2007 Labour Party deputy leadership election

The 2007 Labour Party deputy leadership election was a British political party election for the position of deputy leader of the Labour Party. John Prescott, the previous deputy leader, announced on 10 May 2007 that he was standing down from that position and that he would be leaving as deputy prime minister about the same time that Tony Blair tendered his resignation as prime minister.[1]

2007 Labour Party deputy leadership election
6–24 June 2007 (2007-06-06 – 2007-06-24)
 
Candidate Harriet Harman Alan Johnson Jon Cruddas
First pref. 18.9% 18.2% 19.4%
Final pref. 50.4% 49.6% —
 
Candidate Hilary Benn Peter Hain Hazel Blears
First pref. 16.4% 15.3% 11.8%
Final pref. — — —
Deputy Leader before election

John Prescott

 Elected Deputy Leader

Harriet Harman

Harriet Harman was elected deputy leader on 24 June 2007 with 50.43% of the final redistributed vote. However Gordon Brown, who was elected leader on the same day, did not subsequently appoint her deputy prime minister, instead leaving the office vacant.

There had been reports that an increasing number of Labour MPs and members of the NEC had been attempting to get the election for the position of deputy leader abandoned in order to save the £2,000,000 it was estimated that the contest would cost.[2][3] There would have had to have been a special conference convened if such an alteration was to be made.

Successfully nominated candidates

All six declared candidates secured more than the 45 nominations from MPs that was the minimum requirement for them to get onto the ballot paper by close of nominations at 12:30 UTC+1 on 17 May 2007.[14][15]

Results

The election took place using Alternative Vote in an electoral college, with a third of the votes allocated to MPs and MEPs, a third to individual members of the Labour Party, and a third to individual members of affiliated organisations, mainly trade unions.

Harriet Harman won the contest, her victory heavily depending on support from individual party members with preference votes narrowing her opponent's lead and she only led in the final round.[16] The final total percentage votes for the two main candidates after redistribution were almost identical to those of the final round of the 1981 contest.

Candidate Affiliates
(33.3%)		 Members
(33.3%)		 MPs/MEPs
(33.3%)		 Total
Round 1
Jon Cruddas 27.3% 17.0% 13.9% 19.4%
Harriet Harman 13.1% 24.1% 19.6% 18.9%
Alan Johnson 13.7% 16.6% 24.3% 18.2%
Hilary Benn 14.8% 21.7% 12.8% 16.4%
Peter Hain 19.9% 11.6% 14.4% 15.3%
Hazel Blears N 11.3% 9.0% 15.0% 11.8%
Candidate Affiliates
(33.3%)		 Members
(33.3%)		 MPs/MEPs
(33.3%)		 Total
Round 2
Alan Johnson 17.7% 19.1% 34.4% 23.7%
Harriet Harman 15.5% 26.4% 21.9% 21.2%
Jon Cruddas 28.9% 18.0% 14.2% 20.4%
Hilary Benn 16.7% 23.8% 14.2% 18.2%
Peter Hain N 21.3% 12.7% 15.3% 16.4%
Candidate Affiliates
(33.3%)		 Members
(33.3%)		 MPs/MEPs
(33.3%)		 Total
Round 3
Alan Johnson 23.5% 22.0% 38.4% 27.9%
Harriet Harman 21.4% 30.5% 25.9% 25.9%
Jon Cruddas 33.1% 19.8% 18.9% 23.9%
Hilary Benn N 22.2% 27.9% 17.0% 22.3%
Candidate Affiliates
(33.3%)		 Members
(33.3%)		 MPs/MEPs
(33.3%)		 Total
Round 4
Alan Johnson 30.8% 32.1% 46.2% 36.4%
Harriet Harman 28.4% 41.5% 30.9% 33.6%
Jon Cruddas N 40.9% 26.5% 23.0% 30.1%
Candidate Affiliates
(33.3%)		 Members
(33.3%)		 MPs/MEPs
(33.3%)		 Total
Round 5
Harriet Harman Y 48.6% 56.5% 46.3% 50.4%
Alan Johnson 51.5% 43.5% 53.8% 49.6%

Suggested candidates not standing

Jeremy Corbyn announced in December 2006 he was considering running for the Deputy Leadership. However, there was no subsequent statement from him on it and he nominated Hilary Benn for the Deputy Leadership.[17] No other eligible person — i.e. Labour MP — announced they were considering standing for the position except for the six nominated candidates and Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn would go on to be elected Leader of the Labour Party in the 2015 leadership election, appointing Benn his Shadow Foreign Secretary.

There was some speculation about Ed Balls, Patricia Hewitt,[18] David Miliband[19] and Jack Straw standing for the position, but no sign that they had ever said they were inclined to run and all had ruled themselves out before nominations opened.

Timeline of events
Main article: Timeline of the 2007 Labour Party leadership election (UK)

Candidate spending

The amount of donations made to each candidate for their campaigns[20] were:

  • Hilary Benn — £4,000
  • Hazel Blears — £73,000
  • Jon Cruddas — £143,000
  • Peter Hain — £180,000-£200,000
  • Harriet Harman — £46,000, plus £50,000 of her own loans
  • Alan Johnson — £54,000

See also

References and notes
  1. "Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry". BBC News Online. 28 September 2006.
  2. Morris, Nigel; Brown, Colin (21 June 2007). "Labour may call off deputy leader race". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 24 December 2007. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  3. "Axe Labour deputy post, MP says". BBC News Online. 2006-12-10.
  4. "Benn to run for deputy position". BBC News Online. 27 October 2006.
  5. "Brown on brink of Downing Street". BBC News Online. 2007-05-16.
  6. "Deputy hopefuls make their case". BBC News Online. 2007-05-16.
  7. Wintour, Patrick (23 February 2007). "Blears to run for Labour deputy and admits party 'disengaged'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  8. "Ex-No 10 aide Cruddas will stand". BBC News Online. 2006-09-27.
  9. Tempest, Matthew (2006-10-18). "Leftwinger launches deputy leadership campaign". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  10. "Labour deputy race gathers pace". BBC News Online. 2006-09-12.
  11. Hencke, David (2007-05-10). "Hain and Harman claim places on deputy ballot". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  12. "Harman intends Labour deputy bid". BBC News Online. 2006-09-15.
  13. "U.K.'s Johnson abandons Labour Party Leadership Race (Update2)". Bloomberg L.P. 2006-11-09.
  14. "McDonnell short for leadership race". Reuters. 2007-05-15.
  15. "Labour leadership, close of nominations". Labour Party website. 2007-05-17. Archived from the original on 2007-09-21.
  16. "Labour Party Deputy Leadership results". Labour Party. 2007-06-24. Archived from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  17. Mulholland, Hélène (20 December 2006). "Meacher set to challenge Brown from left". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  18. Patricia Hewitt backed Harriet Harman, in response to a question from John Pienaar on BBC Radio Five Live's The Weekend News on 9 December 2006
  19. "Profile: David Miliband". BBC News Online. 14 September 2006.
  20. Patrick Wintour and David Hencke (10 January 2008). "Hain failed to declare £100,000 of donations". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-01-10.
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