Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1976

Labour Party (UK) leadership election

← 1963 25 March 1976 (1976-03-25) – 5 April 1976 (1976-04-05) 1980 →
Candidate James Callaghan Michael Foot Roy Jenkins 1st Ballot 84 90 56 Percentage 26.8% 28.7% 17.8% Final Ballot 176 137 Withdrew Percentage 56.2% 43.8% Withdrew   Candidate Tony Benn Denis Healey Anthony Crosland 1st Ballot 37 30 17 Percentage 11.8% 9.6% 5.3% Final Ballot Withdrew Eliminated Eliminated Percentage Withdrew Eliminated Eliminated
Leader before election Harold Wilson Elected Leader James Callaghan

Harold Wilson

James Callaghan

The Labour Party leadership election of 1976 occurred when former leader Harold Wilson resigned as Party Leader and Prime Minister. To date, it is the only occasion the Labour Party has had a leadership election with more than one candidate whilst in government.

In the first ballot, held on 25 March, six candidates vied for the leadership:

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.

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.

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

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