2010 Labour Party leadership election (UK) explained

Election Name:	2010 Labour Party leadership election
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Turnout:	127,330 (71.7%)
Previous Election:	2007 Labour Party leadership election (UK)
Previous Year:	2007
Next Election:	2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)
Next Year:	2015
1Blank:	First round
2Blank:	Final round
Image1:	Ed Miliband election infobox.jpg
Image1 Size:	150x150px
Candidate1:	Ed Miliband
1Data1:	34.3%
2Data1:	50.7%
Image2 Size:	150x150px
Candidate2:	David Miliband
1Data2:	37.8%
2Data2:	49.3%
Image3:	Ed Balls 2.jpg
Image3 Size:	150x150px
Candidate3:	Ed Balls
1Data3:	11.8%
2Data3:	Eliminated
Image4:	Andy Burnham2.jpg
Image4 Size:	150x150px
Candidate4:	Andy Burnham
Colour4:	0
1Data4:	8.7%
2Data4:	Eliminated
Image5:	Diane Abbott, after New Statesman hustings, cropped 2.jpg
Image5 Size:	150x150px
Candidate5:	Diane Abbott
1Data5:	7.4%
2Data5:	Eliminated
Leader
Before Election:	Harriet Harman (interim) Gordon Brown
After Election:	Ed Miliband

The 2010 Labour Party leadership election was triggered on 10 May 2010 by incumbent leader Gordon Brown's resignation following the 2010 general election which resulted in a hung parliament; the first since 1974. Brown resigned as Leader of the Labour Party on 10 May and as Prime Minister on 11 May, following the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats forming a coalition government.^[1] The National Executive Committee decided the timetable for the election the result of which would be announced at the annual party conference.^{[2] [3]} On 25 September 2010, Ed Miliband became the new Leader of the Labour Party, narrowly defeating his older brother, David Miliband.^[4]

Procedure

The rules of the Labour Party stated in 2010 that "each nomination [for leader] must be supported by 12.5 per cent of the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party."^[5] As the number of Labour MPs was 257 (the 258 returned at the general election^[6] minus Eric Illsley, who had been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party)^[7] 33 MPs were needed to support any nomination. Nominations opened on 24 May and closed on 27 May,^[8] but the deadline was extended to 9 June after complaints from John McDonnell, Diane Abbott, and Ed Miliband that the short deadline had provided insufficient time to secure the 33 nominations from MPs needed for inclusion on the ballot.^[9] The ballot took place between 1 and 22 September, and the results were announced on the first day of the party's conference in Manchester, 25 September. There were three distinct electorates, the electors of which cast their votes on a "one member, one vote" basis in each applicable category:

1. Labour members of the House of Commons and the European Parliament
2. Individual members of the party
3. Individual members of affiliated organisations, such as trade unions and socialist societies

Each of the three electorates or sections contributed one third (33.33 per cent) of the total votes and were counted using the alternative vote system^[10] system. The election was run by the National Executive Committee, and the results were announced at the annual conference in September 2010.

Union recommendation controversy

Under Labour Party rules, trade unions were allowed to make recommendations to their members, but were barred from doing this in the same envelope that contained the ballot paper. During the election, it emerged that both the GMB and Unite had included both an envelope containing the ballot paper, and an envelope containing promotional material for Ed Miliband, their favoured candidate, in the same communication. Though the promotional material was in a different envelope from the ballot paper, this nevertheless attracted criticism that they had breached the spirit of the rules.^{[11] [12]}

Candidates

At a meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 May 2010, it was agreed that no one would announce their candidacy until after formal negotiations in regards to forming a government were resolved.^[13] The Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition on 11 May, and David Miliband became the first person to announce his candidacy the following day. A total of six candidates emerged by 20 May:

• Diane Abbott, announced 20 May^[14]
• Ed Balls, announced 19 May^[15]
• Andy Burnham, announced 20 May^[16]
• John McDonnell, announced 18 May;^[17] withdrew 9 June^[18]
• David Miliband, announced 12 May^[19]
• Ed Miliband, announced 14 May^[20]

