Boris Johnson

[TommyC]

I may be missing something but... Can anyone please explan how Boris Johnson can be elected as new Conservative Party leader - and therefore Prime Minister - if he is not a serving MP ? Not at PM's Questions... Not talking to the Westminster press.. Not present at crucial debates... How on earth can that work ?

[fiction-factory]

Correction- Brown stopped being an MP in 2015 but he was an MP whilst PM (2007-10?). (He was MP from 1985-2015)

[ToraToraTora]

Major was PM in 1990 after TGL went, he then won the 92 election.

[Jackdaw33]

I understood the question to be, "Can an MP become PM without calling a general election?" The answer is Yes. Since the war Eden, Macmillan, Home, Callaghan, Major and Brown have all become PM without the need for a general election, though some went on to win subsequent elections.

[jno]

Major was an MP (Chancellor?) when he became MP, and led the party to an election victory, thanks to voters thinking Kinnock would have been worse. Worse than Major??

[retrocop]

Prudie
'Gawd who voted for him?'
May I possibly suggest Edwina? :-)

[fiction-factory]

I wonder if we have different reference books, and my memory is playing tricks, but I am pretty sure Callaghan was an MP whilst PM.
Wikipedia confirms it although of course it isn't always reliable
Cardiff South East was a parliamentary constituency in Cardiff, Wales. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

The constituency was created for the 1950 general election, and abolished for the 1983 general election. Its only MP was Labour's James Callaghan, who served as prime minister from 1976 to 1979, while serving as the seat's MP. Its present-day equivalent is Cardiff South and Penarth.

I think you are right about Lord Home though- I am not sure why Quora doesn't include him.

[Jackdaw33]

The last PM from the Lords was Lord Home in 1963. He disclaimed his peerage to seek a seat in the Commons so for three weeks he was PM without being in either house of parliament.

[Jackdaw33]

All those I have mentioned were MPs at the time of becoming PM apart from Home.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Can confirm Major was MP for Huntingdon.

[ToraToraTora]

no jno they voted in Major because Kinnochio had a "victory" rally the day before the GE.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm wondering if PMs have to be MPs. The name might suggest so but the appointment of the prime minister is a prerogative exercised by the head of state, who presumably could chose anyone they liked. Not that it makes any sense not to choose someone who has most support in the House of Commons.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh cheers ff. I thought not, but it sounded weird.

[Hypognosis]

Possibly apocryphal but the "prime", in prime minister, was originally meant as a pejorative.

:D

[Jackdaw33]

@OG 14.29

In theory yes, in practice no.

[Gromit]

The leadership contest for the Conservatives changed in 2005. Previously the MPs had more of the final say, but after the election of 3 weak leaders, Hague, IDS and Noward, the process was changed to a postal vote of ALL members between two candidates.

Remainers are already joining the Conservative Party to stop Boris becoming PM. It might be £25 well spent.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/conservative-party-tories-join-membership-member-stop-boris-johnson-michael-gove-remain-leave-brexit-a7102191.html

[Jackdaw33]

Well the Tories will just have to change the rules again before it gets under way.

[Gromit]

Actually, I have that slightly wrong. The current system came in in 1998. There were calls to change it in 2005, but that came to nothing.

There isn't really time to change it this time.
Such a rule change would have to be passed at the Party Conference, and we need a new Prime Minister before then.

I will see if I have £25 in my copper jar...

[Jackdaw33]

OK then. Join the Tory party. Have you thought of how you would vote if the choice were Boris or Gove? A highly likely scenario. Best spend your £25 down the boozer.

[Hopkirk]

..or May.

[Jackdaw33]

This is dangerous ground. If the overwhelming favourite among MPs were rejected by the party membership this could precipitate a constitutional crisis. Many would refuse to serve.