TOM SCAIFE – “It shows our political system is just bust” (Letters, April 22) – says that Gordon Brown was never elected as PM. But no prime minister is elected by the electorate. The electorate elect members of Parliament to represent them in Parliament in the hope that the party of their choice, if elected, will form a government.
There have been several instances in the past 60 or so years where prime ministers have been changed during the course of a Parliament.
Prime Ministers are usually leaders of their party chosen under the rules governing that particular party.
For instance after the general election of October 25, 1951, the prime minister changed from Churchill to Eden; on May 26, 1955 Eden was replaced by Macmillan; and on October 8, 1959 Macmillan was replaced by Home. The change of Prime Ministers during a parliament is more common than people realise.
Tim Short, Chestnut Grove, Acomb, York.
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