this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2023
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UK Politics

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I would be amazed if this actually came to fruition. It would paralyze the country yet again while they play party politics. That would be four PMs all from one election result. Four sets of resignation honours lists. yet another round of all change in ministerial positions. What would a new face actually achieve with so little time left in parliament time.

If this looked likely, I could see Sunak doing what Johnson threatened. That would be to call an early election. I firmly believe Sunak is in this for the money with the business interests of his family. If a VONC looked imminent then he has no interests in politics anymore. He knows he will not be the next PM. He will want a get out of jail free option, IMO.

According to polls, a GE would be a wipe out with the Tory party. If Labour step aside for the LD, there is even a possibility that Sunak would loose this own seat. He may not even have to go through the indignant process of resigning while in office.

I can easily see how there could be enough Tory MPs to trigger this. So many who have nothing to loose anymore. Many are stepping down as candidates, and many more who know they will be out of a job. I sincerely hope that if they do pull the trigger then Sunak sees the option of going to the ballot boxes. I can do without the last year of parliament being stagnated by yet more Tory in fighting.

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[–] Byereddithellolemmy@lemmy.world 37 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can we just get a fucking general election already? How many of these Tory cunts do we have to endure before they let the people choose?

[–] Syldon 5 points 1 year ago

The whole country with exception of the Tory grifters want an election.

[–] TheHalc@sopuli.xyz 26 points 1 year ago (3 children)

We desperately need electoral reform.

In a more diverse political landscape like the ones enabled by proportional representation, it's very hard for a single party to be able to reach a majority without coalition partners.

If the Tories had to rely on coalition partners, there's no way they'd have been able to hold a coalition together this long - they can hardly hold their own party together at this point.

[–] Syldon 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I desperately want to see voting reform. I am even considering to join the Labour party to help push for it in there. I hate the two party system. I have become more and more in favour of PR voting while watching the gerrymandering stunts the conservatives are doing in the US. I think we have gotten off lightly. Take some time to watch some:

https://www.youtube.com/@MeidasTouch/videos

and

https://www.youtube.com/@briantylercohen/videos

Both are very much democratic bias. The egregious stunts they have mentioned regarding republican political blocking is obscene. The republicans fund an international organisation called National Conservatism. We could so easily have gone the way the US is now.

[–] chuckleslord@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As an American, I state beyond a reasonable doubt that any step should be taken to break up two party systems. They're never a good idea.

[–] Syldon 5 points 1 year ago

I totally agree.

I hate the two party system in the UK, which is similar to the US. Both are abused in the same fashion. Because it is a FPTP system in the UK, campaigns are focused in the few swing seat areas. This makes taking total control is a very cheap affair comparatively. My area is predominantly Labour biased and has been since the boundary changes in the 1970's. No matter who I vote for I will always have a Labour MP. My current MP is nothing but a grifter. She is only there to vote yes when told to do so.

In the next election I am compelled to vote tactically for our grifter MP, because there is the remote chance that the Tories could snatch the seat. Ideally I would vote LD. The vote share in 2019 was Labour 16k, Tories 12k with the LD on a mere 2k. 2019 was an outlier because of Corbyn and is unlikely to be repeated, but that is closer than I want it to be in any election. LD will not even try to campaign in my area, because there is literally no point. I am stuck to pinching my nose and voting to stop these scumbags getting back in again.

So, I am very much in favour of switching to a PR voting system. This would mean that campaigns have to convince as many as possible. FPTP is a very regressive system in giving the voter base what they want. Voter's opinions for those not in the swing seats are generally ignored. FPTP system also makes a lot vote for what they don't want over what they really want.

[–] catuprisingsociety@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ideally at the GE Labour falls short of a majority and has to form a coalition with the Lib Dems.

Then maybe we will see proportional representation.

[–] smeg 1 points 1 year ago

Lib Dems tried that last time with the AV referendum, IIRC Lab and Con destroyed it

[–] Mrkawfee 4 points 1 year ago

Agreed. FPTP is the reason for all of this. With a proportionate voting system, a Tory majority on 40% of the vote would not have been possible this wretched government would have fallen long ago and there would never have been a revolving door of Prime Ministers, let alone Brexit. FPTP is creating extreme polarization which is creating channels for weakened institutions and brazen corruption.

