How do different parties elect their leaders? Labour – OMOV Conservatives – Series ballot Liberal Democrats – Alternative Vote

Labour  Nominations are supported by 12.5% of Parliamentary Labour Party  If no vacancy then nominations must be supported by 20% of PLP  Voting takes place consecutively in three sections: each section having a third of vote –1 st Labour MPs and MEPs –2 nd Individuals in Labour Party (OMOV) –3 rd Affiliated members TUs and Socialist Societies  If no candidate receives more than half the vote, further votes held on elimination basis – votes are distributed accordingly

Conservatives  In case of a vacancy, candidates need to be nominated by two MPs  Where there is no vacancy a leadership contest can be initiated by parliamentary party passing the vote of no confidence to the leader  15% of Conservative MPs write to Chairman of 1922 Committee (Conservative Backbenchers)  If more than two candidates stand, MPs hold a series of ballots to reduce the numbers to 2. On each round the candidate with the fewest numbers is eliminated. Then a ballot of all party members elects the leader.  All paid-up party, members are then eligible to vote for one of the two remaining candidates. The poll winner is leader.

Liberal Democrats  Candidates for leadership of the Liberal Democrats must be supported by 10% of the parliamentary party plus 200 party members drawn from at least 20 constituencies.  There is no limit to the number of candidates and MPs can nominate more than one candidate  The election is decided by all individual members of the Liberal Democrats in a postal ballot  Voting is conducted on the Alternative Vote: Electors vote preferentially and lower placed candidates drop out in succession with their vote being redistributed until one candidate gains 50%.