1983 Labour Party deputy leadership election

A deputy leadership election for the Labour Party in the United Kingdom took place on 2 October 1983 to replace incumbent Deputy Leader Denis Healey. Healey had served in the position since 1980, becoming deputy leader at the same time that Michael Foot became party leader. Foot and Healey had both announced their resignations after the general election on 9 June 1983, in which a disastrous performance left the Labour Party with just 209 seats in parliament.

1983 Labour Party deputy leadership election
2 October 1983 (1983-10-02)
 
Candidate Roy Hattersley Michael Meacher
Overall result 67.3% 27.9%
Affiliated unions 88.2% 11.8%
Party members 51.0% 47.8%
Labour MPs 55.7% 29.4%

 
Candidate Denzil Davies Gwyneth Dunwoody
Overall result 3.5% 1.3%
Affiliated unions
Party members 0.8% 0.3%
Labour MPs 10.9% 4.0%

Deputy Leader before election

Denis Healey

Elected Deputy Leader

Roy Hattersley

The election was conducted using the Labour party's electoral college. It was won by Roy Hattersley, who won more than two-thirds of the votes. On the same day, Neil Kinnock won the leadership election. A young Peter Mandelson was employed in Hattersley's campaign team for the deputy leadership contest.

The election took place at Labour Party conference, with affiliated trade unions holding 40% of the votes, delegates from Constituency Labour Parties holding 30% of the votes, and the Parliamentary Labour Party holding the final 30% of the votes.

Candidates

Result

Candidate[1] Affiliated block votes
(40%)[2]
CLP block votes
(30%)
PLP votes
(30%)
Overall result
Votes % Votes % Votes % %
Roy Hattersley Y 5,349 88.2 318 51.0 112 55.7 67.3
Michael Meacher 718 11.8 298 47.8 59 29.4 27.9
Denzil Davies 0 0.0 5 0.8 22 10.9 3.5
Gwyneth Dunwoody 0 0.0 2 0.3 8 4.0 1.3

See also

References

  1. Pointer, Graham (11 May 2015). "Should Tony Benn Have Been The Winner Of The 1981 Labour Deputy Leadership Election?". Graham Pointer's Blog. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  2. Under the rules at the time of the contest, block votes were cast by delegates and the Parliamentary Party at Labour Party Conference. Affiliated Unions held 40% of the votes, CLPs 30% and the PLP 30%.

Sources


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