2010 Labour Party leadership election (UK)


The 2010 Labour Party leadership election was triggered by a general election which resulted in a hung parliament; the first since 1974. The previous Labour leader, Gordon 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.
The National Executive Committee decided the timetable for the election the result of which would be announced at the annual party conference. On 25 September 2010, Ed Miliband became the new Leader of the Labour Party.

Procedure

The rules of the Labour Party stated in 2010 that "each nomination must be supported by 12.5 per cent of the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party." As the number of Labour MPs was 257 33 MPs needed to support any nomination. Nominations opened on 24 May and closed on 27 May, but the deadline was extended to 9 June after complaints from 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. The 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. There were three distinct, the electors of which cast their votes on a "one member, one vote" basis in each applicable category:
  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 and socialist societies
Each of the three electorates or sections contributed one third of the total votes and were counted using the Alternative Vote system system. The election was run by the National Executive Committee, and the results were announced at the annual conference in September 2010.

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.

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. The 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 in favour of Diane Abbott, who eventually made the ballot paper.

Nominations

Candidates must receive nominations from at least 12.5 per cent of the 257 Parliamentary Labour Party members to appear on the ballot. John McDonnell had 16 nominations when he withdrew on 9 June, in favour of Diane Abbott. The final nominations figures were as follows:
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. Public nominations for candidates by MPs were as follows:
Before dropping out of the race on 9 June 2010, John McDonnell had the following 16 nominations: 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

Notable Labour politicians who declined to stand

Some members of parliament were seen as potential candidates but decided against running:
TitleDateModeratorChannelInformation
NewsnightTuesday 15 June; 22:30Jeremy PaxmanBBC Two
Channel 4 NewsWednesday 1 September; 19:00Jon SnowChannel 4
Sky NewsSunday 5 September; 22:30Adam BoultonSky News
Question TimeThursday 16 September; 22:35David DimblebyBBC One

Opinion polling

Results

Each of the three electorates or sections contributed one third of the total votes and were counted using the Alternative Vote system system.

Overall result

The total of first-round votes for Balls, Burnham, and Abbott was less than Ed Miliband's vote. Thus, it was certain after the first round that Balls, Burnham, and Abbott would all be eliminated.
Turnout in the members section was 71.7%, with 127,330 votes cast of the 177,558 ballots distributed. Amongst affiliated members, turnout was 9.0%, whilst amongst MPs/MEPs turnout was 98.5%.

