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Bad news for people laying a 2022 general election? – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,610
edited July 2022 in General
Bad news for people laying a 2022 general election? – politicalbetting.com

**Nadhim Zahawi** is in the delegation of cabinet ministers about to tell the prime minister to go, I'm told

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Comments

  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 123,126
    First.
  • NorthofStokeNorthofStoke Posts: 1,758
    Time for a new thread!
  • eekeek Posts: 30,868
    edited July 2022
    As I said earlier Boris calling a General Election would be the perfect conclusion to his premiership.

    He started leading a minority Government, fought an election and won a whopping majority then threw it all away in a fit of pique, decimating (and worse) the Parliamentary Tory Party.

    After all how could any Tory Candidate stand with Boris as leader...
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 30,679
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    First.

    First in the line of Cabinet ministers telling him to go?

    I want Zahawi to quit tonight. Less than 24 hours in office makes him immortal.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,931
    If Johnson were to call a General Election, as a way of clinging to power, or at least attempting to, I would revise all my previous criticism of the FTPA.
  • JACK_WJACK_W Posts: 682
    On account of rising energy prices would the last minister to leave Downing Street please switch off the government life support system ..... oh and the lights too ..
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 44,738
    NorthofStoke said:

    Time for a new thread!

    What, already? You're the second poster.
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 7,085
    eek said:

    As I said earlier Boris calling a General Election would be the perfect conclusion to his premiership.

    He started leading a minority Government, fought an election and won a whopping majority then threw it all away in a fit of pique

    I really really hope he does.

    Sadly I don't think we're going to have that chance yet. Speaking as a soft leftie I mean.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,719
    I just don't see Johnson calling an election against the wishes of his party. It would precipitate a Tory defeat for the ages, and he would lose his own seat for sure. I don't think the Queen would go along with it, but Christ what a position to put her in.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,247
    Zahawi, what a snake!
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 123,126
    rcs1000 said:

    If Johnson were to call a General Election, as a way of clinging to power, or at least attempting to, I would revise all my previous criticism of the FTPA.

    I did warn you all that the FTPA was a wonderful piece of far sighted legislation and it would be a mistake to ditch it.
  • Daveyboy1961Daveyboy1961 Posts: 4,757
    Johnson is being grilled like a schoolboy on the liaison Committee

    35 on the counter
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 4,089
    Stupid question (probably) but are we absolutely sure Boris wasn't meaning the new leader would want to call an election, rather than him calling an election to stop the new leader displacing him?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,247
    Since Boris is not Putin he can be given an off ramp - stay on as PM during a leadership contest. It gets him beyond May at least.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 55,550
    Damn, things are serious.

    Nurse has woken up JackW from his afternoon nap....
  • eekeek Posts: 30,868
    Heathener said:

    eek said:

    As I said earlier Boris calling a General Election would be the perfect conclusion to his premiership.

    He started leading a minority Government, fought an election and won a whopping majority then threw it all away in a fit of pique

    I really really hope he does.

    Sadly I don't think we're going to have that chance yet. Speaking as a soft leftie I mean.
    On a betting front it would be a betting election to top the SNP in 2015...
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 79,904
    The spectacle of the barnacle attempt to cling to power when there's possibly fewer than 100 MPs who would still support him is quite astonishing.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 30,679
    Fuck me. Jenkin tells him to go.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    It's not Queenie any more. It is Charles who will get lawyered up tae fuck and tell him about the Lascelles principles.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 56,314
    kle4 said:

    Since Boris is not Putin he can be given an off ramp - stay on as PM during a leadership contest. It gets him beyond May at least.

    May 2023? The contest doesn't need to take that long.
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 25,524
    David Herdson on Twitter makes an amusing point. https://twitter.com/DavidHerdson/status/1544708292454268929?t=b5Zyvw9yBl3ZFZrpKWh9JQ&s=19

    Boris requesting and HMQ approving an early election would end up with the Tories worse than decimated and probably a 1997 style Labour landslide.

