Irony thread

[Psamathe]

Are the roles of "Shadow Home Secretary" ... etc official? If the Polls are to be believed, then it would appear Reform have as much or even more "right" to assume these titles as (say) the Conservatives.

My understanding is it can be ambiguous. The "Official Opposition" and thus "His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition Shadow Cabinet" are official (appointed by the King as "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition"). But there can be what some describe as "Frontbench Teams". My understanding (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is that when Fårage describes it as The Shadow Cabinet he is wrong - it's not "The Shadow Cabinet" but some accept "A Shadow Cabinet." though in reality he agrandising what is really his "Frontbench Team".

 

[Pross]

Are the roles of "Shadow Home Secretary" ... etc official? If the Polls are to be believed, then it would appear Reform have as much or even more "right" to assume these titles as (say) the Conservatives.

Yes, they are official and are allocated to the main opposition Party (but have no Statutory powers or additional salary). https://members.parliament.uk/opposition/cabinet

Zia Yusuf is falsely claiming to hold an official position.

 

[briantrumpet]

Are the roles of "Shadow Home Secretary" ... etc official? If the Polls are to be believed, then it would appear Reform have as much or even more "right" to assume these titles as (say) the Conservatives.

Yes, official, with associated salaries, 'His Majesty's Opposition' (HMO) being based on number of parliamentary seats, not opinion polls. I'm not sure what would happen to the designation if the number of seats were to change sufficiently in between elections to change the largest opposition party in terms of seats.

Farage is desperate for Reform to be viewed as HMO, but it's not.

 

[briantrumpet]

Yes, they are official and are allocated to the main opposition Party (but have no Statutory powers or additional salary). https://members.parliament.uk/opposition/cabinet

Zia Yusuf is falsely claiming to hold an official position.

Ah, I stand corrected - I thought they had a salary to match the designation.

 

[briantrumpet]

Ah, I stand corrected - I thought they had a salary to match the designation.

It's only the Leader of the Opposition who has a special salary.

https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/shadow-cabinet/

 

[BoldonLad]

Reform has 8 MPs, mostly defective defections. Tories have 116. Libdems have 72.

So, is it the number of MPs which determines the “shadow” title?

I always assumed it was a meaningless title, used mainly by the media?

Do the “holders” of the Shadow positions get paid more than backbenchers? (Assuming of course the are MPs)

Edit: I see Pross has already answered 😊