Coronavirus: The void at the top of British government could cost lives

There are political and constitutional implications caused by the PM’s absence – and they matter now more than ever, writes Sean O'Grady

Dominic Raab at the first virtual PMQs yesterday (Reuters TV)

The mostly unwritten British constitution is a famously flexible affair, but it seems to be coming apart during this crisis. Until this week, parliament has been more or less absent for critical weeks, and in any case is finding adapting to remote working a novelty, if not a struggle. More serious than anything though, there is simply no provision for the incapacity, or partial incapacity as now, of the prime minister. There is, as former premier Tony Blair points out, a “void” in decision-making, both in constitutional and political terms.

Even in normal times this would be unsatisfactory and unworkable for anything more than a few days. At a moment such as this, it could cost lives.

Dominic Raab is clearly the “acting” prime minister. Yet there is no such position under law and even in the unwritten elements of the constitution. He was given the occasionally used title of first secretary of state, as well as foreign and commonwealth secretary, by Boris Johnson when he was appointed last July, establishing his formal position of precedence. When the crisis began, the prime minister further nominated Raab to deputise for him “as necessary” in relation to the crisis.