretty basic really, and if you don’t see this obvious point that is your problem.
 
Look, I know elections in the UK have become presidential-like, but that doesn’t change their reality. PMs are not elected by the public. Full stop.
 
lionking said:
All the election does is makes you a local member of parliament. It does not accord you ministerial nor prime ministerial status. Those roles are voted by the elected party. This is pretty basic really, and if you don’t see this obvious point that is your problem.
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I understand all that. Perhaps you could re-read and understand my actual question?

It's not really necessary though, I've already posted most of the answer to my own question which I obtained by googling the subject. I'm only uncertain about a few edge cases that may not be practically relevant.
 
RecoveringYuppy said:
Just google the phrase. There is quite definitely such a thing.



No. I don't see your point. You forgot to say whether that PM would be considered unelected or not and why.

May be it would be simpler if you just stated your definition of "unelected"?

From what I can tell, the definition hinges on whether the PM faced a general election. In your example, would that case be considered "close enough to a general election" and be considered elected or would it be considered "unelected" because this was unknown to the electorate at the time of the election?
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Please provide any example of anyone ever who has not been elected by the public being appointed PM.

Can you do that?
 
abaddon said:
Please provide any example of anyone ever who has not been elected by the public being appointed PM.

Can you do that?
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No British PM is elected by the public. That's not even at issue here. I agree with lionking's statement that PMs are not elected by the public.
 
Sorry about the derail. Yes it’s a pedantic point, but I do get pissed off when people say the voted for Rudd/Shorten/Corbyn etc. Unless these guys are in your electorate, you bloody didn’t.

Anyway, anyone think Boris won’t get the nod?
 
I will have a vote. I shall attend the meeting to hear the two who want it. From what I have heard of Rory Stewart and his career, I hope he is one of the two.
 
Boris to get the Christmas-cracker paper crown. And he will do yet another of his usual boofish and unsuccessful japes, and try to take the UK out of the EU without a deal. Which will make the current situation in the UK look like paradise.
 
Norman Alexander said:
Boris to get the Christmas-cracker paper crown. And he will do yet another of his usual boofish and unsuccessful japes, and try to take the UK out of the EU without a deal. Which will make the current situation in the UK look like paradise.
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Without doubt.
 
PMs aren't elected, so that part of the title is redundant.

Yes, I know Britain has a tradition of making the party leader of the majority party PM, but that's neither a law nor a rule. It's simply that: Tradition.
 
I too am confused by the "unelected" language.

Darat, can you translate for those of us across the pond? What does "unelected" mean in this context?

My understanding of the British system of government is that PMs are in fact elected according to the way these things are commonly expressed.
 
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