On 9 June John McDonnell withdrew from the contest^[21] in favour of Diane Abbott,^[18] who eventually made the ballot paper.^[22]

Nominations

Candidates must receive nominations from at least 12.5 per cent of the 257 Parliamentary Labour Party members (33) to appear on the ballot. John McDonnell had 16 nominations when he withdrew on 9 June, in favour of Diane Abbott.^[23] The final nominations figures were as follows:^[24]

Candidate	Constituency	Nominations	Share
	Hackney North and Stoke Newington	33	12.84%
	Morley and Outwood	33	12.84%
	Leigh	33	12.84%
	South Shields	81	31.52%
	Doncaster North	63	24.51%

The number of MPs next to the candidate's name below includes the actual candidate too, as they counted as one of the 33 MPs needed (except for David Miliband, as he nominated Diane Abbott to ensure her appearance on the ballot). Public nominations for candidates by MPs were as follows:^[25]

• David Miliband (81): Bob Ainsworth, Douglas Alexander, Willie Bain, Gordon Banks, Hugh Bayley, Stuart Bell, Ben Bradshaw, Russell Brown, Richard Burden, Liam Byrne, David Cairns, Alan Campbell, Jenny Chapman, Ann Clwyd, Ann Coffey, Rosie Cooper, Mary Creagh, Stella Creasy, Alex Cunningham, Simon Danczuk, Alistair Darling, Gloria De Piero, Brian Donohoe, Gemma Doyle, Angela Eagle, Julie Elliott, Louise Ellman, Chris Evans, Jim Fitzpatrick, Caroline Flint, Paul Flynn, Mike Gapes, Barry Gardiner, Pat Glass, Mary Glindon, Fabian Hamilton, David Hanson, Tom Harris, Mark Hendrick, Margaret Hodge, George Howarth, Tristram Hunt, Alan Johnson, Tessa Jowell, Gerald Kaufman, Liz Kendall, Ivan Lewis, Michael McCann, Gregg McClymont, Siobhain McDonagh, Pat McFadden, Anne McGuire, Ian Mearns, Alun Michael, Jessica Morden, Meg Munn, Jim Murphy, Ian Murray, Pamela Nash, Fiona O'Donnell, Toby Perkins, Bridget Phillipson, Yasmin Qureshi, Nick Raynsford, Jamie Reed, Jonathan Reynolds, Frank Roy, Chris Ruane, Anas Sarwar, Virendra Sharma, Barry Sheerman, Angela Smith, Nick Smith, Peter Soulsby, Graham Stringer, Mark Tami, Gareth Thomas, Valerie Vaz, Phil Wilson, John Woodcock, Shaun Woodward
• Ed Miliband (63): Adrian Bailey, Margaret Beckett, Anne Begg, Hilary Benn, Luciana Berger, Roberta Blackman-Woods, Paul Blomfield, Karen Buck, Margaret Curran, Wayne David, Geraint Davies, John Denham, Frank Dobson, Jack Dromey, Maria Eagle, Clive Efford, Natascha Engel, Bill Esterson, Frank Field, Hywel Francis, Helen Goodman, Tom Greatrex, Lilian Greenwood, Peter Hain, David Hamilton, Jimmy Hood, Graham Jones, Susan Jones, Sadiq Khan, Ian Lavery, Mark Lazarowicz, Andy Love, Ian Lucas, Shabana Mahmood, John Mann, Gordon Marsden, Jim McGovern, Ann McKechin, Catherine McKinnell, Michael Meacher, Alan Meale, Madeleine Moon, Grahame Morris, Paul Murphy, Lisa Nandy, Sandra Osborne, Albert Owen, Stephen Pound, Rachel Reeves, Emma Reynolds, Lindsay Roy, Joan Ruddock, Alison Seabeck, Jim Sheridan, Andy Slaughter, Owen Smith, Emily Thornberry, Stephen Timms, Chuka Umunna, Alan Whitehead, Christopher Williamson, Rosie Winterton
• Ed Balls (33): David Anderson, Ian Austin, Tom Blenkinsop, Kevin Brennan, Lyn Brown, Vernon Coaker, Yvette Cooper, David Crausby, Jim Cunningham, Jim Dobbin, Mike Dugher, Andrew Gwynne, John Healey, Stephen Hepburn, Sharon Hodgson, Diana Johnson, Helen Jones, Eric Joyce, Barbara Keeley, Chris Leslie, Khalid Mahmood, Steve McCabe, Kerry McCarthy, Teresa Pearce, John Robertson, Geoffrey Robinson, Marsha Singh, Andrew Smith, John Spellar, Tom Watson, David Wright, Iain Wright
• Andy Burnham (33): Heidi Alexander, Kevin Barron, Joe Benton, Clive Betts, Hazel Blears, David Blunkett, Tom Clarke, Michael Connarty, Nic Dakin, Thomas Docherty, Frank Doran, Paul Farrelly, Rob Flello, Yvonne Fovargue, Paul Goggins, Kate Green, Julie Hilling, Lindsay Hoyle, Huw Irranca-Davies, Cathy Jamieson, Kevan Jones, Alan Keen, Alison McGovern, Andrew Miller, Austin Mitchell, Steve Rotheram, Gerry Sutcliffe, Karl Turner, Derek Twigg, Joan Walley, Dave Watts, Malcolm Wicks
• Diane Abbott (33): Rushanara Ali, Chris Bryant, Ronnie Campbell, Katy Clark, Jeremy Corbyn, Jon Cruddas, John Cryer, Ian Davidson, Sheila Gilmore, Nia Griffith, Harriet Harman, Meg Hillier, Kate Hoey, Kelvin Hopkins, Sian James, David Lammy, Tony Lloyd, Denis MacShane, Fiona MacTaggart, John McDonnell, George Mudie, Chi Onwurah, Linda Riordan, Gavin Shuker, Dennis Skinner, Jack Straw, Jon Trickett, Stephen Twigg, Keith Vaz, Mike Wood, Phil Woolas