[–] Ertebolle@kbin.social 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

There's probably a very good comedy sketch to be written about nuclear submarines having to update their doomsday letters over and over and over again.

"Why is 'submarine' spelled with a 'g'?"

"Oh, that's Truss's, you can just toss it in the bin"

[–] TheHalc@sopuli.xyz 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Nuclear submeringue. The new season of Bake Off is getting spicy.

[–] Mallard 3 points 1 year ago

Submarines and Truss have both been troubled by icebergs in the past.

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They must know there wouldn't be a new PM it would be a general election and most of then stand to lose seats in the current climate.

There's no win position for a tory MP here.

[–] HumanPenguin 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Unfortunately no. As long as the tories have a majority. Only tories can force an early election.

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They can't seriously use the mandate excuse again it was getting flimsy the last time

[–] HumanPenguin 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They don't really need an excuse.

They just all need to not vote to quit their jobs. The last few elections where the main party had a weak majority so were forced to call it. In the hope of gaining a stronger majority. Are not how it normally happens. It is much more common that you are stuck with the winning party until they are forced to run election. Or think they can win.

[–] Syldon 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They would not be voting for ending their jobs; they would be voting to get a new leader in. Sunak is the only one with the power to close parliament. MPs could vote to end parliament by a VONC in the government, but that is even more unlikely again.

[–] HumanPenguin 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pretty sure the comment I replied to was about needing an election

My comment was entirely about the party not voting no confidence.

[–] Syldon 1 points 1 year ago

The double negative threw me, but no worries.

[–] Jaccident@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Yet, they shall.

[–] Emperor 10 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I have no idea what their endgame is here? Get BoJo back?

[–] downpunxx@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

trust and believe the tories have no idea either, they just know there's a closing window in which they've got to exert any power whatsoever, so they're simply thrashing around hoping anything at all changes their trajectory

[–] Emperor 2 points 1 year ago

Tory death throes! I'm up for that. Anything that makes it obvious what a bunch of backstabbing sociopaths they are.

[–] Syldon 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

There is far too much in fighting with the Tories to run with a consistent theme. Consequently they keep bouncing from one strategy to another in an effort to appease the factions within.

[–] echodot 2 points 1 year ago

The idiot fascist wing of the Torie party is starting to manifest itself.

Seriously they have people in their own political party who are major threats to their own continuing government. Only an idiot would tolerate this, fortunately everyone involved in this story is an idiot.

With luck the Tories will render themselves politically irrelevant.

It's like watching Darth Vader cut his head off with his own lightsaber. You have to wonder what the hell they're doing, but at the same time, you're glad they're doing it.

[–] nonearther@lemmy.ml 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Is it some weird "buy one get four scheme" with prime ministers?

[–] echodot 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's the ultimate form of democracy, everyone gets to be prime minister for a while.

Qualifications, or indeed basic skills, are not required.

[–] Mrkawfee 1 points 1 year ago

The Andy Warhol school of politics.

[–] brewery 1 points 1 year ago

It seems like they are not required but actively encouraged not to have

[–] bababooey@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Even the tories hate the fucking Tories

[–] HumanPenguin 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pessimistic maybe.

But as for what it might achive.

A PM/party leader. Willing to outright bribe the public into voting tory.

I can see some TORY leaders wanting a PM to get in and spend a bloody fortune on some extram cost of living promise.

If I was leader. And did not give a shit about anything but another 4 years of power

I'd use the current majority to raise the final cost of living payment early next year. And to increase the people who get it to low paid workers.

The start se huge worker giveaway policy that will not be passed until after the election.

To win the tories only need to gain about 10% 20 to win with a sizable majority based on polling.

[–] Syldon 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It is usually the Tory stunt to hand out cookies right before the GE. It is a tad late in the day to do this, and more so the latest school buildings crisis would see that as a total mockery regarding finances. Sunak really is tied down atm.

I am stunned that they have produced nothing to deflect the ever growing public dissatisfaction with them. Sunak either has very poor advisors, or he is simply not listening to them. It could also be he has created yet another echo chamber similar to Johnson's, which means he is getting no real advice at all. Everything could just be nodding heads with whatever he says. De Botton's reactionary resignation seems to indicate this could be true.

