Preparedness for when

moneyistooshorttomention

Good explanation by Nuatha.

I just tend to think of the Shadow Cabinet as "good to go" (ie leap into action) should there be a snap General Election and the main opposition party won it. Well - I used to - until I got it in my head that we now have fixed term governments and the Party currently in power can't call a snap election any longer just because it suits it to do so personally.

Have I got that wrong and it's not "set in stone" that General Elections are now at fixed intervals? - considering all this talk of maybe calling a snap election.

GreyQueen

Morning all.

Another lovely sunny day of political paralysis among the ruling caste. And we're out of the world cup, which will possibly be of greater import to some of our countryfolk.

mila, one of the very interesting things about the EU referendum is that both the major parties had plenty of politicians, even at the highest level, who were for Leaving or Remaining, whilst the leadership of both was firmly for Remain. This is pretty unique in my experience.

There are plenty of people, presently in their older age, who voted to remain in the Common Market back in 1975 who had come, in a handful of years, to bitterly regret that decision. They felt that they had been wilfully decieved about the EU project and they have long wanted to express their opinion.

I was a minor child in 1975 and didn't get to have an opinion at the time and it the present bratocracy seems to think I shouldn't have had a chance to express one now. Tough, kiddliwinks, this isn't Logan's Run and there is life after 30.:rotfl:

I do think various foriegn politicians have a bliddy cheek, such as Poland's former prime minister saying we should have a second referendum?! Gosh, bearing in mind that 13.31 % more of our eligible votes bothered to vote, compared to Poland's own EU referendum, perhaps the boot should be on the other foot?

Well, back to cruising national media (right and left) and local sources and international media. The rubble is still bouncing and it's definately Interesting Times.

nuatha

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Have I got that wrong and it's not "set in stone" that General Elections are now at fixed intervals? - considering all this talk of maybe calling a snap election.

A general election can be called early following a resolution of no confidence in the government or with a resolution of holding an early election which gains the support of 2/3 of the House of Commons.

Her Majesty no longer has the power to dissolve parliament.

moneyistooshorttomention

nuatha wrote: »

A general election can be called early following a resolution of no confidence in the government or with a resolution of holding an early election which gains the support of 2/3 of the House of Commons.

Her Majesty no longer has the power to dissolve parliament.

Right...gotcha. So it's a two-thirds majority for "resolution of holding an early election".

Is it also a two-thirds majority for "resolution of no confidence in the government" or could a smaller amount be sufficient for that?

ivyleaf

GreyQueen wrote: »

I chuckled at that.

We did have some youngsters calling in on referendum day itself expecting to register to vote, and to vote, that very day. They were shocked and disbelieving to find that they were out of time and out of luck, and that we don't do exceptions even for them. Bearing in mind the two months plus of brouhaha in the run-up to the 23rd, one wonders which rocks they had been hiding under not to know better.

Speaking of hiding under rocks, wherever has Osborne been? You'd think whomever had locked him in a cellar for three days could have spared him a bowl of gruel, he looks proper peaky today, bless his black and rotten heart.

I thought the same GQ! Perhaps he was actually ill over the weekend. Though he does always look quite pale.

nuatha

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Right...gotcha. So it's a two-thirds majority for "resolution of holding an early election".

Is it also a two-thirds majority for "resolution of no confidence in the government" or could a smaller amount be sufficient for that?

As far as I'm aware there has been no change to the law in this respect*, so a simple majority should suffice, though the Government then has 14 days to win a vote of confidence which, if successful, would allow them to remain in power.
Jim Callaghan's Government were ousted by a single vote (310-311 IIRC).

*I have not read the Fixed Terms Parliament Act 2011.

mardatha

Maybe he was sick as a parrot Ivy. Oh bad Mard lol

GreyQueen

ivyleaf wrote: »

I thought the same GQ! Perhaps he was actually ill over the weekend. Though he does always look quite pale.

I'm sure if the vote had been Remain he would have managed to be conspicious.

I know just the thing for peakiness and pallor; fieldwork!

Yup, kit the lad out in some jumbly duds and pack him off to a farm to spend long days in the sun picking veggies and fruits. The fresh air and exercise will do him the power of good, as will slaving for a pittance.

Leave him there for a decade or so, in all weathers, and deny him any contact with influential and wealthy friends. Or with his own bank account.

Then, he can come back, bronzed and weatherbeaten and honest-to-gosh real. Wonder if he'd still be a Tory?:rotfl:

ivyleaf

Bob I would have been prepared to sign the petition, as I thought before linking to it that it would be asking the govt to get on with it and invoke Article 50 at once to begin the two years, but unless I'm misunderstanding it, it seems to suggest that we should go right now before any negotiations have taken place. That seems very unwise to me.

mard :rotfl:

nuatha, Wow, I never realised the vote was so close in the case of Callaghan's government! Mind you, we were overseas at the time so I have an excuse

GQ I simply can't imagine him looking bronzed and weatherbeaten. but it's an amusing picture

mrs-moneypenny

Ivyleaf I was on the understanding that we had to invoke article 50 to start the leaving process, as part of our agreement with the eu. I thought that was the only way we could officially serve notice to start leaving. I can't have read it properly.
I just hope someone makes a start on something, at least dc has said publicly the result of the ref should stand. More than slightly concerned the hunt is throwing his hat in the leadership ring after saying the people got it wrong and the ref result should be ignored.

Off to clean my kitchen