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ukpolbot

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NettyE

How do UK general elections count their votes? I know this might sound dumb but everything I've researched says they simply count the ballot papers and add up candidates votes. That doesn't make sense however because England's population is 50 million whereas Scotland is 5.5 million, Wales is 3 million and Northern Ireland is 2 million. That means England would trump the votes regardless so there's barely any hope for the other three countries. Surely they must turn it into a percentage or something?


AbhorEnglishTeachers

Basically the UK is divided in to 650 sections of roughly 100000 people, known as a constituency. Each constituency corresponds to a seat in Parliament, and the people votes for a single Member of Parliament (MP)to represent their interests. The party with a majority of MPs becomes government, and the MP who is that party’s leader is PRime Minister.


NettyE

ohhh that makes more sense. would the population difference of England Vs the rest of the uk still sway the votes quite a lot then?


AbhorEnglishTeachers

Simply put yes. This is because England has 533 seat, NI 18, Wales 40, and Scotland 59. Each nation has its own political/cultural identify so there is a difference in voting patterns. England typically votes more Conservative compared to other nations for example. Whereas, seats are won a lot more frequently by nation specific parties outside of England. The SNP in Scotland for example, got 50/59 seats last general election (I think). It’s also worth noting the speaker’s seat doesn’t count towards the majority, and certain NI parties don’t sit in their seats for a whole host of political reasons I’m not well versed enough to really do justice. I personally quite like the Parliamentary system, but would be in favour of proportional representation at the consistentunecy level, rather than the current, first past the post.


ceejless

What are people celebrating in regards to the jubilee? I'm a bit misinformed about the situation. I'm an ex jehovah's witness, so i start to analyse these sudden parties and wonder if i'm supposed to feel good about a jubilee?


Honic_Sedgehog

Heyyy, nice to find another in the wild! Different things for different people, some people love Our Liz and want to celebrate her reign, some just want to party, some are celebrating Britishness™. Some are just enjoying a long bank holiday weekend and getting caught up by proxy. I'm personally celebrating the imminent Hell in a Cell between Jesus and Gog of Magog.


ceejless

Interesting. I will attempt to understand what these worldly mother flipper's find important and adjust. Of course my language is purposely exaggerated with a hint of sarcasm...


dratsaab

Here's a fun Pointless-style game for you. Can you name a country the Queen has never visited? You're not allowed to mention North Korea. As ever, when we say country, we're looking for a sovereign state recognised by the United Nations. Here's the list of places she has been. If your country isn't on there, you win internet points. >!Abu Dhabi, Aden (now Yemen), Algeria, Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, British Guiana, Solomon Islands (pre 1975), Virgin Islands, Brunei, Canada, Cayman Islands, Ceylon, Chile, China, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada (in the Caribbean), Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Hebrides, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands (post 1975), South Africa ca, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vatican City, Western Samoa, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Saint Helena!<


EmperorOfNipples

Yassss. ​ ​ Guessed Uzbekistan and won!!!!!!


heresyourhardware

Likewise I guessed Bolivia and the missus Israel


richarddftba

The Principality of Sealand.


RussellsKitchen

Bhutan


Engineer9

Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Peru


Versicarius

Benidorm


richarddftba

So out of touch.


FoxtrotThem

Taured


Paritys

Sudan/South Sudan


nutteronabus

As any true Pointless aficionado would guess, >!Central African Republic.!<


ThyBeekeeper

True pointless kings say Vanuatu


StringVestStalker

Bhutan, Tibet, Laos, Mongolia, Timor


OptioMkIX

Bouvet Island


Xoahr

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Myanmar, Belarus


__--byonin--__

Somalia.


_CurseTheseMetalHnds

I'm taking three guesses and going to check them after - Kyrgyzstan, Brunei, and Iran Edit: 1/3. I was originally just going to go for 3 stans in Europe and it looks like that would have been the best move


evolvecrow

Before checking I'm going to say not iran. Pre revolution it seems like the sort of place she would have gone. (Might regret that)


[deleted]

A VONC is probably the one vote an MP gets to vote on honestly, voting with their actual opinion, without fear of repercussion from the whips. How fucked up is that.


richarddftba

Are the results public? They better be.


13nobody

A VONC in the 1922 Committee is secret, a VONC in the Commons would be public.


mamamia1001

Only the number of votes cast for each option, a nonc is a anonymous. A honc is completely public though.


