Conclusion

Abstract

Three things emerge clearly from this review of the leader-selection methods employed by the British parties — a considerable variety of procedures have been used this century; the choice of a new leader has not always involved a contest in the real sense; and there has been a broad trend towards more open processes of selection. Each of the four basic methods of selection that were identified in Chapter 1 has been employed, with three of them taking more than one form. The emergence of the leader through ‘elite consultations’ has taken the form of discussions among just a few Ministers and other notables (the selection of Baldwin in 1923), among the full Cabinet (Macmillan 1957) and among Ministers, senior MPs and representatives of the party outside Parliament (Horne 1963). Selection by the MPs has most often been by means of a formal, competitive ballot (Foot 1980), but has also taken the form of the emergence of an agreed candidate (Davies 1945). Selection by the party members has been by a ‘one member, one vote’ postal ballot (Ashdown 1988) and by a system of weighted voting (Steel 1976). Only selection by Labour’s electoral college has so far taken the same form each time it has been used.

We’d all like t’ vote fer th’ best man, but he’s never a candidate.

Kin Hubbard, 1984