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==Background==
==Background==
The '''[[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010 general election]]''' was held on 6 May, and, although the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] won the largest number of votes and seats, they fell short of the 326 seats needed to have an overall majority. It was the first time since [[United Kingdom general election, February 1974|1974]], and the second since the Second World War, that a [[United Kingdom|British]] general election returned a [[hung parliament]].<ref name="timesonline1">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7119226.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084|title=Britain wakes up to a hung Parliament|date=7 May 2010|work=Times Online|publisher=Times Newspapers |last1=Naughton |first1=Philippe |last2=Watson| first2=Roland |accessdate=7 May 2010}}</ref> The incumbent [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] lost over 90 seats, and polled two million fewer votes than the Conservatives, finishing in second place. The third largest party, the [[Liberal Democrats]], suffered a net loss of five seats despite opinion polls indicating a breakthrough. Nevertheless, they achieved their largest popular vote since their creation in 1988, and found themselves in a potentially pivotal role in the formation of the new government. It is thought that the Liberal Democrats set Brown's resignation as a condition of a Lib-Lab Coalition, as [[Nick Clegg]] had previously said he would be averse to a coalition with Labour if Brown was still leader.
The [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010 general election]] was held on 6 May, and, although the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] won the largest number of votes and seats, they fell short of the 326 seats needed to have an overall majority. It was the first time since [[United Kingdom general election, February 1974|1974]], and the second since the Second World War, that a [[United Kingdom|British]] general election returned a [[hung parliament]].<ref name="timesonline1">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7119226.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084|title=Britain wakes up to a hung Parliament|date=7 May 2010|work=Times Online|publisher=Times Newspapers |last1=Naughton |first1=Philippe |last2=Watson| first2=Roland |accessdate=7 May 2010}}</ref> The incumbent [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] lost over 90 seats, and polled two million fewer votes than the Conservatives, finishing in second place. The third largest party, the [[Liberal Democrats]], suffered a net loss of five seats despite opinion polls indicating a breakthrough. Nevertheless, they achieved their largest popular vote since their creation in 1988, and found themselves in a potentially pivotal role in the formation of the new government. It is thought that the Liberal Democrats set Brown's resignation as a condition of a Lib-Lab Coalition, as [[Nick Clegg]] had previously said he would be averse to a coalition with Labour if Brown was still leader.
Brown announced his intention to resign on Monday 10th May and called for a leadership election to be completed by September, in time for the Party Conference.<ref name="timesonline2">{{cite news
Brown announced his intention to resign on Monday 10th May and called for a leadership election to be completed by September, in time for the Party Conference.<ref name="timesonline2">{{cite news

Revision as of 22:18, 13 May 2010

Labour Party (UK) leadership election
← 2007
Leader before election

Gordon Brown

 Elected Leader

TBE

The 2010 Labour Party leadership election was triggered on 10 May when Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that he intended to step down as Labour Leader.[1] He stated that "I ... intend to ask the Labour Party to set in train the processes needed for its own leadership election".[2]

The announcement followed the 2010 general election which resulted in a hung parliament, with the Conservative Party holding the most seats. Brown said that he hoped a new leader would be in place in time for the Labour Party Conference in September.[3]

On the early evening of 11 May, Brown announced that he was resigning as Prime Minister, and that his previously announced resignation as leader of the Labour Party would take immediate effect. As deputy leader, Harriet Harman assumed the post of acting leader and preparations began for the leadership election.

Background

The 2010 general election was held on 6 May, and, although the Conservative Party won the largest number of votes and seats, they fell short of the 326 seats needed to have an overall majority. It was the first time since 1974, and the second since the Second World War, that a British general election returned a hung parliament.[4] The incumbent Labour Party lost over 90 seats, and polled two million fewer votes than the Conservatives, finishing in second place. The third largest party, the Liberal Democrats, suffered a net loss of five seats despite opinion polls indicating a breakthrough. Nevertheless, they achieved their largest popular vote since their creation in 1988, and found themselves in a potentially pivotal role in the formation of the new government. It is thought that the Liberal Democrats set Brown's resignation as a condition of a Lib-Lab Coalition, as Nick Clegg had previously said he would be averse to a coalition with Labour if Brown was still leader.

