EU Vote

[Robert]

Svensson, please show me a civil servant in Britain with the power of Juncker.

As for democracy, this link shows that the German system is no better, in fact it's worse. People can wait weeks before finding out what they voted for.

http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/Germanpoliticalsystem.html#Executive

[Svensson]

The prime minister of the UK is not elected and never has been. Prime ministers are appointed by the Monarch, although in practice the appointment goes to the party leader who is able to form a majority in the House of Commons.

Interestingly, this is exactly the same in France, where the Head of State (the President), appoints the prime minister, although in practice this is whoever can form a majority in the Assembly.

Of course, in the UK the real democratic deficit is that in practice, if not in law, it is the PM who exercises the Royal Prerogative powers, thus giving him the combined authority of a head of state and head of government.

Exactly my point. PM not elected, cabinet is not elected, Upper house is not elected, Civil Servants are not elected... and the UK "electorate" complain about EU politicians not being elected and unaccountable?

[Ginger]

For a long time I've thought that if all the heads of government around the world were women, there would be much less conflict.

I tend to suspect that myself.

[Wickerman]

So, wait, we're now in a situation where both the USA and the U.K. may have a woman leader? Interesting!

For a long time I've thought that if all the heads of government around the world were women, there would be much less conflict.

[Robert]

Yes they're coming out of the woodwork.

[Pcdunn]

The Tory leadership race has been reduced to two (Theresa May, Andrea Leadsom) and the 150,000 Conservative Party members will now select a new Prime Minister.

So, wait, we're now in a situation where both the USA and the U.K. may have a woman leader? Interesting!

[Ginger]

... that are good for themselves.

And therein lies the crux of the matter. The EU's deal with the UK was very good for the EU, much less so for the UK. That's what brought this situation about.

[John G]

The Tory leadership race has been reduced to two (Theresa May, Andrea Leadsom) and the 150,000 Conservative Party members will now select a new Prime Minister.

The other 63.85 million citizens of this country will not have a say in this. The absence of democracy in this process immediately after Brexit is of course highly ironic. Will be interesting to see how the "unelected Bureaucrats" in Brussels will treat the unelected PM from the UK come September.

The prime minister of the UK is not elected and never has been. Prime ministers are appointed by the Monarch, although in practice the appointment goes to the party leader who is able to form a majority in the House of Commons.

Interestingly, this is exactly the same in France, where the Head of State (the President), appoints the prime minister, although in practice this is whoever can form a majority in the Assembly.

Of course, in the UK the real democratic deficit is that in practice, if not in law, it is the PM who exercises the Royal Prerogative powers, thus giving him the combined authority of a head of state and head of government.

[Robert]

Of course. You didn't really swallow all that crap about fraternity, did you?

[Svensson]

... that are good for themselves.

[Robert]

Svensson, systems of power don't do favours - they do deals.

[Svensson]

I know we had this many times before but the situation is now very spicy. The UK has just complained about the EU being unelected, Simon Hilton has called the EU a "stinking cesspit" of such and such and Johnson has compared the EU to Hitler. This is now the same UK who will be off to Brussels and expect favours. The negotiation position is off to a bad start IMO. Then again, races have been won from the back of the grid. Just not many.

[Robert]

But Svensson, we've had this situation before - Harold Wilson handed over to Callaghan without an election, Major took over from Thatcher without an election, and Gordon Brown took over from Blair without an election. I don't recall the unelected bureaucrats treating Callaghan, Major or Brown with any democratic disdain. Perhaps the bureaucrats' standards aren't as high as you hoped?

[Svensson]

The Tory leadership race has been reduced to two (Theresa May, Andrea Leadsom) and the 150,000 Conservative Party members will now select a new Prime Minister.

The other 63.85 million citizens of this country will not have a say in this. The absence of democracy in this process immediately after Brexit is of course highly ironic. Will be interesting to see how the "unelected Bureaucrats" in Brussels will treat the unelected PM from the UK come September.

[Robert]

Hi Jeff

I think giving her India was the clincher.