    It ain't happening. But would almost be funny if it did.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 30,358
    Not answering this key question.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 22,435
    Nigelb said:

    The spectacle of the barnacle attempt to cling to power when there's possibly fewer than 100 MPs who would still support him is quite astonishing.

    Not dissimilar to Theresa’s departure although that was more “in sorrow, not in anger”.

    Quite the reverse with Boris.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 52,593
    BREAKiNG: LBC reporting the 1922 committee has already changed its rules. Not yet clear in what way.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 30,679
    Jenkin now demanding that he confirms that he won't try to dissolve parliament if he is removed. PM won't answer. Jenkin keeps pulling him back.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Bernard goes for jugular over dissolution
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 30,358
    "You're asking me to comment on politics."
    Well. Yes.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,188
    (((Dan Hodges))) Retweeted
    Noa Hoffman
    @hoffman_noa
    ·
    6m
    Hearing the 1922 rules have now officially been changed
  • Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 14,784
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    rcs1000 said:

    If Johnson were to call a General Election, as a way of clinging to power, or at least attempting to, I would revise all my previous criticism of the FTPA.

    I did warn you all that the FTPA was a wonderful piece of far sighted legislation and it would be a mistake to ditch it.
    Yeah....and pineapple is wonderful on pizza too! ;-)
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,247
    eek said:

    As I said earlier Boris calling a General Election would be the perfect conclusion to his premiership.

    He started leading a minority Government, fought an election and won a whopping majority then threw it all away in a fit of pique, decimating (and worse) the Parliamentary Tory Party.

    After all how could any Tory Candidate stand with Boris as leader...

    No way he should have been in this situation. That victory should have left him free and clear, but he cannot help himself.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,942
    Now back to Downing St. for the whisky and revolver...
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 25,524
    dixiedean said:

    "You're asking me to comment on politics."
    Well. Yes.

    It's weird but I believe there's a principle that the Liaison Committee doesn't discuss (party) politics.

    Which seems rather impossible today! 🤣
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,931
    rcs1000 said:

    If Johnson were to call a General Election, as a way of clinging to power, or at least attempting to, I would revise all my previous criticism of the FTPA.

    As an aide... Were Johnson that stupid (and I really don't think he is), then I think there would be an awful lot of very surprised libdem MPs in the South of England.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 30,679
    That was absolutely spectacular. Mind-blowing. From start to finish.
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    Boris Johnson and PB BoJo Brigade - be of good cheer!

    For unreliable, uninformed sources are allegedly perhaps reporting, that RUDY GIULIANI is winging his way eastward across the Atlantic - in the "Spirit of Mar-a-Lardo" - to give BJBJ the benefit of his sage counsel.

    What would be an equivalent UK venue to equal the PR impact of "Four Seasons"?

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/03/four-seasons-total-landscaping-lighthearted-lesson-business
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 25,524
    RochdalePioneers said:

    That was absolutely spectacular. Mind-blowing. From start to finish.

    He should have done it before midday as I said last night.

    But he's not surviving today either way.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 52,593
    35
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    rottenborough said:

    (((Dan Hodges))) Retweeted
    Noa Hoffman
    @hoffman_noa
    ·
    6m
    Hearing the 1922 rules have now officially been changed

    To ban people called Boris being leader?
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 35,429
    BartholomewRoberts said:

    David Herdson on Twitter makes an amusing point. https://twitter.com/DavidHerdson/status/1544708292454268929?t=b5Zyvw9yBl3ZFZrpKWh9JQ&s=19

    Boris requesting and HMQ approving an early election would end up with the Tories worse than decimated and probably a 1997 style Labour landslide.

    It ain't happening. But would almost be funny if it did.

    As suggested on an earlier thread that would probably lead to a situation similar to that of Canada's Conservatives. They'd look on '97 as a comparative success!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,188
    The Queen will not allow a dissolution in these circumstances - I am rock solid sure on that.

