2010 Labour Party leadership election (UK)
British leadership election to replace Gordon Brown
2010 Labour Party leadership election Turnout 127,330 (71.7%)
The 2010 Labour Party leadership election was triggered on 10 May 2010 by incumbent leader Gordon Brown 's resignation following the 2010 general election which resulted in a hung parliament ; the first since 1974 . Brown resigned as Leader of the Labour Party on 10 May and as Prime Minister on 11 May, following the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats forming a coalition government .[ 1] National Executive Committee decided the timetable for the election the result of which would be announced at the annual party conference .[ 2] [ 3] Ed Miliband became the new Leader of the Labour Party, narrowly defeating his older brother, David Miliband .[ 4]
Procedure
The rules of the Labour Party stated in 2010 that "each nomination [for leader] must be supported by 12.5 per cent of the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party ."[ 5] [ 6] Eric Illsley , who had been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party)[ 7] [ 8] John McDonnell , Diane Abbott , and Ed Miliband that the short deadline had provided insufficient time to secure the 33 nominations from MPs needed for inclusion on the ballot.[ 2] [ 9] ballot took place between 1 and 22 September, and the results were announced on the first day of the party's conference in Manchester , 25 September.[ 3] electorates , the electors of which cast their votes on a "one member, one vote " basis in each applicable category:
Labour members of the House of Commons and the European Parliament
Individual members of the party
Individual members of affiliated organisations, such as trade unions and socialist societies Each of the three electorates or sections contributed one third (33.33 per cent) of the total votes and were counted using the alternative vote system [ 10] National Executive Committee , and the results were announced at the annual conference in September 2010.[ 5]
Union recommendation controversy
Under Labour Party rules, trade unions were allowed to make recommendations to their members, but were barred from doing this in the same envelope that contained the ballot paper. During the election, it emerged that both the GMB and Unite had included both an envelope containing the ballot paper, and an envelope containing promotional material for Ed Miliband, their favoured candidate, in the same communication. Though the promotional material was in a different envelope from the ballot paper, this nevertheless attracted criticism that they had breached the spirit of the rules.[ 11] [ 12]
Candidates
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 forming a government were resolved.[ 13] Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition on 11 May, and David Miliband became the first person to announce his candidacy the following day. A total of six candidates emerged by 20 May:
On 9 June John McDonnell withdrew from the contest[ 21] Diane Abbott ,[ 18] [ 22]
Nominations
Candidates must receive nominations from at least 12.5 per cent of the 257 Parliamentary Labour Party members (33) to appear on the ballot. John McDonnell had 16 nominations when he withdrew on 9 June, in favour of Diane Abbott .[ 23] [ 24]
The number of MPs next to the candidate's name below includes the actual candidate too, as they counted as one of the 33 MPs needed (except for David Miliband , as he nominated Diane Abbott to ensure her appearance on the ballot). Public nominations for candidates by MPs were as follows:[ 25]
