If Labour lose: two questions
Even though not too long ago I could just see, if I squinted and looked at the polls in the right way, a possibility for Labour to win a majority. Even I have now stopped clutching at straws and mixing my metaphors, and it seems at least possible that Labour will be in a coalition with the LibDems, who may insist that Gordon Brown step down as PM, or that we will be in opposition.
If Gordon steps down as PM, does he have to step down as party leader? Is it possible for us to have a party leader who is not the PM? How would the PM be approved by the party? Does Harriet Harman automatically become caretaker leader? Basically, what happens?
If we are in opposition, am I right in thinking that we return to electing members of the shadow cabinet?
I’m going to tag Peter Kenyon, Tom Watson and Luke Akehurst as they’re far more knowledgeable about the workings of the Labour party than I am.
xD.
May 1st, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Rulebook says “When the party is in government and the party leader is prime minister and the
party leader, for whatever reason,
becomes permanently unavailable, the
Cabinet shall, in consultation with the
NEC, appoint one of its members to serve
as party leader until a ballot under these
rules can be carried out.” i.e. not necessarily the Deputy.
In opposition the PLP is entitled to elect the Shadow Cabinet but there have been press stories speculating Gordon would ask the first PLP meeting to suspend this standing order so he could reappoint most former ministers in interests of continuity.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 pm
Thanks, comrade!