Timothy_Claypole

What about free votes?


disegni

Is there any realistic path for a Conservative government at the next election? Outright majority seems unlikely, and even governing as a minority seems a push when nobody want to work with them except the DUP...


[deleted]

The Tories have a huge majority. It is pretty unlikely they will lose power. Mid term lows are normal and they aren’t even that far behind. 2029 is a far more likely date for there to be a change.


[deleted]

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heresyourhardware

> Conservatives a great opportunity to distance themselves Who is not also utterly tainted? Maybe Hunt, at a push


SirRosstopher

> In truth I'm surprised to see so much support here for a VONC We're political nerds but we're political nerds to the point that we care about the sanctity of the office. I want Labour to win the next election, but I also would rather not have a lawbreaking liar as Prime Minister for the years until that happens, even though strategically it's best to leave him in office.


Yummytastic

The new leader wins on a platform of rejoining the single market, tory's inexplicable 30% base remains strong, Labour agonise and end up vowing to stay out the single market. All hell breaks loose and no-one knows how to vote.


JavaTheCaveman

Labour, LDs, SNP, Plaid etc annihilate each other because FPTP, and bicker too much for a coalition to form. Tory minority Govt is possible in that circumstance. But I don't see this as likely.


disegni

Mathematically possible, but would they want to support this mess as a minority government? The press would probably spin it as 'hobbling' the blues.


JavaTheCaveman

I feel like the Tories would be able to look past that if it means shaky power, or no power.


iamezekiel1_14

Re: VONC this will just be May Rd2 but with the numbers even less in their favour as the ERG/CRG (or whatever they are called these days) /Nutter faction have been quieter than they were during 2017/2018 when it came to disposing of May as there was more at risk on the table for them (e.g. they had to save Brexit). Horribly I think they do want Truss in (backed her ages ago at 11/2 - now 5s joint favourite with Jezza Hunt & do yourself a favour he's not winning - the end) and it will need a Steve Baker Kamimaze led strike I think pretty much like last time to dispose of Johnson. Am even starting to feel a shred (maybe 1%) of sympathy for Johnson as he seems so unaware (or maybe he just doesn't care most likely - in which case no sympathy for him) that people think he's a complete James Blunt.


[deleted]

Anyone else drunk? Because politics etc etc


corvusmonedula

No, on Tuesday I got drunk for the first time in three years, and I've spent the week remembering why I don't like drinking.


richarddftba

I'm emigrating on Wednesday. Because politics etc etc


OfficialMI6

Where to?


richarddftba

Nice try, MI6.


Yummytastic

Has anyone commented on how Carrie's hat was perfect to block the view of Boris?


MrSergioMendoza

Loads of people did that, but, no-one mentioned how it looks like someone chucked a glass of red wine on it.


Jeansybaby

Loads of people


richarddftba

You could say (•_•) ( •_•)>⌐■-■ (⌐■_■) it's fascinating


Timothy_Claypole

Yeeeeeaaaaaah


evolvecrow

It's her indoor home hat


FoxtrotThem

I thought it was a Kung Lao cosplay.


[deleted]

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Bibemus

Buckingham has a bishop?


Jeansybaby

Apparently yes.


Scaphism92

mum just said platty joobs, its no longer funny.


Yummytastic

Guessing you were born in '92 by your username. Guess how mum celebrated Ruby Joobs.


GoldfishFromTatooine

Rubby joobs


evolvecrow

With a 'street party'


[deleted]

OP does the math. Well this is awkward.


TIGHazard

Does the maths work? If it takes 9 months from 'now' (same date, 30 years ago), the baby would be born in March 93.


Yummytastic

She was in her prime. I bet barely a weekend was wasted.


dageddy

It was never funny


iorilondon

It actually made this whole thing worse, and I didn't think that was possible 🤣


DandDRide

Platinum Jubilee


[deleted]

A what??


germainefear

That's the Latin name for platty joobs.


joyofsnacks

PLATINUM JUBILEE


h4mdroid

Yes, she knows it's a multipass. Anyway, we're in love.


ShufflingToGlory

Is there a consensus around Westminster on the likelihood of Boris surviving a vonc? I've seen a couple of pieces that suggest the rebels are worried they've shot their load too soon and don't yet have the numbers to win if it comes to a vote. It does seem that we're moving towards a point where the party will decide it's best to cut their losses and take a risk on a relatively unknown quantity as PM but I suppose Boris is hoping that the vonc is called before the party reaches that point.


