The UK finds itself in an interesting constitutional position this morning. The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is expected to resign. But he holds two positions, only one of which is elected. The structure goes back to the Revolution of 1688, which established the UK as a constitutional monarchy.
Well, three actually, though this capacity is not relevant to the current constitutional situation. He is also the MP for a North London constituency, in which capacity he was elected by the local voters.
He is Prime Minister, in which capacity he was invited by the Crown to form a government, The PM of the UK is not elected to that role, but appointed by the Crown. On the basis that he or she can command a majority in the Commons, appoint ministers and form a government that can get legislation through.
Then, Starmer is also and independently leader of the Labour Party, to which post he was elected by the UK party members.
What is currently being talked about is that he will resign as PM, the Labour Members of Parliament (the PLP) will then line up behind the former Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, and the Crown will then invite Burnham to form a government.
This will happen without a Labour Party leadership election. Its not clear whether Starmer will also resign as Party leader. In that case you would have the unusual, probably unique, situation where the leader of the party with a majority in the Commons is not the Prime Minister because he cannot command that majority.
It seems that neither Party nor Starmer wants to have a party leadership election, or at least not immediately, as that would lead to three months of interregnum.
We shall see this week. The next step in this interesting process might be that Burham becomes PM, and that there is a party leadership process after that which will just be a coronation. An interesting reversion to eighteenth century practice,
Meanwhile in the wings the fanatical Net Zero enthusiast, Miliband, is reported to be trying to get Burnham to appoint him as Chancellor. This would both get him out from under Net Zero implementation, for which as Energy Secretary he is currently responsible. And it would give him control over the national budget, so he could divert more and more money into ever more wind farms, solar panels, and transmission links to the wild seascapes off the north coast of Scotland, where the windmills are, but very little else.
As one of the US founders said: “I tremble for my country when I think that God is just”.
Seems like the process that is now under way is different from the above. Starmer now resigning as party leader, then there will be a party coronation process which will appoint Burnham unopposed by mid-July, at which point the crown will rubber stamp him as PM in the usual way. So the link between being party leader of the party with a Commons majority and the premiership has been maintained.
Yes, agree with you about Burnham. But consider – it could be Lammy, or even Angela! Could be worse!
Blair to Brown Mk II. It’s no different, save for the speed of the process.
Burnham has been out of Parliament for a decade at least. He is nowhere near up to speed. Whereas Brown was able to take over from Blair relatively easily.
Burnham has now inherited his former master Gordon Brown’s dilemma.
Does it matter? How much difference is there between Boris Johnson and Starmer ? Boris was more Labour than Labour. That’s the reason the people did not vote for the Tory party(Labour 2)
Those of us who are not parochial would expect you to address the issue as “understands how modern British PMs are appointed ” if we were interested in nit picking too.
Sorry to all the UK subscribers but the UK is no longer important in world affairs or questions about the Climate Scare. It is just another ruined socialist experiment somewhere off the coast of Europe.
I’ve been wondering whether the net zero police will come after me for hanging out my washing therebye stealing wind from the wind farms. Anything is possible with mad Ed in charge.
I think you’re OK for today. Electricity generation Solar ~34% and interconnectors ~20% and wind only about 15.5%. I expect a big jump in gas later this afternoon as the sun drops in western Europe and Britain
‘Moar’ kettling of the population into green ‘nut’ zero …
strativarius
June 22, 2026 3:40 am
The UK Subsidy Clock A live, sourced tally of payments to renewable and low-carbon electricity generators — traced to the official registers, restated in 2024 prices.
From 19 January 2027: In Great Britain, new vented, condenser, and gas‑fired tumble dryers will no longer be sold as new products. Only heat pump tumble dryers meeting the new standard will be permitted Whitegoodshelp.
The ban applies to new sales only — existing dryers, second‑hand sales, repairs, and servicing are unaffected Whitegoodshelp.
