2020 Labour Party deputy leadership election


The 2020 Labour Party deputy leadership election was triggered on 6 November 2019 by the resignation of Tom Watson as deputy leader of the Labour Party of the United Kingdom. It was won by Angela Rayner on the third ballot. It was held alongside the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.
To qualify for the ballot, candidates needed nominations from 10% of the party's Members of Parliament and Members of European Parliament, followed by support from either 5% of Constituency Labour Parties, or from at least three affiliated groups, including two trades unions and representing at least 5% of affiliated members.
Five candidates, Rosena Allin-Khan, Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler, Ian Murray and Angela Rayner received sufficient nominations from MPs and MEPs to proceed to the second round of nominations. Rayner achieved sufficient support from affiliates to qualify for the final ballot on 20 January, at which point she also had the greatest number of nominations from CLPs. Burgon achieved sufficient support from affiliates on 29 January, while Butler and Murray achieved sufficient support from CLPs on 2 and 7 February, respectively. Allin-Khan became the final candidate to reach the threshold when she received her 33rd CLP nomination on 8 February.
The results were announced on 4 April 2020, with Rayner announced as the winner and becoming deputy leader.

Background

resigned as deputy leader of the Labour Party and as an MP in November 2019 ahead of the 2019 United Kingdom general election.

Procedure

The election was conducted under a pure "one member, one vote" system. Candidates were elected by members and registered and affiliated supporters, who all received a maximum of one vote and all votes were weighted equally. For example, members of Labour-affiliated trade unions needed to register as affiliated Labour supporters to vote.
To stand, challengers needed to be nominated by at least 10% of the combined membership of the Parliamentary Labour Party and European Parliamentary Labour Party, meaning twenty-two MPs or MEPs at the time. They also needed to be nominated by at least 5% of Constituency Labour Parties, or party affiliates that consist of at least 5% of affiliate members including at least two trades unions. Affiliates consist of affiliated trades unions, socialist societies and the Co-operative Party. The vote, as in previous elections, will be held under the alternative vote system.

Campaign

, the shadow equalities secretary, announced on 7 November 2019 that she would stand to be deputy leader. Khalid Mahmood, the shadow Europe minister, announced his candidacy on 17 December 2019. The shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon announced that he would stand on 31 December 2019 with an article in Tribune.
Angela Rayner announced her candidacy on 6 January 2020.
On 9 January, Mahmood withdrew from the contest, saying it had become clear he was unlikely to win the support of the necessary 22 MPs or MEPs.
The five remaining deputy leadership candidates achieved the requisite 22 MP/MEP nominations by the 13 January deadline and proceeded to the next stage of the contest.

Candidates

Nominated by parliamentarians

The following individuals were nominated by the necessary number of Labour parliamentarians and were subject to receiving backing from the required number of constituency parties or affiliated organisations.
CandidateBornPolitical officeCampaignRef.

01.01.1977
Tooting, London, England		Shadow Sport Minister
MP for Tooting

19 9 1980
Leeds, England		Shadow Justice Secretary
MP for Leeds East

3 11 1969
Newham, London, England		Shadow Equalities Secretary
MP for Brent Central
Youth Minister
MP for Brent South

10 8 1976
Edinburgh, Scotland		MP for Edinburgh South
Shadow Scotland Secretary

28 3 1980
Stockport, Greater Manchester, England		Shadow Education Secretary
MP for Ashton-under-Lyne

Withdrawn

Declined

Candidates first needed to be nominated by at least 10% of current Labour MPs and MEPs, who comprise the Parliamentary Labour Party and the European Parliamentary Labour Party. Candidates who passed this threshold then need nominations from at least 5% Constituency Labour Parties, or at least three affiliates including at least two trades unions that together represent at least 5% of affiliated members.
The table below shows the number of nominations achieved by each candidate. A green background indicates that the candidate has met the nomination requirements. A pink background indicates that the candidate has withdrawn from the contest.

Endorsements

Candidates and potential candidates also received the support of notable people who are not current Labour Party MPs.

Rosena Allin-Khan

Results

The result of the election as well as the corresponding contest for leader of the Labour Party was announced at 10:45 on 4 April 2020. The announcement was originally due to take place at a special conference in London, but because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic it was cancelled in favour of a "scaled-back event". Because of this, members would only find out the results by means of an email and coverage in the mainstream media.
Angela Rayner was elected. Rosena Allin-Khan came second, which was different to the results predicted by opinion polls.

Timeline

Overview

2019

November

January