Vox Populi - 1972 Labour Leadership Election

[Lumine]

October 1972 - Wilson knifes Callaghan

Labour was stunned and in shellshock following the election. Not only it had lost a large part of its support and some of their best MP's, but had seen a solid dozen MP's march off to join the National Government as their own sitting Prime Minister was defeated on live TV. The drama of the last few years had been contained by the desire of survival in government, but in defeat the tension exploded, threatening to drive the party into a full civil war between the Callaghanites and the hard-left. And against the odds, James Callaghan had refused to resign from the leadership. While fully aware that his days leading the party were over Callaghan was fearful of a revolt by the hard-left taking over the party, and attempted to delay a leadership election until 1973.

Callaghan, however, did not count on Harold Wilson. Having sulked in the backbenchers ever since "Sunny Jim" had sacked him over the devaluation of the pound, Wilson had carefully prepared for his moment. Skillfully navigating the waters Wilson had brought on board the hard-left, the soft-left and even parts of the right into backing a vote of confidence, which Callaghan lost convincingly. Wilson's revenge was completed when he announced that he would seek the leadership shortly after Callaghan's brutal dismissal, and no less than 4 other MP's rose to challenge as well:

The Candidates:

Roy Mason: An accomplished cabinet minister (and former miner), the tough-talking and effective Mason is running as the main Callaghanite candidate, advocating for tough stances on crime and terrorism, social conservative values, staunchly pro-trade union policies, a moderate approach to Europe, and a unionist stance towards Northern Ireland. Mason (former Defence Secretary) has been strongly attacked by the hard left as being "unacceptable".

Denis Healey: By far the more experienced candidate, Healey (former Foreign Secretary and "Acting" Prime Minister") is the candidate of the traditional Labour right, in the mold of George Brown. Healey supports a more progressive economic policy, moderate social views, a hawkish stance on foreign affairs and a strongly pro-Europe stance as a solution to economic woes. Healey is undercut by having handled UK participation on the Vietnam War as Foreign Secretary.

Harold Wilson: Back from retirement, former Chancellor Harold Wilson is once again the standard bearer of the Labour soft-left, presenting a firm change in direction from the Callaghan years. Wilson strongly defends social liberal views, redoubling efforts on technological modernization, moderate economic policies, a moderate approach to Europe and to lead a united Labour Party into a firm opposition to Macmillan and the National Government. Wilson, however, faces accusations of disloyalty for knifing Callaghan, and his health has declined over the years.

Peter Shore: An unusual candidate, the charismatic and outspoken Peter Shore (former Chief Secretary to the Treasury) has been described as a passionate "nationalist" from the right of the party, combining support for nuclear weapons, moderate social views and an increasingly hawkish foreign policy with staunch and unyielding anti-Europe (and anti-EEC) views, along with a radical economic plan geared towards state intervention and economic autarky for Britain. Shore has at times been criticized for his staunch nationalism.

Eric Heffer: Disgusted with the turn to the right under Callaghan, firebrand former Industry Secretary Eric Heffer is running as the candidate of the Labour hard-left, advocating for a sharp turn towards "democratic socialism". Among other views, Heffer defends a strong anti-Europe platform, extensive economic nationalization, abolition of the House of Lords and political reform, social liberal views, nuclear disarmament, and firm, unyielding opposition to the National Government. Heffer has faced attacks for being "too left-wing", himself countering that a Callaghanite Labour is of no use.

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.

[MAINEiac4434]

Win with Wilson!

[Intell]

Heffer.

[Kingpoleon]

1. Shore
2. Mason
3. Healey

[Zioneer]

Denis Healey sounds pretty good, and I think it'd be funny if Wilson's backstab utterly failed to make him leader.

[Phony Moderate]

Shore, and he was never really on the right of the party. He was kind of an idiosyncratic old school leftist.

And I don't think the terms 'hard left' and 'soft left' emerged until the fiasco of the 1981 deputy leadership contest. When some on the left, such as Kinnock, refused to back Benn, they became known as the 'soft left', while Benn and his supporters became known as the 'hard left'.

Yes, Labour Party factional terminology is crazy and confusing.

As for Healey, he may have been pro-EEC back then but funnily enough he actually declared his support for Brexit not long before his death.

[Blair]

As for Healey, he may have been pro-EEC back then but funnily enough he actually declared his support for Brexit not long before his death.

Combined with David Owen, who supported Brexit, despite leaving Labour in the 80's, over their support for withdrawal.

Despite like Healey (and belonging to whatever his modern faction is called) I'll vote for Wilson

[NeverAgain]

C'mon Wilson.

[Lumine]

Shore, and he was never really on the right of the party. He was kind of an idiosyncratic old school leftist.

And I don't think the terms 'hard left' and 'soft left' emerged until the fiasco of the 1981 deputy leadership contest. When some on the left, such as Kinnock, refused to back Benn, they became known as the 'soft left', while Benn and his supporters became known as the 'hard left'.

Yes, Labour Party factional terminology is crazy and confusing.

As for Healey, he may have been pro-EEC back then but funnily enough he actually declared his support for Brexit not long before his death.

To be fair, I'm confused enough about the amount of Labour labels to decide that it's best to make it easy for myself.

For the record then, "soft left" and "hard left" started on this TL in 1971, when Eric Heffer was planning a leadership challenge to Callaghan. Those behind Heffer's challenge became the "hard left", and those refusing to support it or who preferred to wait until after the election became the "soft left".

[Kingpoleon]

So Callaghan himself is somehow a member of the soft left? His populism doesn't make much sense to be combined with Wilson's more neoliberal/libertarian ideology.

[Lumine]

So Callaghan himself is somehow a member of the soft left? His populism doesn't make much sense to be combined with Wilson's more neoliberal/libertarian ideology.

What? No, he's in the right.

I meant that the Labour left itself split regarding a challange to him before the election.

[Lumine]

A few hours left.