tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post9068373916819657485..comments2024-01-13T10:12:47.756+00:00Comments on Ranting Stan: As one loser bows out, another slips inUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-73774325326233818762023-09-11T17:09:51.842+01:002023-09-11T17:09:51.842+01:00This waas great to readThis waas great to readVladhttps://vlad-darklord.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-22343185877498756572010-05-12T07:13:42.159+01:002010-05-12T07:13:42.159+01:00I'm aware of that, Senior - which is why I put...I'm aware of that, Senior - which is why I put "unelected" in quotes.<br /><br />I don't agree, FB.<br /><br />Whatever peoples perceptions of the system (and however wrong those perceptions are), the PM is not elected by the people - he is chosen by MPs. We do not elect MPs - we do not choose the government. All we do is choose our representative in parliament - and nothing else.<br /><br />Cameron has no more legitimacy as PM than Brown.<br /><br />However, my point wasn't about "legitimacy" or lack of it - it was about the fact that both Brown and Cameron have become PM without either having won a general election and the suspicion I have that the media will not make half as much fuss about Cameron's "unelected" status as they did over Brown's.Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15007863347348182876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-63145243142970902412010-05-12T06:18:50.225+01:002010-05-12T06:18:50.225+01:00As you say, Mr Stan, we do not and cannot elect a ...As you say, Mr Stan, we do not and cannot elect a Prime Minister directly; in that sense it is meaningless to talk of either an elected or an unelected PM. <br /><br />But it is fair to describe a party leader who wins a majority as an "elected" PM because all those who voted for candidates of his party knew that a majority of seats would mean he would be PM. If they liked their local candidate and/or the party but loathed the prospective PM they could vote against or abstain. I am sure there was much of this in 1992 when Labour offered Kinnock. <br /><br />Once someone takes over mid-Parliament he does not have the personal democratic legitimacy his predecessor had. If, like Gordon, he then puts everything in motion for a GE but chickens out he weakens his legitimacy. <br /><br />Cameron is an elected PM in that he was a party leader at the election. That gives him one strand of legitimacy. His party won more seats than any other. That gives him a second strand. His party won more votes than any other, that gives him a third. He has brokered a deal capable, at least for the moment, of avoiding votes of confidence; that gives him a fourth. <br /><br />It's not the same as winning a clear majority, but someone will be PM and he has more legitimacy than anyone else.TheFatBigothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17255526385076528633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-63277813996994541922010-05-11T23:32:00.418+01:002010-05-11T23:32:00.418+01:00All prime ministers are elected by their constitue...All prime ministers are elected by their constituents. None are elected by people in other constituencies.Seniorhttp://seniorspeaks.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-34176596396557288862010-05-11T22:13:41.986+01:002010-05-11T22:13:41.986+01:00Good point Stan! lol
Mind you, The Guardian colum...Good point Stan! lol<br /><br />Mind you, The Guardian columnists aren't the most logical of thinkers.<br /><br />George Monbiot?<br /><br />Okay, I used an extreme example. <br /><br />Regardless of whether or not Cameron will be of any use, it's music to my ears to hear that Gorgon has left the building.<br /><br />Keep up the good work Stan - your posts have been excellent.Lightf00thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06877243443796054197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-80077731470584815532010-05-11T21:35:41.204+01:002010-05-11T21:35:41.204+01:00I thought the Grauniad had come out in support of ...I thought the Grauniad had come out in support of the Lib Dems - in which case they've got the best they could have realistically hoped for.<br /><br />If they criticise it now then they're basically saying "we know nothing".<br /><br />Which, of course, they don't - but they are hardly likely to admit it are they?Stanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15007863347348182876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34993014.post-40655827576599048582010-05-11T21:23:39.601+01:002010-05-11T21:23:39.601+01:00I'm sure Guardian will give him a hard time, a...I'm sure Guardian will give him a hard time, as will the CIFers.Lightf00thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06877243443796054197noreply@blogger.com