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Tombstone Blues
Earthsea
2246 Posts |
 Posted - 05/08/2007 : 12:19:31
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Since you're always going on about 'unelected Brown' I thought you might be interested in how many prime ministers have been unelected.
There have been 76 Prime Ministers since Robert Walpole
Of these, 40 have been unelected, they are:
Robert Walpole, 1721
The Earl of Wilmington 1742
Henry Pelham 1743
The Duke of Newcastle 1754
The Duke of Devonshire 1756
The Earl of Bute 1762
George Grenville 1763
The Marquess of Rockingham 1765
William Pitt the Elder 1766
The Duke of Grafton 1768
Lord North 1770
The Earl of Shelburne 1782
Henry Addington 1801
William Pitt the Younger 1804
Lord Grenville 1806
The Duke of Portland 1807
Spencer Perceval 1809
The Earl of Liverpool 1812
George Canning 1827
Viscount Goderich 1827
Duke of Wellington 1828
Viscount Melbourne 1834
Robert Peel 1834
The Earl of Derby 1852
The Earl of Aberdeen 1852
Benjamin Disraeli 1868
The Earl of Rosebery 1894
Arthur James Balfour 1902
Herbert Henry Asquith 1908
David Lloyd George 1916
Andrew Bonar Law 1922
Stanley Baldwin 1935
Neville Chamberlain 1937
Winston Churchill 1940
Sir Anthony Eden 1955
Harold Macmillan 1957
Alec Douglas-Home 1963
James Callaghan 1976
John Major 1990
Gordon Brown 2007
The dates are when they assumed the office, although some later went on to win elections in their own right.
So 52% of them were unelected
Even since the beginning of the 20th century, 50% were unelected (26 PM's 13 unelected)
The most common way that a politician becomes prime minister is due to the resignation or death of their predecessor
So Brown is only part of a long tradition . . .
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long time no see
Earthsea
United Kingdom
6771 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 13:37:08
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| Brown is Stinking New Labour. |
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Miriam Binder
Earthsea
United Kingdom
6127 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 13:42:27
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quote:
Originally posted by long time no see
Brown is Stinking New Labour.
So you issue is with the party he belongs to rather then the fact that he took over from another prime minister mid term. |
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin |
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Anubis
Barsoom
369 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 18:34:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Tombstone Blues
Since you're always going on about 'unelected Brown' I thought you might be interested in how many prime ministers have been unelected.
There have been 76 Prime Ministers since Robert Walpole
Of these, 40 have been unelected; so 52% of them were unelected
So Brown is only part of a long tradition . . .
What a VERY useful bit of information! I had appreciated the situation, but hadn't realized it was to the extent shown by your recording, Tombstone! All a bit irrelevant when sometimes the elected government receives LESS votes than the losing party ... and Blair only got some 20+% of votes at a time when an increasing majority understand it's all a Tweedledum/Tweedledee situation anyway .... so why bother to vote (No! It's NOT apathy, just a recognition of the farce the electoral process is .....) |
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Daveb
Earthsea
2420 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 19:08:41
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This is an issue already raised in the Community Stadium thread.
If a 50% turn out elects a candidate with 30% of the that vote then 70% of the votes cast have been against that candidate.
It may be more drawn out but a second election should be held with only the top two candidates or a second choice be available on the slip should the first choice not make the top two.
At least it may end up with majority of votes cast aactually choosing the winner. It may also lead to more people being bothered? |
We're all doomed!
Head for the hills before they start heading for you! |
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Miriam Binder
Earthsea
United Kingdom
6127 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 20:43:51
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| You mean more along the lines of the French system? |
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin |
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Denise
Barsoom
129 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 21:44:16
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Hang on - no Prime Minister is, strictly speaking, "elected".
The Commons elects the Leader of the House, but the Queen's Prime Minister is chosen by... the Queen. In theory, she could choose any member of either House.
I'm too young to remember ( ), but I believe that in 1974 there was a lot of speculation and debate on the constitutional implications over who her choice might be, should either of the two main parties fail to win a parliamentary majority. |
Voice of Reason / Norfolk Unity |
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Miriam Binder
Earthsea
United Kingdom
6127 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 21:51:49
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| We've already been trough that Denise ... and the fact that Brown was actually elected by his constituency and therefore cannot be held to be 'un-elected' but LTNS deals in FACTS not fact it would seem. |
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin |
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Denise
Barsoom
129 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 22:11:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Miriam Binder
We've already been trough that Denise ... and the fact that Brown was actually elected by his constituency and therefore cannot be held to be 'un-elected' but LTNS deals in FACTS not fact it would seem.
Ah, I've been out of the loop as you know, Miriam. And it's taken me forever to read the Greggs' thread. |
Voice of Reason / Norfolk Unity |
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Fluffy Sheep
Discworld
1214 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2007 : 22:21:55
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It is a bit tiresome, slagging the chap for being `unelected`, especially considering Tombstone`s impressive list (interesting, that) - but by all means slag the party he now leads, and/or their policies! (So how did he get to be deputy leader then?)
Anyway, he`s only doing what any deputies do, which is stand in and hold the fort when the head cheese dies/resigns or absconds, until a new head cheese is appointed! PM, manager, ward sister, Pope, shop steward or whatever! |
Row faster, slaves! Caesar wants to waterski! |
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Miriam Binder
Earthsea
United Kingdom
6127 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2007 : 01:59:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Denise
it's taken me forever to read the Greggs' thread.
And ain't it a honey?  |
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin |
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For LTNS - Unelected Prime Ministers