Vox Populi - 1963 Labour Leadership Election
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  Vox Populi - 1963 Labour Leadership Election
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Poll
Question: Who should be the Leader of the Labour Party?
#1
George Brown
#2
James Callaghan
#3
Harold Wilson
#4
Anthony Greenwood
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Author Topic: Vox Populi - 1963 Labour Leadership Election  (Read 578 times)
Lumine
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« on: April 13, 2017, 11:14:03 PM »


January 1963 - Gaitskell's death leaves Labour in shock

Labour had experienced a tough time in Opposition. Not even the Suez Crisis had allowed them to return to power as Macmillan had won another victory for the Tories despite Gaitskell's energetic campaign. The following years would be lost on constant battles over policy inside the party, often having nuclear weapons as the main point of contention between the left-wing Bevanites and the right-wing Gaitskellites. Gaitskell himself had seen off two challenges to his leadership by soft-left Harold Wilson and the Bevanite Anthony Greenwood, but had eventually come into cementing his own leadership by the end of 1962 as the Conservatives went from crisis to crisis. It finally seemed possible that sooner rather than later Gaitskell would be the next Labour Prime Minister.

His death, therefore, stunned the nation and the party. With a General Election due for 1964 there would be little time for a new leader to consolidate, and with the divisions inside the party still deep that was no guarantee as to how Labour would move on. In the end, four candidates decided to stand (two representing the Labour right, two the Labour left), and in their bids depended the future of the party:

The Candidates:

George Brown: The frontrunner for the leadership, Brown is the current Deputy Leader and the most known figure of the Labour Gaitskellites. An effective campaigner and formerly a trade unionist, Brown's Gaitskellite platform downplays nationalization policies, staunchly supports membership of the EEC, rejects unilateral nuclear disarmament and emphasizes social equality. Running on a "to keep the spirit of Gaitskell alive, vote Brown", Brown has however been criticized for being too divisive for the Labour left, and for his abrasive character.

James Callaghan: The other candidate of the right (albeit significantly to the left of Brown), Shadow Chancellor James Callaghan is another Gaitskellite heir, seeking to portray himself both as a leader who can unite the party and win the next election. Taking advantage of his working class roots, Callaghan has also become known for being a close ally of the trade unions, having a more moderate pro-Europe stance than Brown, and for his social conservative views on social policy. The main criticism of Callaghan so far has been directed to his lack of experience.

Harold Wilson: Once a staunch Bevanite and now more associated with the moderate left, Shadow Foreign Secretary Harold Wilson attempts to take the party by storm with his shrew maneuvering, seeking to unite the left and the moderates to defeat Brown. Also from a humble background, Wilson's is promoting a technocratic, technological and modern approach to Socialism, arguing for the modernization of Britain (on issues like science and education) as the main priority, alongside limited nationalization and social liberal reforms. While Wilson is confident he can become the unity candidate, a few rival MP's have attacked his past changes of position.

Anthony Greenwood: Closing the field is backbencher MP Anthony "Tony" Greenwood, who had already challenged Gaitskell in 61' as the champion of the Bevanite left. The son of historical Labour MP Arthur Greenwood, he's running on a Bevanite platform advocating for unilateral nuclear disarmament, large-scale nationalization, full-employment, social liberal policies and a brand of what he describes as "democratic socialism". Outside his lack of experience, critics of Greenwood argue his platform may be too extreme and would put in jeopardy Labour's chance to win in 64'.

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.
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Kingpoleon
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« Reply #1 on: April 13, 2017, 11:34:20 PM »

1. Wilson
2. Brown
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Intell
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« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2017, 12:09:46 AM »

Greenwood.
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Kingpoleon
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« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2017, 12:29:14 AM »

Most populists should really be voting for Callaghan, who is less pro-Europe, more socially conservative/right-wing/authoritarian, more focused on being pro-union, and his general working class ties.
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NeverAgain
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« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2017, 02:03:45 AM »

Totally Wilson, but fine if Greenwood wins.
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Orthogonian Society Treasurer
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« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2017, 02:04:17 AM »

Forward with Callaghan!
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Lechasseur
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« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2017, 02:44:35 AM »

Callaghan
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Phony Moderate
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« Reply #7 on: April 14, 2017, 06:08:02 AM »

Wilson.

