Quote:
Originally Posted by OLD BOY
I assumeyou are talking about the small number of people who are able to vote. In which case, no, the point has not gone sailing past - we all know that is the case.
We didn't get to vote Gordon Brown in either when he took over from Tony Blair, so I don't know why this tradition is suddenly so significant for you.
Only party members vote for their leader. Nothing wrong with that. If you want a vote in the future, join!
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Gordon Brown was elected by Labour MPs who in turn were elected by due electoral process:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_L...rship_election
MPs have a mandate from their constituents, so there is still representation of the electorate when MPs vote for a new leader who will also become Prime Minister.
This is also how previous Conservative leaders were elected when the party was in power:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_C...rship_election
My understanding is that this is the first time that members of any political party, and not elected MPs, have had a final vote for a party leader that will also become Prime Minister. The issue is that the party members have no mandate of their own from the wider electorate.
The same issue would happen if or when other party members vote for a new leader that would also automatically become Prime Minister. It's not an issue specifically directed at the Conservatives, other than they are the ones currently in office.