Coronavirus (OLD)

[jfman]

Jeez. Hoping, praying for the best mate.

[tweetiepooh]

Originally Posted by Chris

It’s Easter this Sunday

Hallelujah - we will still celebrate the greatest act of love ever seen.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

Hallelujah - we will still celebrate the greatest act of love ever seen.

Don't get me going! Coronavirus and God's love.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Don't get me going! Coronavirus and God's love.

Yes, He has a funny way of showing it!

[1andrew1]

I wonder if in the future we could see a Deputy PM position created as part of a consttutional tweak?

Coronavirus: Claims of power vacuum as PM battles COVID-19 in intensive care
Dominic Raab has struggled to answer questions on whether he has the authority to change course.
..
Dominic Raab, the PM's stand-in, has refused to confirm whether a decision on easing restrictions would be taken on Easter Monday - and he suggested it could be delayed.
There are now claims of a power vacuum at the heart of government after Downing Street revealed there are strict limitations on Mr Raab's powers while he is deputising for Mr Johnson in key meetings.

There are also doubts in Whitehall about whether critical decisions on the lockdown can be taken without Mr Johnson's input.

Mr Raab, who is first secretary of state as well as foreign secretary, has struggled to answer questions on whether he has the authority to change course.

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I wonder if in the future we could see a Deputy PM position created as part of a consttutional tweak?

But what would a Deputy PM do the rest of the time?

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Don't get me going! Coronavirus and God's love.

The presence of suffering in the world is a big issue, but one Christians don’t shy away from, not least because central to our faith is God, incarnating himself as a man, born into a humble family in a country under military occupation, and eventually being tortured and executed in his mid-30s for suggesting people should be nice to one another.

The question “why does God allow suffering?” is huge. There are ways of approaching it, though no one complete answer everyone will agree on, not least because the question sets finite human minds the challenge of attempting to understand the motivation of a divine mind that is by definition infinite.

But: our confession that God in Jesus the Christ participates in human suffering is an immense source of comfort to Christians, especially at times like this.

Originally Posted by nomadking

But what would a Deputy PM do the rest of the time?

What deputies do everywhere else - be a backup in case of absence (holidays, sickness, more than one meeting to attend at the same time) - it's in addition to normal roles/duties, not a role in its own right.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I wonder if in the future we could see a Deputy PM position created as part of a consttutional tweak?

I don't think there needs to be a constitutional tweak, it's just that the Torys don't have one. Prescot was Deputy PM for years.

[Sephiroth]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I don't think there needs to be a constitutional tweak, it's just that the Torys don't have one. Prescot was Deputy PM for years.

.... complete with under the desk service!

[nomadking]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I don't think there needs to be a constitutional tweak, it's just that the Torys don't have one. Prescot was Deputy PM for years.

Was that merely a by-product of Labour Party rules, requiring a Deputy Leader?

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Pierre

I don't think there needs to be a constitutional tweak, it's just that the Torys don't have one. Prescot was Deputy PM for years.

I'm suggesting the constitutional tweak might be to mandate one for each Government.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I'm suggesting the constitutional tweak might be to mandate one for each Government.

But then, like the USA, you would have to install a complete hierarchical chain of succession.

Who would be the Deputy to the Deputy PM?

At the moment Raab is steering the tiller, if god forbid, Boris did not return or was left very long term incapacitated, the Party would quickly select another leader from the cabinet.

[denphone]

The prime minister remains in intensive care but is responding to treatment, Downing Street has said.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...tment-11970482

Originally Posted by Hugh

What deputies do everywhere else - be a backup in case of absence (holidays, sickness, more than one meeting to attend at the same time) - it's in addition to normal roles/duties, not a role in its own right.

Yup, prime example of this stance was with John Prescott, made Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, under Tony Blair, when Labour won a landslide victory in the 1997 General Election. Prescott was also the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions until 2001 in conjunction with his DPM role.

The Deputy Prime Minister, or First Secretary of State, does not assume the duties and powers of the Prime Minister upon their absence, illness, or death.

Boris Johnson is still the Prime Minister and he has asked Dominic Raab to deputise for him. Raab cannot hire and fire people, but he will be the key person to drive home the Prime Ministers and governments agenda, the government consists of the joint Cabinet and they usually make key decisions together. Raab would also not have a weekly audience with Her Majesty, the Queen, like the Prime Minister does.

There is this current claim in the media that there is a power vacuum at Number 10, while yes, we're not quite like other nations, like the United States, having a written Constitution that outlines that if a president becomes incapacitated, it still has a functioning chief executive, Vice president assumes the presidency, under the 25th Amendment, however if both President and Vice President are incapacitated, then the line of presidential succession continues to House Speaker.

The UK has similar lines of succession in the form of Seniority of Cabinet members, should Raab become unwell and have to self isolate, then the Chancellor becomes responsible in the absence of the Prime Minister.

This is to drive home to others, in particular to adversaries, that while, yes there is a sad and emotional human element of temporarily or permanently losing a Prime Minister or President, that it is vital that a country still has a functioning chief executive and it will attack if it is provoked.