Before dropping out of the race on 9 June 2010, John McDonnell had the following 16 nominations: Ronnie Campbell, Martin Caton, Katy Clark, Jeremy Corbyn, John Cryer, Ian Davidson, Jim Dowd, Frank Field, Dai Havard, Kate Hoey, Ian Lavery, Graeme Morrice, Linda Riordan, Dennis Skinner, Mike Wood^[26]

Notable Labour politicians who declined to stand

Some members of parliament were seen as potential candidates but decided against running:

• Hazel Blears^[27] – former Communities and Local Government Secretary; supported Andy Burnham
• Yvette Cooper^[28] – former Work and Pensions Secretary; supported her husband Ed Balls^[29]
• Jon Cruddas – backbencher who stood for Deputy Leader in 2007; he nominated Diane Abbott^[30] and supported David Miliband^[31]
• Alistair Darling – former Chancellor of the Exchequer; supported David Miliband^{[32] [33]}
• Peter Hain^[34] – former Wales Secretary, previously Northern Ireland and Work and Pensions Secretary; supported Ed Miliband^[34]
• Harriet Harman – acting leader following Gordon Brown's departure, former Leader of the House of Commons; neutral but nominated Diane Abbott^[35]
• Alan Johnson – former Home Secretary, previously Health Secretary and Education Secretary; supported David Miliband^[36]
• Jack Straw – former Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, previously Foreign and Home Secretary; nominated Diane Abbott^[37] and supported David Miliband^[38]

Televised debates

Title	Date	Moderator	Channel	Information
Newsnight	Tuesday 15 June; 22:30	Jeremy Paxman	BBC Two	As it happened: Newsnight Labour leader hustings
Channel 4 News	Wednesday 1 September; 19:00	Jon Snow	Channel 4	Labour leadership: live Channel 4 debate
Sky News	Sunday 5 September; 22:30	Adam Boulton	Sky News	Labour Leader Debate: Submit Your Question
Question Time	Thursday 16 September; 22:35	David Dimbleby	BBC One	Question Time Labour leadership special

