Prime Ministerial Line of Succession Bill 2016

A Bill TO Establish a line of succession for the position of Prime Minister, for use in emergencies where the incumbent Prime Minister is incapacitated or otherwise unable to carry out their position.

BE IT ENACTED by The Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1: Definitions

1. For the purposes of this bill, ‘Acting Prime Minister’ shall be defined as the person who succeeds an incapacitated Prime Minister under the provisions of this bill.
2. For the purposes of this bill, ‘Permanent Prime Minister’ shall be defined as the person who succeeds an Acting Prime Minister

Section 2: Provisions for the line of succession

1. In the event that the Prime Minister is incapacitated or killed, the person currently employed in the role at the top of the list contained in Section 3, or set out by the Prime Minister shall become Acting Prime Minister
2. In the event that the person at the top of the list contained in Section 3, or set out by the Prime Minister is also incapacitated, killed, or otherwise unable to become Acting Prime Minister, the next person on the list shall be granted the role of Acting Prime Minister

3. This shall continue until:

   a. The role of Acting Prime Minister is filled, or

   b. The bottom of the list is reached

4. The Acting Prime Minister shall receive all the powers, salary and titles of the Prime Minister for the duration for their time in office

Section 3: Line of Succession

1. The Prime Minister has the right to create a line of succession which differs from the one set by this bill, valid for the duration of his term in office
2. In the event that the Prime Minister is incapacitated, and did not name a line of succession, the provisions of Section 2 shall be applied to this list, in descending order.
3. Deputy Prime Minister;
4. First Secretary of State;
5. Secretary of State with responsibility for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs;
6. Secretary of State with responsibility for Home Affairs;
7. Chancellor of the Exchequer;
8. Secretary of State with responsibility for Defence;
9. Secretary of State with responsibility for Justice;
10. Secretary of State with the responsibility for International Development;
11. Secretary of State with responsibility for Transport;
12. Secretary of State with responsibility for Health;
13. Secretary of State with responsibility for Business, Industry and Skills;
14. Secretary of State with responsibility for Work and Pensions;
15. Secretary of State with responsibility for Communities and Local Government;
16. Secretary of State with responsibility for Education;
17. Secretary of State with responsibility for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
18. Secretary of State with responsibility for Culture, Media and Sport;
19. Secretary of State with responsibility for Energy and Climate Change;
20. Leader of the House of Commons;
21. Leader of the House of Lords;
22. Secretary of State with responsibility for Northern Ireland;
23. Secretary of State with responsibility for Wales;
24. Secretary of State with responsibility for Scotland;
25. Secretary of State with the responsibility for Equalities.
26. The Speaker of the House of Commons
27. Chief of the Defence Staff
28. The Father of the House
29. Members of Parliament, in descending order of their length of service in the House of Commons.

Section 4: Replacing an Acting Prime Minister

1. In the event that the incumbent Prime Minister is not killed, they shall retake the position of Prime Minister at the first opportunity where it is feasible for them to do so.
2. In the event that the incumbent Prime Minister is killed, then the Acting Prime Minister shall be replaced at the first opportunity by the monarch, under the current system.

Section 5: Commencement, Short Title and Effect

1. This bill extends to the United Kingdom as a whole
2. This bill comes into force on the day on which this bill is passed
3. This bill may be cited as the Prime Ministerial Line of Succession Act (2016)

This was submitted by /u/Duncs11 on behalf of UKIP

This reading shall end 27 April 2016