THE CHOICE OF A PRIME MINISTER

Abstract

The Government is a body of party politicians selected from among the members of that party or group of parties which has a majority or can secure a majority in the House of Commons. By this device the operations of Government and legislature (subject always to the powers of the House of Lords) are integrated. Public opinion controls the Government through the House of Commons; and the Government through its majority controls the House of Commons. But the members of the Government are not elected by the House of Commons. They are nominated by the Prime Minister, subject to what will be said in the next chapter. The choice of a Prime Minister is therefore a function of some importance. It determines, subject to political conditions, the personnel of the Government. The range of choice is necessarily limited by political conditions. The Prime Minister must be able to secure colleagues and, with his colleagues, he must be able to secure the collaboration of the House of Commons. Frequently there is no choice at all. If a party has a majority no Government can be formed without its support; and if it has a recognised leader that leader must become Prime Minister unless it is, for some special reason, prepared to follow a leader other than its own. At other times, however, the succession is obscure, and then a real choice can be made among several possible candidates.