Primus Inter Pares - 1994 Labour Leadership Election
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  Primus Inter Pares - 1994 Labour Leadership Election
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Poll
Question: Who should be the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party?
#1
Tony Blair
#2
Margaret Beckett
#3
Gordon Brown
#4
John Prescott
#5
DEPUTY: John Prescott
#6
DEPUTY: Margaret Beckett
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Partisan results


Author Topic: Primus Inter Pares - 1994 Labour Leadership Election  (Read 1269 times)
Lumine
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« on: February 21, 2017, 12:00:14 PM »
« edited: February 21, 2017, 08:23:03 PM by Lumine »


May 1994 - John Smith, the Prime Minister that never was

Following the shock of watching victory come so close only to taste defeat in the 1992 General Election the Labour Party was in conflict with itself. If they couldn't win in 1992, when would they be able to? To their surprise, they found immediate hope in the collapse of Conservative support after Black Wednesday and the increasing lack of control by John Major over his party, allowing new leader John Smith to capitalize. A cautious man, Smith balanced the approaches of both modernizers and the old guard, doing his best not to introduce changes in the party with a "one more heave" strategy which assumed the Conservatives would collapse under their own mistakes in the next General Election.

Despite the criticism by some circles that this brought (particularly amongst the modernizing wing), Smith was a beloved leader, and his unexpected death by a heart attack in May 1994 stunned the nation and left Labour without a popular and respected leader. Her Deputy, Margaret Beckett, would preside over the upcoming leadership contest as new candidates prepared their own bids. Some, like Robin Cook, chose not to stand in the belief that Labour needed a leader with huge electoral support, while others agonized over their decision. Particularly crucial was the debate inside the modernizers, with Gordon Brown and Tony Blair both planning to stand.

While an attempted meeting at a restaurant was close to hammering a deal between both contenders, disagreements over the role of the one who would step down proved unsolvable. Both Brown and Blair announced their own bids, followed by Deputy Leader Margaret Beckett and John Prescott (both of whom are also running for Deputy Leader again).

The Candidates:

Tony Blair: Shadow Home Secretary and the popular champion of the Labour modernizers, Blair (backed by the polls) runs with the argument that Labour must move to the center and re-brand itself in order to finally win a general election, running away from the "socialist" label and repealing historic Labour guidelines such as Clause IV (which supports the nationalization of industry). Young and charismatic, with his trademark Cheshire cat grin, some of his supporters have described his vision that of "New Labour", a more center-left party capable of appealing to more voters across the middle and working class.

Gordon Brown: The Shadow Chancellor and the other modernizing candidate on the race, Brown lacks Blair's charisma, but has far more experience and a reputation as an intellectual. Seen as the "lesser of two evils" by those finding a modernizing victory inevitable, Brown also believes in the need of the Labour Party to move towards the center, while retaining more sympathy than Blair with the historical traditions of Labour. One of the main contentions of his campaign is economic policy, with Brown aiming for a more fiscally responsible policy by refusing to support major spending increases.

John Prescott: The brazen and charismatic Shadow Employment Secretary, Prescott used to be a trade union activist, often presented as one of Labour's links with the working class. Famous for his gaffes and unusual delivery, Prescott runs as a champion of the traditionalist Labour soft-left, critical of the modernization efforts of Blair and Brown and supporting policies such as nationalization of the railways and the prison system. He is also the candidate most supported by the trade unions in the leadership contest.

Margaret Beckett: Smith's Deputy Leader, Beckett was once a hard-left Bennite in the late 70's and early 80's, gradually moving towards a more centrist position by supporting Kinnock and later Smith. Beckett is hoping to portray herself as a unity candidate, taking a turn to the left by promising to scrap Conservative trade union legislation and nationalize the water industry (among other pledges) to undercut Prescott. Beckett also opposes the modernization efforts of Blair and Brown, pledging to oppose party reforms until after the next Election. Prominent hard-left MP's like Dennis Skinner and Ken Livingstone have supporter her bid.

You have two days to vote, the two candidates with the most votes go to a final round if no one garners a majority on this ballot. Prescott and Beckett also run for Deputy Leader.
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White Trash
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« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2017, 12:50:19 PM »

Brown/Beckett
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Kingpoleon
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« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2017, 01:37:27 PM »

Blair/Prescott.

Could we have a LD Deputy leadership election?
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Lumine
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« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2017, 03:09:17 PM »

Blair/Prescott.

Could we have a LD Deputy leadership election?

No, I think that would be going too far (and LD Deputy Leadership elections only started in 2003). We might have Lib Dem leadership elections when Paddy Ashdown stands down.
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DavidB.
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« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2017, 03:11:16 PM »

Blair/Prescott
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Maxwell
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« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2017, 03:40:53 PM »

Prescott (or at least Never Blair)
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Kingpoleon
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« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2017, 04:58:03 PM »

Blair/Prescott.

