1976 Labour Party leadership election

none August 2019 1976 Labour Party leadership election Labour_Party_first_logo.png presidential no 1963 Labour Party leadership election (UK) 1963 1980 Labour Party leadership election (UK) 1980 First ballot Final ballot 1976 3 25 1976 4 05 yes File:James Callaghan (1975).jpg 150x150px James Callaghan 84 (26.8%) 176 (56.2%) Michael Foot (1981).jpg 150x150px Michael Foot 90 (28.7%) 137 (43.8%) Roy Jenkins 1977 (cropped).jpg 150x150px Roy Jenkins 56 (17.8%) Withdrew Tony Benn 1967.jpg 150x150px Tony Benn 0 37 (11.8%) Withdrew Denis Healey 2.jpg 150x150px Denis Healey 30 (9.6%) Eliminated Anthony Crosland, 1977 (cropped).jpg 150x150px Anthony Crosland 17 (5.3%) Eliminated Leader Harold Wilson James Callaghan The 1976 Labour Party leadership election occurred when Harold Wilson resigned as Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister. It is the only occasion when the Labour Party, whilst in government, has had a leadership election with more than one candidate. It was also the first time a governing party had chosen a Prime Minister through exhaustive ballots while in office. Candidates The new leader was elected by members of the Parliamentary Labour Party. In the first ballot, held on 25 March, six candidates vied for the leadership: Tony Benn, Secretary of State for Energy, Member of Parliament for Bristol South East James Callaghan, Foreign Secretary, Member of Parliament for Cardiff South East Anthony Crosland, Secretary of State for the Environment, Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby Michael Foot, Secretary of State for Employment, Member of Parliament for Ebbw Vale Denis Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Member of Parliament for Leeds East Roy Jenkins, Home Secretary, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Stechford In the wake of the news of Wilson's decision to resign, Callaghan was reported as being the favourite to succeed him. Political journalist Geoffrey Parkhouse wrote that "Barring a sensation, James Callaghan will be the next Prime Minister". He argued that the timing favoured Callaghan, with Denis Healey caught up in budget work and having alienated the left wing of the Labour Party after attacking the Tribune group in a recent speech. He doubted whether Crosland or Jenkins would stand, as they were likely to fare better under a Callaghan premiership than they had under Wilson.Parkhouse Geoffrey Callaghan odds-on. Key to No 10 in his grasp -thanks to Wilson timing https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19760317&printsec=frontpage&hl=en 10 June 2020 The Glasgow Herald 17 March 1976 1 10 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200610191627/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19760317&printsec=frontpage&hl=en live Result First ballot: 25 March 1976Quinn Tom Labour Party Leadership Elections 1922–2016 http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~tquinn/labour_party.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20170201234044/http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~tquinn/labour_party.htm 1 February 2017 University of EssexCandidateVotes% Michael Foot 90 28.7 James Callaghan 84 26.8 Roy Jenkins 56 17.8 Tony Benn 37 11.8 Denis Healey 30 9.6 Anthony Crosland 17 5.3 Majority 6 1.9 Turnout 314 100 Second ballot required As a result of the first ballot, Crosland was eliminated, while Jenkins and Benn withdrew from the contest. The remaining three candidates would face each other in a second ballot, five days later. Benn recommended that his supporters vote for Michael Foot.Parkhouse Geoffrey Jenkins and Benn opt out of fight https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19760326&printsec=frontpage&hl=en 18 May 2020 The Glasgow Herald 26 March 1976 1 19 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211019180440/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19760326&printsec=frontpage&hl=en live It was reported in The Glasgow Herald that Jenkins had withdrawn, despite finishing third, as he had concluded he could not improve on his 56 votes. Indeed, that result was a disappointment to him, as he had expected to receive at least 68 votes. Most of his advisors agreed with his decision to withdraw, though one, Dickson Mabon, attempted to convince him to stay in the contest. In contrast, Denis Healey, despite finishing behind both Jenkins and Benn, reckoned he could pick up votes from many parts of the party. The Herald also characterised the second round of the contest as being to determine who would face Foot in the final ballot, and believed Healey had a chance of pulling ahead of Callaghan. Second ballot: 30 March 1976CandidateVotes% James Callaghan 141 45.2 Michael Foot 133 42.6 Denis Healey 38 12.2 Majority 8 2.6 Turnout 312 99.4 Third ballot required No candidate achieved an absolute majority; hence, the candidate with the lowest number of votes was eliminated (in this case Healey). Callaghan was reported to be the favourite with his supporters, believing that it was impossible that the left-wing Foot could win the votes of more than half of those who had previously supported the right-wing Healey. However, Foot supporter John Silkin believed that 26 Healey voters would back Foot, more than enough for him to emerge victorious.Parkhouse Geoffrey Healey's 38 are the 'kingmakers' https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19760331&printsec=frontpage&hl=en 8 June 2020 The Glasgow Herald 31 March 1976 1 8 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200608225508/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19760331&printsec=frontpage&hl=en live A final run-off ballot was held six days later. Third ballot: 5 April 1976CandidateVotes% James Callaghan 176 56.2 Michael Foot 137 43.8 Majority 39 12.4 Turnout 313 99.7 James Callaghan elected Aftermath Following his victory over Michael Foot by 176 votes to 137 in the final ballot, James Callaghan was immediately appointed prime minister and pledged to form a united government, warning Labour MPs against factionalism and declaring that there would be “no cliques” within the Parliamentary Labour Party.Mr Callaghan defeated Mr Foot by 176 votes to 137 in the final ballot The Times 6 April 1976 1Factions warned against imposing their views The Times 6 April 1976 2 He confirmed that Denis Healey would remain chancellor of the exchequer, signalling continuity in economic policy and a renewed commitment to tackling inflation as the government’s central priority.No need for early election, Mr Callaghan tells party The Times 6 April 1976 1 In his first television broadcast as prime minister, Callaghan warned that Britain faced “no soft option” and could not sustain its living standards through borrowing, emphasising that inflation must be reduced before unemployment could be effectively addressed.‘Britain is not owed a living’ The Times 6 April 1976 1 The leadership transition was widely described as orderly and democratic, with defeated candidates pledging loyalty.Party members must work together, Mr Foot says The Times 6 April 1976 2 However, the government’s parliamentary position was weakened almost immediately by the death of Labour minister Brian O'Malley, which removed its overall Commons majority.Minister’s death ends Labour majority The Times 7 April 1976 2 References Further reading Benn Tony The Benn Diaries 1996 Arrow London 978-0-099-63411-9 1976 Category:1976 elections in the United Kingdom Category:James Callaghan Category:Michael Foot Labour Party leadership election