Talk:List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom

Latest comment: 2 years ago by Macdonald-ross

The Office of Prime Minister is not 'elected'. The Monarch after considering advice, invites an MP who it is believed can command a majority in the House of Commons to form a Government. It is an appointed position. --Selimap (talk) 15:01, 2 July 2020 (UTC)Reply

Thank you; that is is useful contribution. However, I want to add a gloss. The appointment is formal, and even though the advice is technically informal, the monarch would create a constitutional crisis if they did not comply, and they have always done so. Therefore, in practice, what is decided in the Commons is the decisive event. I think I'll add this to the page. The House of Commons procedure has always been difficult to explain, but you are quite right, this is not a direct election. Macdonald-ross (talk) 05:52, 3 July 2020 (UTC)Reply
Furthermore, the title "prime minister" is not one bestowed by the monarch, who merely asks someone to form a government (as you say). Historically it was chosen by usage. In the U.K. the whole constitution is not a written one, It has evolved (mainly by votes in the Parliament). Macdonald-ross (talk) 17:26, 4 October 2021 (UTC)Reply
Return to "List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom" page.