Deputy Prime Minister

[lankeela]

What is the point if they are not there to take over if the PM goes?

[davebro]

to stand in for when the PM isn't available - maybe abroad or summat?

[Gromit]

The party elects the Prime Minister.
Unless there is only one candidate, which is how Theresa May became leader.

[-SharonA-]

Why won't Theresa be there?? Have I missed something?

[drmorgans]

Didn't Penny Mordaunt stand in for the PM when she was otherwise engaged?

[ToraToraTora]

The deputy PM is an artificial entity created by past PMs for expediency. Eg TGL made Willie Whitelaw deputy PM. There is no succession order like in the US and no precedent in the constitution. If anything it should be the deputy leader of the party, though there is no precedent.

[jno]

it's Coffey at the moment. I assume she'd act as a stand-in (I think Raab did this once or twice?) but it could only be temporary.

[drmorgans]

Is there a deputy leader of the party, as opposed to deputy PM?

[-SharonA-]

Yes Theresa Coffey I'm talking about. She is deputy.

[Hopkirk]

It's a meaningless title.

[ToraToraTora]

drmorgans: "Is there a deputy leader of the party, as opposed to deputy PM? " - yes they are two separate things, they can be different people though not in this case.