Prime Minister of the United Kingdom the incumbent is consistently ranked as one of the most powerful and influential people in the world. The Prime Minister is the head of the United Kingdom government. As such, the modern Prime Minister leads the Cabinet (the Executive). In addition, the Prime Minister leads a major political party and generally commands a majority in the House of Commons (the lower House of the legislature). The incumbent wields both significant legislative and executive powers. Under the British system, there is a unity of powers rather than separation. In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister guides the law-making process with
House of Commons of the United Kingdom leadership election, as the new leader may be chosen by acclaim, having no electoral rival (as in the case of both Brown and May). A prime minister may resign even if he or she is not defeated at the polls (for example, for personal health reasons). In such a case, the premiership goes to whoever can command a majority in the House of Commons; in practice this is usually the new leader of the outgoing prime minister's party. Until 1965, the Conservative Party had no mechanism for electing a new leader; when in 1957 Anthony Eden resigned as PM without