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What if things had gone differently?
‘Saw Denis Healey doing the rounds of Leeds East this morning. Surprised he was taking time out of the leadership campaign. He recognised me from the do three months ago and we had a brief chat about a joke we’d shared there – something about how many Tories it takes to change a lightbulb – and he told me a line he was thinking of using on the Manifesto Group tomorrow. He wants to tell them they’d better back him, because they’ve got ‘nowhere else to go’. I told him I didn’t think it was a good idea – a bit too confrontational, and you know what these groups can be like…’
- Fabian Hamilton, Diaries 1978-87
‘Healey came to the meeting today, as expected. Was on his best behaviour. Reminded us all that unless we want to consign ourselves to oblivion along with the Trots and Pinkos in the Foot camp, the only sensible way forward is his. Made some very sensible points about policy and didn’t take us for granted like we expected. After he left, we voted on whether to support him. The meeting adjourned after a thoroughly interesting result…’
- Mike Thomas, Found in the Ether: Rediscovered Diaries and Memos from Parliamentary Offices
‘I can remember the atmosphere as the returning officer motioned for silence. Denis and Michael had looks of intensity on their faces like I’d never seen before. Even Jim looked on-tilt, his knuckles white as he gripped the handrail in front of him. You could have cut the tension with a knife – I think whoever won that day knew they were going to inherit a party of which at least half had just spent a good few months talking them down in the tea rooms. All the same, it was tremendously exciting stuff.’
- Gerald Kaufman, speaking to Jon Snow in 2009
‘It’s on, [inaudible] – yes. Right. I’ve just got back from the vote. Bloody hell.’
- Tony Benn, The Benn Tapes: Volume I
Results of the Labour Party leadership election run-off, 4 November 1980
Denis Healey: 136 (50.7%)
Michael Foot: 132 (49.3%)