A few weeks ago we blogged about the unprecedented removal by YouTube of the Hitler Der Untergang parodies. This because of copyright claims by the producer, Constantin Films, resulting in the death of one of the most creative internet memes in years. Although a couple of clips are still around, most of them are now removed.
But of course, the famous scene can still be re-enacted! Which is exactly what these guys have done. Onwards to a new meme!
If the election outcome in the United Kingdom tomorrow is a hung Parliament – one in which no party enjoys an overall majority – and if Labour comes in third in terms of number of votes, yet has the most seats in Parliament, then it is constitutionally unclear who should become Prime Minister.
In many ways, these elections might become the most interesting after the votes have been counted.
There is one precedent: in 1974 the outcome was a hung Parliament as well, and then Conservative PM Edward Heath stayed on to form a government. And at that time the Tories had less seats than Labour. Translated to modern times, that means that Gordon Brown would stay on despite having lost big, and try and form a government with the Liberal Democrats. In fact, this might even happen if Labour has less seats than the Tories.
The Tories, however, are now attacking this constitutional convention, which has recently been reaffirmed by Sir Gus O’Donnell, the Cabinet secretary. According to The Independent, David Cameron is going to declare victory even if he fails to win an overall majority:
David Cameron is set to claim victory if Labour comes third in Thursday’s election even if he fails to win an overall majority.
His plan, revealed in an interview with The Independent, raises the prospect of a constitutional wrangle in which the Conservatives and Labour fight for the right to form a minority government if neither wins outright.
(…)
But, in his first comments on what he might do if Thursday’s election is inconclusive, Mr Cameron challenged the Whitehall convention that says that, if Britain votes for a hung parliament, the existing Prime Minister gets the first chance to form a government, even if his party has fewer seats or votes than its main rival. The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O’Donnell, recently reaffirmed that this remains the position.This rule has fuelled speculation that Mr Brown could hang on and try to forge a deal with the Liberal Democrats even if the Tories win more votes and seats than Labour but fall short of an overall majority – the position reflected by the most recent opinion polls.
In 1974, Edward Heath remained in Downing Street even though his Conservative Party won fewer seats than Labour. However, talks with the Liberal Party failed to reach agreement and he resigned as Prime Minister.
Mr Cameron said: “There is convention and there is practice and they are not always quite the same thing.” He added: “In 1974 it was clear the Conservatives had lost and therefore they were out of office.”
Sources in all three parties agree it will “depend on the numbers” but admit there are grey areas which could draw Sir Gus – and ultimately the Queen – into the controversy.
And according to Next Left, the Tory battle plan that is emerging is for Cameron to declare victory, stoke up the rightwing press and demand the keys to Downing Street 10 – even if it might been a constitutional crisis with the Queen involved:
• Declare victory anyway.
• Have the party’s media allies strain every sinew to make that a self-fulfilling prophecy.
• Insist on being given the keys to number 10 without having to talk substantively to any other party first – to avoid a coalition or any substantive policy concessions.
• Make a partisan challenge to the civil service in seeking to overturn any existing constitutional convention or practice that might conceivably get in the way, or even slow this down a little.
• Threaten to drag the Monarchy into political controversy for partisan advantage, by challenging the conventions designed precisely to avoid this.
• Hold out against electoral reform, whatever the election result.
• Threaten apocalyptic political and financial meltdown if anybody disagrees.
So, the shit might hit the fan starting tomorrow. See more on #torycoup on Twitter.
