Liz Truss wins the competition by a country mile. Alec Douglas Home, her nearest post WWII rival, lasted a full year and one day. Two eighteenth century PMs, Earl Waldegrave and Earl Bath, lasted less than a week (a long time in politics!)It is interesting that the ten PMs with the shortest tenures in the last 100 years did not become PM as a result of a GE but simply followed on after the resignation of their predecessor.With this in mind there is perhaps an argument that our constitution should be modified so that "follow-on" PMS must call a GE within 9 months of their being appointed, unless three quarters of their fellow MPs vote against the calling of an election. We might be at war or in the middle of an economic crisis when a GE would just be a distraction.It is debilitating for any follow-on PM to be attacked because they lack the legitimacy of a GE. However we do not operate a presidential system and even the Americans accept that the Vice President takes over if the POTUS resigns or dies in office.
Sam Hearn ● 20d