Of course the membership should elect who leads their party. That's not in question. In practical terms that would normally be a sitting MP who if they lead them to an election victory would expect to be confirmed as PM by the MPs.

However it's that confirmation which is important. If a PM resigns, as with Blair and now May, it ought only be the MPs who choose their successor. The country voted for those MPs so why should only the members of a particular party be able to choose who leads the country? Of course it will normally be the MPs of the party in power who have the effective control but if enough "rebels" exist within that party then they, with the combined opposition, could reject an unpopular choice.

Thus if the MPs were now given that responsibility we would probably would not now be faced with Johnson and a no deal caucus trying to force through a policy against the majority wishes of the House.

Of course the membership should elect who leads their party. That's not in question. In practical terms that would normally be a sitting MP who if they lead them to an election victory would expect to be confirmed as PM by the MPs.

However it's that confirmation which is important. If a PM resigns, as with Blair and now May, it ought only be the MPs who choose their successor. The country voted for those MPs so why should only the members of a particular party be able to choose who leads the country? Of course it will normally be the MPs of the party in power who have the effective control but if enough "rebels" exist within that party then they, with the combined opposition, could reject an unpopular choice.

Thus if the MPs were now given that responsibility we would probably would not now be faced with Johnson and a no deal caucus trying to force through a policy against the majority wishes of the House.

Every PM needs to be chosen by the MP's alone. So the involvement of Labour's NEC in Brown's coronation was wrong in my view, although not as wrong as the way Johnson was finally chosen.

If Johnson makes an electoral pact with Farage just to try to force a "no-deal" Brexit over the line then I hope he is soundly defeated. Of course the result would be accepted. That's the system we have. That doesn't though mean that a fight to reverse the decision wouldn't then begin probably alongside another to try to avoid the break up of the UK.

Every PM needs to be chosen by the MP's alone. So the involvement of Labour's NEC in Brown's coronation was wrong in my view, although not as wrong as the way Johnson was finally chosen.

If Johnson makes an electoral pact with Farage just to try to force a "no-deal" Brexit over the line then I hope he is soundly defeated. Of course the result would be accepted. That's the system we have. That doesn't though mean that a fight to reverse the decision wouldn't then begin probably alongside another to try to avoid the break up of the UK.