2007 Labour Party leadership election (UK)

The 2007 Labour Party leadership election was formally triggered on 10 May 2007 by the resignation of Tony Blair, Labour Leader since the previous leadership contest on 21 July 1994. At the same time that Blair resigned, John Prescott resigned as Deputy Leader, triggering a concurrent election for the deputy leadership.[1][2]

For a chronological guide to this subject, see Timeline of the 2007 Labour Party leadership election.
2007 Labour Party leadership election
10 May – 24 June 2007 (2007-05-10 – 2007-06-24)
 
Candidate Gordon Brown
Popular vote Unopposed
Leader before election

Tony Blair

 Elected Leader

Gordon Brown

Informal campaigning had been ongoing ever since Blair announced in 2004 that he would not be fighting a fourth general election as leader. Pressure for a timetable eventually led him to announce on 7 September 2006 that he would step down within a year.[3] Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) met on 13 May 2007 to decide a timetable.[4][5] Nominations opened on 14 May and closed at 12:30 UTC+1 on 17 May 2007.

Blair said he expected Gordon Brown to succeed him, and that Brown "would make an excellent Prime Minister". When nominations for the leadership elections opened, Blair was one of those nominating Brown.[6] From the start, most observers considered Brown the overwhelming favourite to succeed Blair; John McDonnell, his only challenger, failed to secure enough nominations in order to get onto the ballot, and conceded defeat.[7] Brown received 313 (88.2%) nominations to McDonnell's 29 (8.2%), making it mathematically impossible for anyone other than Brown to be nominated.

The election process concluded with Brown being declared leader at a special conference on 24 June 2007. On 27 June, Blair resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and was succeeded by Brown.[8]

If Brown had been opposed, Labour Party members would for the first time have directly elected a new Prime Minister.

Candidates

John McDonnell and Gordon Brown were the only candidates as the election process began with the nominations round. In order to secure a place on the ballot paper, candidates needed to submit their nominations to the National Executive Committee (NEC) by 17 May, each supported by at least 12.5% of Labour MPs (45 Labour MPs, including the candidate themselves). Brown, the only successfully nominated candidate, was declared leader at a special Labour conference on 24 June 2007.[9]

  • Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer,[10] long the favourite candidate to succeed Tony Blair, received 313 nominations and was successfully nominated.[11]
  • John McDonnell, chair of the Socialist Campaign Group, pledged to merge Old Labour and New Labour into what he calls Real Labour, and to "save the Labour government from itself". He was hoping to get the backing of all those who had been backing Michael Meacher, but did not do so;[12] with 29 nominations, he was 16 short of the minimum required number, and was not successfully nominated.[13][14][15]
  • Michael Meacher (withdrew on 14 May 2007), former Minister of State for the Environment, was a candidate but withdrew after failing to get enough nominations. On 27 April 2007, he and McDonnell announced that whichever of them had the support of fewer Labour MPs at the point of Tony Blair's resignation would withdraw from the campaign and support the other.[16] On 10 May, they delayed their announcement because "levels of support for each were too close to call".[17] Meacher gave his support to McDonnell on 14 May, but not all his supporters switched allegiance.[18]

Nominations and result
CandidateConstituencyNominationsShareNominated?
Gordon BrownKirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath31388.2%Yes
John McDonnellHayes and Harlington298.2%No

Only Gordon Brown attained over 45 nominations and was thus elected unopposed.

Suggested candidates who declined to run

During the months leading up to Tony Blair's resignation, media attention focused on a wide range of Labour politicians, most of whom publicly refused to stand:

See also

References
  1. "Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry". BBC News. 28 September 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 28 September 2006.
  2. "Prescott quits as Deputy Leader". BBC News Online. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2 June 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2007.
  3. "I will quit within a year — Blair". BBC News Online. 7 September 2006. Archived from the original on 17 November 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2006.
  4. "Labour leader election timetable". BBC News. 21 March 2007. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
  5. "Blair will stand down on 27 June". BBC News. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  6. "Labour leadership contest - Gordon Brown nominators". Labour Party. Archived from the original on 17 May 2007.
  7. "Harman wins deputy leader contest". BBC News Online. 24 June 2007. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
  8. "Queen and Government". Website of the British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  9. "Labour leadership, close of nominations". Labour Party. 17 May 2007. Archived from the original on 21 September 2007.
  10. "Brown sets out leadership vision". BBC News. 26 September 2006. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2007.
  11. "Brown 'humbled' by Labour backing". BBC News. 17 May 2007. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  12. Mulholland, Hélène (16 May 2007). "Brown trying to prevent contest, claims McDonnell". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  13. "Labour MP launches leadership bid". BBC News. 14 July 2006. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2006.
  14. Oscar Reyes (11 May 2007). "Challenging Brown from the Left? Meacher and McDonnell interviewed". Red Pepper. Transnational Institute. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2007.
  15. "McDonnell short for leadership race". Reuters. 15 May 2007. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2007.
  16. "Left rivals unite to target Brown". BBC News. 27 April 2007. Archived from the original on 27 August 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2007.
  17. "Brown rivals delay bid decision". BBC News. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  18. "Brown 'faces McDonnell challenge'". BBC News. 14 May 2007. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  19. "City MP says he won't fight Brown". Norwich Evening News. 15 January 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
  20. David Cracknell; Isabel Oakeshott (1 April 2007). "Clarke ready to run for leader". Sunday Times. London. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  21. "Clarke rules out leadership with praise for Brown". 3 May 2007. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
  22. "Clarke 'will not challenge Brown'". BBC News. 4 May 2007. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2007.
  23. "Will Blair and Brown get their way?". BBC News. 6 September 2006. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2006.
  24. "Reid gives Brown clear run to No 10". Scotland on Sunday. 6 May 2007. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  25. "Johnson backing Brown for leader". BBC News. 9 November 2006. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2006.
  26. "Johnson fuels leadership speculation". BBC News. 26 September 2006. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
  27. "Labour leadership contenders". BBC News. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2 October 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2006.
  28. Deborah Summers and agencies (11 May 2007). "Blair backs Brown as chancellor launches campaign". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 22 December 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2007.
  29. Helm, Toby (22 March 2007). "Labour slump may spark Miliband challenge". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  30. "Beckett warns Miliband not to run". BBC News. 31 March 2007. Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
  31. Tempest, Matthew (11 April 2007). "Miliband: I will not be seduced into leadership bid". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  32. "Miliband 'won't run for leader'". BBC News. 17 April 2007. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
  33. "Reid's end-of-rally job pitch". BBC News. 28 September 2006. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2006.
  34. "Reid to quit as home secretary". BBC News. 6 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
  35. "Straw to run Brown leadership bid". BBC News. 25 March 2007. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
  36. "Brown unveils huge Cabinet revamp". BBC News. 28 June 2007. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
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