Reid elected British PM

BBC News: Reid to challenge Brown for Labour Leadership
25th May 2007

BBC - It has emerged tonight that Home Secretary John Reid will challenge the Chancellor Gordon Brown for the Leadership of the Labour Party, as a Blairite candidate, to fill the vacancy being left by Tony Blair, who retires on the 27th June. The Home Secretary's decision was immediately backed by Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, former Deputy Leader and Acting Leader when John Smith died in 1994 and Environment Secretary David Miliband who himself was seen as a challenger to the Chancellor.

Prominent Brownite, Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said "Mr Reid is doing what he feels is right but many feel Gordon is right for the country"

No official comment has been made from Mr Reid yet.

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YouGov Poll
Taken: 27th May 2007
Sample: 5,000 Labour Party Members
"Who would you support to be the next Labour Leader"
Gordon Brown - 43%
John Reid - 36%
Other - 10%
Undecided - 11%

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The Guardian
24th June 2007
Campaign Re-Cap

Guardian: Today Labour members vote in a dead heat race for their next Leader. John Reid recieved a huge campaign boost during the early days of his campaign with tons of heavyweight endorsements from outgoing Deputy PM John Prescott, Margaret Beckett, the Miliband brothers, Deputy Leadership contenders Hilary Benn, Peter Hain and Hazel Blears, Alan Johnson and finally the ex Labour Leader Lord Kinnock.

While Mr Brown was backed by his core support, consisting of Jack Straw, Alistair Darling, Douglas Alexander, Des Browne, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper and Geoff Hoon. These influential figures rallied the Brownite support and so the race entered full swing.

Throughout early June, Mr Brown still held a narrow lead over Mr Reid but it was when the Cash for Peerages scandal surrounding Tony Blair saw the leaking of emails sent from Brown asking for full Prime Ministerial support from Blair and making sure that Blair had no-one challenge Brown in return for Brown allowing Blair to continue freely working in economic policy that saw the media tidal wave turn on Brown,

He was lambasted for being a bully and assuming the job was already his while the modest approach of Reid ensured that Brown lost his lead with only two weeks before the vote.

For those past two weeks, which saw Mr Reid be attacked for a Home Office scandal and Brown losing a key supporter in Denis Healey, the race has remained dead heat.

Tomorrow however, the country will have a new Prime Minister-elect.
 
Labour Leadership Results
24th June 2007

First Ballot:

Affiliated Members
Brown - 45%
Reid - 42%
Meacher - 8%
McDonnell - 5%

Constituencies
Brown - 41%
Reid - 47%
Meacher - 4%
McDonnell - 8%

Parliamentary Labour Party
Brown - 43%
Reid - 43%
Meacher - 7%
McDonnell - 6%

Final Result
Brown - 44%
Reid - 43%
Meacher - 6%
McDonnell - 7%

Michael Meacher is eliminated

Second Ballot:

Affiliated Members
Brown - 49%
Reid - 44%
McDonnell - 6%

Constituencies
Brown - 43%
Reid - 48%
McDonnell - 9%

Parliamentary Labour Party
Brown - 46%
Reid - 45%
McDonnell - 8%

Final Result
Brown - 48%
Reid - 47%
McDonnell - 5%

John McDonnell is eliminated

Third Ballot:

Affiliated Members
Brown - 52%
Reid - 48%

Constituencies
Brown - 45%
Reid - 55%

Parliamentary Labour Party
Brown - 50%
Reid - 50%

Final Result
Brown - 49.6%
Reid - 50.4%

John Reid elected Labour Leader

Analysis soon,
 
This would be a far better timeline for the UK Labour Party. Reid would be a superior candidate to Brown in terms of the common touch and affability. Should he have been elected, I have a funny feeling that Labour would be in a totally different mindset today.
 
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