Monthly Archives: July 2016

How Does One Become A Minister?

Posted on July 14, 2016 by

Earlier this week, I explained the formalities that a person must undergo before they can become Prime Minister. Today, I will do the same thing for the other members of Her Majesty’s Government. This is a surprisingly complex subject since ministers … Continue reading →

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How Can Theresa May Create New Departments So Quickly?

Posted on July 13, 2016 by

A reader was surprised to learn that Theresa May has made David Davis ‘Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.’ They thought it was odd that she could create a new department out of thin air. This is possible because of the constitutional … Continue reading →

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Why Is There A ‘First Lord of the Treasury’?

Posted on July 13, 2016 by

My recent post about the formalities surrounding the premiership led a reader to ask about the office of First Lord of the Treasury. As the title implies, the First Lord is actually one of several ‘Lords of the Treasury.’ By convention, the … Continue reading →

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How Does One Become Prime Minister?

Posted on July 11, 2016 by

In an unexpected development, Andrea Leadsom has quit the race for Conservative leader, leaving Theresa May as the only candidate to succeed David Cameron. However, certain formalities must take place before May can take the reins of government. In this post, I’ll … Continue reading →

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Why Do Privy Counsellors Lead Inquiries?

Posted on July 7, 2016 by

After seven years, the committee of Privy Counsellors set up to investigate Britain’s role in the Iraq War has finally made its report. But why do Privy Counsellors lead inquiries in the first place? The Privy Council oath includes a promise to “keep secret all matters … Continue reading →

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