MvdV> Jeremy Corbyn plans for a vote of no confidence against Boris Johnson MvdV> with the object of getting himself appointed Prime Minister pro tem.
Yes, I read about that. Interesting development which shows how much anti-Boris feeling there is in the UK at the moment. It does look as though Boris is trying to procrastinate until there's no time left to do anything about it. He's simply trying to manipulate Commons procedure in order to get his own way and this is what a great many MPs are trying to stop.
MvdV> He plans to postpone the Brexit, arrange for a new referendum and new MvdV> elections.
MvdV> Is such a "coup" possible in the Brittish system? Can he really obtain MvdV> all the powers of the PM by a vote of no condidence? Or is this just MvdV> talk?
Jeremy plans to try to form a government of national unity, that is, all parties would unite to get the country over this mess. He could do this if he were to get enough support from all sides of the House. But then the ousted Boris Johnson would have to go to the Queen and recommend his successor. She would then appoint his nominee but that nominee would have had to demonstrate that they have the support of the majority of the House.
So, theoretically yes, it could happen. The last time this happened was in World War 2 when Winston Churchill was asked by the King in 1940 to form a government of national unity, using the best people from all parties.
MvdV> If it is possible at all, is it a realistic scenario? Will there be a MvdV> majority for such a coup?
If the MPs consider this situation to be as serious as World War 2 then it could be a possible way forward. But it all depends whether the MPs themselves think this is realistic and whether Jeremy Corbin would be the right man as a temporary prime minister.
I'm not a fan of Jeremy Corbin or of the Labour Party, but my own personal opinion is that I would like him to be able to do what he has suggested and get us out of this unholy mess.
David (writing from Le Mesnil Villement, Calvados, France)
-- David Rance writing from Caversham, Reading, UK