Opinion polling

YouGov, 27–29 July 2010 1,102 eligible voters^[39]
Candidate	Members	Affiliates	PLP	Total
First Round
David Miliband	32%	34%	37%	37%
Ed Miliband	38%	26%	29%	29%
Diane Abbott	13%	17%	5%	12%
Andy Burnham	10%	13%	12%	12%
Ed Balls	7%	11%	11%	11%
Final Round
David Miliband	50%	44%	55%	54%
Ed Miliband	50%	56%	45%	46%

YouGov, 7–10 September 2010 1,011 eligible voters^[40]
Candidate	Members	Affiliates	PLP	Total
First Round
David Miliband	31%	29%	41%	36%
Ed Miliband	38%	36%	29%	32%
Andy Burnham	10%	14%	11%	12%
Ed Balls	9%	9%	14%	11%
Diane Abbott	11%	12%	4%	9%
Final Round
Ed Miliband	52%	57%	44%	51%
David Miliband	48%	43%	56%	49%

Results

Each of the three electorates or sections contributed one third (33.33 per cent) of the total votes and were counted using the Alternative Vote system^[10] system.^[41]

Overall result

First round

Candidate		MPs/MEPs (33.3%)		Labour Party members (33.3%)		Affiliated members (33.3%)		Overall result
		Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	%
	David Miliband	111	41.7	55,905	44.1	58,189	27.5	37.8
	Ed Miliband	84	31.6	37,980	29.9	87,585	41.5	34.3
	Ed Balls	40	15.0	12,831	10.1	21,618	10.2	11.8
	Andy Burnham	24	9.0	10,844	8.5	17,904	8.5	8.7
		7	2.6	9,314	7.3	25,938	12.3	7.4

The combined total of first-round votes for Balls, Burnham, and Abbott (27.89%) was less than Ed Miliband's vote (34.33%). Thus, it was certain after the first round that Balls, Burnham, and Abbott would all be eliminated.

Second round

Candidate		MPs/MEPs (33.3%)		Labour Party members (33.3%)		Affiliated members (33.3%)		Overall result
		Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	%
	David Miliband	111	42.0	57,128	45.2	61,336	29.4	38.9
	Ed Miliband	88	33.3	42,176	33.4	95,335	45.7	37.5
	Ed Balls	41	15.5	14,510	11.5	26,441	12.7	13.2
		24	9.1	12,498	9.9	25,528	12.2	10.4

Third round

Candidate		MPs/MEPs (33.3%)		Labour Party members (33.3%)		Affiliated members (33.3%)		Overall result
		Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	%
	David Miliband	125	47.3	60,375	48.2	66,889	32.6	42.7
	Ed Miliband	96	36.4	46,697	37.3	102,882	50.1	41.3
		43	16.3	18,114	14.5	35,512	17.3	16.0

Fourth round

Candidate		MPs/MEPs (33.3%)		Labour Party members (33.3%)		Affiliated members (33.3%)		Overall result
		Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	%
	Ed Miliband	122	46.6	55,992	45.6	119,405	59.8	50.7
	David Miliband	140	53.4	66,814	54.4	80,266	40.2	49.3

Turnout in the members section was 71.7%, with 127,330 votes cast of the 177,558 ballots distributed. Amongst affiliated members, turnout was 9.0%, whilst amongst MPs/MEPs turnout was 98.5%.^[41]

Labour MPs and MEPs

MP	First Choice	Second Choice	Third Choice	Fourth Choice	Fifth Choice
	Diane Abbott	None	None	None	None
					Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
Ed Balls	Ed Balls	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	None
	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None	None
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None	None
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	None
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	None	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	None
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None
Andy Burnham	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None	None
	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott	Ed Balls	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Diane Abbott	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	David Miliband
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	None	None	None	None
	Diane Abbott	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott	Andy Burnham
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
Geraint Davies	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott	Andy Burnham
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	None	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott	Ed Balls
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	None	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	None	None	None
	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	None	None
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Diane Abbott
	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Diane Abbott	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	David Miliband
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott	Ed Balls
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Diane Abbott	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham
	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	None	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott	David Miliband	Andy Burnham
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Diane Abbott	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
David Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
Ed Miliband	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None	None
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott	Andy Burnham
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott	David Miliband
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Diane Abbott	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Balls	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Balls	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Diane Abbott	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	David Miliband	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None	None
	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	None	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	Diane Abbott	None
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott	Andy Burnham
	David Miliband	Diane Abbott	Ed Miliband	None	None
	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Diane Abbott
	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Diane Abbott	David Miliband
	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	None	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Balls	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	Ed Miliband	David Miliband	None	None	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	None	None	None
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Diane Abbott	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None	None
	David Miliband	Andy Burnham	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	None
	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	Diane Abbott
	David Miliband	None	None	None	None
	Ed Balls	David Miliband	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	None
	Ed Balls	Ed Miliband	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Diane Abbott

