According to a report in The Guardian, David Cameron has said that he's prepared to declare himself the winner of the 2010 election if the Conservatives come first, but fail to secure an overall parliamentary majority. This apparently goes against an age-old convention which allows Gordon Brown to remain prime minister in the event of a hung parliament - or to put it another way, Brown gets first dibs on setting up a coalition government because he's already in charge.
Another article in The Guardian explains that whoever wins "Thursday's vote is not automatically granted the keys to No 10. Gordon Brown will remain prime minister until he chooses to resign or is defeated in the House of Commons." So, whoever forms a government needs to know they have enough votes to pass the Queen's Speech on May 25 - something considered a confidence vote - where they lay out their priorities and plans for their term in power.
If Cameron did declare himself the winner this could apparently put the Queen's political impartiality in danger, as accepting or rejecting one leader's victory claims could be seen as taking a political decision. Presumably she'd have to step in and say things like "It's not worth it Gordon. Just go home and forget about it." Though if it comes to a fight, my money's on her Madge - apart from being alive for over a thousand years, she knows where all the swords and armour is kept in Buckingham palace. Who knows how nervous all this is making the Queen - an article in the New York Times helpfully reminds us that in the past, attempts by monarchs to rule in the face of parliamentary opposition ended badly - beheading or exile. I'm sure we wouldn't do that this time. We'd just make her volunteer in a charity shop, sorting out old underwear.
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- Community, News and Politics, Election 2010
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- Conservatives, Labour, David Cameron, Election 2010, 2 more
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CarolineS
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"Though if it comes to a fight, my money's on her Madge - apart from being alive for over a thousand years, she knows where all the swords and armour is kept in Buckingham palace. Who knows how nervous all this is making the Queen - an article in the New York Times helpfully reminds us that in the past, attempts by monarchs to rule in the face of parliamentary opposition ended badly - beheading or exile. I'm sure we wouldn't do that this time. We'd just make her volunteer in a charity shop, sorting out old underwear"
Dont forget that the Queen-by the grace of god- is head of the armed forces!
- 2 years ago
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CarolineS