Labour MPs and MEPs

MPFirst ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceFourth ChoiceFifth Choice
Diane AbbottDiane Abbott----
Bob AinsworthDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Douglas AlexanderDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Heidi AlexanderAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd Miliband--
Rushanara AliDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Graham AllenDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
Dave AndersonEd BallsEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Ian AustinEd BallsDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd MilibandDiane Abbott
Adrian BaileyEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy Burnham-
Willie BainDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Ed BallsEd Balls----
Gordon BanksDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy Burnham-
Kevin BarronAndy BurnhamEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Hugh BayleyDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Margaret BeckettEd Miliband----
Anne BeggEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Stuart BellDavid MilibandEd Balls---
Hilary BennEd MilibandDavid Miliband---
Joe BentonAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd Balls-
Luciana BergerEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Clive BettsAndy BurnhamEd Miliband---
Roberta Blackman-WoodsEd MilibandAndy Burnham---
Hazel BlearsAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd BallsEd Miliband-
Tom BlenkinsopEd BallsDavid Miliband---
Paul BlomfieldEd Miliband----
David BlunkettAndy BurnhamDavid Miliband---
Ben BradshawDavid Miliband----
Kevin BrennanEd BallsDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Gordon Brown-----
Lyn BrownEd BallsDavid MilibandEd Miliband--
Russell BrownDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy Burnham-
Chris BryantDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamEd MilibandDiane Abbott
Karen BuckEd Miliband----
Richard BurdenDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd Balls--
Andy BurnhamAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Liam ByrneDavid MilibandEd Balls---
David CairnsDavid Miliband----
Alan CampbellDavid MilibandAndy Burnham---
Ronnie CampbellAndy BurnhamEd Miliband---
Michael Cashman MEPDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
Martin CatonEd MilibandDiane AbbottEd Balls--
Jenny ChapmanDavid Miliband----
Katy ClarkDiane AbbottEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDavid Miliband
Tom ClarkeDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane AbbottEd MilibandEd Balls
Ann ClwydDavid Miliband----
Vernon CoakerEd BallsDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy Burnham-
Ann CoffeyDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Michael ConnartyAndy BurnhamEd BallsEd MilibandDavid MilibandDiane Abbott
Rosie CooperDavid MilibandEd Balls---
Yvette CooperEd Balls----
Jeremy CorbynDiane AbbottEd Miliband---
David CrausbyEd BallsDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Mary CreaghDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Stella CreasyDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
Jon CruddasDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandDiane AbbottAndy Burnham
John CryerEd MilibandEd BallsDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Alex CunninghamDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Jim CunninghamEd BallsDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Tony CunninghamEd BallsEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy Burnham-
Margaret CurranEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Nic DakinDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Simon DanczukDavid Miliband----
Alistair DarlingDavid Miliband----
Wayne DavidEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Ian DavidsonEd BallsEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Geraint DaviesEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd Balls--
Gloria De PieroDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
John DenhamEd Miliband----
Jim DobbinEd BallsEd Miliband---
Frank DobsonEd MilibandEd Balls---
Thomas DochertyAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Brian DonohoeDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Frank DoranEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy Burnham-
Jim DowdDavid Miliband----
Gemma DoyleDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsDiane AbbottAndy Burnham
Jack DromeyEd Miliband----
Michael DugherEd BallsEd Miliband---
Angela EagleDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Maria EagleEd Miliband----
Clive EffordEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Julie ElliottDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd Miliband--
Louise EllmanDavid MilibandAndy Burnham---
Natascha EngelEd Miliband----
Bill EstersonEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Chris EvansEd BallsDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy Burnham-
Paul FarrellyEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Frank FieldEd MilibandAndy Burnham---
Jim FitzpatrickDavid Miliband----
Rob FlelloAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd Miliband--
Caroline FlintDavid Miliband----
Paul FlynnDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane AbbottEd BallsEd Miliband
Yvonne FovargueAndy BurnhamDavid Miliband---
Hywel FrancisEd MilibandEd Balls---
Mike GapesDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsEd MilibandDiane Abbott
Barry GardinerDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
Sheila GilmoreDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane AbbottEd Balls
Pat GlassDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamEd MilibandDiane Abbott
Mary GlindonDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Roger GodsiffEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Paul GogginsAndy BurnhamDavid Miliband---
Helen GoodmanEd Miliband----
Tom GreatrexEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd Balls-
Kate GreenEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandDiane Abbott
Lilian GreenwoodEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Nia GriffithEd BallsEd MilibandDavid Miliband--
Andrew GwynneEd BallsEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Peter HainEd MilibandDavid Miliband---
David HamiltonEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDavid Miliband-
Fabian HamiltonDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd Balls-
David HansonDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Harriet Harman-----
Tom HarrisDavid Miliband----
Dai HavardEd MilibandEd Balls---
John HealeyEd BallsEd Miliband---
Mark HendrickDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Stephen HepburnEd BallsDavid Miliband---
David HeyesAndy BurnhamEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Meg HillierDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy Burnham--
Julie HillingAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Margaret HodgeDavid Miliband----
Sharon HodgsonEd BallsAndy BurnhamEd MilibandDavid MilibandDiane Abbott
Kate HoeyAndy BurnhamEd MilibandDavid Miliband--
Mary Honeyball MEPDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Jimmy HoodEd MilibandEd BallsDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Kelvin HopkinsDiane AbbottEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDavid Miliband
George HowarthDavid MilibandEd Balls---
Richard Howitt MEPDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
Lindsay HoyleEd BallsEd MilibandDavid Miliband--
Stephen HughesEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy Burnham--
Tristram HuntDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Huw Irranca-DaviesDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd MilibandEd Balls-
Glenda JacksonEd MilibandEd Balls---