David Miliband 81 ): Bob Ainsworth , Douglas Alexander , Willie Bain , Gordon Banks , Hugh Bayley , Stuart Bell , Ben Bradshaw , Russell Brown , Richard Burden , Liam Byrne , David Cairns , Alan Campbell , Jenny Chapman , Ann Clwyd , Ann Coffey , Rosie Cooper , Mary Creagh , Stella Creasy , Alex Cunningham , Simon Danczuk , Alistair Darling , Gloria De Piero , Brian Donohoe , Gemma Doyle , Angela Eagle , Julie Elliott , Louise Ellman , Chris Evans , Jim Fitzpatrick , Caroline Flint , Paul Flynn , Mike Gapes , Barry Gardiner , Pat Glass , Mary Glindon , Fabian Hamilton , David Hanson , Tom Harris , Mark Hendrick , Margaret Hodge , George Howarth , Tristram Hunt , Alan Johnson , Tessa Jowell , Gerald Kaufman , Liz Kendall , Ivan Lewis , Michael McCann , Gregg McClymont , Siobhain McDonagh , Pat McFadden , Anne McGuire , Ian Mearns , Alun Michael , Jessica Morden , Meg Munn , Jim Murphy , Ian Murray , Pamela Nash , Fiona O'Donnell , Toby Perkins , Bridget Phillipson , Yasmin Qureshi , Nick Raynsford , Jamie Reed , Jonathan Reynolds , Frank Roy , Chris Ruane , Anas Sarwar , Virendra Sharma , Barry Sheerman , Angela Smith , Nick Smith , Peter Soulsby , Graham Stringer , Mark Tami , Gareth Thomas , Valerie Vaz , Phil Wilson , John Woodcock , Shaun Woodward Ed Miliband 63 ): Adrian Bailey , Margaret Beckett , Anne Begg , Hilary Benn , Luciana Berger , Roberta Blackman-Woods , Paul Blomfield , Karen Buck , Margaret Curran , Wayne David , Geraint Davies , John Denham , Frank Dobson , Jack Dromey , Maria Eagle , Clive Efford , Natascha Engel , Bill Esterson , Frank Field , Hywel Francis , Helen Goodman , Tom Greatrex , Lilian Greenwood , Peter Hain , David Hamilton , Jimmy Hood , Graham Jones , Susan Jones , Sadiq Khan , Ian Lavery , Mark Lazarowicz , Andy Love , Ian Lucas , Shabana Mahmood , John Mann , Gordon Marsden , Jim McGovern , Ann McKechin , Catherine McKinnell , Michael Meacher , Alan Meale , Madeleine Moon , Grahame Morris , Paul Murphy , Lisa Nandy , Sandra Osborne , Albert Owen , Stephen Pound , Rachel Reeves , Emma Reynolds , Lindsay Roy , Joan Ruddock , Alison Seabeck , Jim Sheridan , Andy Slaughter , Owen Smith , Emily Thornberry , Stephen Timms , Chuka Umunna , Alan Whitehead , Christopher Williamson , Rosie Winterton Ed Balls 33 ): David Anderson , Ian Austin , Tom Blenkinsop , Kevin Brennan , Lyn Brown , Vernon Coaker , Yvette Cooper , David Crausby , Jim Cunningham , Jim Dobbin , Mike Dugher , Andrew Gwynne , John Healey , Stephen Hepburn , Sharon Hodgson , Diana Johnson , Helen Jones , Eric Joyce , Barbara Keeley , Chris Leslie , Khalid Mahmood , Steve McCabe , Kerry McCarthy , Teresa Pearce , John Robertson , Geoffrey Robinson , Marsha Singh , Andrew Smith , John Spellar , Tom Watson , David Wright , Iain Wright Andy Burnham 33 ): Heidi Alexander , Kevin Barron , Joe Benton , Clive Betts , Hazel Blears , David Blunkett , Tom Clarke , Michael Connarty , Nic Dakin , Thomas Docherty , Frank Doran , Paul Farrelly , Rob Flello , Yvonne Fovargue , Paul Goggins , Kate Green , Julie Hilling , Lindsay Hoyle , Huw Irranca-Davies , Cathy Jamieson , Kevan Jones , Alan Keen , Alison McGovern , Andrew Miller , Austin Mitchell , Steve Rotheram , Gerry Sutcliffe , Karl Turner , Derek Twigg , Joan Walley , Dave Watts , Malcolm Wicks Diane Abbott 33 ): Rushanara Ali , Chris Bryant , Ronnie Campbell , Katy Clark , Jeremy Corbyn , Jon Cruddas , John Cryer , Ian Davidson , Sheila Gilmore , Nia Griffith , Harriet Harman , Meg Hillier , Kate Hoey , Kelvin Hopkins , Sian James , David Lammy , Tony Lloyd , Denis MacShane , Fiona MacTaggart , John McDonnell , George Mudie , Chi Onwurah , Linda Riordan , Gavin Shuker , Dennis Skinner , Jack Straw , Jon Trickett , Stephen Twigg , Keith Vaz , Mike Wood , Phil Woolas Before dropping out of the race on 9 June 2010, John McDonnell Ronnie Campbell , Martin Caton , Katy Clark , Jeremy Corbyn , John Cryer , Ian Davidson , Jim Dowd , Frank Field , Dai Havard , Kate Hoey , Ian Lavery , Graeme Morrice , Linda Riordan , Dennis Skinner , Mike Wood [ 26]
Notable Labour politicians who declined to stand
Some members of parliament were seen as potential candidates but decided against running:
