This is a discussion on Who was Britain's greatest Prime Minister? within the United Kingdom Politics & Political Forum forums, part of the United Kingdom Political Forums category; Originally Posted by Marxist Nutter Well Brown is just as elected as any other PM. Don't see your point?? Brown ...
Conservative Member
Brown has never stood as leader of his party during election time.Originally Posted by Marxist Nutter
But you are right, no Prime Minister has been directly elected.
Senior MP
No, he isn't actually. Did we have a General Election to vote him in as Prime Minister? No - he threatened one for a while, but bottled it in the end; like he's bottled everything else.
He was put into power as PM because of a deal with Blair - end of. WE never got the chance to vote one way or the other. Still, he HAS to go the country fairly soon, thank God; then we can show the self serving git the door.
Do you hear that? That's the sound of no one caring - anon
Senior MP
How can they not be? They go to the country as leaders of their party and WE vote them into office as Prime Minister - so, to me, we DO elect them to the office of PM.
Do you hear that? That's the sound of no one caring - anon
Conservative Member
That is not direct.
Direct is like voting for the President of the USA. There is a vote for that particular leader. We dont have that.
The PM is just the leader of the largest party.
Senior MP
Aha, right got you. I personally think it should be like they have it in the US; after all the Prime Minister has most of the say, so we should vote for them directly rather than their party - IMO anyway.
Do you hear that? That's the sound of no one caring - anon
Couldn't agree with that more, Trouble. It would lessen corruption and give people more democratic choice in who they vote for. Unfortunately, the party in power is by definition the one best at manipulating the current system, and so they will almost certainly never change it... There are also some who say that the US system causes too much of a legislative 'log jam'. Opinions?
Senior MP
Ah yes agree there - and whoever is power usually decides they don't like change once there as it may threaten their position. Not sure about the 'log jam' argument, but I suppose we're none of us satisfied with our voting systems regardless of what they are.
Oh and just wanted to say you're doing a good job on the modding - so I apologise for my objections.But do you think you could change Gromit? I find that picture very threatening. Mind you I suppose it could be argued he makes me behave.
Do you hear that? That's the sound of no one caring - anon
Senior MP
No Prime Minister has ever been voted in at a General Election.
Scotia me genuit. Gallia me docuit. Comitatus Lanarkiensis me tenet.
Senior MP
Thanks for letting me know, but someone has already pointed out where I was getting mixed up. Of course you're right. Shame though as I think we should be able to vote a PM in.
Do you hear that? That's the sound of no one caring - anon
Chancellor
The danger with doing that is that often personality and charisma carry more sway with the public than political ability, the very thing that a PM needs more than anything else. I'm not saying personality isn't important, it obviously is, but the present system of a party leader/PM being voted in by the party itself removes that element from the process.
It's for the same reason that I'm in favour of having a voting list in the constituencies rather than voting for individual MPs; again that can distort the votes in favour of people rather than parties and policies.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised 'for the good of its victims' may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us 'for our own good' will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C.S. Lewis
Senior MP
The problem is though is that, like with Brown, deals can be done to elect the person promised the job - not the best person for it. Brown only became PM because he'd done a deal with Blair.....that's not democratic on any level.
I think policies should be the main guide for all of us - including the party; not about deals that are done.
Do you hear that? That's the sound of no one caring - anon
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