Siân JamesEd MilibandEd Balls---
Cathy JamiesonEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Alan JohnsonDavid Miliband----
Diana JohnsonEd BallsDavid Miliband---
Graham JonesEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDavid Miliband-
Helen JonesEd BallsEd MilibandDavid Miliband--
Kevan JonesDavid MilibandAndy Burnham---
Susan Elan JonesEd MilibandDavid Miliband---
Tessa JowellDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd MilibandDiane AbbottEd Balls
Eric JoyceEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandDiane Abbott
Gerald KaufmanDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd Balls-
Barbara KeeleyEd BallsEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Alan KeenAndy BurnhamEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Liz KendallDavid Miliband----
Sadiq KhanEd Miliband----
David LammyDavid MilibandDiane AbbottEd BallsEd MilibandAndy Burnham
Ian LaveryEd MilibandAndy Burnham---
Mark LazarowiczEd Miliband----
Chris LeslieEd BallsDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Ivan LewisDavid Miliband----
Tony Lloyd-----
Andy LoveEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Ian LucasEd MilibandEd BallsDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Denis MacShaneDavid Miliband----
Fiona MactaggartDavid MilibandEd Balls---
Khalid MahmoodEd BallsEd MilibandDiane AbbottDavid MilibandAndy Burnham
Shabana MahmoodEd Miliband----
John MannDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
Gordon MarsdenEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd Balls-
David Martin MEPDavid Miliband----
Linda McAvan MEPEd Miliband----
Steve McCabeEd BallsEd MilibandDavid Miliband--
Michael McCannDavid Miliband----
Arlene McCarthy MEPEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy Burnham--
Kerry McCarthyEd BallsDavid Miliband---
Gregg McClymontDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Siobhain McDonaghDavid Miliband----
John McDonnellDiane Abbott----
Pat McFaddenDavid Miliband----
Alison McGovernDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Jim McGovernEd Miliband----
Anne McGuireDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Ann McKechinEd MilibandEd Balls---
Catherine McKinnellEd Miliband----
Michael MeacherEd MilibandDiane Abbott---
Alan MealeEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Ian MearnsDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Alun MichaelDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
David MilibandDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
Ed MilibandEd MilibandDavid Miliband---
Andrew MillerAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd Balls-
Austin MitchellEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsDiane AbbottAndy Burnham
Madeleine MoonEd MilibandEd Balls---
Claude Moraes MEPDavid Miliband----
Jessica MordenDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Graeme MorriceEd Miliband----
Grahame MorrisEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane AbbottDavid Miliband
George MudieEd BallsEd Miliband---
Meg MunnDavid Miliband----
Jim MurphyDavid Miliband----
Paul MurphyEd MilibandDavid Miliband---
Ian MurrayDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Lisa NandyEd MilibandEd Balls---
Pamela NashDavid Miliband----
Fiona O'DonnellDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Chi OnwurahEd MilibandDavid MilibandDiane Abbott--
Sandra OsborneEd Miliband----
Albert OwenEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd Balls-
Teresa PearceEd BallsEd MilibandDavid Miliband--
Toby PerkinsDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Bridget PhillipsonDavid Miliband----
Stephen PoundEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd Balls-
Dawn PrimaroloEd Miliband----
Yasmin QureshiDavid Miliband----
Nick RaynsfordDavid Miliband----
Jamie ReedDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd Balls-
Rachel ReevesEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Emma ReynoldsEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Jonathan ReynoldsDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
Linda RiordanDiane AbbottEd Miliband---
John RobertsonEd BallsEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Geoffrey RobinsonEd BallsDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Steve RotheramAndy BurnhamEd Miliband---
Frank RoyDavid Miliband----
Lindsay RoyEd MilibandEd BallsDavid Miliband--
Chris RuaneDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Joan RuddockEd Miliband----
Anas SarwarDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
Alison SeabeckEd Miliband----
Virendra SharmaDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Barry SheermanDavid Miliband----
Jim SheridanEd Miliband----
Gavin ShukerEd MilibandEd Balls---
Brian Simpson MEPAndy BurnhamEd Miliband---
Marsha SinghEd MilibandDavid MilibandEd Balls--
Dennis SkinnerDavid Miliband----
Peter Skinner MEPDavid Miliband----
Andy SlaughterEd Miliband----
Andrew SmithEd BallsDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy Burnham-
Angela SmithDavid MilibandAndy Burnham---
Nick SmithDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Owen SmithEd MilibandEd BallsDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Peter SoulsbyDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
John SpellarEd BallsDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy Burnham-
Catherine Stihler MEPEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Jack StrawDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd Balls--
Graham StringerDavid MilibandAndy Burnham---
Gisela StuartDavid Miliband----
Gerry SutcliffeAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandDiane Abbott
Mark TamiDavid MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Gareth ThomasDavid Miliband----
Emily ThornberryEd Miliband----
Stephen TimmsEd MilibandDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd Balls-
Jon TrickettEd BallsEd MilibandDavid MilibandDiane Abbott-
Karl TurnerAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsDiane Abbott
Derek TwiggAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandEd BallsEd MilibandDiane Abbott
Stephen TwiggDavid MilibandEd Miliband---
Chuka UmunnaEd MilibandDavid Miliband---
Derek Vaughan MEPEd MilibandDavid Miliband---
Keith VazDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsDiane AbbottAndy Burnham
Valerie VazDavid MilibandDiane AbbottEd Miliband--
Joan WalleyEd MilibandAndy Burnham---
Tom WatsonEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandDiane Abbott
Dave WattsAndy BurnhamEd BallsEd MilibandDiane AbbottDavid Miliband
Alan WhiteheadEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDavid Miliband--
Malcolm WicksDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy BurnhamEd BallsDiane Abbott
Chris WilliamsonEd MilibandEd BallsDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Glenis Willmott MEPEd MilibandDavid Miliband---
Phil WilsonDavid MilibandAndy Burnham---
David WinnickDavid Miliband----
Rosie WintertonEd Miliband----
Mike WoodDiane AbbottEd MilibandEd Balls--
John WoodcockDavid MilibandAndy BurnhamEd MilibandEd Balls-
Shaun WoodwardDavid MilibandEd MilibandEd BallsAndy BurnhamDiane Abbott
Phil WoolasDavid Miliband----
David WrightEd BallsDavid MilibandEd MilibandAndy Burnham-
Iain WrightEd BallsEd MilibandAndy BurnhamDavid MilibandDiane Abbott

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, and Diane Abbott won no constituencies. All ties with the exception of Wigan were between David and Ed Miliband. Northern Ireland was counted as one constituency.
, light blue for Ed Miliband, pink for Andy Burnham, yellow for Ed Balls and white for a tie.

Trade Unions and Socialist Societies

Turnout in the affiliates section was 9.0%, with 247,339 votes cast of the 2,747,030 ballots distributed.

News

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