2007 Labour Party leadership election (UK)

The 2007 Labour Party leadership election was triggered on 10 May 2007 by incumbent leader Tony Blair's announcement that he would resign as leader on 27 June. At the same time that Blair resigned, John Prescott resigned as Deputy Leader, triggering a concurrent election for the deputy leadership.^[1]^[2]

Informal campaigning had been ongoing ever since Blair announced in 2004 that he would not be fighting a fourth general election as leader. Pressure for a timetable eventually led him to announce on 7 September 2006 that he would step down within a year.^[3] Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) met on 13 May 2007 to decide a timetable.^[4]^[5] Nominations opened on 14 May and closed at 12:30 UTC+1 on 17 May 2007.

Blair said he expected Gordon Brown to succeed him, and that Brown "would make an excellent Prime Minister". When nominations for the leadership elections opened, Blair was one of those nominating Brown.^[6] From the start, most observers considered Brown the overwhelming favourite to succeed Blair; John McDonnell, his only challenger, failed to secure enough nominations in order to get onto the ballot, and conceded defeat.^[7] Brown received 313 (88.2%) nominations to McDonnell's 29 (8.2%), making it mathematically impossible for anyone other than Brown to be nominated.

The election process concluded with Brown being declared leader at a special conference on 24 June 2007. On 27 June, Blair resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and was succeeded by Brown.^[8]

If Brown had been opposed, Labour Party members would for the first time have directly elected a new prime minister.

^ "Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry". BBC News. 28 September 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 28 September 2006.
^ "Prescott quits as Deputy Leader". BBC News Online. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2 June 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2007.
^ "I will quit within a year — Blair". BBC News Online. 7 September 2006. Archived from the original on 17 November 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2006.
^ "Labour leader election timetable". BBC News. 21 March 2007. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
^ "Blair will stand down on 27 June". BBC News. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2007.
^ "Labour leadership contest - Gordon Brown nominators". Labour Party. Archived from the original on 17 May 2007.
^ "Harman wins deputy leader contest". BBC News Online. 24 June 2007. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2007.
^ "Queen and Government". Website of the British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2007.

[1] "Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry". BBC News. 28 September 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 28 September 2006.

[2] "Prescott quits as Deputy Leader". BBC News Online. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2 June 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2007.

[3] "I will quit within a year — Blair". BBC News Online. 7 September 2006. Archived from the original on 17 November 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2006.

[4] "Labour leader election timetable". BBC News. 21 March 2007. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2007.

[5] "Blair will stand down on 27 June". BBC News. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2007.

[6] "Labour leadership contest - Gordon Brown nominators". Labour Party. Archived from the original on 17 May 2007.

[7] "Harman wins deputy leader contest". BBC News Online. 24 June 2007. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2007.

[8] "Queen and Government". Website of the British Monarchy. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2007.

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