Vote of Confidence

A sitting of the Commons of Albrion

Be the Prime Minister of Albrion. Survive a confidence vote on your NHS budget amendments.

You are Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Albrion. Parliament will divide on your proposed amendments to the NHS budget. Lose the division and the government falls. This is usually a hung or knife-edge House: table your own party’s preferred settlement and you will still lose rebels, and still need votes from elsewhere.

Each turn you may offer one existing ministerial post to a government backbencher — including from factions that have nobody in office. How grand the job is makes acceptance more likely. Sacking someone angers their faction; a minister with a grievance is more likely to leak. How dirty the copy is, you only find out if they talk. Promote a grandee with a large following and their allies may come with them.

After three turns (or sooner if you divide), 250 ayes carry the motion. The House is generated afresh each game.