by Anura Guruge
on July 7, 2022
This was the first thing that crossed my mind when I heard the (sad & disturbing) news this morning. Yes, I like Boris. I can relate to him. {SMILE}
They key thing that many Americans might not fully appreciate was that he was forced out by members of his OWN PARTY — members of his OWN CABINET. Kind of similar to the ‘25th Amendment‘ being enacted against a president. If you want to think of it in terms of ‘Trump’, it was the equivalent of HIS Republican party voting to impeach him — & getting all the requisite votes. At this juncture REFLECT that NO U.S. president has ever been successfully impeached (i.e., convicted).
Boris survived a vote of no-confidence in Parliament — when all parties had a say in getting rid of him. But, he was undone by his OWN PARTY — the U.K. Conservative Party (& I am STILL a U.K. Conservative despite my major liberal leanings). This is the bit you have to seriously mull over. He was ousted by his own party. Can you see that happening in the U.S.?
Yes, I understand that the dynamics, process & implications are different in the U.K. The BIG difference being that the U.K. Prime Minister is appointed by his party (or a coalition of parties) rather than by the people. Boris did NOT contest the last election as the P.M. He ran as just another Member of Parliament (MP) who at that time happened to be the head of his party, i.e., the Conservatives. The Conservatives won the most seats, & he as the head of that party was asked (by the Queen) to P.M. There is a difference there.
Anywho … this is not the time or place to discuss the huge differences in the political structure, mechanics & process between the U.K. & the U.S.
For now just mull over the question, would a U.S. president ever be forced out of office solely by the members of his own party?
