UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to step down

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

ETA: Also surprised you didn't take opportunity to rib me for calling George VI a Queen lol.

I new what you meant.

The Privy Council does have some power, but I'll have to read up on the Lord President.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I just have to pick a nit here.

The Prime Minister can ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament and call for new elections whenever he wants to. But it's the Queen, not the PM, who can actually dissolve Parliament.

Either way, it's still weird. Crazy Brits! Perhaps they should actually write up one of these here constitutions so they can keep things straight!

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I new what you meant.

The Privy Council does have some power, but I'll have to read up on the Lord President.

I caught MysticCat in a typo!

In truth, I follow the stories but my brain just glosses over the details when it comes to UK politics. Mostly I just know I'd like to have Question Time here, heckling and all. I used to watch Blair do that on C-SPAN all the time.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Either way, it's still weird. Crazy Brits! Perhaps they should actually write up one of these here constitutions so they can keep things straight!

LOL. Yes I will agree that their way of running things is strange to us. But it has evolved over a thousand years or so. And while they might not have a constitution, they do have various legal documents that they hold to. Our bill of rights was based heavily on the Magna Carter for instance. And even not taking that into account, they take their traditions seriously. There are so many unwritten conventions that have the force of law now. Theoretically the Queen has enormous power. In reality she can't use most of it without causing a constitutional crisis. It is really interesting how things ended up the way they did.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

LOL. Yes I will agree that their way of running things is strange to us. But it has evolved over a thousand years or so. And while they might not have a constitution, they do have various legal documents that they hold to. Our bill of rights was based heavily on the Magna Carter for instance. And even not taking that into account, they take their traditions seriously. There are so many unwritten conventions that have the force of law now. Theoretically the Queen has enormous power. In reality she can't use most of it without causing a constitutional crisis. It is really interesting how things ended up the way they did.

Oh believe me I know, I just can't help but enjoy that someone's political system seems crazier than ours. Although the short campaign period would be a great thing to copy.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Oh believe me I know, I just can't help but enjoy that someone's political system seems crazier than ours. Although the short campaign period would be a great thing to copy.

I honestly do like the fact that parliament can be dissolved anything and that elections are shortly after. However that is one of the things that the current Government wants to change. And honestly the PM generally speaking can get a lot more done then the president can, mostly because the PM by his nature has the majority of Commons behind them. While I love this country, I do think that the older British system has some good things going for it.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

I honestly do like the fact that parliament can be dissolved anything and that elections are shortly after. However that is one of the things that the current Government wants to change. And honestly the PM generally speaking can get a lot more done then the president can, mostly because the PM by his nature has the majority of Commons behind them. While I love this country, I do think that the older British system has some good things going for it.

I agree, though like I said, I mostly want the Question Time for purely selfish purposes.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I agree, though like I said, I mostly want the Question Time for purely selfish purposes.

LOL. The heckling? Though I do think it is a good idea for purely political reasons.