How do the political factions think they represent the people?

In Britain they have ousted the sitting prime minister by in-house machinations instead of through a general election from the electorate. Is this political corruption rather than democracy? The new leader of the party in government was until very recently a city mayor, and a friend gave up his seat so he could be elected to it so he could challenge the sitting PM and circumvent the constitutional system of election to power. Crazy how the left wing utilise the behaviour of the right which they had castigated.

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FreddieUK · 70-79, M

A Labour government was elected for 5 years. We do not have a Presidential system (thank heavens). Like the Conservatives before them, the Parliamentary Labour Party decided to change their leader and the new leader now has the responsibility ot leading the PLP in implementing the manifesto his party was elected on. If you think a General Election on top of all the other upheaval we have put up with will help the country, then I strongly disagree with you.

wildbill83 · 41-45, M

@FreddieUK I guess ya'll would be thrilled then if someone stepped down and appointed Trump king of the UK... 🤔🥴

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@wildbill83 I don't think you've quite understood how it works here and why that doesn't make sense.

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

No, in our electoral system the Prime Minister is generally the leader of the largest party or coalition. It would be unconstitutional (and illogical) to call a general election in order to change the PM. As for democracy . . the Labour Party has three years remaining of a very strong political mandate. Dissolving parliament would represent a cynical disregard of the outcome of the 2024 election.

I find the level of ignorance about our electoral system quite alarming, especially as we had a referendum on it about 15 years ago. By all means argue for reform, but don't think you can change thw rules half way into the process. That really would be corrupt.

Khenpal1 · M

@SunshineGirl well , its he same many places .

Richard65 · M

You don't vote for a Prime Minister, per se. You vote for a party and, crucially, that party's manifesto. That's why the Tories had so many different PMs without a general election. If Burnham wants to radically alter the Labour manifesto to suit his own vision, then he'd have to hold an election in order to win a mandate from the electorate that gives him permission to launch his new manifesto. This is just the system in the UK.

I'd also add that the current Labour Party is hardly left wing. They spent years totally purging themselves of any members who leaned to the left. I actually left the party myself because it moved centre right.

FreddieUK · 70-79, M

@Richard65 Actually, he wouldn't have to call an election, but I agree that if he changes things radically he ought to do that. The party is in such a strong position in Parliament that they can legally hold on for as long as they choose.

Sojournersoul · M

Not sure they do.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

I don't want to repeat what people have said but they are right about this being fine constitutionally. It's also kind of the new normal given we are now on our seventh prime minister in just over a decade!

The only thing that makes this different is that there is no party leadership contest. Normally mps and party members would vote. This time that is no happening because no other labour mp feels they could beat Burnham.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@Burnley123 What perhaps it is showing is a worrying, general reluctance of even potentially good leaders to stand for the role; rather than simply very widespread support for one particular person.

Hence so many changes of leader: people standing because someone has to, but proving to their own Party being not up to it. Or their own Parties believing they are not up to it, perhaps... a different matter.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@ArishMell I am a Green Party member these days, and I don't have a dog in this fight, but I was a member for ten years and know about the people involved. I would like to have seen a contest but I get why it didn't happen.

We Streeting tried very hard to stand but couldn't get the MP nominations to force a contest. Mahmood may or may not have got them, but she is unpopular with the party membership. The other potential contenders (Rayner and Milliband) are seen as Burnham allies.

Burnham is popular with members of the party, and he is widely seen as the best person available. I think that the others are correct not to see themselves as having a chance. I do think Burnham is over-hyped, though.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

To start with this shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the Westminster system.

The UK and most if not all of the Commonwealth elect a party to power, not a president. Unlike the right the left is not about handing power to a Strongman or absolute ruler.

A PM functions more like a manager for the ruling party. And like any manager if you do a bad job you get sacked.

Ximenajacoba · 31-35, F

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow I am Italian 🇮🇹 not British 🇬🇧

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Ximenajacoba Fair enough. I would recommend educating yourself on something before being critical.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@Ximenajacoba To be clear I am not trying to be a jerk. The Westminster system has problems but it is hard to provide valid criticism of something you fundamentally don't understand.

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