Interesting Links for 04-07-2016

Different stories resonate with different people

A repost, but deservedly so
(tags: stories writing )

At Profiles Theatre the drama—and abuse—is real

(tags: abuse acting theatre )

Link between family socioeconomic status and children’s educational achievement estimated from genes

(tags: society Education Intelligence genes )

A legal challenge on Article 50

(tags: europe law uk government )

When we stop admiring how much the pie has grown, we start fighting each other for a larger slice

(tags: economics society inequality )

When journalists accuse politicians of "Comparing" they are implying that they are "equating"

(tags: politics journalism )

Even a four-year-old can tell when you're contradicting yourself (and now they won't trust you)

(tags: children language logic )

Dear grammar pedants, try not get into an argument with the fucking dictionary.

(tags: language OhForFucksSake )

How can a general election be called? (And how are Prime Ministers chosen?)

Just to be clear on this, as I see a lot of people talking about this as if it's inevitable that there be one following the referendum. Or a belief that a change in Prime Minister requires a new general election. Neither of which is even slightly true.

The Prime Minister is the person who is supported by the House of Commons. Which generally means a majority of the MPs in the House of Commons. Which generally means either a single party or a coalition of parties who have more than 50% of the MPs. Changing PM can happen because a majority of MPs support a different person for Prime Minister. This can happen because the leader of a party (or coalition) resigns, or is forced out, and is replaced by a new one. Or because a general election is called and the allegiance of The House changes because its makeup has changed.

A general election is triggered in one of three ways*:
1) The House of Commons holds a vote of No Confidence, and doesn't hold a vote of Confidence within two weeks.
2) A 2/3 majority resolves to hold an election.
3) Repealing the Fixed-Term Parliaments act.

(1)Would require the Conservatives to No-Confidence themselves out of office. Not impossible, but looks pretty silly.
(2)Providing Labour and the Conservatives both agree that an election would be a good idea, this looks like the easiest route.
(3)Would work easily, but option (2) is probably easier, as it doesn't require a new law to be passed (and the faff it would cause).

You might ask, why does the Fixed-Term Parliaments act exist if it's easy for the current government to override it? And the answer is that if there is a split House of Commons, involving a coalition, then one member of the coalition can't just declare an election, it requires a majority or a supermajority to do so.

*Because of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act of 2011.