    The 1922 are about to organize a VONC he will lose and the Cabinet are about to withdraw support.

    If he goes to the Palace in these circumstances he is virtually no longer PM and she will stall somehow.
  • ChrisChris Posts: 12,091
    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    If Johnson were to call a General Election, as a way of clinging to power, or at least attempting to, I would revise all my previous criticism of the FTPA.

    As an aide... Were Johnson that stupid (and I really don't think he is), then I think there would be an awful lot of very surprised libdem MPs in the South of England.
    But think about it. Maybe if he can't have an election the only way of saving his premiership would be a nuclear war with Russia.
  • EPGEPG Posts: 6,740
    rcs1000 said:


    Hmmm:

    The measure of a PM is performing well in difficult times. Blair had a golden legacy that flatters his performance. (Macmillan is flattered for the same reasons.) Eden was much worse than Cameron, and I would posit Johnson.

    PMs that had really difficult problems to solve and performed well:

    Thatcher (numerous)
    Major (the 1992 recession, Northern Ireland)
    Attlee (post war reconstruction)
    Cameron (GFC fallout)

    And I think you have to say that Johnson performed no worse than peers (and in some ways better) over covid, and he did (sadly via lying) actually get Brexit enacted.

    Callaghan and May both tried to solve problems with potentially effective solutions but got screwed by legacy parliamentary parties. I'd push all them higher than consensus.
    More un-PC: Brown-Darling are well respected elsewhere for dealing with the GFC, and also were dealing with legacy plus, well, a GFC, that poisoned their contemporary reputations. No ambitious politician will praise them but historians might.
    Even more un-PC: A Suez-type event was the inevitable wake-up call that an Edwardian unilateral attitude to foreign relations was unsustainable. It wasn't the cause of decline, and even merely perceptually, losing the East to Japan was the root cause of perceptions of weakness.
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 10,224
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    rcs1000 said:

    If Johnson were to call a General Election, as a way of clinging to power, or at least attempting to, I would revise all my previous criticism of the FTPA.

    I did warn you all that the FTPA was a wonderful piece of far sighted legislation and it would be a mistake to ditch it.
    Quite right. It could have done with a few tweaks, but why anyone thought giving a rogue PM the power to fool around with the election date was such a wonderful thing was always a mystery to me.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 39,284
    There's no reason for the Queen to agree, and who would be left to campaign on his behalf?
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 30,679
    BartholomewRoberts said:

    RochdalePioneers said:

    That was absolutely spectacular. Mind-blowing. From start to finish.

    He should have done it before midday as I said last night.

    But he's not surviving today either way.
    He might. I assume the '22 will announce a vote tomorrow.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 30,358
    Been quite a 24 hours.
    What will the next 24 bring?
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 30,679
    https://twitter.com/Aiannucci/status/1544712914174676992

    "Boris and Nadine: it’ll be like the end of Antony and Cleopatra."
  • SeaShantyIrish2SeaShantyIrish2 Posts: 17,559
    JACK_W said:

    On account of rising energy prices would the last minister to leave Downing Street please switch off the government life support system ..... oh and the lights too ..

    Also empty the wine fridge(s).

    Don't worry about cleaning up, as new PM - regardless of party - will be sending in a HazMat team to deal with the lingering stench.
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 25,524
    IanB2 said:

    35

    A higher total than most English batters have achieved this summer, Bairstow and Root exempted.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 63,825
    Can the PM really call a GE by himself without the approval of his party?

    We do have a wacky constitution
  • Nunu3Nunu3 Posts: 293
    Quote me o this.

    Boris will NOT quit before September.
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 6,511
    New education secretary also in delegation at No 10
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,822
    tlg86 said:

    It's like GE night on here.

    When are Durham Police going to chuck a grenade into the mix?