^[42]

Constituency Labour Parties

The map below shows the results of the Constituency Labour Parties first round preferences in the leadership election by constituency, before votes were transferred due to eliminations. David Miliband took the most constituencies, winning 577 in total. He was followed by Ed Miliband who took sixty-seven constituencies. Andy Burnham won eight seats, all in north-west England, Ed Balls took two constituencies (his own, Morley & Outwood, and that of his wife, Yvette Cooper, Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford), and Diane Abbott won no constituencies. All ties with the exception of Wigan (Burnham and David Miliband) were between David and Ed Miliband. Northern Ireland was counted as one constituency.^[43]

Trade Unions and Socialist Societies

Name	Diane Abbott	Ed Balls	Andy Burnham	David Miliband	Ed Miliband
	align=center	1,791	228	246	626	665
	588	194	210	align=center	715	697
	178	152	154	align=center	484	231
	205	184	151	align=center	1,292	332
	1,786	align=center	7,101	1,417	3,370	2,047
	3,213	2,548	3,119	9,746	align=center	18,128
	align=center	925	221	210	805	865
	898	285	296	align=center	923	544
	177	185	229	630	align=center	2,471
	2,910	2,141	2,343	6,665	align=center	9,652
	11,129	6,995	7,993	21,778	align=center	47,439
	1,279	788	881	align=center	8,264	1,661
	20	4	2	align=center	200	29
	79	57	80	194	align=center	279
	308	313	281	align=center	1,461	1,321
LHG	16	15	16	33	align=center	41
	5	4	2	11	align=center	20
	11	5	2	align=center	20	16
	117	86	116	align=center	402	379
	55	17	29	align=center	193	136
	9	5	10	21	align=center	24
	77	22	32	86	align=center	209
	57	28	28	63	align=center	138
	75	26	36	87	align=center	172
Labour Lawyers	25	14	15	align=center	83	66
	5	0	6	align=center	37	24

Turnout in the affiliates section was 9.0%, with 247,339 votes cast of the 2,747,030 ballots distributed.^[44]

See also

• 2007 Labour Party leadership election (UK)
• 2007 Labour Party deputy leadership election
• Labour Party Rule Book

External links

News

• Factbox – Rules governing Labour leadership elections Reuters, 10 May 2010
• Labour party leadership The Guardian

Party websites

• Labour Party
• Labour Party Rule Book 2008 (PDF)

Candidates' leadership campaign websites

• Diane Abbott: Diane 4 Leader – Turn the page, change the party
• Andy Burnham – Re-connecting Labour
• Ed Balls for Labour Leader
• David Miliband – Bringing Labour together leading Labour to power
• Ed Miliband for Labour Leader

