Isn't it time Britain had an official Deputy PM role?

[1000atfc5423]

Seeing the crisis the country is currently going through with Boris' illness, isn't it time the UK government modernised to have a formally elected Deputy PM position similar to other countries, and not the current system of someone nominated ad hoc by the PM 'when the time comes'?

[LakieLady]

Totally agree with this, but I'm not sure how the elections would work.

It would be straightforward when the government of the day has a big majority, like now, but what would happen if there was a slender majority and a split in the majority party? It would only take a few mischievous rebels to vote in a deputy from the opposition ranks, or for the opposition support a candidate from among the rebels, which could make day-to-day government very difficult.

[JellyfishandShells]

Why would we need a formally elected one ? Just adds complexity. The situation now is vanishingly rare and it is only ever going to be used as a stand in for the incumbent so it makes sense for continuity that they are on the same page as the actual PM .

Nick Clegg was only Deputy PM as an embarrassing acknowledgment that the majority could only be held by pretending to reward the support of the Lib Dems - did them so much harm in the long term, once the ‘ yipee, we’re part of government ‘ delusion wore off.

[Queenunikitty]

Anyone who remembers the embarrassing vanity project money pit that was the ODPM will understand why this is not a good suggestion.