Impeaching the UK Prime Minister
Created | Updated Sep 21, 2005
Impeachment, in the British sense, is an accusation of improper conduct or crime by an elected official. In the UK, an MP can stand up in the House of Commons on a point of order and move "that the Prime Minister be impeached." If the Speaker of the House permits, a debate will be held on the officials alleged high crimes and then a vote called. Should the vote go against the Prime Minister, they will be arrested by the Serjeant-at-Arms and then handed to Black Rod in the House of Lords, who will the decide if bail will be permitted. The MP who called the impeachment debate will then go to the House of Lordsand inform peers that impeachment proceedings have begun and that the articles for impeachment will be presented "in due time".
Once the articles of impeachments have been formally passed to the Upper House, peers will set a date for the trial, which would probably be held in Westminster Hall. During the trials, the Lords would act as jury and the Commons would appoint 'managers' to act as counsel for the prosecution. After all sides1 have presented their evidence, the peers would be asked whether the Prime Minister is guilty or not guilty on each article of impeachment.
Should the Prime Minister be found not guilty, impeachment is dismissed. However, if a verdict of guilty is returned by the Lords, MPs in the House of Commons will decide the sentence, which will probably be the removal of the Prime Minister from office.
The last person to be impeached was
Two committees recommended be abolished, but only by Act of Parliament