1985 Labour Party (UK) Shadow Cabinet election

Last updated

The results of elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet (more formally, its "Parliamentary Committee") were announced on 30 October 1985. [1] In addition to the 15 members elected, the Leader (Neil Kinnock), Deputy Leader (Roy Hattersley), Labour Chief Whip (Derek Foster), Labour Leader in the House of Lords (Cledwyn Hughes), and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party (Jack Dormand) were automatically members.

The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists. The party's platform emphasises greater state intervention, social justice and strengthening workers' rights.

Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom) Opposition cabinet of the United Kingdom

The Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet is, in British parliamentary practice, senior members of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition who scrutinise their corresponding Government ministers, develop alternative policies, and hold the Government to account for its actions and responses. Since May 2010, the Labour Party has been Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, and its leadership therefore forms the current Shadow Cabinet.

Neil Kinnock British politician

Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock, is a British Labour Party politician. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995, first for Bedwellty and then for Islwyn. He was the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1983 until 1992.

As a result of the election, Gwyneth Dunwoody lost her place in the cabinet. Hughes and Dobson tied for 15th place, so a run-off election was conducted, in which Hughes beat Dobson by 102 votes to 75. [1]

Gwyneth Dunwoody Longest ever serving female Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Gwyneth Patricia Dunwoody was a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Exeter from 1966 to 1970, and then for Crewe from February 1974 to her death in 2008. She was a moderate socialist had a reputation as a fiercely independent parliamentarian, described as "intelligent, obstinate, opinionated and hard-working".

Rank
Prior
rank
Candidate
Constituency
Votes
11 Gerald Kaufman Manchester Gorton 122
23= Stanley Orme Salford East 115
3=2 Denis Healey Leeds East 112
3=8= John Prescott Hull East 112
515 Robin Cook Livingston 106
66 Peter Shore Bethnal Green and Stepney 100
75 John Smith Monklands East 99
812= Giles Radice North Durham 98
93= Jack Cunningham Copeland 95
10=7 Peter Archer Warley West 94
10=8= Barry Jones Alyn and Deeside 94
1211 Michael Meacher Oldham West 93
1312= Denzil Davies Llanelli 90
1414 Donald Dewar Glasgow Garscadden 88
15= Robert Hughes Aberdeen North 87
15= Frank Dobson Holborn and St Pancras 87
17 David Clark South Shields 80
18 Brynmor John Pontypridd 76
19 Jo Richardson Barking 71
20= Tam Dalyell Linlithgow 70
20=10 Gwyneth Dunwoody Crewe and Nantwich 70
20= Gavin Strang Edinburgh East 70
23 Tony Benn Chesterfield 63

Footnotes

Notes
    References
    1. 1 2 Keesing's Contemporary Archives, Volume 32

    Related Research Articles

    Frank Dobson British politician

    Frank Gordon Dobson is a British Labour Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Holborn and St. Pancras from 1979 to 2015. He served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Health from 1997 to 1999, and was the official Labour Party candidate for Mayor of London in 2000, ultimately finishing third in the election, behind Conservative Steven Norris and the winner, Labour-turned-Independent Ken Livingstone. Dobson stood down at the 2015 general election.

    2007 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election

    The 2007 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council in West Yorkshire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Labour party kept overall control of the council.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet took place in July 1992. Shadow Cabinet elections generally take place at the beginning of a parliamentary session, but the 1992 vote was postponed until a new leader was elected to replace Neil Kinnock. Under the rules then in effect, the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party elected 18 members of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, who were then assigned portfolios by the leader. The Commons members of the PLP separately elected the Chief Whip, and the Labour peers elected the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords. In addition, the Leader of the Labour Party and Deputy Leader were members by virtue of those offices. The 18 elected members of the Shadow Cabinet were the ones with the largest number of votes, except that the three women with the most votes would be included in the 18, even if they weren't among the top 18 based on the number of votes.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet took place in October 1993, at the beginning of the 1993/4 session of parliament. Under the rules then in effect, the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party elected 18 members of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, who were then assigned portfolios by the leader. The Commons members of the PLP separately elected the Chief Whip, and the Labour peers elected the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords. In addition, the Leader of the Labour Party and Deputy Leader were members by virtue of those offices. The 18 elected members of the Shadow Cabinet were the ones with the largest number of votes. Beginning with this election, MPs were required to vote for at least four women, but women were no longer guaranteed three places in the Shadow Cabinet.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet took place in October 1994, at the beginning of the 1994/5 session of parliament. Under the rules then in effect, the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party elected 18 members of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, who were then assigned portfolios by the leader. The Commons members of the PLP separately elected the Chief Whip, and the Labour peers elected the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords. In addition, the Leader of the Labour Party and Deputy Leader were members by virtue of those offices. The 18 elected members of the Shadow Cabinet were the ones with the largest number of votes. MPs were required to vote for at least four women, but women were not necessarily guaranteed places in the Shadow Cabinet.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet took place in July 1996. Under the rules then in effect, the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party elected 19 members of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, who were then assigned portfolios by the leader. The Labour peers elected the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords. In addition, the Leader of the Labour Party and Deputy Leader were members by virtue of those offices. The 19 elected members of the Shadow Cabinet were the ones with the largest number of votes. MPs were required to vote for at least four women, but women were not necessarily guaranteed places in the Shadow Cabinet.

    Shadow Cabinet of Neil Kinnock

    Neil Kinnock was Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 2 October 1983 to 18 July 1992. He convincingly defeated Roy Hattersley, Eric Heffer, and Peter Shore in the 1983 leadership election, which was prompted by Michael Foot's resignation following the disastrous general election result earlier that year. Kinnock's period as Leader encompassed the bulk of the Thatcher years and the first two years of Major premiership. Kinnock resigned in 1992 after losing his second election as Leader.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet took place on 19 November 1981. There were 15 posts, rather than 12 as in previous years. In addition to the 15 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party were automatically members.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet took place on 18 November 1982. In addition to the 15 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party were automatically members.

    The results of elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet were announced on 26 October 1984. In addition to the 15 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party were automatically members.

    The annual election to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet was conducted in October 1986. In addition to the 16 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party were automatically members.

    The annual election to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet was conducted in 1987. In addition to the 16 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party were automatically members.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet took place on 24 October 1990. Under the rules then in effect, the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party elected 18 members of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, who were then assigned portfolios by the leader. The Commons members of the PLP separately elected the Chief Whip, and the Labour peers elected the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords. In addition, the Leader of the Labour Party and Deputy Leader were members by virtue of those offices.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet took place on 23 October 1991. Under the rules then in effect, the Commons members of the Parliamentary Labour Party elected 18 members of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet, who were then assigned portfolios by the leader. The Commons members of the PLP separately elected the Chief Whip, and the Labour peers elected the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords. In addition, the Leader of the Labour Party and Deputy Leader were members by virtue of those offices.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1958. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Labour Chief Whip in the House of Lords were automatically members.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1956. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords were automatically members.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1988. In addition to the 15 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party were automatically members.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1989. For these elections the Shadow Cabinet was expanded from 15 to 18 seats and, for the first time, MPs had to cast at least three votes for women.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in November 1972. In addition to the 12 members elected, the Leader, Deputy Leader, Labour Chief Whip, Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Labour Leader in the House of Lords, and Labour Chief Whip in the Lords were automatically members. The Labour Lords elected one further member, Baron Champion.

    Elections to the Labour Party's Shadow Cabinet occurred in July 1970, following the party's defeat in the 1970 UK general election.

    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.