If you liked heating your house with a heat pump (I didn’t), you’ll love using one to dry your laundry. But … wouldn’t resistance heat for the drier be OK if the local utility generated all its electrical power from sun or wind or by damming a river? They’re gonna have to do that anyway. Aren’t they?
This is sad to say – but the UK news is just not that important. Just a series of islands somewhere off the coast of Europe.
Bryan A
June 22, 2026 5:39 am
Looks bad on Minibrain. Must not be A.I.
John the Econ
June 22, 2026 7:28 am
So glad that they’ve solved all real crime and pestilence in the UK and now have the time and resources to be laser-focused on a menace like clothes dryers.
Crime and pestilence is policy and therefore not really crime and pestilence…
…which frees up a lot of manpower to target the real threat to British society…
…the British.
(Not that it’s just the British. Ethnic cleansing seems to have been found to be necessary all over Europe, plus Oz and Canada.)
ResourceGuy
June 22, 2026 10:02 am
This is Italian politics and leadership at best.
ResourceGuy
June 22, 2026 10:19 am
It’s also becoming clear that passive compliance in the UK is a lot like the Russian population.
Andrew St John
June 22, 2026 5:59 pm
Stupid and unfunny.
Phillip Chalmers
June 22, 2026 9:31 pm
What about ceasing the practice of lighting up the night, ALL night, by leaving the lights on in every large building in every large built-up area.
A light on top so no aircraft bumps into it and a string of lights at grown level so that drunks straggling their way home are easily visible to being rolled is sufficient.
You could not make it up…
maybe not, but you could try normal font, please
Nonce
I can believe Miliband would say that
He is one !
He isn’t a normal human being. He is very much a chip off the old block – Adolphe – later Ralph – Miliband.
You have to hope that is all AI or everybody on camera is going to end up banged up in today’s UK.
Guilty of laundering, you’ve been tumbled.
The UK finds itself in an interesting constitutional position this morning. The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is expected to resign. But he holds two positions, only one of which is elected. The structure goes back to the Revolution of 1688, which established the UK as a constitutional monarchy.
Well, three actually, though this capacity is not relevant to the current constitutional situation. He is also the MP for a North London constituency, in which capacity he was elected by the local voters.
He is Prime Minister, in which capacity he was invited by the Crown to form a government, The PM of the UK is not elected to that role, but appointed by the Crown. On the basis that he or she can command a majority in the Commons, appoint ministers and form a government that can get legislation through.
Then, Starmer is also and independently leader of the Labour Party, to which post he was elected by the UK party members.
What is currently being talked about is that he will resign as PM, the Labour Members of Parliament (the PLP) will then line up behind the former Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, and the Crown will then invite Burnham to form a government.
This will happen without a Labour Party leadership election. Its not clear whether Starmer will also resign as Party leader. In that case you would have the unusual, probably unique, situation where the leader of the party with a majority in the Commons is not the Prime Minister because he cannot command that majority.
It seems that neither Party nor Starmer wants to have a party leadership election, or at least not immediately, as that would lead to three months of interregnum.
We shall see this week. The next step in this interesting process might be that Burham becomes PM, and that there is a party leadership process after that which will just be a coronation. An interesting reversion to eighteenth century practice,
Meanwhile in the wings the fanatical Net Zero enthusiast, Miliband, is reported to be trying to get Burnham to appoint him as Chancellor. This would both get him out from under Net Zero implementation, for which as Energy Secretary he is currently responsible. And it would give him control over the national budget, so he could divert more and more money into ever more wind farms, solar panels, and transmission links to the wild seascapes off the north coast of Scotland, where the windmills are, but very little else.
As one of the US founders said: “I tremble for my country when I think that God is just”.
“I tremble for my country when I think that Burnham will before long be PM”.
Seems like the process that is now under way is different from the above. Starmer now resigning as party leader, then there will be a party coronation process which will appoint Burnham unopposed by mid-July, at which point the crown will rubber stamp him as PM in the usual way. So the link between being party leader of the party with a Commons majority and the premiership has been maintained.
