Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1976

Labour Party (UK) leadership election

25 March 1976-5 April 1976

Candidate James Callaghan Michael Foot First Round Votes 84 90 First Round Percentage 26.8% 28.7% Second Round Votes 141 133 Second Round Percentage 45.2% 42.6% Third Round Votes 176 137 Third Round Percentage 56.2% 43.8%   Candidate Roy Jenkins Tony Benn First Round Votes 56 37 First Round Percentage 17.8% 11.8% Second Round Votes - Second Round Percentage - - Third Round Percentage - -   Candidate Denis Healey Anthony Crosland First Round Votes 30 17 First Round Percentage 9.6% 5.3% Second Round Votes 38 Second Round Percentage 12.2% - Third Round Percentage - -

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.

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

First Ballot: 25 March 1976
Candidate		Votes	%
	Michael Foot	90	28.7%
	Jim Callaghan	84	26.8%
	Roy Jenkins	56	17.8%
	Tony Benn	37	11.8%
	Denis Healey	30	9.6%
	Anthony Crosland	17	5.3%
Majority		6	1.9%
Turnout		314
	Second Ballot required

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.

Second Ballot: 30 March 1976
Candidate		Votes	%
	Jim Callaghan	141	45.2%
	Michael Foot	133	42.6%
	Denis Healey	38	12.2%
Majority		8	2.6%
Turnout		312
	Third Ballot required

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.

Third Ballot: 5 April 1976
Candidate		Votes	%
	Jim Callaghan	176	56.2%
	Michael Foot	137	43.8%
Majority		39	12.4%
Turnout		313
	Callaghan elected leader

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

References

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