# The UK Prime Minister thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 9, 2017, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503 "2017-06-09T10:19:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/21 "2017-06-09T15:19:05Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > Britain traditionally likes to have a real government that can get things done… What a novel idea. We might want to try that in the US at some point… ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/22 "2017-06-09T15:44:52Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Sheesh - all this emphasis on detail. > > We know **exactly** what Theresa May plans to to about Brexit, taxation, the NHS, immigation, housing, terrorism etc. Her plan is: > > - to be strong > > - to be stable > > :smack::eek:😕 And…Brexit means Brexit! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![SeniorCitizen007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@SeniorCitizen007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeniorCitizen007)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/23 "2017-06-09T16:58:22Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Where is Portillo these days? �� When he was a goverment Minister he said: “The rich should not have to pay taxes to support the poor.” His idea was that the rich should be encouraged to give to charities that support the poor (the deserving poor, of course) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/24 "2017-06-09T17:07:45Z")
Portillo is too busy playing choo-choos on the telly. Much more fun. Michael Fallon was “on manoeuvres” during the election campaign, perhaps with a view then to aiming for the Chancellorship (there was the odd news story suggesting Philip Hammond might be moved - oh, what a coincidence). Now, he might fancy his chances at the top job. Liam Fox and Jeremy Hunt are about as much use as knickers on an avocado. ---
**Author:** ![marineris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@marineris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marineris)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/25 "2017-06-09T17:38:10Z")
Priti Patel. For the death penalty, hard Brexit, badger culling, the bedroom tax, NHS privatisation and against gay marriage, immigration, secure tenancy laws, legal aid and lower voting ages. I believe she has all the qualities your average Tory MP is looking for in a [del]mummy[/del] prime minister ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/26 "2017-06-09T17:45:01Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Liam Fox and Jeremy Hunt are about as much use as knickers on an avocado. I love this 😂 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/27 "2017-06-10T00:18:10Z")
> [@Malden\_Capell](#): > > I’m wondering if May will endure purely because nobody else can muster enough force to get the party behind them. She’s not indispensable but nobody else will do better. > … ISTM she became PM in a similar way. All the obvious choices scented a trap and suddenly found urgent business elsewhere. Leaving May standing alone on the top step looking a bit bewildered. This situation is similar. What with the poisoned chalice of Brexit negotiations and the miserably unstable Parliament and the obviously febrile and unpredictable electorate, that loud rushing sound will be leading Tories running away from #10, not towards it. She may face a challenge from a particularly brash 2nd rater. Probably a younger MP raised on “Carpe Diem” and internet salesmanship. If the UK was France I’d expect to see several somethings akin to what Macron did: multiple leading lights of the various factions deciding that what this election proved is that the old parties are irretrievably broken and what’s needed is a new party that’s mostly a cult of (their) personality featuring narrowly tailored messaging marketed to especially suitable voters. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/28 "2017-06-10T00:41:26Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Nobody _wants_ another election, but one may be _required_. I’m not completely up to speed on the rules but AIUI if no party can form a government (on its own or in coalition or by other agreement with other parties) Parliament can’t function. The last resort is to have another election and hope for a result that will work better… Hopefully it doesn’t turn out to be as bad as Greece; which had a general election in [May](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_legislative_election,_May_2012) of 2012, and then again in [June](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_legislative_election,_June_2012) of 2012. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/29 "2017-06-10T05:12:15Z")
