The 1972 Labour Party deputy leadership election took place in April 1972 after Roy Jenkins resigned as deputy leader over the decision to hold a 1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum, referendum on Britain's entry into the Common Market. Edward Short, Baron Glenamara, Edward Short, formerly Education Secretary in the government of Harold Wilson, was regarded as a "unity" candidate,Obituary: Lord Glenamara, ''The Daily Telegraph'', 11 May 2012
Accessed 26 October 2014 and won the election over his main rival, the left-winger Michael Foot, who had unsuccessfully stood for the deputy leadership in 1970 Labour Party deputy leadership election, 1970 and 1971 Labour Party deputy leadership election, 1971.

Candidates

* Anthony Crosland, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby (UK Parliament constituency), Great Grimsby * Michael Foot, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Member of Parliament for Ebbw Vale (UK Parliament constituency), Ebbw Vale * Edward Short, Baron Glenamara, Edward Short, Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science, Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (UK Parliament constituency), Newcastle upon Tyne Central

Results

As a result of the first round, Crosland was eliminated. The remaining two candidates would face each other in a second round. The next day's ''The Herald (Glasgow), The Glasgow Herald'' reported that both Short and Crosland attracted more votes than had been expected and that Short was the favourite to pick up most of Crosland's votes. Reporting on the result, ''The Glasgow Heralds political correspondent John Warden stated that Short was "reckoned to be the least divisive of the three candidates for the post". The same report noted that Short called for "unity and toleration in the Labour Party" in the wake of his victory. An editorial in the same newspaper argued the result was a foregone conclusion after the first ballot, but warned that be settling for a compromise candidate "Labour may not have solved their difficulties".

References

Sources

* http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~tquinn/labour_party_deputy.htm Labour Party (UK) leadership elections, 1972 1972 elections in the United Kingdom, Labour Party deputy leadership April 1972 events in the United Kingdom, Labour Party deputy leadership 1972 political party leadership elections, Labour Party deputy leadership election {{UK-election-stub