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Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1992

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18 July 1992 (1992-07-18)
  
1994 →

29.4%
  
0.6%

91.1%
  
9.0%

38.5%
  
1.5%

23.1%
  
6.9%

The Labour Party leadership election of 1992 followed the Labour Party's failure to win the 1992 general election and the subsequent resignation of party leader Neil Kinnock.

Contents

There were only two candidates in the election, with John Smith always the clear favourite to win. The ballot took place on 18 July 1992. Affiliated organisations had 40% of the vote, while Constituency Labour Parties and the Parliamentary Labour Party had 30% each in the electoral college. Gordon Brown and Robin Cook were both seen as potential candidates, but did not stand.

Candidates

  • Bryan Gould, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Member of Parliament for Dagenham
  • John Smith, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Member of Parliament for Monklands East
  • Result

    John Smith was elected leader of the Labour Party with a clear majority.

    Shortly after Black Wednesday in September 1992, Labour's lead in the opinion polls began to rise. By the time of his sudden death, Smith was widely predicted and expected to become prime minister at the next general election.

    In the event, he would only serve two years before his death, which precipitated another leadership election.

    References

    Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1992 Wikipedia