If Angela Rayner challenged Keir Starmer for leadership of Labour & won, would that lead to a general election?
It certainly shouldn't (looking back at the revolving door at the top of the Tory Govt. in its last years) but you can bet there would be wide-spread calls for an election, especially from the Reform, seeking to capitalise on its current polling.
This would also put the GPEW in a difficult position; Zac Polanski is swiftly building support but would it still be too early?
@ChrisMayLA6
If I understand correctly, an election is forced after a vote of no confidence (in the *government*, not the PM, constitutionally he's just a government minister, albeit the main one) and a failure of anyone else in parliament to credibly form a government with the confidence of the house.
I don't see Labour MPs going along with losing their jobs by voting no confidence in themselves, so Starmer's removal will have to be internal, and therefore not constitutionally relevant.
@petealexharris @ChrisMayLA6 Bear in mind the PM is the leader of the largest parliamentary party/the one able to assemble a working majority. If Labour yeet Starmer they can elect a new leader, who'd then become PM. See also Truss, Sunak.
@cstross @petealexharris @ChrisMayLA6
Right. Theoretically Parliament elects the PM, It's just assumed that the leader of the largest party would win the vote so they don't bother having one. After a vote of no confidence legally parliament has a week to ellect(appoint) a new PM. If they don't then that "automatically" triggers a General Election.
@cstross @petealexharris @ChrisMayLA6
Yeah, never underestimate self-interest in politics. Example in case: the US congress.