    That would be priceless.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 123,126
    Leon said:

    Can the PM really call a GE by himself without the approval of his party?

    We do have a wacky constitution

    Yup.
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 12,794
    Nunu3 said:

    Quote me o this.

    Boris will NOT quit before September.

    He won’t quit full stop. He’s going to have to be pulled out kicking and screaming.
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 25,524
    RochdalePioneers said:

    https://twitter.com/Aiannucci/status/1544712914174676992

    "Boris and Nadine: it’ll be like the end of Antony and Cleopatra."

    Romeo and Juliette.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,868
    rottenborough said:

    The Queen will not allow a dissolution in these circumstances - I am rock solid sure on that.

    The 1922 are about to organize a VONC he will lose and the Cabinet are about to withdraw support.

    If he goes to the Palace in these circumstances he is virtually no longer PM and she will stall somehow.

    That's a pity as it really would be a sight to behold.

    And probably isn't the worst plan for the Tory party as the next few years are going to be brutal for the party in power.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 30,358
    OldKingCole said:

    BartholomewRoberts said:

    David Herdson on Twitter makes an amusing point. https://twitter.com/DavidHerdson/status/1544708292454268929?t=b5Zyvw9yBl3ZFZrpKWh9JQ&s=19

    Boris requesting and HMQ approving an early election would end up with the Tories worse than decimated and probably a 1997 style Labour landslide.

    It ain't happening. But would almost be funny if it did.

    As suggested on an earlier thread that would probably lead to a situation similar to that of Canada's Conservatives. They'd look on '97 as a comparative success!
    There'd be competing Conservative candidates for sure.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 63,825
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Leon said:

    Can the PM really call a GE by himself without the approval of his party?

    We do have a wacky constitution

    Yup.
    Even if his entire Cabinet says, Nah, do one??

    Incredible
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 6,511
    BlancheLivermore said:

    New education secretary also in delegation at No 10

    Camilla Turner
    @camillahmturner
    BREAKING: Michelle Donelan, the newly appointed Education Secretary, is part of the delegation of Cabinet ministers who have gone to Downing Street to tell the PM the game is up
    https://twitter.com/camillahmturner/status/1544711794899419136
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,942
    No one does it like the Tories they LOL?
  • eekeek Posts: 30,868
    Alistair said:

    rottenborough said:

    (((Dan Hodges))) Retweeted
    Noa Hoffman
    @hoffman_noa
    ·
    6m
    Hearing the 1922 rules have now officially been changed

    To ban people called Boris being leader?
    Worth saying the Noa Hoffman had been at the Sun 4 days when she kicked this all off with her story regarding Chris Pincher
  • DougSealDougSeal Posts: 12,794
    BartholomewRoberts said:

    RochdalePioneers said:

    https://twitter.com/Aiannucci/status/1544712914174676992

    "Boris and Nadine: it’ll be like the end of Antony and Cleopatra."

    Romeo and Juliette.
    I’ll leave this one to other PB pedants…
  • Nunu3Nunu3 Posts: 293
    Boris will NOT quit before September.

    Qoute me on it.
  • BartholomewRobertsBartholomewRoberts Posts: 25,524
    Leon said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Leon said:

    Can the PM really call a GE by himself without the approval of his party?

    We do have a wacky constitution

    Yup.
    Even if his entire Cabinet says, Nah, do one??

    Incredible
    No, not by himself, requires the Monarch's approval.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,495
    Sean_F said:

    There's no reason for the Queen to agree, and who would be left to campaign on his behalf?

    Indeed. The legislation is very clear. The PM requests and the Queen decides.

    Of course if the '22 were clever they could kill this one straight away by changing the rules to say that, in the event of a dissolution, the removal of a Leader of the party can be decided by those who were sitting Conservative MPs at the time of dissolution.
  • JACK_WJACK_W Posts: 682
    MarqueeMark said:

    Damn, things are serious.

