U.K. Politics: Boris Johnson referred to police (AGAIN) over potential Covid rule breaches

[hun]

UK is a flop

[Rihab]

I still hope there'll be new elections before Article 50 is triggered.

[AceReject]

I still hope there'll be new elections before Article 50 is triggered.

I think that's highly unlikely. Neither candidate has expressed an intention of holding a snap election, and after a lengthy leadership campaign, I doubt they'd be happy to relinquish power as soon as they get it. Furthermore, Labour are an absolute shambles right now, the Lib Dems have almost vanished off the face of the earth, and UKIP are coasting without their leader. At the very most I think an election would bring on a hung parliament, which would only complicate the Brexit negotiations further. More likely it would be a Tory government again, and therefore a waste of time and resources when there are bigger issues to work with.

[Theodorerichert]

So, why is it that only 150,000 conservative voters can participate in the election for PM? And why is it that the conservative party has only 150,000 registered members? Isn't it a major political party? Is it harder to register for a political party in the UK? Or why would a major political have so few members?

In the USA the two major parties (Republican and Democrat) have 50,000,000+ members each. So you can see why I'm surprised that the UK's leading party has just 150,000 official members.

[AceReject]

So, why is it that only 150,000 conservative voters can participate in the election for PM? And why is it that the conservative party has only 150,000 registered members? Isn't it a major political party? Is it harder to register for a political party in the UK? Or why would a major political have so few members?

In the USA the two major parties (Republican and Democrat) have 50,000,000+ members each. So you can see why I'm surprised that the UK's leading party has just 150,000 official members.

To answer the first question, the election for a Prime Minister is very different to that of a President. Presidents are individuals elected to run the country. The Prime Minister is simply the person chosen to lead the political party in office. That's why it's possible for David Cameron to be succeeded without a General Election. The UK voted for a Conservative government, not a Prime Minister. Of course, normally when elections are held you know who the Prime Minister would be, and can factor that consideration into your vote if you wish, but really you are selecting your local MP, not personally choosing the Prime Minister.

As for the second question, I guess it's a reflection of the vast difference in the political systems.

[Theodorerichert]

So, why is it that only 150,000 conservative voters can participate in the election for PM? And why is it that the conservative party has only 150,000 registered members? Isn't it a major political party? Is it harder to register for a political party in the UK? Or why would a major political have so few members?

In the USA the two major parties (Republican and Democrat) have 50,000,000+ members each. So you can see why I'm surprised that the UK's leading party has just 150,000 official members.

To answer the first question, the election for a Prime Minister is very different to that of a President. Presidents are individuals elected to run the country. The Prime Minister is simply the person chosen to lead the political party in office. That's why it's possible for David Cameron to be succeeded without a General Election. The UK voted for a Conservative government, not a Prime Minister. Of course, normally when elections are held you know who the Prime Minister would be, and can factor that consideration into your vote if you wish, but really you are selecting your local MP, not personally choosing the Prime Minister.

As for the second question, I guess it's a reflection of the vast difference in the political systems.

Ok, that makes sense, thanks!

[Wayne]

Political party membership is in huge decline across the whole of Europe but nowhere is that more prevalent than Britain.

The Conservative party isn't even the largest political party in the UK - Labour is.

The decline is linked to age with younger people not joining the established parties [opting instead for newer, more modern parties like the Greens] and I suppose a disenfranchised ageing population.

[Affillate]

It was on the news last night this controversy over Leadsom's 'I have more of a stake in the countries' future cause I'm a mother' comments, which initially she tried to pass off as being misquoted/out of context or whatever, but the interviewer had a recording of the meeting! SNAP!

and yes, agreed with Airwrecka, it works pretty much the same here, We just had a Federal Election on July 2 where it was a weeks wait whilst more of the vote was counted, to become clear the Liberal/National party (also known as the Coalition) won enough (76) seats to declare outright victory over our other major party (Labor) and retain Government (with the same PM).

[AceReject]

Theresa May set to be UK PM after Andrea Leadsom quits

Theresa May is set to become the UK's next prime minister after Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the contest to become Conservative Party leader.

The timing of the handover of power from David Cameron is currently being discussed, but could be within days.
Mrs May, 59, who backed staying in the EU, has been home secretary since 2010.

Mrs Leadsom, who campaigned to leave the EU, said the UK needed "strong and stable government" and that Mrs May was "ideally placed" to implement Brexit.

Source

[Wayne]

Exceptional news!

[Wayne]

Outgoing PM David Cameron has confirmed that Theresa will be PM by Wednesday.