Televised debates
Opinion polling
Results
Each of the three electorates or sections contributed one third (33.33 per cent) of the total votes and were counted using the Alternative Vote system [ 10] [ 41]
Overall result
First round
Candidate
MPs/MEPs
Labour Party members
Affiliated members
Overall result
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
%
David Miliband
111
41.7
55,905
44.1
58,189
27.5
37.8
Ed Miliband
84
31.6
37,980
29.9
87,585
41.5
34.3
Ed Balls
40
15.0
12,831
10.1
21,618
10.2
11.8
Andy Burnham
24
9.0
10,844
8.5
17,904
8.5
8.7
Diane Abbott N
7
2.6
9,314
7.3
25,938
12.3
7.4
The combined total of first-round votes for Balls, Burnham, and Abbott (27.89%) was less than Ed Miliband's vote (34.33%). Thus, it was certain after the first round that Balls, Burnham, and Abbott would all be eliminated.
Second round
Candidate
MPs/MEPs
Labour Party members
Affiliated members
Overall result
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
%
David Miliband
111
42.0
57,128
45.2
61,336
29.4
38.9
Ed Miliband
88
33.3
42,176
33.4
95,335
45.7
37.5
Ed Balls
41
15.5
14,510
11.5
26,441
12.7
13.2
Andy Burnham N
24
9.1
12,498
9.9
25,528
12.2
10.4
Third round
Candidate
MPs/MEPs
Labour Party members
Affiliated members
Overall result
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
%
David Miliband
125
47.3
60,375
48.2
66,889
32.6
42.7
Ed Miliband
96
36.4
46,697
37.3
102,882
50.1
41.3
Ed Balls N
43
16.3
18,114
14.5
35,512
17.3
16.0
Fourth round
Candidate
MPs/MEPs
Labour Party members
Affiliated members
Overall result
Votes
%
Votes
%
Votes
%
%
Ed Miliband Y
122
46.6
55,992
45.6
119,405
59.8
50.7
David Miliband
140
53.4
66,814
54.4
80,266
40.2
49.3
Turnout in the members section was 71.7%, with 127,330 votes cast of the 177,558 ballots distributed.[ 42] [ 41]
Labour MPs and MEPs
[ 43]
Constituency Labour Parties
The map below shows the results of the Constituency Labour Parties first round preferences in the leadership election by constituency, before votes were transferred due to eliminations. David Miliband took the most constituencies, winning 577 in total. He was followed by Ed Miliband who took sixty-seven constituencies. Andy Burnham won eight seats, all in north-west England, Ed Balls took two constituencies (his own, Morley & Outwood, and that of his wife, Yvette Cooper , Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford), and Diane Abbott won no constituencies. All ties with the exception of Wigan (Burnham and David Miliband) were between David and Ed Miliband. Northern Ireland was counted as one constituency.[ 42]
Green indicates constituencies won by David Miliband , light blue for Ed Miliband , pink for Andy Burnham , yellow for Ed Balls and white for a tie. (Click to enlarge)
Trade Unions and Socialist Societies
Name
Diane
Ed Balls
Andy
David
Ed
ASLEF 1,791 228
246
626
665
BECTU 588
194
210
715 697
BFAWU 178
152
154
484 231
Community 205
184
151
1,292 332
CWU 1,786
7,101 1,417
3,370
2,047
GMB 3,213
2,548
3,119
9,746
18,128
Musicians' Union 925 221
210
805
865
TSSA 898
285
296
923 544
UCATT 177
185
229
630
2,471
UNISON 2,910
2,141
2,343
6,665
9,652
Unite the Union 11,129
6,995
7,993
21,778
47,439
USDAW 1,279
788
881
8,264 1,661
BAME Labour 20
4
2
200 29
CSM 79
57
80
194
279
Fabian Society 308
313
281
1,461 1,321
LHG 16
15
16
33
41
LPDMG 5
4
2
11
20
Irish Society 11
5
2
20 16
Labour Students 117
86
116
402 379
LGBT Labour 55
17
29
193 136
Scientists for Labour 9
5
10
21
24
SERA 77
22
32
86
209
SEA 57
28
28
63
138
SHA 75
26
36
87
172
Labour Lawyers 25
14
15
83 66
Jewish Labour 5
0
6
37 24
Turnout in the affiliates section was 9.0%, with 247,339 votes cast of the 2,747,030 ballots distributed.[ 44]
See also
Notes
References
