2020 Labour Party deputy leadership election

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2020 Labour Party deputy leadership election
← 2015 24 February – 2 April 2020 (2020-02-24 – 2020-04-02)
 
Candidate Angela Rayner Rosena Allin-Khan Richard Burgon
First pref. 192,168 (41.7%) 77,351 (16.8%) 80,053 (17.3%)
Second round 209,968 (46.5%) 88,049 (19.5%) 88,664 (19.7%)
Final round 228,944 (52.6%) 113,858 (26.1%) 92,643 (21.3%)
 
Candidate Ian Murray Dawn Butler
First pref. 61,179 (13.3%) 50,255 (10.9%)
Second round 64,560 (14.3%) Eliminated
Final round Eliminated Eliminated

Deputy Leader before election

Vacant[note 1]

Elected Deputy Leader

Angela Rayner

The 2020 Labour Party deputy leadership election was triggered on 6 November 2019 by the resignation of Tom Watson as deputy leader of the Labour Party of the United Kingdom. It was won by Angela Rayner on the third ballot. It was held alongside the 2020 Labour Party leadership election, in which Keir Starmer was elected to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as leader.

To qualify for the ballot, candidates needed nominations from 10% (22) of the party's

trades unions
and representing at least 5% of affiliated members.

Five candidates—Rosena Allin-Khan, Richard Burgon, Dawn Butler, Ian Murray and Angela Rayner—received sufficient nominations from MPs and MEPs to proceed to the second round of nominations. Rayner achieved sufficient support from affiliates to qualify for the final ballot on 20 January, at which point she also had the greatest number of nominations from CLPs. Burgon achieved sufficient support from affiliates on 29 January, while Butler and Murray achieved sufficient support from CLPs on 2 and 7 February, respectively. Allin-Khan became the final candidate to reach the threshold when she received her 33rd CLP nomination on 8 February.

The results were announced on 4 April 2020, with Rayner announced as the winner and becoming deputy leader.

Background

Tom Watson resigned as deputy leader of the Labour Party and as an MP in November 2019 ahead of the 2019 general election.[1]

Procedure

The election was conducted under a pure "one member, one vote" (OMOV) system. Candidates were elected by members and registered and affiliated supporters, who all received a maximum of one vote and all votes were weighted equally. For example, members of Labour-affiliated trade unions needed to register as affiliated Labour supporters to vote.[2]

To stand, challengers needed to be nominated by at least 10% of the combined membership of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) and European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP), meaning twenty-two MPs or MEPs at the time. They also needed to be nominated by at least 5% of Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs), or party affiliates that consist of at least 5% of affiliate members including at least two trades unions.[3] Affiliates consist of affiliated trades unions, socialist societies and the Co-operative Party.[4][5] The vote, as in previous elections, will be held under the alternative vote (instant-runoff) system.[3]

Campaign

Hustings in Bristol on 1 February 2020, during the nomination stage

Dawn Butler, the shadow equalities secretary, announced on 7 November 2019 that she would stand to be deputy leader.[6] Khalid Mahmood, the shadow Europe minister, announced his candidacy on 17 December 2019. The shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon announced that he would stand on 31 December 2019 with an article in Tribune.[7][8]

Angela Rayner announced her candidacy on 6 January 2020.[9]

On 9 January, Mahmood withdrew from the contest, saying it had become clear he was unlikely to win the support of the necessary 22 MPs or MEPs.[10]

The five remaining deputy leadership candidates achieved the requisite 22 MP/MEP nominations by the 13 January deadline and proceeded to the next stage of the contest.[11]

Candidates

Nominated by parliamentarians

The following individuals were nominated by the necessary number of Labour parliamentarians and were subject to receiving backing from the required number of constituency parties or affiliated organisations.

Candidate Born Political office Campaign Ref.

Rosena Allin-Khan
1 January 1977
(age 47)
Tooting, London, England
Shadow Sport Minister (2016–2020)
MP for Tooting (2016
–present)

Website
[12]

Richard Burgon
19 September 1980
(age 43)
Leeds, England
Shadow Justice Secretary (2016–present)
MP for Leeds East (2015–present)

Website Archived 26 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine
[7]

Dawn Butler
3 November 1969
(age 54)
Newham, London, England
Shadow Equalities Secretary (2017–present)
MP for Brent Central (2015–present)
Youth Minister (2009–2010)
MP for Brent South (2005–2010)

Website[permanent dead link]
[13]

Ian Murray
10 August 1976
(age 47)
Edinburgh, Scotland
MP for Edinburgh South (2010–present)
Shadow Scotland Secretary (2015–16)

Website Archived 20 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine
[14]

Angela Rayner
28 March 1980
(age 44)
Stockport, Greater Manchester, England
Shadow Education Secretary (2016–present)
MP for Ashton-under-Lyne (2015–present)

Website Archived 9 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine
[15]

Withdrawn

Candidate Born Political office Withdrew Ref.