[SholasBoy]

Great

She's described as an authorative headmistress in a room full of naughty school boys. She'll be a great prime minister IMO

[AceReject]

I think it's much better for the UK to have this quick transition to the new PM, rather than a long drawn out leadership contest. Theresa May can now start getting on with the job, which potentially reduces the lengthy period of economic and political turmoil. I like that she always seems very professional, pragmatic and competent. Hopefully she will now deliver on this.

[Wayne]

Great

She's described as an authorative headmistress in a room full of naughty school boys. She'll be a great prime minister IMO

Agreed.

I hope her politics aren't bogged down amongst the in fighting of the Labour Party and the reemergence of the Lib Dems.

The whole Conservative party are seemingly united behind one unifying figure for the first time since the GE - she has so much promise that I just hope she delivers on it.

We have many rough times ahead as a country and a firm hand is needed. I wonder how HM Queen Elizabeth is feeling - the first time she'll hold one of her weekly meetings with another female since 1990!

[SholasBoy]

I hope her "reign" won't be too affected by the mess left before her, I always felt Gordon Brown was left with an impossible task when he came into power

[hun]

article exposing May as a fraud

[Wayne]

article exposing May as a fraud

I'm aware of everything said in that article and it hasn't altered my view in the slightest.

It's lefty tripe.

[heppolo]

Some of MPs probably wanted other May to step in

[roeleek]

article exposing May as a fraud

I'm aware of everything said in that article and it hasn't altered my view in the slightest.

It's lefty tripe.

Clearly you aren't a fan of evidential analysis. You might as well be a brexiter- you seem to think factual history is not relevant. She made a speech that was dribble written by hired spin doctors, speech writers etc. Her actual record in parliament doesn't stand up to what she's promising. You remind me of the people who voted for Jeremy hunt in his constituency, they get bombarded with leaflets like... 'Vote for Jeremy hunt, he'll save the local hospitals etc,' meanwhile he is asset stripping the nhs ready for privatisation. Yet the voters in his constituency think he's saving the nhs -superman style.

[matthew_dixon]

It's far from "lefty tripe" - it's facts about how she voted in things, and that can't be denied.

The question is, did she vote based on her own conscience or did she vote as a cabinet minister based on what the official government policy was? I'm hoping - perhaps optimistically - that it was the latter, and what she is saying about a big change in the Conservative party away from it being a party for Eton-educated millionaires to being one that works for everyone in the UK, however fortunate or otherwise you are, is actually going to come to fruition.

One would assume that what has happened in the Home Office is a reasonable reflection of her views on those issues - else she'd have made a bigger push to change them - and therefore I do feel we're in for a pretty authoritarian prime minister.

Either way, I think she was the best placed of the five to take over - and based on all the big names currently in the Tory party, whilst I don't like pretty much any of them that much, I'll admit Theresa May is one of the best of a bad bunch.

[Rihab]

article exposing May as a fraud

I give her a year.

[Mikerocha]

Ding dong, the witch is back.

[AceReject]

article exposing May as a fraud

I give her a year.

She spent over six years as Home Secretary which is generally regarded as one of the toughest cabinet positions that has seen off many ministers over the years. I don't think commitment or staying power are an issue for her.

Ding dong, the witch is back.

These Thatcher comparisons in the media are a bit sexist IMO. Just because she's a female Conservative, doesn't mean she's a clone. We've only ever had one female Prime Minister, so of course there'll be comparisons, but I think we should be judging her on her judgment, skill and experience; not her gender.

[Wayne]

I think she'll inevitably face into a lifetime of comparison with Lady Thatcher because as a society, we still cannot understand and measure a female politician on her own merits.

But goodness me, if she's only half the PM that the great Lady Thatcher was, she'll be amazing.

What I find really ironic is that Maggie stood up to Europe and won and now Theresa will have to do much of the same in securing an amicable exit out of the EU and ensure we have workable trade agreements with the continent and the rest of the world.

Point? Theresa May has what is surely now going to be the toughest job of any British PM.

[AceReject]

I think she'll inevitably face into a lifetime of comparison with Lady Thatcher because as a society, we still cannot understand and measure a female politician on her own merits.

Exactly. I just find it so incredibly frustrating. Theresa May is her own person, and will have her own governing style and political reputation to uphold. Being female doesn't make her any more likely to govern in the same way as Margaret Thatcher, as it would to David Cameron, Winston Churchill, Edward Heath, etc. Define her by her policies and legacy, not her gender.

I must admit I giggled when I saw this on the News Press Preview last night, but it really does show how women in politics are still not fully taken seriously: