Interesting Links for 12-07-2019

[andrewducker]

The New York City passport office

(tags:bureaucracy newyork OhForFucksSake )

The helicopter team that films the Tour de France is one of a kind

(tags:helicopter flight France cycling )

Babies point at objects because they really want to touch them

(tags:babies viaSwampers psychology )

Artificial skin produced using nanoscale technology could improve wound recovery for patients with burns or skin grafts.

(tags:medicine Technology )

Sugary and Fruit juice drinks associated with cancer. Drinks with sweeteners - not.

(tags:sugar cancer )

What happens if Boris Johnson loses a vote of no confidence?

(tags:politics uk )

Robots Are Beating Humans At Poker

(tags:poker games ai )

The Slow Death of Hollywood "[Netflix] now routinely ends shows after their second season, even when they're still popular."

(tags:Hollywood TV movies business netflix )

The World's Only Traditional Māori Garden Was Made From Memories

(tags:history garden farming newzealand )

Comments

[calimac]

I've noted already how, if Hammond and others stick by their determination not to vote for confidence in Boris (though, judging by Tory rebels of the past, they probably won't stick to it), he'll never become PM.

But where does it say that May is not allowed to leave office until she can confidently recommend a successor? Is that a relic of the FTPA or some other recent legislation? Because in the olden days (certainly 18C, and I think 19C as well) governments not only announced their resignations but actually left office in circumstances of chaos, leaving the monarch fumbling around for a few days, calling in various political leaders to ask if they could form a government. Sometimes they'd say no. Sometimes they'd say they'd try; sometimes it would turn out they couldn't.

In modern circumstances, with instant communication and nuclear bombs and all, it's harder to imagine such an interval, and certainly May might feel morally obliged to stick to it until the situation cleared up, though because it's dependent on Brexit, clear up is something it may never do. But where's the legal requirement? What would happen if May suddenly died? There's all kinds of rules and laws in place for the death of the monarch, but what about the PM? Aside from the presumption that the monarch would call in the Deputy PM on a temporary basis, if there is a Deputy PM which right now there isn't, I can't think of anything except reversion to consultation. The last PM to actually die in office was Palmerston in 1865; he had an obvious successor, but it was still 11 days until he was officially commissioned.

[andrewducker]

I think that bit is being over-egged a bit.
The Cabinet Manual says:
"Recent examples suggest that previous Prime Ministers have not offered their resignations until there was a situation in which clear advice could be given to the Sovereign on who should be asked to form a government"
but it follows that up with
"It remains to be seen whether or not these examples will be regarded in future as having established a constitutional convention."

So I think she _can_ leave, but that it's expected that she'll hang about until she can recommend a successor. But lots of things that are expected haven't happened recently!

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-manual

[danieldwilliam]

I think our Constitution is a bit unclear about Prime Ministerial succession but my view is that the Queen can probably appoint whomever she pleases and they become Prime Minister and remain so until they lose a vote of no confidence and the Queen removes them.