Notes and References

1. News: Gordon Brown 'stepping down as Labour leader'. BBC News. 10 May 2010. 10 May 2010. 26 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180926035322/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8672859.stm. live.
2. Web site: PLP nominations period for Leadership Election to close on 9 June. 20 May 2010. Labour Party. 23 May 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110102175929/http://www2.labour.org.uk/plp-nominations-period-for-leadership-election-to-close-on-9-jun,2010-05-20. 2 January 2011.
3. News: New Labour leader to be elected at September conference. BBC News. 18 May 2010. 18 May 2010. 22 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190822060733/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8688959.stm. live.
4. News: Ed Miliband is elected leader of the Labour Party. BBC News. 25 September 2010. 20 June 2018. 26 September 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100926044003/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11412031. live.
5. Book: The Labour Party Rule Book 2008 . Chris Lennie . The Labour Party . 2008 . 24–25 . 4 . http://www.savethelabourparty.org/labourpartyrulebook2008.pdf . 10 May 2010 . dead . https://www.webcitation.org/5qE9F8kuo?url=http://www.savethelabourparty.org/labourpartyrulebook2008.pdf . 4 June 2010 .
6. News: Election 2010 . BBC News . 7 May 2010 . 10 May 2010 . 11 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120311112449/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/default.stm . live .
7. News: Labour MP charged over expenses . 19 May 2010 . 24 May 2010 . BBC News . 23 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100523175812/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8691861.stm . live .
8. Web site: Labour's NEC agrees timetable for the election of next Leader of the Labour Party. 18 May 2010. Labour Party. 23 May 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110102180004/http://www2.labour.org.uk/labours-nec-agrees-timetable-for-the-election-of-next-leader-of-,2010-05-18. 2 January 2011.
9. News: Labour extends leadership race deadline. BBC News. 20 May 2010. 20 May 2010. 19 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211019175652/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8695225.stm. live.
10. "Leadership elections: Labour party". Kelly, R., Lester, P., & Durkin, M. (2010). House of Commons Library Note, 6, pg. 12. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
11. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/sep/24/ed-miliband-union-gmb-labour-leadership Ed Miliband union backers accused over Labour ballot mail-out
12. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/unite-union-ignored-rules-in-endorsing-ed-miliband-2075409.html Unite union 'ignored rules in endorsing Ed Miliband'
13. News: David Miliband and Ed Balls set to launch Labour leadership bids . The Guardian . Curtis . Polly . 10 May 2010 . 10 May 2010 . London . 6 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306182523/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/10/labour-david-miliband-ed-balls . live .
14. News: Diane Abbott enters Labour leadership contest . BBC News . 20 May 2010 . 20 May 2010 . 19 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019175654/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8693687.stm . live .
15. News: Ed Balls announces he will stand for Labour leader . BBC News . 19 May 2010 . 20 May 2010 . 19 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019175654/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8690947.stm . live .
16. News: Andy Burnham enters Labour leadership contest . BBC News . 20 May 2010 . 20 May 2010 . 19 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019175704/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8692850.stm . live .
17. News: Labour leadership race discredited, says MP McDonnell . 18 May 2010 . 18 May 2010 . BBC News . 21 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100521073305/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8690259.stm . live .
18. News: Hélène Mulholland and Allegra Stratton . John McDonnell withdraws from Labour leadership race in favour of Diane Abbott . The Guardian . 9 June 2010 . 23 June 2010 . London . 12 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151012045036/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/jun/09/john-mcdonnell-withdraws-labour-leadership-race . live .
19. News: Allegra Stratton, political correspondent . David Miliband announces Labour leadership bid . The Guardian . 12 May 2010 . 20 May 2010 . London . 13 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100513035441/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/may/12/labourleadership-labour . live .
20. News: Ed Miliband to take on brother David in leader battle . 14 May 2010 . 14 May 2010 . BBC News . 18 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100518061946/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8684063.stm . live .
21. News: John McDonnell withdraws from Labour leadership race. The Independent. 9 June 2010. London. Andrew. Woodcock. 22 August 2017. 20 May 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170520225151/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/john-mcdonnell-withdraws-from-labour-leadership-race-1995311.html. live.
