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What if 'Northcut' decides (as first lord of the treasury say) that government and cabinet posts should be reformed in the same way as HM's Civil Service?
So once the election results are in, the majority party/parties sit competitive entrance exams for government position and further competition for cabinet position. The Prime Minister's power to appoint is limited to candidates that reach the required level. A further examination directly for the posts of Foreign Secretary or Chancellor of the Exchequer reflects the high demands of these positions. The examinations are drawn up and administrated by the Civil Service.
Too late to stop the Crimean War (1853), Second Opium War (1856) or even the Third Ashanti War (1873).
Any candidates after 1876 (Northcote becomes leader in the commons) that might have been 'weeded out' by such an exam system?