Brown announced his intention to resign on Monday 10th May and called for a leadership election to be completed by September, in time for the Party Conference.[5]

With the failure of negotiations with the Liberal Democrats, Brown resigned both the Premiership and the formal leadership of the Labour Party, making deputy leader Harriet Harman formal head of the party and Leader of the Opposition. The National Executive Committee of the party arranged to meet within a month to arrange the details of the leadership contest.[6]

On 12 May 2010, flanked by 15 supportive MPs outside the House of Commons, David Miliband announced his candidacy.[7]

Timetable

The rules of the Labour Party state that "each nomination [for Leader] must be supported by 12.5 per cent of the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party."[8] As the number of Labour MPs returned at the general election was 258,[9] 33 MPs would need to support any nomination. At a meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 May 2010, it was agreed that no one would announce their candidacy until after formal negotiations in regards to attempting to form a government with the Liberal Democrats were resolved.[10]

There will be three distinct electorates:

  1. Labour members of the House of Commons and the European Parliament
  2. Individual members of the party
  3. Individual members of affiliated organisations such as trade unions.

Each electorate or section shall contribute one third of the total votes. The election will be run by the National Executive Committee and the results will be announced at the annual conference in September 2010[8]

Candidates

Declared

Potential

  • Ed Miliband, brother of David and former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change[7]
  • Ed Balls, the former schools secretary from the Brownite wing of the party.[7]
  • Jon Cruddas, from the left-wing of the party[13]

Ruled out

Cooper said it was not the right time to stand as leader and she is currently backing her husband.

Johnson was a favourite especially if there was a Lib-Lab pact but he ruled it out and said he will back David Miliband.

Harman was a big favourite, but she decided that she wanted to stay on as Deputy Leader. After Brown's resignation she became acting leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition.

Purnell was a favourite in the Blairite wing of the party but he announced that he was stepping down as an MP.

There was a a lot of speculation, that Mandelson was going to stand in the House of Commons to be Labour leader. He ruled out competing and said he will support David Miliband.

See also

References

  1. ^ Hoskin, Peter (10 May 2010). "Gordon Brown announces his resignation". The Spectator. The Spectator (1828) Ltd. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  2. ^ Sheridan, Michael (10 May 2010). "Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigns; plans to step down in September". New York Daily News. nydailynews.com. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  3. ^ Staff (10 May 2010). "Gordon Brown 'stepping down as Labour leader'". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  4. ^ Naughton, Philippe; Watson, Roland (7 May 2010). "Britain wakes up to a hung Parliament". Times Online. Times Newspapers. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  5. ^ Naughton, Philippe (10 May 2010). "Brown quits as Labour leader to thwart Tory-Lib Dem pact". Times Online. Times Newspapers. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  6. ^ Curtis, Polly (11 May 2010). "Labour backbenchers seek televised leadership contest". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  7. ^ a b c http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/12/labourleadership-labour
  8. ^ a b Chris Lennie, Acting General Secretary, ed. (2008). "4". The Labour Party Rule Book 2008 (PDF). London: The Labour Party. pp. 24–25. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  9. ^ "Election 2010". BBC News. Retrieved 10 May 2010. {{cite news}}: Text "date 7 May 2010" ignored (help)
  10. ^ Curtis, Polly (10 May 2010). "David Miliband and Ed Balls set to launch Labour leadership bids". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 10 May 2010. {{cite news}}: Text "Politics" ignored (help); Text "The Guardian" ignored (help)
  11. ^ "David Miliband quick off the mark to announce his leadership bid". London Evening Standard. 12 May, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessdaste= ignored (help)
  12. ^ Labour leadership: David Miliband enters contest- BBC News (accessed 12.05.2010)
  13. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/13/david-miliband-labour-leadership

External links

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