Could we have a LD Deputy leadership election?

No, I think that would be going too far (and LD Deputy Leadership elections only started in 2003). We might have Lib Dem leadership elections when Paddy Ashdown stands down.

Officially there is no such position. I was simply suggesting it as a butterfly.
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President Punxsutawney Phil
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« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2017, 05:46:29 PM »

Prescott/Beckett
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Blair
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« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2017, 06:13:03 PM »

Interesting Scenario- I've never seen a roadmap of a 1994 election with both Brown and Blair, but the assumption is that Brown would probably win. The weird nature of the old Labour election system for leader divided up the section into three colleges- Trade Union/Members/MPs. Unless Blair could get more than 50% in the first round, the number of 2nd and 3rd preferences going to Brown would most likely sink Blair. Although Blair's asset was his support from the Shadow Cabinet/Media, meaning that Brown would be denied a base to run from

Basically 1994 could end up a lot like 2010- the least divisive candidate would win.

Answer wise- naturally Blair/Prescott. 
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Intell
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« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2017, 06:55:22 PM »


This result is despicable, with Blair winning. Right-wing hijack, of a labour party. Sad
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President Punxsutawney Phil
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« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2017, 06:57:29 PM »
« Edited: February 21, 2017, 06:59:37 PM by TimTurner »


This result is despicable, with Blair winning. Right-wing hijack, of a labour party. Sad
Well certainly it's not looking good. I mean it's not necessary.
I'm not of the opinion that the Third Wayism of Tony Blair was all bad. But it wasn't the sole path to power for Labour like he said.
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Intell
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« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2017, 07:15:40 PM »


The man behind bigotgate then?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zefc_LwTVo&t=14s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gWmjifEA2U
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« Reply #12 on: February 21, 2017, 07:45:55 PM »

Hadn't actually heard about that. I'm just voting for the union's choice.
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Cassius
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« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2017, 07:53:55 PM »

Two Shags of course
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Intell
Junior Chimp
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« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2017, 08:19:17 PM »


So Prescott?
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White Trash
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« Reply #15 on: February 21, 2017, 08:27:07 PM »

I re-read the descriptions again. Why tf did I say Brown? I think I meant Prescott and got the two mixed up. Due to the color scheme I can't tell if I voted for Prescott or Brown.
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Antonio the Sixth
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« Reply #16 on: February 22, 2017, 12:41:26 AM »

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Intell
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« Reply #17 on: February 22, 2017, 02:15:21 AM »

You can't see how you voted, you should be able to ftr.

Anyway rankings;

1. Prescott (Yes Please!)
2. Beckett (Alright)
3. Brown (Horrible, but not the worst)
4. Blair (Absolute Trash)

Beckett for Deputy.



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« Reply #18 on: February 22, 2017, 03:31:19 AM »

Come on Blair
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« Reply #19 on: February 22, 2017, 08:23:42 AM »

My first choice for the party leadership would be Tony Blair and my second choice would be Gordon Brown. For the deputy leadership I'd support John Prescott.
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Phony Moderate
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« Reply #20 on: February 22, 2017, 11:07:23 AM »

Brown/Prescott
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« Reply #21 on: February 22, 2017, 12:24:30 PM »

Interesting Scenario- I've never seen a roadmap of a 1994 election with both Brown and Blair, but the assumption is that Brown would probably win. The weird nature of the old Labour election system for leader divided up the section into three colleges- Trade Union/Members/MPs. Unless Blair could get more than 50% in the first round, the number of 2nd and 3rd preferences going to Brown would most likely sink Blair. Although Blair's asset was his support from the Shadow Cabinet/Media, meaning that Brown would be denied a base to run from

Basically 1994 could end up a lot like 2010- the least divisive candidate would win.

Answer wise- naturally Blair/Prescott. 

I've heard that too. I actually believe I read somewhere that Blair and Brown made a deal where Brown wouldn't run for the party leadership and would support Blair in exchange for the position of Chancellor and Blair handing over the reins to him after two terms or so. I believe the general assumption is that Gordon Brown was more electable in a leadership contest but that Tony Blair was more electable in a general election (although I'd have to assume Gordon Brown would have won pretty easily in 1997 as well).
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« Reply #22 on: February 22, 2017, 01:33:35 PM »

Despite the fact that he has less 'charisma' than Blair, many (myself included) rate Brown as a vastly superior orator.
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Blair
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« Reply #23 on: February 23, 2017, 06:31:06 PM »

Ugh why is Beckett deputy? In every role she's had she manages to flip, and do something she latter regrets.
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