PM or Glegg?

[Trump]

If the PM suddenly dies ? God forbid ? Do we get Clegg for 5 years ? Who has the least number of seats?

[Huguenot]

No, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister is more 'ceremonial' in the UK. It's not like Vice President in the US.

The other thing worth remembering is that a Prime Minister is not a President. You vote for your party's local representative, not for PM. The PM is selected by the MPs of the majority party to 'lead' them only in a broad sense.

If the MPs feel the PM is not reflecting the majority beliefs of their party they can trigger a leadership race any time they choose.

Mainly they don't do this much because it lowers confidence in the governing party, which may trigger a vote of no confidence and hence a General Election.

Cameron's incapacity would lead to Clegg taking the reins for only as long as it took the Conservatives to elect a new leader. They would then be PM, as the Tories have a majority in the coalition.

[matthew123]

Somebody needs to tell Nick Clegg then it's only ceremonial after the way he fronted up at today's joint press conference with David Cameron - but I do believe he'll have a lot more influence on government business than his predecessors John Prescott and Harriett Harman.

[Loz]

Harman was never deputy PM. She was only deputy leader of the party. I think Gordon thought 'it's Mad Hattie or nobody for deputy PM, considered the issue and plumped for nobody as the better option. At least until Mandy made a comeback.