So what happens if a PrimeMinister becomes too ill to govern or the worst happen?

[GrateBallsofMozzarella]

I’ll start by saying I fervently hope that Boris makes a full and swift recovery.

I know it is probably in poor taste to ask but I think there are a lot of us very worried out there about what happens if, God forbid, the worst happened. This can’t be the first time a PM has been taken ill in office.

Dh and I were discussing this yesterday, so the Foreign Secretary is next in command? Would they step into the role, unelected? How does it work? I know in US movies, there’s always a moment when the VP is sworn in but we don’t seem to have one .

And before people jump in, I don’t wish Boris any ill will, I would just literally like to know what the formal process is.

There would need to be a leadership contest should Johnson be unable to return to his role. Until then, Raab acts for him. He won't automatically become PM.

Leadership contest

Raab and Sunak would hold the fort temporarily, probably sharing the post while a leadership contest was held. Incredibly tough timing, though, if it was to happen now because we desperately need a definitive leader.

Do we think a leadership contest would happen quickly or would it be later on in the year?

The Queen is our head of state, not the PM. If she dies, her heir takes over. Boris is the leader of Her Majesty's Government - the party of MPs with a majority (or workable arrangement) in the Commons. If Boris dies, the Conservatives choose their next leader out of their Members of Parliament via a leadership contest - usually an already serving Minister - and they are invited to become PM by the Queen.

Prime in this instance means First Minister, not Best, just first amongst equals - the Cabinet is full of Ministers, there's lots to choose from - and ultimately the Members of Parliament in the House of Commons run the country, voting and making laws etc., advised and served by the Civil Service. Not the PM.

Raab is First Secretary of State, and so steps in, but this is an honorary title - theoretically anyone in the Cabinet could be named to step in, and it doesn't make them PM afterwards, if Boris didn't survive.

There isn’t a clear constitutional approach because it depends on which party is in government. By convention the queen will ask the leader or acting leader of the largest party to be the PM. For Labour, party rules make it clear that is the elected deputy leader, so Angela Rayner would take over while a leadership election was held. The Conservatives don’t have a clear party rule, so Boris nominated Dominic Raab to take over if he is incapacitated. It is likely that Raab would therefore be acting PM if BJ died. If Tory MPs could agree a unity candidate they would probably have a brief coronation leadership election. If not, I would expect it to be delayed and Raab acting PM until the end of the crisis. To give him greater legitimacy he may propose a government of national unity for that period.

Hopefully this will be unnecessary and BJ will make a full recovery.

I really hope BJ makes a full recovery.
ChipoltleBlessing I hope you are right and that there would not be a leadership contest during the crisis as that would be the last thing we need as a country right now.

Churchill's health was very poor and it was repeatedly covered up. Anthony Eden resigned due to ill health as did Macmillan. Slightly further back Lloyd George had Influenza in 1918 and it was covered up how ill he was (apparently it was touch and go if he'd survive). Not so easy to do that now though. 200 years ago Spencer Perseval was assassinated and the Prince Reagent appointed his replacement.

I suspect Dominic Raab will be in charge until the party elects a new leader but it will be like when Cameron resigned and the parlimentary party will quickly choose someone, it won't go to the membership.

Tony Blair was voted in as leader of the Labour Party when the leader died suddenly
So I’d guess a leadership contest would be what happens

Ah, thanks everyone. Hopefully this will remain a theoretical scenario and Boris will make a full recovery.

It'll be a leadership contest again.