With Cameron making a gamble thinking it wasn’t risky and getting Brexit then May making a gamble thinking it wasn’t risky and getting a hung Parliament, I’m wondering if the PM (whoever s/he is) will become very risk averse or try to go for a hat trick. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > If the UK was France I’d expect to see several somethings akin to what Macron did: multiple leading lights of the various factions deciding that what this election proved is that the old parties are irretrievably broken and what’s needed is a new party that’s mostly a cult of (their) personality featuring narrowly tailored messaging marketed to especially suitable voters. The Lib Dems are somewhat that, minus the charismatic Obama/Trudeau/Macron-like leader. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/30 "2017-06-10T05:28:44Z")
Plus they increased their total MPs by 30% ! ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/31 "2017-06-10T05:30:35Z")
A 50% increase in real terms ! ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/32 "2017-06-10T05:33:53Z")
Lib Dem **[commentators](http://www.libdemvoice.org/election-2017-headlines-how-many-lib-dem-mps-are-there-and-who-are-they-54561.html)** have seized on the fact it was almost a 75% increase ! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/33 "2017-06-10T10:45:39Z")
The Telegraph is [reporting](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/10/theresa-may-set-appoint-new-cabinet-clings-power-disastrous/) > [@](#): > > two thirds of Tory Party members believe Theresa May should resign and > [@](#): > > Senior Tories sounding out possible PM replacements ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/34 "2017-06-10T12:31:37Z")
Will she survive till Tuesday? What odds are being offered. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/35 "2017-06-10T13:03:48Z")
I’m trying to imagine the recently wed Ruth Davidson, as the new leader, pondering the DUPs record on gay marriage. What a mess this is! ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/36 "2017-06-10T13:06:03Z")
I would imagine she’ll survive a while, since the pact with the DUP is her baby, and a new leader would have to re-negotiate, and that could mean the Tories out of power. They can’t risk that. Leaders can be wild, the party MPs are more cautious. I don’t know why Conservative leaders since Lady Thatch have been such [del]demented[/del] bold gamblers, willing to lose all for [del]love[/del] a laugh. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/37 "2017-06-10T13:12:00Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > I’m trying to imagine the recently wed Ruth Davidson, as the new leader, pondering the DUPs record on gay marriage. What a mess this is! Any different than the then closet Catholic Tony Blair dealing with DUP and Ian Paisley? Or the early 1920’s UK Government giving Michael Collins heavy artillery. Politics means dealing with people who you can’ stand ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/38 "2017-06-10T13:34:17Z")
The knives are out: > [@](#): > > The pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May to step aside following a humiliating election result grew Saturday, with her two top aides resigning, a leading newspaper pronouncing her “fatally wounded” and a former minister acknowledging that Tories were plotting possible replacements via the messaging service WhatsApp. > > In an indication of the rising pressure, May’s two top aides resigned early Saturday afternoon. Fiona Hill and Nick Timothy, May’s co-chiefs of staff, had been widely blamed within the prime minister’s Conservative Party for the lackluster campaign that ended with the Tories losing their majority in Parliament. > > British media outlets reported that May had been warned by senior Tory lawmakers that unless Hill and Timothy were ousted, the prime minister would face an internal party challenge to her leadership by Monday morning. [Pressure in Britain builds on Theresa May to step aside as her top aides resign, her party plots her possible ouster](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/pressure-in-britain-builds-on-theresa-may-to-step-aside-as-her-party-plots-her-possible-ouster/2017/06/10/e5755a08-4d52-11e7-987c-42ab5745db2e_story.html?utm_term=.60bd191afc00) ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/39 "2017-06-10T14:49:28Z")
Let’s see if she can ride the bull as well as Corbyn. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503/40 "2017-06-10T14:58:56Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > The knives are out: > > [Pressure in Britain builds on Theresa May to step aside as her top aides resign, her party plots her possible ouster](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/pressure-in-britain-builds-on-theresa-may-to-step-aside-as-her-party-plots-her-possible-ouster/2017/06/10/e5755a08-4d52-11e7-987c-42ab5745db2e_story.html?utm_term=.60bd191afc00) “Ouster” is just _wrong_ as a word. I’m usually a fill-yer-boots guy when it comes to English, but not in this case. 😉 Anyway, she’s losing friends and influencing people at quite the rate of knots. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk-prime-minister-thread/788503.md?page=3)