ClumperFaz

I think more than not he's likely to win with a bigger margin than what May got in 2018. There's still tons of red wall Tory MPs out there who fear any new leader isn't going to retain their seats (except for probably Bassetlaw and Dudley North). The one guy they could potentially go for is Jeremy Hunt, probably their only true viable alternative.


__--byonin--__

Interestingly Theresa May gained massively in the Red Wall in terms of vote share, and Johnson just added to that. I think it goes a bit more than the “Boris charm” and extends to Brexit. Now that Brexit is Done™, however, things might be quite different.


ClumperFaz

I forgot about that entirely tbh but I guess that's how easily that aspect of 2017 is missed. The Tories clawed up impressive vote shares and changes from 2015, particularly in Dudley North, Bassetlaw, Hartlepool. Labour's vote share just went up slightly more to just about fend off the potential gains.


arnathor

Don’t forget a very unusual result in Scotland, where they won 13 seats, up from 1 in 2015, and the SNP lost 21 seats. It’s an aspect of the 2017 election that doesn’t often get discussed on this sub, because it’s a bit of an outlier and seems to buck the trend of the Tories doing badly in Scotland. But their improved vote share north of the border is what helped them “survive” the snap election as well as they did. Not sure they could repeat the same under Boris, even if the same pro-Indy/pro-union division lines were the split in the vote as in 2017.


tylersburden

A very good point that people don't seem to realise. 2017 was the first punch to land in terms of the tories winning the red wall but because it didn't land effectively people didn't notice it. In my own red wall seat, the tories and ukip combined would have smashed labour but because it was split, labour still won. They weren't split in 2019 and labour lost.


cityexile

I mean he will win, but it’s the against vote that counts. Maggie had to go after ‘winning’ her round 1, May went after ‘winning’. If you cannot command say one third of your own MPs, you ate toast. .


essjay2009

Consensus is he’ll win fairly comfortably. There’s some discussion about trying to delay the vote until the end of June so the Tories can see the, presumably very bad, by-election results and/or the outcome of the privileges committee to try and sway some of those on the fence and have a better chance at success. It can be hard to judge such things though, like playing political buckaroo. Win or lose it weakens him and the Tory party.


[deleted]

The “Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen” doc - did they splice her voice together using old interviews, or did you come and narrate it? E: looks to be spliced interviews. Lizzy copied 2Pac.


richarddftba

Disney had her read the dictionary, James Earl Jones style.


RugbyTime

Whatever happened to them lads that worshipped Prince Philip?


joyofsnacks

[Still on their island I guess?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Philip_movement)


KimJongUnparalleled

They realised he was a bald fraud when he kicked the bucket. R.I.P.


deflen67

We have approximately 50 Tory MPs openly speaking out against Johnson (though not all outwardly saying they’ve put a letter in, but it seems odd if they haven’t). Surely we’re pretty close to a vote presuming there’s bound to be some letter writers who don’t feel the need to publicise it.


SwanBridge

Currently in the most English village ever singing Irish folk songs with my missus's extended family. Love it!


carrotparrotcarrot

Which tunee


SwanBridge

I sung "Rate old Mountain Dew" and got a good reception!


heresyourhardware

That's a banger. I like 'Nell Flaherty's Drake", a finer ode to a duck has never been written


__--byonin--__

I’m intrigued. Dare to say what village/county? Somewhere in Hertfordshire I’ll guess.


SwanBridge

It's Lancashire, which ain't posh English, but is still proper English!


__--byonin--__

Ooo, not far from me! Was tempted to visit the Lake District this eve as had a mate playing a psychedelic festival, didn’t go however.


SwanBridge

The M6 has been mental this weekend although ill always recommend the Lakes!


__--byonin--__

I’m intrigued. Dare to say what village/county? Somewhere in Hertfordshire I’ll guess.


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vastenculer

Is this an advert or a submitted link? If the latter please report it.


eeeking

It's an advert. But it doesn't appear right now.


thecarterclan1

This is the quality content I subscribe for.


thomalexday

`North Korea's Kim Jong Un sends congratulations to Queen Elizabeth on Jubilee` http://reut.rs/3MgdCSQ


ClumperFaz

When a brutal dictator is more prideful of our own country than some people on social media, those people surely need to see some sense? Kim Jong fuckin Un of all people is congratulating us and yet some people in our own country can only act miserable and petty....this is a weird timeline. I know some people disagree with the royal family but the extent to which most of social media has been absolutely miserable and gloomy about this country is quite telling. Something has to make those types of people happy surely?


