The 1980 Labour Leadership Election
Following the party's defeat in the General Election, Labour Leader James Callaghan resolved that he would have to resign. However, he opted not to do so right away and advised the party that he would seek to lead the Opposition for around 18 months to oversee an orderly transition to a successor without the immediate aftermath of the election providing a distraction.
And so at the end of June 1980 Callaghan announced his resignation. Four candidates were nominated on the 1st and 2nd of July and Labour MPs voted in two ballots on 4 July and 7 July.
Following the party's defeat in the General Election, Labour Leader James Callaghan resolved that he would have to resign. However, he opted not to do so right away and advised the party that he would seek to lead the Opposition for around 18 months to oversee an orderly transition to a successor without the immediate aftermath of the election providing a distraction.
And so at the end of June 1980 Callaghan announced his resignation. Four candidates were nominated on the 1st and 2nd of July and Labour MPs voted in two ballots on 4 July and 7 July.