Yes, agree with you about Burnham. But consider – it could be Lammy, or even Angela! Could be worse!
Blair to Brown Mk II. It’s no different, save for the speed of the process.
Burnham has been out of Parliament for a decade at least. He is nowhere near up to speed. Whereas Brown was able to take over from Blair relatively easily.
Burnham has now inherited his former master Gordon Brown’s dilemma.
Does it matter? How much difference is there between Boris Johnson and Starmer ? Boris was more Labour than Labour. That’s the reason the people did not vote for the Tory party(Labour 2)
Changing the shade of lipstick on the pig does not stop it being a pig.
Burnham did not speak very highly of the United States, as reported today.
With that attitude he and Trump will not be getting along.
At last, someone who understands how PMs are appointed.
Sadly, many beyond these pages don’t have a clue
Those of us who are not parochial would expect you to address the issue as “understands how modern British PMs are appointed ” if we were interested in nit picking too.
It’s not nit-picking to understand how democracy works, especially in your own country
Sorry to all the UK subscribers but the UK is no longer important in world affairs or questions about the Climate Scare. It is just another ruined socialist experiment somewhere off the coast of Europe.
I’ve been wondering whether the net zero police will come after me for hanging out my washing therebye stealing wind from the wind farms. Anything is possible with mad Ed in charge.
Wind and window taxes to come
I think you’re OK for today. Electricity generation Solar ~34% and interconnectors ~20% and wind only about 15.5%. I expect a big jump in gas later this afternoon as the sun drops in western Europe and Britain
LARTA: Lunatics Are Running The Asylum
Starmer resigns as Labour leader, intends to be “caretaker” Prime Minister for now
Yes and Andy Birmingham will run to replace him. Should he win Reeves and Miliband will be dropped as they are toxic as Starmer with the public.
Birmingham?
That’s Brumbai. Burnham was Mayor of Manchester…
Sorry name slip while typing the B’s have it 🙂
Reeves will be dropped, Miliband is due rewards. Expect things to get worse not better.
Yes. That is the way of political parties. Reward the obedient and punish the dissenters. Unity at any cost. Power at any cost.
‘Moar’ kettling of the population into green ‘nut’ zero …
The UK Subsidy Clock
A live, sourced tally of payments to renewable and low-carbon electricity generators — traced to the official registers, restated in 2024 prices.
It’s worse than we thought…
https://subsidyclock.co.uk/
Story Tip:
Seems the backup battery explosion at Queensland Givernments Callide C power station was the last straw and there joint venture partner is going to sue for $1B in damages
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/operator-of-troubled-qld-power-plant-sued-for-1-billion/ar-AA26eXrV?
If you liked heating your house with a heat pump (I didn’t), you’ll love using one to dry your laundry. But … wouldn’t resistance heat for the drier be OK if the local utility generated all its electrical power from sun or wind or by damming a river? They’re gonna have to do that anyway. Aren’t they?
I’ll pinch some of their wind and hang it out….
This is sad to say – but the UK news is just not that important. Just a series of islands somewhere off the coast of Europe.
Looks bad on Minibrain. Must not be A.I.
So glad that they’ve solved all real crime and pestilence in the UK and now have the time and resources to be laser-focused on a menace like clothes dryers.
Crime and pestilence is policy and therefore not really crime and pestilence…
…which frees up a lot of manpower to target the real threat to British society…
…the British.
(Not that it’s just the British. Ethnic cleansing seems to have been found to be necessary all over Europe, plus Oz and Canada.)
This is Italian politics and leadership at best.
It’s also becoming clear that passive compliance in the UK is a lot like the Russian population.
Stupid and unfunny.
What about ceasing the practice of lighting up the night, ALL night, by leaving the lights on in every large building in every large built-up area.
A light on top so no aircraft bumps into it and a string of lights at grown level so that drunks straggling their way home are easily visible to being rolled is sufficient.