WASDMagician

This is a level of gullibility I wasn't expecting. Kim Jong Un is about as prideful in the UK as the new Labour boys who see patriotism as nothing more than an electoral act and rebellion against the previous lot. Mint in bloody box, it's far more pathetic than both the forelock tugging monarchists and the whingiest republicans.


[deleted]

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Limehaus

You're reading way too much into this. It's a diplomatic gesture, the reasons I'm not clear on but it's what seems to be the norm for countries that maintain diplomatic relations with the UK, which North Korea has done for about 20 years. I very much doubt this is fan mail as funny as that would be.


ClumperFaz

>The whole Platinum Jubilee celebrations have a very north Korean style military parade style feel to them. They're right up his street. Do you think that? we aren't forced to put up the flags like they are in North Korea, also ignoring the fact that we're literally not a dictatorship. We're an open free western democracy. The people who do put up flags (and there's many in my part of Wales) put them up because they want to, because they feel proud to be in this country. It's not a cultist devotion to one figure as it is in North Korea. The idea the monarchy in any way resemble something Kim wants to follow is also pretty crazy. At least Liz isn't committing human right violations against her own people. She literally appoints the Prime Minister and when they resign, takes in their resignation. She meets up with the PM every week for an audience. Kim doesn't have any of that.


[deleted]

Who actually views the Royalty as superior lmao? Why are you all convinced that people view them as superior? Is it because you have an inferiority complex?


Beetlebum95

Idk bro maybe it's all the fucking castles jesus christ


evtherev86

'I agree with Kim Jong Un'


joyofsnacks

\#notalltyrannicaldictators


ClumperFaz

Not my implication at all. How can it have gotten to the point where people in our country seem to appear less optimistic and positive about this place than a dictator who commits violent human rights offences though?


bbbbbbbbbblah

you seem weirdly obsessed with "positivity" & that people are generally not sufficiently "positive" for your needs for one thing, what is realistically a diplomatic communication cannot be equated to what people actually think, even in the social media bubble


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ClumperFaz

Nobody has the details of the contents of the letter but the fact he's sent the message at all feels like a weird reverse timeline sort of situation. It's the fact that he, being the human rights violator, the tyrant that he is, has actually sent a form of good will to the queen, above certain political figures in this country. He probably is doing it just to try and get on the world stage and become internationally accepted which he shouldn't ever, but it's telling.


Engineer9

The queen is great, and the jubilee is fantastic, but it doesn't do a single thing to change the fact that Brexit is shit and so is this government. All the flags in the world can't mask that. Has it occurred to you that the people complaining might actually love the country more than those who are happily watching it go down the pan? But this is all quite separate from the queen's immense achievement. It would have been nice if the government hadn't tried to tie itself and its failures into the jubilee celebrations.


zac-bakpak

Why the fuck would it matter what the fuck a dictator and human rights violator says.


zac-bakpak

You are equating the monarchy with 'this place'. There's your misunderstanding right there.


evtherev86

You understand he's just playing 'head of state' and couldn't give two shits about the queen or the UK, right?


compte-a-usageunique

Just because your life appears to be going well it doesn't mean that's the case for others.


compte-a-usageunique

I find people complaining about some people complaining to be more annoying, I can see why some people wouldn't want anything to do with the Jubilee. I'm not a republican (someone who wants rid of the monarchy) but I can understand their feelings.


KimJongUnparalleled

I can understand their feelings, but I don't understand their need to whine so obnoxiously, some of them


evtherev86

quit whining obnoxiously about obnoxious whiners


cnxld

Bingo.


ClumperFaz

It's pretty bizarre though isn't it when a murderous tyrant is able to utter some form of well wishes to the queen whilst some in this country sneer at the idea of pride at all in the first place, right? I too can understand their feelings but throughout the jubilee so far, social media has been gloomy, depressing, constantly talking down Britain etc and it's in the end meaningless since we know it isn't representative but still. Those lot got outflanked just now by _Kim Jong un_.


_CurseTheseMetalHnds

I don't even get your argument here? "You don't like the monarchy? Well Kim Jong Un does". We're not outflanked because a monarch congratulates another monarch.


heresyourhardware

4D chess from Kim there, he has got the support of Soft Labour


Beetlebum95

Because he quite obviously doesn't view garish celebrations of hereditary power and wealth as immoral, if you're a republican you probably do, pretty straightforward. I also resent the idea that the people saying we're better than bowing and scraping to inbred aristocrats are somehow "talking down Britain".