The Tories have so many avenues open to them for public appeasement and yet take none of them. Labour's popularity rating will be the highest ever after the 100 days period because there is so many options for quick wins. You can see many Labour pundits giggling with glee when they talk about this. Some of the more sensible see this as a danger to democracy. Labour look set to have more power than the Tories have had and look at how that turned out.

It seems yet again, we have to wait with baited breath.

[–] HumanPenguin 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As they are not forced to hold an election until 25th jan 2025. They have well over a year in power.

As they know they are likely to loose. I can see them calling soon after Xmas. Mid jan. And offering Xmas cookies.

Promise huge payouts to the NHS due to winter costs hitting. While the labour party are hesitant to promise tospend money. The tories offering short term payments may attract many traditional tory voters. Even though those same voters would question Labour for spending money. They tend to be very inconsistent whe the tories do it.

[–] Syldon 1 points 1 year ago

If the Tories push for a spending spree, Labour will jump on it. They will need to show OBR forecasts. Remember they cannot avoid paying for the crumbling public buildings before any election next year. Where as Phil Moorhouse pointed out that Labour have an open goal and will just borrow, because it was unforeseen, as well as being critical to life. The Tories cannot get away with increasing borrowing in the same light as Labour, mainly because this is on their watch. Labour have been asking for clarification on the state of public buildings for some time now.

So no it is highly unlikely the Tories can hand out funding anywhere before plugging the public buildings maintenance gap that they have created.

[–] DessertStorms@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

They're just making sure they all have a go at the top job and the pension that goes with it, they have zero concern for the country or the people, it has always been about self interest.
Just another example of socialism for the rich.

[–] Noit@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Standard reminder that letters of no confidence may as well not exist if the submitter is remaining anonymous. If they aren’t actively campaigning for Sunak to go then it’s highly unlikely that the threshold would be approached.

[–] Syldon 5 points 1 year ago

According to David Maddox, several members within his party have submitted no-confidence votes in the PM, as appeals for fresh leadership ring out.

David Maddox being the political editor of the Express. This is a Tory paper, it is unlikely to post comments without substance that could damage the Tory party.

I personally find it unlikely that a VONC will take place, because it would be a death knell to any candidate with Conservative affiliation. But with this parliament, you can never say never. The level of incompetence in the Tories atm exceeds any normal limits.

[–] SMITHandWESSON@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Naive question from a person in the states

Do the Tory's get unlimited PM do-overs as long as they control the seats to lock out a general election?

[–] Wodge@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

It's more a case of you vote for the party, rather than the person, so the party remains in power during their term, regardless of who the leader is.

[–] Syldon 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The prime minister is the person who holds the confidence of the house of commons. It is not the same as the US where the president is voted in by the public.

The power behind the PM is by the voting power of the MPs who are elected to parliament. Basically which ever leader can get the most votes in the commons. There is not vote held for this anymore as it is by consent from the leader of the party who holds the most MPs. The Tories hold 352 seats for MP in a house that has 650 in total. Therefore whoever the Tories want as their leader is the PM. It does not theoretically have to be an MP. They can vote for anyone. This throws some constitutional issues into the mix, but really it can be anyone. There is no time limit on how often they can change that leader.

There was a possibility that Johnson could have lost his seat if there was a successful recall petition held against him after the party gate scandal. If he was still leader of the Tories at that time we would have had a prime minister who was not an MP. The problem is that only people who have been elected can sit in the house of commons. You can be a guest to the house, but only those who have been given permission by the speaker of the house (Currently Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle) can talk. We have had prime ministers who have been Lords before, but we have never had a PM who was neither a lord or an MP.

If there is no single party holds a majority in the Commons, then this is considered a hung parliament.

[–] SMITHandWESSON@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the lesson😉👍🏾

[–] catuprisingsociety@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

And if Sunak is kicked out, then we will get a general election? Right? Please?

[–] tillimarleen@feddit.de 1 points 1 year ago

Let‘s go!

[–] downpunxx@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

The King should get on the wireless and be all like "I think not you Wankers"