British Politics Guide

[sangi39]

Given that the longest she can go is a little over two years, does it even matter if she calls an "early" election?

Besides, who cares? It's not like British elections have multiple possible outcomes.

EDIT: Sorry, that was unfair. There are two possible outcomes to British elections. Either the people say they want the Conservatives, and the Conservatives win, or the people say they want literally anyone but the Conservatives, and the Conservatives win.

It's more of a general sense of curiosity than anything else, to be fair

[Raphael]

She's now going to unite her party, [..]

Wait, is her party disunited right now? I hadn't noticed that, but then again, I haven't really followed British politics much lately.

[MacAnDàil]

Well, there was some stiff words over the past leadership election and Sunak and his supporters are out of the cabinet, even if most of the other candidates have been included.

Given that the longest she can go is a little over two years, does it even matter if she calls an "early" election?

Besides, who cares? It's not like British elections have multiple possible outcomes.

EDIT: Sorry, that was unfair. There are two possible outcomes to British elections. Either the people say they want the Conservatives, and the Conservatives win, or the people say they want literally anyone but the Conservatives, and the Conservatives win.

British elections have been going for a fair bit longer than the past twelve years.

[bradrn]

Something’s happened to the Queen. We haven’t been told what, precisely; I just hope that she is OK and can get through whatever has happened.

[Moose-tache]

EDIT: Sorry, that was unfair. There are two possible outcomes to British elections. Either the people say they want the Conservatives, and the Conservatives win, or the people say they want literally anyone but the Conservatives, and the Conservatives win.

British elections have been going for a fair bit longer than the past twelve years.

Very true. Prior to 2010 there was a third possibility: someone calling themselves Labour gets voted into government, and the conservatives win.

[Man in Space]

Obligatory.

[Ryusenshi]

I played "God Save the Queen" by the Sex Pistols, for the same reason.

Also, this:

https://twitter.com/papasombra/status/1 ... 9478414341
I’m no fan of The Queen but meeting Liz Truss and then immediately dying is a move I respect.

[Raphael]

I'm a bit surprised that Charles is actually going with "Charles III". There had been speculations that he might choose a more ... ... auspicious "regnal name".

[Travis B.]

Somehow King Charles III (it seems so weird to even say that) does not seem like he can replace the Queen...

[Raphael]

Long ago - I think in the 1990s - I read a magazine feature on the British Royals that at one point quoted one commentator who pointed out that for Charles's entire adult life, his job has been to wait for his mother to die. I guess that kind of thing would have weird psychological effects on me after a while, too.

[Moose-tache]

I mean, technically, that's how any family business works. It's probably no worse than waiting to take over the convenience store, except you get a new hat out of it.

Oh God, I just pictured Charles giving the King's Speech. Can you imagine him being swallowed up by the robe like a wet rat in a blanket?

[Ares Land]

Long ago - I think in the 1990s - I read a magazine feature on the British Royals that at one point quoted one commentator who pointed out that for Charles's entire adult life, his job has been to wait for his mother to die. I guess that kind of thing would have weird psychological effects on me after a while, too.

I think I heard he's been king in all but name for quite some time now as he took over many of Elizabeth II's duties.

[alice]

For balance, the Socialist Worker is complaining about the TUC and other organisations cancelling their strike action in reponse to "the death of a monarch".

[Linguoboy]

Long ago - I think in the 1990s - I read a magazine feature on the British Royals that at one point quoted one commentator who pointed out that for Charles's entire adult life, his job has been to wait for his mother to die. I guess that kind of thing would have weird psychological effects on me after a while, too.

I think I heard he's been king in all but name for quite some time now as he took over many of Elizabeth II's duties.

Eh, when Trump made a state visit to the UK, it wasn't Charles he demanded to meet with.

[MacAnDàil]

EDIT: Sorry, that was unfair. There are two possible outcomes to British elections. Either the people say they want the Conservatives, and the Conservatives win, or the people say they want literally anyone but the Conservatives, and the Conservatives win.

British elections have been going for a fair bit longer than the past twelve years.

Very true. Prior to 2010 there was a third possibility: someone calling themselves Labour gets voted into government, and the conservatives win.

While Blair and Brown might have been disappointing to many left wingers, they are distinguishable from the Tories in many respects, including introduction of devolution and democratisation of the House of Lords.


Long live the socialist worker!

[Ares Land]

Eh, when Trump made a state visit to the UK, it wasn't Charles he demanded to meet with.

Charles also had to meet with Trump, the poor sod.

[Linguoboy]

Eh, when Trump made a state visit to the UK, it wasn't Charles he demanded to meet with.

Charles also had to meet with Trump, the poor sod.

Not sure which one you're pitying here tbh.

[doctor shark]

In the old days (pre-Victoria), the demise of the Crown meant a general election based on the fiction that, since the monarch summoned parliament, parliament was no longer "needed" once the monarch that summoned it was no more. Would be interesting if that were still the case...

(Likewise, all officers of the Crown would cease to hold office upon a Demise. Now this is no longer the case, possibly also because the oath of loyalty and allegiance that is sworn is to the monarch and their heirs.)

[Raphael]

In the old days (pre-Victoria), the demise of the Crown meant a general election based on the fiction that, since the monarch summoned parliament, parliament was no longer "needed" once the monarch that summoned it was no more. Would be interesting if that were still the case...

(Likewise, all officers of the Crown would cease to hold office upon a Demise. Now this is no longer the case, possibly also because the oath of loyalty and allegiance that is sworn is to the monarch and their heirs.)

In early modern Europe, the death of any monarch or high-ranking noble meant that all soldiers serving under that monarch or high-ranking noble had to take the oath to the successor as soon as their units got the news of the death, because otherwise they would have, in theory, been legally free to desert.

[Travis B.]

Eh, when Trump made a state visit to the UK, it wasn't Charles he demanded to meet with.

Charles also had to meet with Trump, the poor sod.

Not sure which one you're pitying here tbh.

I am under the impression that the "poor sod" here is Charles...