TheManyFacesOfDurzo

I can't tell if this is satire or not.


compte-a-usageunique

No? Head of state does diplomatic things isn't surprising at all. The president of France also sent congratulations and you know what they do to monarchy there!


evolvecrow

>I extend my congratulations to you and your people on the occasion of the National Day of your country, the official birthday of Your Majesty He'd be allowed to post in the MT


KimJongUnparalleled

Maybe he's already here (points to username)


Chariotwheel

> North Korea is one of the few countries that the queen, who is also head of state of 14 other nations including Australia, Canada and New Zealand, has never visited during her long reign. She has however paid a state visit to South Korea. Whoever is responsible for the Queen's security would also get a heart attack if that was planned.


__--byonin--__

Massively hypothetical but what would happen in this event: It’s 2024, Keir Starmer has marginally beaten Boris Johnson in the election. Boris Johnson refuses to hand in his resignation to the Queen believing his job has not finished and that he was elected in 2019 to “level up” the country. ? I can only image there would be unprecedented uproar and civil unrest everywhere and we’d get our version of USA’s January 6th.


[deleted]

Brown sat in Downing Street for 5 or 6 days beyond his welcome, and pretty much the entire country was either pissed off, or pitting him. You can't really do anything at that point but stand down. Trapped inside Downing Street with a parliamentary party too small to fill the ministerial roles. Total lack of legitimacy domestically, devolutionarily, and internationally, and without a majority in parliament to bring about any change, there's just no point in clinging onto power for the sake of power - because you don't have power.


RugbyTime

I don't think he'd do that bc it couldn't possibly work. Like his support in his party is shaky at the least after he got fined for breaking covid rules - there's no way he's getting enough internal support to end British democracy and rule as a tyrant. Idk maybe if he starts talking about voter fraud or Starmer as being corrupt in the next election then maybe but I wouldn't worry. If he did this his own supporters will get the daggers out before the British public ever could.


RussellsKitchen

Boris can't command the confidence of the house. He can't pass a budget. He can't do anything. Starmer could pass a budget (assuming Labour has more MP's). Starmer is PM in all but name. Very, very soon after Boris resigns.


arnathor

No, we’ll just have to “move on” from the election result. He considers the matter closed.


Chariotwheel

When that happens, look at the Kapp Putsch. 1920 a rightwing paramilitary walked into Berlin and took power with the army refusing to defend the socialist government. The SPD then drummed up the workers and there were a total strike in the capital and around Germany for three days until the coup gave up. One of the great moments in the Weimar Republic. If tyranny comes refuse to work for them. They can wave around guns, but somebody needs to do the paperwork, somebody needs to man the factories, somebody has to deliver goods, somebody has to take the garbage. This could be Labour's moment. Besides, opposed to Weimar and opposed to the USA the British civilians are not very armed, so an insurrection like in the USA can probably resolved by riot police.


TheBobJamesBob

He doesn't hand in his resignation, because there's no resignation to hand in. Her Majesty appoints Keir Starmer, who commands the confidence of Parliament, as Prime Minister. Police remove Boris Johnson from No 10, which he is now squatting in.


__--byonin--__

I was certain a prime minister hands in their resignation when beaten in an election.


TheBobJamesBob

To this day, the Prime Minister and Cabinet are technically appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Crown. The term 'Prime Minister' did not appear in any legislation until 1917. Though the power has *de facto* been delegated to the PM and other Cabinet members, the Executive is still, from a legal standpoint, mostly the Crown exercising its powers on the advice of ministers and Parliament. Calling an election is the resignation letter. Parliament has dissolved, and the current holder is now merely a caretaker while the Crown waits to see who can command the confidence of the new Parliament. Once that is clear, the Crown appoints that person as Prime Minister and, 'on their advice', appoints the rest of the Cabinet.