And Brown would have gone down as the most unfit major party since the Second World War. Yes, even including IDS, Eden, Hague, the other Brown, Corbyn, Foot and so on.
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White Trash
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« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2017, 08:20:39 AM »

1. Callaghan
2. Greenwood
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MAINEiac4434
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« Reply #9 on: April 14, 2017, 10:11:52 AM »

Wilson!
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Goldwater
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« Reply #10 on: April 14, 2017, 10:44:33 AM »

Brown.
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« Reply #11 on: April 14, 2017, 10:48:52 AM »


Certainly the best choice for those who do not wish to see Labour succeed.
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Antonio the Sixth
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« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2017, 12:34:44 PM »

Wilson easily.
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Unconditional Surrender Truman
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« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2017, 01:23:35 PM »

Voted Wilson.
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Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy
Alex
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« Reply #14 on: April 14, 2017, 01:35:06 PM »

Callaghan
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Blair
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« Reply #15 on: April 14, 2017, 05:23:39 PM »

Brown (Old Right factionalist) but would support Wilson in the second round over Callaghan.

Loving the series- and looking forward to the Labour factionalism of the 60s and 70s
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Kingpoleon
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« Reply #16 on: April 15, 2017, 03:14:03 PM »

Finnaly - a left-populist whose vote makes sense!

Left-populists like Antonio V and Intell voted for a "socially liberal" candidate rather than a more populist one, and Alex, who is more socially left wing than economically left wing, voted for Callaghan. So far, you're the only one of the four whose vote made sense to me.
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Lexii, harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy
Alex
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« Reply #17 on: April 15, 2017, 04:54:06 PM »

Finnaly - a left-populist whose vote makes sense!

Left-populists like Antonio V and Intell voted for a "socially liberal" candidate rather than a more populist one, and Alex, who is more socially left wing than economically left wing, voted for Callaghan. So far, you're the only one of the four whose vote made sense to me.


I do not plan to vote for the candidates I'd support IRL in this timeline
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Antonio the Sixth
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« Reply #18 on: April 15, 2017, 05:06:41 PM »

Finnaly - a left-populist whose vote makes sense!

Left-populists like Antonio V and Intell voted for a "socially liberal" candidate rather than a more populist one, and Alex, who is more socially left wing than economically left wing, voted for Callaghan. So far, you're the only one of the four whose vote made sense to me.

Is Callaghan supposed to be to Wilson's left on economics? I certainly didn't get this impression from the write-up.
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Barnes
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« Reply #19 on: April 15, 2017, 05:12:17 PM »

Finnaly - a left-populist whose vote makes sense!

Left-populists like Antonio V and Intell voted for a "socially liberal" candidate rather than a more populist one, and Alex, who is more socially left wing than economically left wing, voted for Callaghan. So far, you're the only one of the four whose vote made sense to me.

Is Callaghan supposed to be to Wilson's left on economics? I certainly didn't get this impression from the write-up.

Callaghan has the most direct and well-established links with the trade unions of all of the candidates, placing him firmly on the Labour right. As Chancellor IRL, he was eventually forced into devaluation of the pound in 1967 and internally sabotaged Barbara Castle's "In Place of Strife" white paper which would have implemented similar reforms to unions that the Heath Government eventually (spectacularly unsuccessfully) did.

As PM, Callaghan and Denis Healey navigated a policy u-turn of sorts in the face of mounting inflation and industrial disputes; most significantly through "Pay Policy" which sought to limit the amount of pay increases unions could negotiate in order to limit inflation.
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