Khalid Mahmood
13 July 1961
(age 62)
Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Shadow Europe Minister (2016–2021)
MP for Birmingham Perry Barr (2001–present)
9 January 2020
(nominated Allin-Khan)
[16][10]

Declined

Nominations

Candidates first needed to be nominated by at least 10% (22) of current Labour MPs and MEPs, who comprise the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) and the European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP). Candidates who passed this threshold then need nominations from at least 5% (33) Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs), or at least three affiliates including at least two trades unions that together represent at least 5% of affiliated members.[5]

The table below shows the number of nominations achieved by each candidate.[24] A green background indicates that the candidate has met the nomination requirements. A pink background indicates that the candidate has withdrawn from the contest.

Candidate First stage
Labour MPs and MEPs
Second stage
Constituency Labour Parties Affiliates
Nominations % Nominations % Nominations
Angela Rayner
88 / 212
41.5% Green tickY
365 / 647
56.4% Green tickY
12 / 32
Green tickY
Richard Burgon
22 / 212
10.4% Green tickY
77 / 647
11.9% Green tickY
5 / 32
Green tickY
Dawn Butler
29 / 212
13.7% Green tickY
82 / 647
12.7% Green tickY
3 / 32
[a]
Red XN
Ian Murray
34 / 212
16% Green tickY
60 / 647
9.3% Green tickY
3 / 32
[b]
Red XN
Rosena Allin-Khan
23 / 212
10.8% Green tickY
56 / 647
8.7% Green tickY
3 / 32
[c]
Red XN
Khalid Mahmood (withdrawn)
3 / 212
[d]
1.4% Red XN
Nominated
196 / 212
92.5%[e]
640 / 647
98.9%
26 / 32
  1. ^ Butler did not meet the threshold for Affiliates, but was nominated by a sufficient number of CLPs to qualify for the next round
  2. ^ Murray did not meet the threshold for Affiliates, but was nominated by a sufficient number of CLPs to qualify for the next round
  3. ^ Allin-Khan did not meet the threshold for Affiliates, but was nominated by a sufficient number of CLPs to qualify for the next round
  4. ^ After his withdrawal, Mahmood's backers both nominated another candidate
  5. ^ Excludes Mahmood's nominators

Endorsements

Candidates and potential candidates also received the support of notable people who are not current Labour Party MPs.

Rosena Allin-Khan

Richard Burgon

Ian Murray

Angela Rayner

Opinion polls

Date(s)
conducted
Pollster/client Sample size First preference
Allin-Khan Burgon Butler Murray Rayner Others Lead
Result 16.8% 17.3% 10.9% 13.3% 41.7% 24.4%
21–24 February 2020 Survation/LabourList 1,005 Labour members, affiliates and registered supporters 17% 23% 10% 14% 35% 12%
20–25 January 2020 YouGov/The Times 1,005 Labour members 13% 19% 12% 9% 47% 28%
13–15 January 2020 YouGov/Sky News 1,005 Labour members 8% 15% 12% 8% 57% 42%
8–13 January 2020 Survation/LabourList 3,800 LabourList readers 5% 19% 8% 9% 60% <1% 41%

Results

The result of the election as well as the corresponding contest for leader of the Labour Party was announced at 10:45 (BST) on 4 April 2020. The announcement was originally due to take place at a special conference in London, but because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic it was cancelled in favour of a "scaled-back event".[40] Because of this, members would only find out the results by means of an email and coverage in the mainstream media.

Angela Rayner was elected.[41] Rosena Allin-Khan came second, which was different from the results predicted by opinion polls.

Candidate First round Second round Third round
Votes % Votes % Votes %
Angela Rayner 192,168 41.7 209,698 46.5 228,944 52.6
Rosena Allin-Khan 77,351 16.8 88,049 19.5 113,858 26.1
Richard Burgon 80,053 17.3 88,664 19.7 92,643 21.3
Ian Murray 61,179 13.3 64,560 14.3 Eliminated
Dawn Butler 50,255 10.9 Eliminated

Timeline

Overview

Candidate status
Active candidate
Candidate withdrew
Events
Watson announces resignation
Nominations from the PLP and EPLP close
Nominations from CLPs and affiliates open
Nominations from CLPs and affiliates close
Membership ballot opens
Membership ballot closes
Result announced
Khalid Mahmood (British politician)Angela RaynerIan Murray (Scottish politician)Dawn ButlerRichard BurgonRosena Allin-Khan

2019

November

December

2020

January

  • 6 January: Angela Rayner announces her candidacy
  • 7 January: Rosena Allin-Khan and Ian Murray announce their candidacies
  • 9 January: Mahmood withdraws
  • 13 January: MP/MEP nominations close, party announces that Allin-Khan, Burgon, Butler, Murray and Rayner all proceed to the next round
  • 15 January: Nominations from CLPs and affiliates open

February

  • 14 February: Nominations from CLPs and affiliates close
  • 24 February: Labour members receive postal ballots and online voting forms

April

  • 2 April: 12:00 – Voting closes
  • 4 April: Result of the votes announced at 10:45[42] and new Labour deputy leader announced

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Tom Watson stepped down as Deputy Leader on 12 December 2019.

References

  1. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  2. ^ Elgot, Jessica (10 July 2016). "Labour leadership contest: what are the rules?". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
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