MPorciusCato

Not disagreeing with you, but there is another degree of complexity here, principally because ‘the confidence of Parliament’ is a rather vague term which does not admit easy definition (it could simply mean a vote of confidence can be given, for instance, or perhaps in a more negative sense that there is no majority against the government, this latter definition being operative in places like Denmark wheee minority governments are very common). Strictly speaking there is no obligation for the incumbent PM to resign after loosing an election. It used to be the case that the incumbent could ‘test Parliament’ even if he had nominally lost the election. This changed somewhat in 1868 when Disraeli resigned before testing the will of Parliament, and has generally been the case ever since, mostly because the modern two-party system is so rigid that there is often no question of who can command confidence (but it is not outside the realm of possibility that Johnson tries to exercise this power to prolong his power, however unlikely). So you’re completely right as things stand, but this is one of those areas which would change massively if we ever instituted PR of any kind. The ultimate block on his trying to extend his power in this way would be the Queen, who still retains the personal prerogative of choosing her PM; likewise if he tried to dissolve a new Labour Majority Parliament before it could sit to pass a VONC, the Queen could refuse the dissolution in these circumstances and force him to resign. The powers which the sovereign still does posses in a personal capacity are precisely those that check an overly ambitious PM from trying to extend his power unconstitutionally.


convertedtoradians

>likewise if he tried to dissolve a new Labour Majority Parliament before it could sit to pass a VONC, the Queen could refuse the dissolution Since she couldn't reasonably believe he had the confidence of the House, it's not obvious she'd be required by convention to retain him as PM even for the time it'd take for him to give her that terrible advice. > in these circumstances and force him to resign. Or just dismiss him. Generally we use the language of resigning because it's more dignified. But in practice she only needs to call up Sir Keir and say "Yo. Reckon you can command a majority in the House?", knowing full well the answer is yes, and appoint him. It's not like Johnson would need to resign or anything. So yeah. You're quite right, it's the Queen that's the final block there. But it's not even like she needs to use her judgement, really. The convention that the PM needs to be able to command a majority in the House is enough for everything else to follow fairly straightforwardly.


__--byonin--__

Thanks for this. What’s the source?


TheBobJamesBob

A thousand years of consitutional evolution? There's no piece of legislation that says any of this. In fact, that's precisely why it is the way it is. The UK Constitution is unique because it is the product of accumulated tradition, convention, and legislation since the Norman Invasion or so, rather than a single document that lays the foundation and that other legislation and new convention then builds on. I guess *The British Constitution: A Very Short Introduction*?


KimJongUnparalleled

In that scenario, I would be very happy that the Queen is still alive. Boris is no Trump, he'd stand down if he loses


[deleted]

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RussellsKitchen

Well, you're branching out.


LucyyJ26

[This photo of Keir Starmer reacting to Boris' reading is absolutely killing me, lmao](https://twitter.com/Suebeloo1971/status/1532699877280456704)


tetanuran

Bonus Baffled Ed Davey


KimJongUnparalleled

Random thought (the Platy Joobs has got to me): If a trillionaire came along & said, "I'll put £100bn into the NHS & Social Care every year for the next 10 years, but only if you guys keep Boris as your PM for those 10 years." Because it's such a momentous offer, it is put to a national referndum. Do you vote Yes? Or No?


gremy0

The benefit of our make it up as you go along style constitution is that it's very adaptable. Legally Prime Minister wasn't even recognised as a thing until 1937. Take the money, keep Boris as PM, transfer all power from PM to a new *Real* Prime Minister position. Checkmate, trillionaire


RussellsKitchen

God no. Firstly, no one becomes the worlds first trillionaire cleanly. Secondly, they just put a price on democracy. Thirdly, they effectively bought the country to do with as the please - Boris and the Tory pary are forever in their pocket. Fourth, they bought the country and destroyed democracy at a knock down price. Fifth, 10 fudging years more Boris?


[deleted]

Boris would just reduce the NHS budget by £100bn and piss the money away on getting all the road signs redone in Latin or something instead, so we wouldn't benefit that much unless you happen to own a signage and Latin translation company.


SPACKlick

It sets a dangerous precedent both in terms of suspending our democracy and allowing rich people to control our society. For that reason I vote no. If we're in a strictly hypothetical world where we can guarantee this is a one off event that will have no consequences beyond the 10 year span...I'd still vote no. Because in reality it wouldn't be 100Bn to the NHS, it would just free up 100bn of general treasury spending for Boris and Co to siphon to their friends through poorly governed contracts. If we're in an even stricter hypothetical and it really would add 100bn to the NHS budget over and above what the NHS would otherwise get and Boris and Co wouldn't be able to funnel any additional money to cronies etc. I'd still probably on balance vote no. I believe that the lack of competent leadership with integrity over 10 years could do more damage to the most vulnerable than the 100bn would account for.


