Labour Party (UK) deputy leadership election, 2007

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The 2007 Labour Party deputy leadership election is a British political party election for the position of Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. John Prescott, the current deputy leader, has announced that he will stand down as Deputy Prime Minister and deputy leader at the same time as Tony Blair. If he stands down as deputy leader on the same day as Tony Blair stands down as leader, the Deputy Leadership election and Labour Party leadership election will occur simultaneously; if he leaves it until Tony Blair stands down as Prime Minister (that is, once his successor has been elected) then it will take place two months later. ^[1]

An increasing number of Labour MPs and members of the NEC have been been attempting to get the election for the position of deputy leader abandoned in order to save the £2,000,000 it is estimated that the contest would cost.^[2][3] There would need to be a special conference convened if such an alteration were to be made.

Contents 1 Current deputy leader's resignation 2 Candidates 2.1 Declared candidates 2.2 Possible candidates 2.3 Declined 3 References

[edit] Current deputy leader's resignation

On 28 September 2006, John Prescott - the current deputy leader - told the Labour Party Conference he would stand down when Tony Blair stands down as Prime Minister^[4]. Although Prescott said he intended to oversee Labour's leadership election, many in the Labour Party want to avoid the extra cost and hassle of having the two elections on different days.^[5]

[edit] Candidates

[edit] Declared candidates

• Hilary Benn^[6]
• Hazel Blears^[7]
• Jon Cruddas^{[8] [9]}
• Peter Hain^[10]
• Harriet Harman^[11]
• Alan Johnson^[12]

[edit] Possible candidates

The following candidates have been named by several press outlets as possible candidates, and some have publicly declared a possible interest in the past.

• Tessa Jowell
• Jeremy Corbyn^[13]

[edit] Declined

• Ed Balls
• Patricia Hewitt - backing Harriet Harman, in response to a question from John Pienaar on The Weekend News on BBC Radio Five Live on 9 December 2006.
• David Miliband^[14]
• John Prescott
• Jack Straw

[edit] References

1. ^ Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry BBC News
2. ^ Labour may call off deputy leader race The Independent
3. ^ Axe Labour deputy post, MP says BBC News
4. ^ Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry BBC News
5. ^ PREZZ AARGH! EXCLUSIVE He says he'll stay on after Blair leaves Sunday Mirror
6. ^ Benn to run for deputy position BBC News
7. ^ Blears to run for Labour deputy and admits party 'disengaged' The Guardian, Friday 23 February 2007
8. ^ Ex-No 10 aide Cruddas will stand BBC News
9. ^ Leftwinger launches deputy leadership campaign The Guardian
10. ^ Labour deputy race gathers pace BBC News
11. ^ Harman intends Labour deputy bid BBC News
12. ^ U.K.'s Johnson Abandons Labour Party Leadership Race (Update2)
13. ^ Meacher set to challenge Brown from left The Guardian, 20 December 2006
14. ^ Profile: David Miliband BBC News, 14 September 2006

Labour Party (UK) leadership elections
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