§ Q9. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to provide that in future the Prime Minister shall assume office only after being elected by the House of Commons.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis) on 23rd January.
§ Mr. HughesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable body of public opinion in the country which thinks that there should be a different method of electing the Prime Minister and that there is an impression that he became Prime Minister as a result of getting the majority of spoiled votes? Does the right hon. Gentleman not also agree that this method lays too much of a burden on the Queen?
§ The Prime MinisterI anticipated that the hon. Gentleman might be a little worried about my election. I do not think that I can put right what happened in the past, but very soon I shall be re-elected by the whole nation.
§ Sir C. OsborneWould my right hon. Friend not agree that the Opposition are worried about his appointment because he has become such a good opponent?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. It is not one of the duties of the Prime Minister of the day to rule on the reasons for alleged anxiety among the Opposition. Therefore, the question is out of order.
§ Mr. HughesIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.