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HappyG(rrr) 24 Jun 12:46pm, 24 Jun 2024 50,286 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Does anyone know what "The official Opposition" means? Does it have to be a single biggest party? Presumably it can't be a coalition (sort of meaningless, because all parties that aren't in government are sort of opposition, to a greater or lesser extent?) I was wondering how small Conservative party have to get before there is a bigger next party e.g. SNP?! (Not this time because they're going down from 56 at a peak down to probably 25 this time, but could it have been possible, in theory?) Have Lib Dems ever been official opposition ? G
paulcook 24 Jun 12:51pm, 24 Jun 2024 5,398 posts	0 paulcook Lib Dems have a good chance of being the opposition. I thought the official opposition was the party with most seats not in Government, i.e. it depends on who might be in coalition. Latest Lord Ashcroft poll (don't know how accurate he is), for example has Labour 507 LD 62 Conservative 29 SNP 21
Johnny Blaze 24 Jun 12:57pm, 24 Jun 2024 32,566 posts	0 Johnny Blaze Yikes. I think the official opposition carries with it lots of perks like offices and funding, plus seats on select committees and all that. If the LD beat the Tories in seats that is incredibly bad news for them as their roles will have become reversed and the LD will get massively more visibility and credibility. The Tories may decline even further if that happens. It’s no wonder Reform might fancy their chances of replacing them. These big realignments do happen from time to time.
Johnny Blaze 24 Jun 1:00pm, 24 Jun 2024 32,567 posts	0 Johnny Blaze I don’t think it will happen. Chances are low but not zero. Sadly I think a serious shoeing increases the chances of Johnson returning as the hard of thinking on the Right of the Tories still light a candle to the useless oaf every night, despite his track record of trashing everything he touches.
richmac 24 Jun 1:04pm, 24 Jun 2024 28,122 posts	0 richmac Well if the Tories form the opposition then they'll have plenty of first hand experience for any committee to do with gambling
HappyG(rrr) 24 Jun 1:07pm, 24 Jun 2024 50,287 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Gave myself a wee history lesson - LDs have not been official opposition since the early 1900s! Always Labour or Conservative since 1922. G
larkim 24 Jun 1:14pm, 24 Jun 2024 24,722 posts	0 larkim From the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 Opposition Leaders and Whips. (1)In this Act “Leader of the Opposition” means, in relation to either House of Parliament, that Member of that House who is for the time being the Leader in that House of the party in opposition to Her Majesty’s Government having the greatest numerical strength in the House of Commons; and “Chief Opposition Whip” means, in relation to either House of Parliament, the person for the time being nominated as such by the Leader of the Opposition in that House; and “Assistant Opposition Whip”, in relation to the House of Commons, means a person for the time being nominated as such, and to be paid as such, by the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons. (2)If any doubt arises as to which is or was at any material time the party in opposition to Her Majesty’s Government having the greatest numerical strength in the House of Commons, or as to who is or was at any material time the leader in that House of such a party, the question shall be decided for the purposes of this Act by the Speaker of the House of Commons, and his decision, certified in writing under his hand, shall be final and conclusive. As with so many things, it's only codified in respect of the payment of salaries to the office holders! At a guess, Erskine May will give some additional guidance on stuff too.
rf_fozzy 24 Jun 1:19pm, 24 Jun 2024 22,493 posts	0 rf_fozzy HappyG(rrr) wrote:Gave myself a wee history lesson - LDs have not been official opposition since the early 1900s! Always Labour or Conservative since 1922. G Technically that was the Liberal Party. Not the Lib Dems...
jda 24 Jun 1:45pm, 24 Jun 2024 17,331 posts	0 jda Being the biggest party not in government isn’t that complicated.
larkim 24 Jun 1:48pm, 24 Jun 2024 24,723 posts	0 larkim I suppose a party could try to argue popular vote numbers if it was close. Or a number of parties could create an opposition coalition and at least try to make the argument that they should be recognised as such. Even if being the biggest party is the only real determinant.

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