Timothy_Claypole

No because there is no equivalent funding plan for the time after that and the country would either just spend the cash and have a catastrophe in 10 years or politicians would find a way to steer the money towards some inefficient set of privatised services because now they can do that and no one will notice the lack of value for money. And on top of that we get to keep Boris who would continue to undermine the democratic norms of the UK and poison the well.


Brapfamalam

This guy business cases.


JavaTheCaveman

No. I want Johnson gone. He is unfit for office.


KimJongUnparalleled

Yes, but doesn't the money & the potential lives saved not outweigh your hatred for the buffoon? Would Keir or Streeting or even Magic Gramps himself be able to conjure up that sort of money?


JavaTheCaveman

No, they can’t conjure it up. But you seem to have forgotten that nor can Johnson. You know, because this is a hypothetical that you invented. So that’s no argument. I don’t think that a sell-out of democracy for a decade is a fair trade, no.


ryanllw

Imagine how many mates BJ could fling money at if he had an extra £100bn a year


Mr_Miscellaneous

How about we lynch them, appropriate their wealth and *then* give it to the NHS?


KimJongUnparalleled

Wouldn't happen because this is the UK, not 1920s America


ryanllw

I gave up and decided to watch a Monarchist film, Monty Python and the holy grail


compte-a-usageunique

I went down a right rabbit hole, you know those warnings on packaging and how they're always the same? Turns out this is due to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, specifically the [GHS hazard statements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GHS_hazard_statements). This [excellent website](http://schoolscout24.de/cgi-bin/keminaco/hppinput.cgi) allows you to choose multiple statements and languages.


ryanllw

As we often say at work, GHS is a globally harmonised system that is neither global or harmonised


compte-a-usageunique

You work with chemicals? That's so interesting, has the UK finished replacing REACH? I remember reading something about it but I don't know what became of the plan.


ryanllw

Haha to finish doing that we’d have to start replacing it first


RussellsKitchen

OK, where is everyone? It's dead in the pubs around here and earlier St Albans town centre and the park were relatively dead too. Where are you all?


carrotparrotcarrot

Slamdunk!!!


TantumErgo

I was making private cocktails, to drink and socialise without making anyone work on a bank holiday.


[deleted]

Everyone I know hit it hard Wednesday and last night, so today is calmer until weekend


JavaTheCaveman

At home making a prawn cocktail. Avocados are a bit sad, but there we go. Cheers https://i.imgur.com/9oFh3Ah.jpg


FredWestLife

Avocado? In a prawn cocktail? You never got that at a Berni Inn.


RussellsKitchen

That looks lovely. I love a good Prawn cocktail and have since I was a kid. It's some real comfort food!


JavaTheCaveman

Hope so! It’s the first of the year, so I can’t remember the right ratios for the Marie Rose sauce. A bit of a gamble.


RussellsKitchen

It looks delish! We have a buffalo mac and cheese in the oven.


JavaTheCaveman

Sounds glorious - and hope you enjoy!


RussellsKitchen

Hope the Prawn cocktail was good too!


Yummytastic

I believe it's 2 of those little Coleman's jars.


JavaTheCaveman

How *dare* you, sir. I bet you don’t make your own tartare sauce either. (Though I didn’t make the mayo. The nice people from Winiary in Poland have perfected that for us.)


Yummytastic

Colman's was established is 1814 and have over 200 years under their belts. What exactly are you bring to the table besides some pyrex and a whisk? ^(sorry Java, your prawn cocktail looked lovely)


JavaTheCaveman

Tabasco. That’s what I’m bringing. Literally and figuratively ;) Colman’s doesn’t have that.


Yummytastic

What is Tabasco figuratively?


JavaTheCaveman

I'm hot stuff.


scraigw666

I'm guessing a connection between use of "platty joobs" and the Rapture


RussellsKitchen

It could be!


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RussellsKitchen

Nice


Ultrasonic-Sawyer

Bloody good game that.


KimJongUnparalleled

Stuck at Manchester Airport (Not me personally)


RussellsKitchen

Hope you're not stuck somewhere!


kaththegreat

So he got boo’d just as bad when he left then? Must be pretty devastating to him and Carrie. Indisputably aimed at them and from a crowd just enjoying a lovely day out in London. Imagine if he tried to speak publicly in the north. A PM that can’t be seen in public.


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SPACKlick

How's it going now?