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Post by Moose on Jan 1, 2023 0:47:45 GMT
haven't got a new Prime Minister yet ..
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Post by jayme on Jan 1, 2023 4:36:59 GMT
*doesn't know whether to look hopeful or not*
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Post by tangent on Jan 1, 2023 9:48:38 GMT
I'm only interested in a new government.
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Post by jayme on Jan 2, 2023 6:57:01 GMT
I've been trying to diagnose your government's illness. (Yes, I know my gov't sucks, too.)
It seems to me that you have checks and balances in your gov't as a whole, because you have a king and courts, but parliament seems to be the most powerful branch, and there aren't really any checks and balances within it. Let me know if I'm wrong or barking up the wrong branch.
Am I correct in thinking that you the people vote for the House of Commons, but you don't vote for the House of Lords? So you elect a party in the HOC, which in turn is going to vote for their own party in the HOL, and the PM ends up being in the same party as the majority of both the HOL and HOC?
So, there are not enough people from the opposing party to stop them from doing whatever stupid crap the PM wants?
(My apologies if that sounds oversimplified and dumb. In our schools they don't teach us anything about your gov't after George III.)
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Post by tangent on Jan 2, 2023 15:56:45 GMT
It seems to me that you have checks and balances in your gov't as a whole, because you have a king and courts, but parliament seems to be the most powerful branch, and there aren't really any checks and balances within it. Essentially correct although the sovereign plays no part in the checks and balances and the courts are only there to enforce parliament's rules in a similiar way to your Supreme Court but without any latitude to interpret vague constitutional rules. Am I correct in thinking that you the people vote for the House of Commons, but you don't vote for the House of Lords? Yes So you elect a party in the HOC, which in turn is going to vote for their own party in the HOL, and the PM ends up being in the same party as the majority of both the HOL and HOC? No, not at all. We elect a party in the House of Commons but members of the House of Lords are proposed by a HOL committee, approved by the prime minister and appointed by the sovereign. A Lord or Lady ends their term when they die. There's a lot of resemblance to your Supreme Court except that the HOL also has the authority to review parliament's laws before they are passed. So, there are not enough people from the opposing party to stop them from doing whatever stupid crap the PM wants? Yes and no. The current House of Lords comprises something like 250 Conservatives, 250 Labour Party members and 250 Liberal Democrats. I don't know the exact numbers but that's the gist of it. There are a few bishops and non-aligned independent people. However, the House of Lords only has the power to review draft legislation, not block it* Typically, they propose amendments, which are passed back to the HOL and parliament votes on whether they will accept them (usually not). So the constitution of the HOL cannot stop the PM doing whatever stupid crap he wants. *Originally, the House of Lords was comprised solely of Lords who inherited their titles from their fathers. And at that time, they did have the authority to block legislation. Gradually, that has been changed to the current situation. Many people feel the HOL is archaic and undemocratic and want it to be either changed or demolished. I'm hoping other English or Welsh forum members will correct any mistakes I've made. |
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Post by whollygoats on Jan 2, 2023 18:46:59 GMT
haven't got a new Prime Minister yet .. So....Who is that Rishi Sunak guy with the incredible tan? |
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Post by tangent on Jan 2, 2023 21:27:11 GMT
Previously, Boris Johnson's Chancellor and rival to Liz Truss in the leadership battle after Boris Johnson's resignation. Sensible head, sound policies (for a Conservative), left-leaning. Very rich. Also has a very rich wife who was born in Britain but is now a citizen of India. They have a combined wealth of £730 million.
More MPs voted for Rishi Sunak in the leadership battle but Conservative members preferred Liz Truss on the grounds he betrayed Boris Johnson.
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Post by Moose on Jan 3, 2023 1:01:37 GMT
Sunak was PM already on NYD. I meant we'd not had a new one within an hour of the year turning.
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Post by jayme on Jan 3, 2023 1:13:30 GMT
Thanks, Steve. That clarifies things a lot for me.
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Post by Moose on Jan 3, 2023 1:15:04 GMT
I am so glad Steve answered because I didn't know  |
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Post by jayme on Jan 3, 2023 1:29:34 GMT
I am so glad Steve answered because I didn't know It's complicated and cornfusing! |
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Post by Moose on Jan 3, 2023 1:30:48 GMT
All I know is I want a different government  . To be honest one Tory PM is not THAT much different than another (though I suppose if I had to choose I'd rather Rishi than Boris or Liz) |
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. To be honest one Tory PM is not THAT much different than another (though I suppose if I had to choose I'd rather Rishi than Boris or Liz)