    Nurse has woken up JackW from his afternoon nap....

    I resemble that remark ... :smile:
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,247
    It doesnt happen often, but there are times when parliament, and MPs, remind PMs they serve at their pleasure, not the other way around.

    Right decision or not, it is their confidence that informs the choice.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,931
    Nunu3 said:

    Boris will NOT quit before September.

    Qoute me on it.

    Sure thing.

    Nunu3: "Boris will NOT quit before September."
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 123,126
    Leon said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Leon said:

    Can the PM really call a GE by himself without the approval of his party?

    We do have a wacky constitution

    Yup.
    Even if his entire Cabinet says, Nah, do one??

    Incredible
    Yup, this part of our constitution is based on a letter to The Times in 1950.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascelles_Principles
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,188
    Leon said:

    Can the PM really call a GE by himself without the approval of his party?

    We do have a wacky constitution

    He needs the Cabinet though not be against such a decision. If its just his own bonkers scheme and the likes of Gove are telling the Palace via usual channels that none of them support it and Johnson is about to lose his leadership, I just cannot see how Queenie grants Big Dog a dissolution.

    But if I tries it he will finally have confirmed he is British Trump.
  • FrankBoothFrankBooth Posts: 10,022
    BartholomewRoberts said:

    David Herdson on Twitter makes an amusing point. https://twitter.com/DavidHerdson/status/1544708292454268929?t=b5Zyvw9yBl3ZFZrpKWh9JQ&s=19

    Boris requesting and HMQ approving an early election would end up with the Tories worse than decimated and probably a 1997 style Labour landslide.

    It ain't happening. But would almost be funny if it did.

    Why won't it happen? Nick Palmer has made the point that Gordon Brown threatened an election to Labour MPs who were trying to remove him. Unfortunately we have a very elderly and frail monarch who even in her prime would always act on the advice of her prime minister. I wonder what her son is thinking about it all?
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 39,447
    In hindsight, the fact Johnson turned up to the liaison committee tells us a lot about his state of mind. He genuinely thought he could style this out.
    https://twitter.com/michaelsavage/status/1544714013426196488
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 30,679
    Question - if there is a confidence vote tomorrow and he loses, does he automatically cease to be party leader?
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 35,429
    biggles said:

    tlg86 said:

    It's like GE night on here.

    When are Durham Police going to chuck a grenade into the mix?

    That would be priceless.
    Quite frankly it's irresponsible of them not to make a decision.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 63,825
    A Boris V the Entire World election would be a spectacle

    Could be close
  • eekeek Posts: 30,868
    Michael Savage
    @michaelsavage
    ·
    2m
    In hindsight, the fact Johnson turned up to the liaison committee tells us a lot about his state of mind. He genuinely thought he could style this out.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 60,931
    Sean_F said:

    There's no reason for the Queen to agree, and who would be left to campaign on his behalf?

    @HYUFD
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 30,358
    Nunu3 said:

    Boris will NOT quit before September.

    Qoute me on it.

    Has he got a teaching post lined up?
    I heard they are short.
  • FossFoss Posts: 1,568
    RochdalePioneers said:

    There is Good News! The Prime Minister is being whisked as we speak to RAF Northolt where he is to hold very urgent meetings with President Zelinskiy for the next two years.

    How much would we have to pay them for the 'Good Bye, Lenin?' option?
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,966
    Leon said:

    A Boris V the Entire World election would be a spectacle

    Could be close

    I think it could.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,188
    (((Dan Hodges)))
    @DPJHodges
    ·
    7m
    He can’t. The Queen wouldn’t let him.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 22,107
    The Tories are not fit for office.
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,495
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Leon said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Leon said:

    Can the PM really call a GE by himself without the approval of his party?

    We do have a wacky constitution

    Yup.
    Even if his entire Cabinet says, Nah, do one??

