Overview

This bill establishes a clear order of succession for temporarily replacing the UK Prime Minister in case of incapacitation. It ensures a smooth transfer of power and continuity of government during such an event, while specifying conditions for the temporary replacement, including party affiliation.

Description

The Prime Minister (Temporary Replacement) Bill outlines the process for appointing a temporary Prime Minister if the incumbent becomes incapacitated (either temporarily or permanently). The replacement will be selected from among current Secretaries or Ministers of State, following a predetermined order of precedence (detailed in Schedule 1).

Order of Succession:

The order of succession is as follows: Deputy Prime Minister; First Secretary of State; Chancellor of the Exchequer; Foreign Secretary; Home Secretary; Lord Chancellor; Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; Defence Secretary; Health Secretary; Business Secretary; President of the Board of Trade; Work and Pensions Secretary; Environment Secretary; Transport Secretary; Northern Ireland Secretary; Scotland Secretary; Wales Secretary; Lord Privy Seal; Culture Secretary; Minister without Portfolio; Chief Secretary to the Treasury; Lord President of the Council; Chief Whip; Attorney General.

Crucially, the temporary replacement must belong to the same political party as the incapacitated Prime Minister. The temporary Prime Minister will receive the Prime Minister's salary and assume all their functions. They must relinquish the post as soon as the original Prime Minister is no longer incapacitated or a new Prime Minister is appointed.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly increase or decrease government spending. The salary of the Prime Minister will simply be transferred to the individual temporarily filling the role.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects:

• The Prime Minister: The bill directly impacts their ability to temporarily hand over power.
• Cabinet Ministers: The order of succession impacts their potential roles and responsibilities.
• Government Departments: The smooth functioning of government relies on the bill's provisions for maintaining leadership.
• The Public: The bill ensures that the government continues to function during periods of Prime Ministerial incapacity.

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