WI: Alan Johnson, Labour Deputy Leader

In 2007, the UK Labour Party held a deputy leadership election to succeed John Prescott. Harriet Harman was the eventual winner with 50.43% of the vote, whilst Alan Johnson (the favourite to win) was second with 49.56% of the vote. It was extremely close between the two and could have, quite easily, gone to Johnson.

My question is - if less than 1% of the voters decided that Johnson would be more worth their second preference than Harman - what would have been the consequences for Labour going into the 2010 general election and after the inevitable loss?
 
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I don't think that even with Johnson as Deputy Leader it would have made a huge impact on Labour's prospect for the election; the party didn't seem likely to win given the economic downturn and the general public malaise with Brown at the time.

I think there might have been enough support, following Brown's resignation as leader, to see Johnson declare his own candidacy for the leadership especially whilst in the position of Acting Leader anyway.
 
It is more then likely that Johnson could win with Harriet Harman only having 65 nominations while Johnson had 73.

As Deputy Leader of the Labour party, Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal, I would like to think Brown might also raise him from Secretary for Health and place him in the Home Department.

As for the 2010 election, he would not change anything, with the general election resulting in a hung parliament, Johnson may be able to persuade Brown to leave earlier then May 10, Gordon Brown resigned as Leader of the Labour Party, meaning Johnson would be acting leader, this puts Johnson in a better position going into the 2010 Labour Party leadership election, because Alan Johnson, being a politician from working class background would make him more acceptable to the Labour voters.

With Johnson as Opposition leader, I believe he would be a stronger opponent to David Cameron, than what Edward Miliband was. And would a Johnson's Labour be able to win 2015?
 
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I'm honestly surprised that he wasn't a more serious candidate for leader. Old lefty and union leader who also backed Blair and the revision to Clause Four. Seems like he would have hit all the factions well. What am I missing?
 
He probably would not make all that much difference to 2010, and after that, I think that it might not change his decision not to stand to replace Brown. Let us remember, Harriet Harman was also frequently mooted as a possible leader, but she refused to run in 2010 when many wanted her too, despite her being deputy leader.
I'm honestly surprised that he wasn't a more serious candidate for leader. Old lefty and union leader who also backed Blair and the revision to Clause Four. Seems like he would have hit all the factions well. What am I missing?
It was not for lack of enthusiasm for him. He was seen as a serious contender for leader for quite a while as I remember. I think it was more because he lacked the willpower to give it a shot. Also his main chance was likely in 2010, and perhaps he thought that the presence of David Miliband, who was a very popular figure on the right of the party too, would prevent him from winning.
In 2015, I think there was a lot less speculation because he had been on the back benches for the best part of five years, and was getting on a bit, so he didnt have the appetite for it that time either. But there was still a bit of support for him, as I recall a Guardian editorial called on Labour to appoint him as interim leader for the next few years to unite the party while the inquest into the election defeat was ongoing.
 
Would 2010!Johnson do a 2015!Harman and resign as Deputy Leader while serving as Acting Leader? We know he's always been very reluctant to pursue the top spot and opposition is something he has a real dislike for.

Would a 2010 deputy leadership contest be on the cards?
 
Would 2010!Johnson do a 2015!Harman and resign as Deputy Leader while serving as Acting Leader? We know he's always been very reluctant to pursue the top spot and opposition is something he has a real dislike for.

Would a 2010 deputy leadership contest be on the cards?

I would say probably not, he certainly still had the appetite to serve on the frontline in 2010. Don't forget, he was Ed Miliband's shadow chancellor for a matter of months before he resigned over disputes about the 50p tax rate. More likely he would go in 2015 as Harman did, as I think that he is probably not going to stand at the next election.
 
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