MOVES have been stepped up by the SNP at Westminster to stop Boris Johnson automatically becoming Prime Minister if elected Tory leader next week.
Pete Wishart has written to Theresa May asking her to allow time in the Commons to debate his proposal which would ensure MPs must approve who becomes PM.
In his letter, the SNP MP urged the outgoing PM to ensure Parliament can debate his bill before July 24, when May is expected to hand over to her successor.
Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt are vying to succeed May as Tory leader with the former the frontrunner in the contest. Under existing rules the winner as leader of the governing party will automatically become prime minister.
Both candidates are open to a no-deal exit from the EU, with Johnson saying he would insist on leaving the bloc by October 31, He said the issue is “do or die”. He has also left open the prospect of suspending Parliament in order to leave without a deal.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson's plot to force through a no-deal Brexit
Wishart’s Prime Minister (Nomination) and Cabinet (Appointment) Bill would introduce a procedure which is in place in Holyrood where MSPs nominate and approve the positions of the first minister and the cabinet ministers.
The SNP shadow leader of the House highlighted concerns over the possibility of May’s successor suspending Parliament and being unable to command Commons’ support.
Wishart wrote: “Prime Minister, there is a very good chance the new prime minister may not command the will of this House, and that same person may prorogue this House, silencing all our voices on one of the most important issues of the time.”
“The time must be upon us to ensure, at the very least, that the new Prime Minister has the confidence of this House when the time to make very hard decisions comes.”
Commenting, Wishart added Westminster “needed to be dragged into the 21st century” and called on the UK Government to get behind the bill before Tory party members hand the keys of Number 10 to Johnson – without any public or parliamentary vote.
“It is a national scandal the next UK prime minister will be chosen by a few thousand Tory party activists – without Parliament, or the 66 million people who live here, having any say,” he said.
“The UK government must allow time for MPs to debate this bill, which would ensure any future Prime Minister is approved in a Parliamentary vote – and prevent a shameful Tory coronation.”
READ MORE: Poll reveals just how few Scots trust Boris Johnson as next PM
He added: “All of the devolved nations already have similar rules in place. In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her entire Cabinet had to be nominated and approved by the Scottish Parliament. It is time for Westminster to follow Scotland’s lead and enter the 21st century. People in Scotland are looking on in horror at the appalling choice of Tory prime minister being forced upon us with no regard for our wishes. Neither Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt should be gifted the keys to Downing Street without a public or parliamentary vote – by passing this Bill we can strengthen democracy and prevent such a travesty.”
A YouGov poll published on Monday suggested just 11% of Scots have confidence in Johnson.
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