Prime Minister of New Ulster
Prime Minister of New Ulster | |
---|---|
Style | The Right Honourable |
Member of | Cabinet of New Ulster |
Appointer | Monarch of the United Kingdom via the Governor of New Ulster |
Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
Formation | 1 August 2021 |
The Prime Minister of New Ulster is the head of government of New Ulster, a self-proclaimed—though unrecognized—Commonwealth Realm. The prime minister chairs and selects the membership of the Cabinet and advises the sovereign—via their representative, the Governor General—on the exercise of executive power and much of the royal prerogative. As prime ministers hold office by virtue of their ability to command the confidence of the elected House of Assembly, they also sit as a member of Parliament (MP).
The current Prime Minister of New Ulster is Ethan McAllister who was appointed on 20 October 2022.
Appointment
The Constitution Act stipulates the monarch's representative, the Governor General, must select as prime minister the person most likely to "command the confidence" of the elected House of Assembly. Initially, the office was planned to be non-partisan. However, with the advent of party politics in the run-up to the 2021 general election, the governor general appointed as prime minister the leader of the largest party in the House of Assembly (although this was a minority administration). While the Constitution Act does not strictly require prime ministers to be MPs, for practical and political reasons the prime minister is expected to either have, or very promptly win, a seat in the House of Assembly.
Prime Ministers are also appointed to the New Ulster Privy Council and styled as the Right Honourable, a privilege which they maintain for life. A person who is expected to succeed an incumbent as prime minister—either as the result of a general election, a result of winning the leadership of a currently governing party, etc.—is termed prime minister-designate. Typically, however, changeovers in the premiership take place very quickly. For example, in November 2021, Sir Stephen Cameron was technically Prime Minister-designate for less than an hour. This contrasts to almost a year later when, following Cameron's New Ulster Democratic Party losing its majority in a by-election, leader of the opposition, Sir Ethan McAllister, was Prime Minister-designate for 2 days.
List of officeholders
Premiers
No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Electoral mandates (Parliaments) |
Party | Monarch | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Right Honourable Ethan McAllister PC MP |
August 2 2021 |
November 16 2021 |
Liberal Conservative | Elizabeth II 2021 – 2022 | ||
Minister of Finance & Economy ("FinEc"); Leader of the House of Assembly. A co-founder of New Ulster and primary architect of the Constitution Act, was appointed to lead caretaker government until first Parliament could be elected. Founded the Liberal Conservative Party in run-up to 2021 general election in which it emerged as largest party in hung parliament with 3 of 7 seats. Passed Citizenship Act, Diplomatic Relations Act, Flags Act, and as well as co-authoring McAllister—De Koning ("MDK") Doctrine. | |||||||
2 | The Right Honourable Stephen Cameron PC MP |
November 16 2021 |
September 26 2022 |
• Appointed (1st Parliament)
|
Democratic | ||
A co-founder of New Ulster. First leader of a political party, founding New Ulster Democratic Party in run-up to 2021 general election where it won 2 of 7 seats. First Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament. Appointed Premier after two independent MPs joined Democratic Party, giving it a majority. Reversed the MDK Doctrine, passed Official Languages Act, Territories Act, Electoral Reform Referendum Act (though subsequent referendum was defeated), and Dominion Act which—amid a backdrop of the death of Queen Elizabeth II—oversaw the transition from British Overseas Territory to Commonwealth Realm in September 2022. | Charles III 2022 |
Prime Ministers
No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Electoral mandates (Parliaments) |
Party | Monarch | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Right Honourable Stephen Cameron PC MP |
September 26 2022 |
October 20 2022 |
• Appointed (1st Parliament)
|
Democratic | Charles III 2022 – present | |
First "Prime Minister" of New Ulster after transition from British Overseas Territory to Commonwealth Realm. Resigned when NUDP lost 2022 Kennebecasis—Qiuspamsis by-election and, with it, its majority in the House of Assembly. | |||||||
2 | The Right Honourable Ethan McAllister PC MP |
August 2 2021 |
Incumbent | • Appointed (1st Parliament)
|
Liberal Conservative | ||
Appointed 2nd Prime Minister by Governor General when his LCP won the 2022 Kennebecasis—Qiuspamsis by-election and, with it, a majority in the House of Assembly. |