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To think if Keir Starmer is ousted there should be a general election

294 replies

Viviennemary · 19/06/2026 06:34

I think the set-up should be changed and if the PM is voted out by his party then there needs to be a general election. I didn't vote for very left wing policies which will happen if Andy Burnham replaces the PM. And neither would have I ever voted for the dreadful Liz Truss who must be the absolute worst PM we've ever had.

OP posts:
Swiftie1878 · 19/06/2026 10:20

HelenaWaiting · 19/06/2026 10:13

Some perfectly valid arguments, but it does look like one rule for the Tories, another for Labour. I think any Tory screaming for a GE if there is a change of PM has one hell of a brass neck.

Rubbish. Labour also did it when Brown succeeded Blair.
It’s an all-party situation. No-one should be calling for an election, but they all do just to make political points.

Swiftie1878 · 19/06/2026 10:19

Viviennemary · 19/06/2026 09:17

I know perfectly well what the system is. I think it's wrong. I wouldnt have voted for a Labour party with Jeremy Corbyn in charge. And I probably wouldn't vote for it if Andy Burnham is PM. So why should I be stuck with him leading the country to the left.

The problem with your proposed solution to this is that if the country is heading to hell in a hand cart and needs a change of direction, NO party would dare to change its leader to put things right, as they’d be at serious risk of losing all power and being voted out.

Is that what anyone would want?!
Under current rules, they get to make adjustments whilst retaining their mandate to govern for the full five years.

MrsMuggin · 19/06/2026 10:16

HelenaWaiting · 19/06/2026 10:13

Some perfectly valid arguments, but it does look like one rule for the Tories, another for Labour. I think any Tory screaming for a GE if there is a change of PM has one hell of a brass neck.

Agree with this too, but at whatever point it changes it will stink of hypocrisy.
Maybe have a 1 change limit, so power can be handed once, then a second handing of power triggers a GE

LordofMisrule1 · 19/06/2026 10:15

We don't vote for a prime minister OP, we vote for a party. YABU to not understand how it works.

PenelopeAsks · 19/06/2026 10:15

That’s how it works @Viviennemaryand though not always palatable it is what we have.

TBH I think that political parties who renege on their manifesto promises are more troubling (that’ll be all of them) and an unelected upper house should cause you more angst

Rhoodshelter · 19/06/2026 10:14

In the US they don’t even have a new election when a President dies. They just appoint the Vice President and if he or she dies, they work back down the line of “succession”.

Wellywanda3 · 19/06/2026 10:14

Absolutely I would hope for a GE as this is NOT a situation which is healthy for the country.

HelenaWaiting · 19/06/2026 10:13

MrsMuggin · 19/06/2026 10:11

Totally agree. Have thought this for decades regardless of the party in power but the last few years have made a mockery with the number of prime ministers handed power by someone else standing down, making huge, batshit decisions for the country (looking at you, Teresa, Truss and Boris). It's all very well saying you don't vote for the prime minister, you vote for the party, but the tone and manifesto comes from the top, so by voting for a party you are in essence also voting for the leader. I think there should be a mandatory general election within a year of a prime minister standing down.

Some perfectly valid arguments, but it does look like one rule for the Tories, another for Labour. I think any Tory screaming for a GE if there is a change of PM has one hell of a brass neck.

dottiehens · 19/06/2026 10:12

This was always the peril of voting for Labour. Who did not see this was going to happened I am even surprised KS lasted so long.

MrsMuggin · 19/06/2026 10:11

Totally agree. Have thought this for decades regardless of the party in power but the last few years have made a mockery with the number of prime ministers handed power by someone else standing down, making huge, batshit decisions for the country (looking at you, Teresa, Truss and Boris). It's all very well saying you don't vote for the prime minister, you vote for the party, but the tone and manifesto comes from the top, so by voting for a party you are in essence also voting for the leader. I think there should be a mandatory general election within a year of a prime minister standing down.

Rhoodshelter · 19/06/2026 10:10

Who the actual F wants a general election? Seriously.

Andy Burnham isn’t very left wing. I live in Manchester and there’s nothing left wing about the way this place is run; capital is king.

What we do have is a public transport system that’s integrated and while not perfect, actually works.

BMW58 · 19/06/2026 10:09

No OP.
Thank God our Political Parties can "sack" their leaders!

Vote for a Party not a Person

Fozzleyplum · 19/06/2026 09:57

Angela Rayner thinks so!

BeardySchnauzer · 19/06/2026 09:56

These threads normally fill up with

  1. you clearly don’t understand our electoral system
  2. did you complain when the tories did this?

we vote for parties and their manifesto so if there is a change in leader and the approach changes to the point people don’t think they are sticking to the spirit of the manifesto then there should be another election.

I don’t find burnham at all impressive and it feels like Labour haven’t learnt from the last lot. Be a party of unity and work together for the betterment of the country. Stop focussing on personal ambition.

mumumental · 19/06/2026 09:47

Don’t be daft, OP.

HelenaWaiting · 19/06/2026 09:46

Viviennemary · 19/06/2026 09:17

I know perfectly well what the system is. I think it's wrong. I wouldnt have voted for a Labour party with Jeremy Corbyn in charge. And I probably wouldn't vote for it if Andy Burnham is PM. So why should I be stuck with him leading the country to the left.

You wouldn't vote Labour no matter who was in charge. You're a Faragist.

Stowickthevast · 19/06/2026 09:44

Viviennemary · 19/06/2026 09:17

I know perfectly well what the system is. I think it's wrong. I wouldnt have voted for a Labour party with Jeremy Corbyn in charge. And I probably wouldn't vote for it if Andy Burnham is PM. So why should I be stuck with him leading the country to the left.

Do you think anyone wanted Liz Truss leading the country?

Wiseplumnet · 19/06/2026 09:41

Why on earth would we have a General election if the PM changes? You vote for the party not the PM.

pointythings · 19/06/2026 09:38

OP, please show me the posts you made on MN about the revolving door of PMs under the last government, expressing your outrage and demanding a GE.

It's all very well for you to complain now, but if you didn't complain then and feel a similar level of grievance, there's a word for that.

Viviennemary · 19/06/2026 09:17

I know perfectly well what the system is. I think it's wrong. I wouldnt have voted for a Labour party with Jeremy Corbyn in charge. And I probably wouldn't vote for it if Andy Burnham is PM. So why should I be stuck with him leading the country to the left.

OP posts:
knitnerd90 · 19/06/2026 07:33

No this is how a parliamentary system works and has always worked.

Seasidecatlady · 19/06/2026 07:33

You know perfectly well how the system works.

You don't vote directly for a PM in a general election.

The Tories went through a series of PMs after they won the general election.

The fact that you don't like Labour, are scared that Burnham could make a good PM and want Reform in does not mean you can change the system to suit you!

fuckeditupbadly · 19/06/2026 07:29

I just realised who the OP is. Very likely wanting a GE in the hope Reform win and women go back to being home-makers who put their husbands slippers out and a drink in his hand as he was through the door.

justinhawkinsnavalfluff · 19/06/2026 07:10

GotTheIckWithMe · 19/06/2026 06:57

No - definitely not. Reform need enough time in local government to mess it up before the next general election , if it’s too soon they will win which will be a disaster for the country.

This!!

Backedoffhackedoff · 19/06/2026 07:09

No that’s not how uk politics works. We don’t vote for a PM