Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1976

Labour Party (UK) leadership election

25 March 1976 (1976-03-25) – 5 April 1976 (1976-04-05)

Candidate James Callaghan Michael Foot Roy Jenkins 1st Ballot 84 90 56 Percentage 26.8% 28.7% 17.8% Final Ballot 176 137 Withdrew Percentage 56.2% 43.8% Withdrew   Candidate Tony Benn Denis Healey Anthony Crosland 1st Ballot 37 30 17 Percentage 11.8% 9.6% 5.3% Final Ballot Withdrew Eliminated Eliminated Percentage Withdrew Eliminated Eliminated

Leader before election Harold Wilson Elected Leader James Callaghan

The Labour Party leadership election of 1976 occurred when former leader Harold Wilson resigned as Party Leader and Prime Minister. To date, it is the only occasion the Labour Party has had a leadership election with more than one candidate whilst in government.

Candidates

In the first ballot, held on 25 March, six candidates vied for the leadership:

• Tony Benn, Secretary of State for Energy, Member of Parliament for Bristol South East
• Jim Callaghan, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Member of Parliament for Cardiff South East
• Anthony Crosland, Secretary of State for the Environment, Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby
• Michael Foot, Secretary of State for Employment, Member of Parliament for Ebbw Vale
• Denis Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Member of Parliament for Leeds East
• Roy Jenkins, Home Secretary, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Stechford

Result

As a result of the first ballot, Crosland was eliminated, while Jenkins and Benn withdrew from the contest. The remaining three candidates would face each other in a second ballot, five days later.

Because no candidate achieved an absolute majority, the candidate with the lowest number of votes was eliminated (in this case Healey). A final run-off ballot was held six days later.

Immediately upon his election as Labour leader, Callaghan succeeded Wilson as Prime Minister.

References

• Tony Benn, The Benn Diaries (Arrow, 1995).