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^ Ed Miliband union backers accused over Labour ballot mail-out Archived 7 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine The Guardian ^ Unite union 'ignored rules in endorsing Ed Miliband' Archived 19 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine The Independent ^ Curtis, Polly (10 May 2010). "David Miliband and Ed Balls set to launch Labour leadership bids" . The Guardian . London. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2010 . ^ "Diane Abbott enters Labour leadership contest" . BBC News . 20 May 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2010 .^ "Ed Balls announces he will stand for Labour leader" . BBC News . 19 May 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2010 .^ "Andy Burnham enters Labour leadership contest" . BBC News . 20 May 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2010 .^ "Labour leadership race discredited, says MP McDonnell" . BBC News . 18 May 2010. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. 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Retrieved 15 December 2016 . ^ "John McDonnell withdraws from Labour leadership race" . BBC News . 9 June 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2010 .^ "Diane Abbott Joins 'Open' Labour Leader Race" . Sky News. 9 June 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2010 .^ "Labour Leadership Election 2010 - Information & Candidates - The Labour Party" . 9 June 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2016 .{{cite web }}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link )^ Eaton, George (25 May 2010). "Labour leadership: who's nominated who" . Newstatesman.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2016 . ^ "Whelan and Blears on Labour leadership" . BBC News . 12 May 2010. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2013 .^ a b c d e f "Labour leadership contest: Runners and riders" . BBC News . 26 May 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2010 .^ "2010 Labour leadership election-Ed Balls" . Labour Party. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010 .^ "Jon Cruddas backs Diane Abbott for Labour leader" . International Business Times the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2010 .^ Cowley, Jason (25 August 2010). "Exclusive: Jon Cruddas endorses David Miliband" . New Statesman Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2010 . ^ Stratton, Allegra (1 June 2010). "David Miliband wins backing of Alistair Darling in Labour leadership race" . The Guardian . London. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2010 . ^ Wintour, Patrick (1 June 2010). "Alistair Darling backs David Miliband for Labour leadership" . The Guardian Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2010 .^ a b Evans, Judith (17 May 2010). "David Miliband hails 'next Labour' as he opens leadership bid" . Times Online . London. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2010 . ^ Woodcock, Andrew (8 June 2010). "Harriet Harman nominates Diane Abbott for Labour leadership" . The Independent . London. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2017 . ^ "Alan Johnson backs David Miliband for Labour leadership" . The Daily Telegraph the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2010 .^ "2010 Labour leadership election-Diane Abbott" . Labour Party. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010 .^ Smith, Lewis (12 August 2010). "Straw backs Miliband in leadership race" . The Independent Archived from the original on 16 August 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010 . ^ YouGov survey Archived 24 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine YouGov, 29 July 2010^ Neck and neck Archived 15 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine YouGov, 13 September 2010^ a b "LABOUR PARTY LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS 1922-2016" . Tom Quinn, Senior Lecturer in Government, University of Essex . 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