Not sure, we elect governments, not presidents. The key for me is adherence to the manifesto on which that party was elected.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 17, 2022 10:01 amAgreed, replacing a leader mid-term isn't ideal but isn't the worst problem with our system - FPTP is.Puja wrote: ↑Sun Oct 16, 2022 11:32 pmI mean, she's overwrought and ridiculous, but she does accidentally have something of a point. She's called for two Tory PMs to resign, for them then to be replaced by their constitutional process - the fact that their process is terrible and so is our electoral and governing system is beside the point; it's the rules that have been agreed upon up to this point. To be planning to circumvent them to get rid of her and then circumvent them to implant a candidate to be crowned is fairly shitty behaviour.
It's not the worst of the problems with this whole situation, but it is definitely a problem.
Puja
Agreed also, not a word leaves Dorries' lips that isn't self-serving bullshit.
I'm a bit torn on the issue (although that may just be Stockholm Syndrome). Under the current rules each party can choose its leader in whatever manner it likes, and if that means changing its own rules, I guess I don't feel it's desperately underhand behavior (in the grand scheme).
Suppose we changed the system so that any mid-term change in PM forces a GE (or maybe, more subtly, a referendum for whether there should be a GE). An unpopular ruling party (or even one that has simply lost some popularity) would be extremely reluctant to replace its leader. With those rules it's unlikely that Johnson (or Thatcher?) would have been deposed.
Actually now that I think about it this might actually be a good thing in the long term - it would prevent some of the shape-shifting that allows the Tories to cling to power
Okay then, this is another one for the written constitution we will never see - if the ruling party changes its leader, and so the PM, then there should be a (legally binding) referendum on whether there should be an immediate GE.
(Given our long parliamentary terms, it might be an idea to have such referendums* after 3 and/or 4 years, to give the country the chance that it desperately wants right now.)
* referendums or referenda? Apparently referendums is the winner:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals ... 56A1D4C78E
However, forcing a GE if there was to be a change of PM would enforce party discipline. Knifing Boris in the back is one thing when its 2-3 years to a GE, but what if that meant an immediate election? Can't see that happening.