Tony Blair ...

[kazza12345]

does anyone know what would happen  if labour won the election, but tony blair didnt win in his constituency? could he still be pm?

[luckyboy]

the only thing that would happen then kazza, would that labour word make him a lord..he could then operate as pm from the lords, but effectively it would be curtains for him, and would more likely mean a labour leadership election, straight away with lord blair being a lame duck premier, or even prezza as temporary pm,until a new leader is annointed..

hope you are still awake kazza..lol

[kazza12345]

That's a really interesting situation - i wonder if it's ever happened?

[jake-the-peg]

I don't think that's ever happened nor is it likely to as any leader is going to grab a safe seat for himself.

I think  the last Prime Minister in the Lords was the Marquis of Salisbury about 100 years ago. It's highly unlikely that anybody would attempt to be Prime Minister from the Lords today - Salisbury had enough trouble then but the Parliament act passed just after him puts power in the hands of the Commons and effectively prevents anybody running the country from the Lords

[Didwot]

The Labour party would lean on one of their MPs who had a safe seat to resign, and TB would be parachuted in as the by election candidate. He would then get back into the house of commons.

[silly moo]

I'm pretty sure that he could stay as leader.
I don't think that the leader has to be an MP - it's just that they usually are.
Ready to stand corrected if I'm wrong.

[Dom Tuk]

If Tony lost his seat i can bet my house on the possibilty that he will step down and retire from politics. he has said on many ocassions that he was very close to jacking it all in. This will definetly trigger it...not even cherie can stop him from doing it. I have been very critical of Tony and his actions with respect to Iraq...but i have always accepted that he was genuine in his belief that he was right. If he lost his seat i am sure he will do the right thing and fall on his sword.

[Artemis]

Technically he is not PM now. He has resigned constitionally and called an election to form a new government. The day after the election The Queen will call on the person who she thinks can form a working government.

[Peter Pedant]

And yes Kazza its happened before

I think an indian prime minister lost his seat at a general election.

harold wilson in 1964 - you should look this up, its far more interesting than I can make it - wanted patrick gordon walker as Foreign secretary but he didnt win his seat. So he got someone to resign and Gordon Walker stood in a bye election and ...lost. Gordon walker was foreign secretary for a fortngiht but had to resign because he couldnt answer questions in parliamnet.

And finally in 1973 the sitting prime mininster lost his majority but hung on as prime mininster for ten days after the election....so I think artemis is technically not spot on......

[jenstar]

At the moment he's not an MP, but he is still Prime Minister, because the Queen can appoint and retain ministers regardless of whether or not Parliament exists.

[c00ky83]

It can happen, that's why there are loads of numpties standing for election in Sedgefield right now - so if they get in, it's spanners for Tony!

[ianess]

Not 100% sure of the details but did Sir Alec Douglas-Home not have to resign as a Lord and stand in a By-election in order to become an MP and Prime Minister after being elected Tory leader?  Sometime in the early sixties I believe.   Interesting possibility.