1991 Labour Party (UK) Shadow Cabinet election

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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 (Neil Kinnock and Roy Hattersley, respectively) were members by virtue of those offices.

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.

In UK politics, the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) is the parliamentary party of the Labour Party in Parliament: Labour MPs as a collective body. Commentators on the British Constitution sometimes draw a distinction between the Labour Party and the Conservative and Liberal parties. The term Parliamentary Labour Party refers to the party in Parliament, whereas the term Labour Party refers to the entire Labour Party, the parliamentary element of which is the PLP.

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.

The election did not result in any changes to the Shadow Cabinet. [1]

RankCandidateConstituencyVotes [1]
1 Gordon Brown Dunfermline East 150
2 Robin Cook Livingston 149
3 John Smith Monklands East 141
4 Ann Clwyd Cynon Valley 137
5 Bryan Gould Dagenham 136
6† Margaret Beckett Derby South 134
6† Frank Dobson Holborn and St Pancras 134
8 Tony Blair Sedgefield 132
9 Ann Taylor Dewsbury 126
10† David Clark South Shields 122
10† Donald Dewar Glasgow Garscadden 122
12† Jack Cunningham Copeland 121
12† Gerald Kaufman Manchester Gorton 121
14 Jack Straw Blackburn 119
15† Michael Meacher Oldham West 118
15† John Prescott Kingston-upon-Hull East 118
17 Barry Jones Alyn and Deeside 113
18 Jo Richardson Barking 107
19 Martin O'Neill Clackmannan 88
20 Ron Davies Caerphilly 83
21 Joan Lestor Eccles 72
22 Llin Golding Newcastle-under-Lyme 61
23 Kevin McNamara Kingston-upon-Hull North 59
24 Gavin Strang Edinburgh East 50
25 George Robertson Hamilton 48
26† Harriet Harman Peckham 45
26† Clare Short Birmingham Ladywood 45
28 Tony Banks Newham North West 41
29 Mildred Gordon Bow and Poplar 40
30 Tony Benn Chesterfield 39
31 Dennis Canavan Falkirk West 35
32† Barry Sheerman Huddersfield 32
32† Chris Smith Islington South and Finsbury 32
34 Clive Soley Hammersmith 31
35 Bernie Grant Tottenham 30
36 Bob Cryer Bradford South 29
37 Tam Dalyell Linlithgow 26
38 Keith Vaz Leicester East 22

† Multiple candidates tied for position.

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References

  1. 1 2 Wintour, Patrick (24 October 1991). "Shadow team re-election gives boost to Kinnock". The Guardian.