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'?

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.

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.

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