    Incredible
    Yup, this part of our constitution is based on a letter to The Times in 1950.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascelles_Principles
    That shows that the Queen can refuse and I would suggest all three of the conditions for her refusal exist.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,719
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Leon said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Leon said:

    Can the PM really call a GE by himself without the approval of his party?

    We do have a wacky constitution

    Yup.
    Even if his entire Cabinet says, Nah, do one??

    Incredible
    Yup, this part of our constitution is based on a letter to The Times in 1950.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascelles_Principles
    That makes perfect sense.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    eek said:

    Michael Savage
    @michaelsavage
    ·
    2m
    In hindsight, the fact Johnson turned up to the liaison committee tells us a lot about his state of mind. He genuinely thought he could style this out.

    No choice, a no show would have been a de facto resignation
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,247
    rottenborough said:

    The Queen will not allow a dissolution in these circumstances - I am rock solid sure on that.

    The 1922 are about to organize a VONC he will lose and the Cabinet are about to withdraw support.

    If he goes to the Palace in these circumstances he is virtually no longer PM and she will stall somehow.

    In these circumstances granting a request would be more political than refusing it.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 22,107
    Shades of Trump, with HM playing the Pence role.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 63,825
    Speaking as someone not averse to a bit of personal storification, I wonder if Boris has one eye on that memoir advance

    The more spectacularly chaotic and bizarre he makes his departure, the more publishers will clamour to buy his tell-all autobiography - and the more they will pay

    This week will make the perfect ending - to volume one
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 55,550
    BlancheLivermore said:

    BlancheLivermore said:

    New education secretary also in delegation at No 10

    Camilla Turner
    @camillahmturner
    BREAKING: Michelle Donelan, the newly appointed Education Secretary, is part of the delegation of Cabinet ministers who have gone to Downing Street to tell the PM the game is up
    https://twitter.com/camillahmturner/status/1544711794899419136
    Will they even have been assigned their Ministerial cars yet?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,247
    I like he showed up to the committee. He thought he was winning this fight didnt he?
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,942
    Jonathan said:

    The Tories are not fit for office.

    Indeed! A loooooooong period of opposition for the Tories is needed IMO.
  • eekeek Posts: 30,868
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Leon said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Leon said:

    Can the PM really call a GE by himself without the approval of his party?

    We do have a wacky constitution

    Yup.
    Even if his entire Cabinet says, Nah, do one??

    Incredible
    Yup, this part of our constitution is based on a letter to The Times in 1950.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascelles_Principles
    1) if the existing Parliament is still "vital, viable, and capable of doing its job",
    2) if a general election would be "detrimental to the national economy", and
    3) if the Sovereign could "rely on finding another prime minister who could govern for a reasonable period with a working majority in the House of Commons".

    point 2 is supposedly irrelevant now but surely points 1 and 3 hold - it would just require the Tory Party to hold a coronation rather than an election...
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 67,188
    FrankBooth said:

    BartholomewRoberts said:

    David Herdson on Twitter makes an amusing point. https://twitter.com/DavidHerdson/status/1544708292454268929?t=b5Zyvw9yBl3ZFZrpKWh9JQ&s=19

    Boris requesting and HMQ approving an early election would end up with the Tories worse than decimated and probably a 1997 style Labour landslide.

    It ain't happening. But would almost be funny if it did.

    Why won't it happen? Nick Palmer has made the point that Gordon Brown threatened an election to Labour MPs who were trying to remove him. Unfortunately we have a very elderly and frail monarch who even in her prime would always act on the advice of her prime minister. I wonder what her son is thinking about it all?
    She has a higher duty to protect the constitution from abuse and this is abuse and her advisors will be telling her that. She's not that frail.

    Anyway by time Johnson's car makes its way through traffic to Windsor he will no longer command the House and she can see him to accept his resignation.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 99,247
    Surprised loyalists haven't just blamed the foreign office mandarin who escalated the Pincher story for all this
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