22. News: Diane Abbott makes it on to Labour leadership ballot. The Guardian. 9 June 2010. London. Helene. Mulholland. 15 December 2016. 5 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170405073853/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/jun/09/diane-abbott-makes-it-on-to-labour-leadership-ballot. live.
23. News: John McDonnell withdraws from Labour leadership race . BBC News . 9 June 2010 . 23 June 2010 . 19 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019175657/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10271228 . live .
24. Web site: Diane Abbott Joins 'Open' Labour Leader Race . Sky News . 9 June 2010 . 26 September 2010 . 19 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019175655/https://news.sky.com/?f=rss . live .
25. Web site: Labour Leadership Election 2010 - Information & Candidates - The Labour Party . 2010-06-09 . 2016-07-16 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20100609135124/http://www2.labour.org.uk/leadership-2010 . 9 June 2010 .
26. Web site: Eaton . George . Labour leadership: who's nominated who . Newstatesman.com . 2010-05-25 . 2016-07-16 . 6 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150706011445/http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2010/05/south-jim-north-west-east . live .
27. News: Whelan and Blears on Labour leadership . BBC News . 12 May 2010 . 24 April 2013 . 25 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210225071205/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8677548.stm . live .
28. News: Labour leadership contest: Runners and riders. BBC News. 26 May 2010. 31 May 2010. 19 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211019175707/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10697651. live.
29. Web site: 2010 Labour leadership election-Ed Balls. Labour Party. 24 June 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100618105854/http://www2.labour.org.uk/leadership-Ed-Balls/. 18 June 2010.
30. Web site: Jon Cruddas backs Diane Abbott for Labour leader. https://archive.today/20120719003542/http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/27000/20100605/jon-cruddas-backs-diane-abbott-for-labour-leader.htm. dead. 19 July 2012. 5 June 2010. 8 June 2010. International Business Times.
31. Web site: Exclusive: Jon Cruddas endorses David Miliband. 25 August 2010. 26 August 2010. New Statesman. Jason. Cowley. 28 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100828082658/http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/08/labour-cruddas-david. live.
32. News: David Miliband wins backing of Alistair Darling in Labour leadership race. The Guardian. 1 June 2010. 24 June 2010. Allegra. Stratton. London. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305123019/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/jun/01/david-miliband-backing-alistair-darling-labour-leadership. live.
33. News: Alistair Darling backs David Miliband for Labour leadership. 1 June 2010. 8 June 2010. The Guardian. Patrick. Wintour. Patrick Wintour. London. 7 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307235920/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/jun/01/alistair-darling-david-miliband-labour. live.
34. News: David Miliband hails 'next Labour' as he opens leadership bid . Times Online . 17 May 2010 . Judith . Evans . London . 17 May 2010 . 19 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019175656/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ . dead .
35. News: Harriet Harman nominates Diane Abbott for Labour leadership. The Independent. 8 June 2010. Andrew. Woodcock. London. 22 August 2017. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305153248/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/harriet-harman-nominates-diane-abbott-for-labour-leadership-1994633.html. live.
36. News: Alan Johnson backs David Miliband for Labour leadership. https://web.archive.org/web/20100516232245/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7713705/Alan-Johnson-backs-David-Miliband-for-Labour-leadership.html. dead. 16 May 2010. 12 May 2010. 8 June 2010. The Daily Telegraph. London.
37. Web site: 2010 Labour leadership election-Diane Abbott. Labour Party. 24 June 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100618094821/http://www2.labour.org.uk/leadership-Diane-Abbott/. 18 June 2010.
38. News: Straw backs Miliband in leadership race. 12 August 2010. 12 August 2010. The Independent. Lewis. Smith. London. 16 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100816023801/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/straw-backs-miliband-in-leadership-race-2050307.html. live.
39. http://today.yougov.co.uk/sites/today.yougov.co.uk/files/YG-Pol-Sun-LabSummaryUPDATED-290710.pdf YouGov survey
40. http://today.yougov.co.uk/politics/neck-and-neck Neck and neck
41. Web site: LABOUR PARTY LEADERSHIP ELECTIONS 1922-2016 . Tom Quinn, Senior Lecturer in Government, University of Essex . 21 September 2017 . 1 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170201234044/http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~tquinn/labour_party.htm . live .
42. Web site: Votes by MPs and MEPs . Labour Party . https://web.archive.org/web/20110101171158/http://www2.labour.org.uk/leadership-mps-and-meps . 1 January 2011.
43. Web site: Votes by CLP . Labour Party . https://web.archive.org/web/20100928083753/http://www2.labour.org.uk/leadership-clps . 28 September 2010.
44. Web site: Votes by Affiliated Members . Labour Party . 13 September 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150630164450/http://archive.labour.org.uk/leadership-affiliates . 30 June 2015.