2000 London Labour Party mayoral selection

The London Labour Party mayoral selection of 2000 was the process by which the Labour Party selected its candidate for Mayor of London, to stand in the 2000 mayoral election. Frank Dobson, MP for Holborn and St. Pancras, was selected to stand, defeating former Leader of the Greater London Council Ken Livingstone and Glenda Jackson, MP for Hampstead and Highgate.

London Labour Party mayoral selection 2000

20 February 2000 2002 →
  Blank Blank Blank
Candidate Frank Dobson Ken Livingstone Glenda Jackson
First Round 49.6% 46.0% 4.4%
Second Round 51.5% 48.5% Eliminated

Elected Mayoral candidate

Frank Dobson
Labour

Livingstone went on to run as an independent candidate in the Mayoral election, defeating Dobson, who came third behind Conservative candidate Steven Norris.

Selection process

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The Labour candidate was selected via an Electoral College of Labour Party MPs, MEPs, GLA candidates, members and affiliated unions. Individual London Labour members were invited to vote via a postal ballot. Affiliated unions were not obliged to ballot members; instead some cast block votes (plumped for one candidate).

Candidates

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Result

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Livingstone won amongst party members (60% to Dobson's 40%) and among affiliated unions (72% to Dobson's 28%, a more than 2:1 vote). Dobson's landslide victory (173:27 in ratio) amongst the systemic third of votes attributed to MPs, MEPS and GLA candidates saw him win narrowly overall: forming a simple electoral college outcome of 52% to 48%.[1]

First round
Candidate Elected
members
(33.3%)
Individual
members
(33.3%)
Affiliated
supporters
(33.3%)
Total
Frank Dobson 86.5% 35.3% 26.9%
49.6%
Ken Livingstone 12.2% 54.9% 71.0%
46.0%
Glenda Jackson 1.4% 9.8% 2.1%
4.4%
Second round
Candidate Elected
members
(33.3%)
Individual
members
(33.3%)
Affiliated
supporters
(33.3%)
Total
Frank Dobson  Y 86.5% 40.1% 28.0%
51.5%
Ken Livingstone 13.5% 59.9% 72.0%
48.5%

Aftermath

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Livingstone described the result as "tainted" because the election system gave greater weight to the votes of London Labour MPs, MEPs, and GLA candidates, rather than rank-and-file party members,[2] and decided to contest the election as an Independent. On handing in nomination papers, he was automatically expelled from the Labour Party.[3] Livingstone won the election as an Independent, with Dobson coming third (winning 13% of the popular vote).[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "LONDON MAYORALTY CANDIDATE SELECTION 2000-2016". University of Essex. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Now Ken must decide". The Guardian. 20 February 2000. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Labour expels Livingstone". BBC. 4 April 2000. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  4. ^ "2000 election results for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly". London Elects. 5 May 2000. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
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