1981 Labour Party Shadow Cabinet election

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Elections to the

Lord Peart), and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party (Jack Dormand
) were automatically members.

Of the 12 incumbent members, 10 were re-elected. Tony Benn, who was the top loser in 1980 automatically took the Bill Rodgers when the latter left the party to create the Social Democratic Party. He lost again in this election. It is unclear whether Roy Mason lost re-election or did not stand. The results of the election, though incomplete, are below[1]

Colour
key 		Retained in the Shadow Cabinet
Joined the Shadow Cabinet
Voted out of the Shadow Cabinet
Rank
 Prior
rank
 Candidate
 Constituency
 Votes
1 4† Peter Shore
Stepney and Poplar
 147
2 3 Gerald Kaufman Manchester Ardwick 142
3 1 Roy Hattersley
Birmingham Sparkbrook
 135
4 7 John Silkin
Lewisham Deptford
 132
5 2 Eric Varley Chesterfield 131
6 4† Merlyn Rees Leeds South 128
7 12 Neil Kinnock Bedwellty 118
8 8† Albert Booth Barrow and Furness 114
9 11 John Smith North Lanarkshire 111
10 15 Brynmor John Pontypridd 105
11 6 Stan Orme Salford West 104
12 14 Bruce Millan Glasgow Craigton 92
13 16 Eric Heffer
Liverpool Walton
 84
14 ?
Peter Archer
Warley West
 83
15 ? Gwyneth Dunwoody Crewe 82
16 18 Norman Buchan West Renfrewshire 80
17 ? Robin Cook Edinburgh Central 73
? 13 Tony Benn
Bristol South East
 66
? ? Giles Radice Chester-le-Street 60
? ? Jeremy Bray Motherwell and Wishaw ?
? ? James Craigen Glasgow Maryhill ?
? 20 Tam Dalyell West Lothian ?
? ? Harry Ewing
Stirling, Falkirk and Grangemouth
 ?
? ? Robert Hughes Aberdeen North ?

The Glasgow Herald reported Benn planned to use the contest to renew his campaign against Healey, and that Foot believed that Benn ultimately would challenge him for the leadership of the Labour Party.[2]

While Benn failed to be elected to the shadow cabinet, the size of his vote was reported as being a blow to Michael Foot, given that he had withdrawn his support from him and encouraged party colleagues to do likewise. Benn claimed to be pleased with the size of his vote, which represented a quarter of the parliamentary party, which he claimed was twice as great as he had expected.[1] The Glasgow Herald noted that other than Foot, only five of those elected could be described as "Left-wingers". In contrast 8 members, including deputy leader Healey, were identified as "Right-wingers" and three members (Dunwoody, Millan and Shore) who were "Centre-to-right".[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Parkhouse, Geoffrey (20 November 1981). "Size of Benn vote a new blow to Foot". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  2. ^ Parkhouse, Geoffrey (14 November 1981). "Rebel Benn prepares for an action replay with Healey". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
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