Liberal Party (UK) leadership election, 1967
Encyclopedia
The 1967 Liberal Party leadership election was called following the resignation of Jo Grimond, in the wake of disappointing results in the 1966 General Election
.
There were three candidates (Jeremy Thorpe
, Emlyn Hooson
and Eric Lubbock
), who were elected by a ballot of the Liberal Parliamentary Party using Alternative Vote
. Jeremy Thorpe secured the most votes in the first round, but did not win overall, as the rules said that he needed to win more than half of votes cast. Both Hooson and Lubbock's second preferences voted for one another, cancelling one another out, so faced with a deadlock, both other candidates withdrew from the contest to endorse Thorpe who was consequentially elected unopposed.
United Kingdom general election, 1966
The 1966 United Kingdom general election on 31 March 1966 was called by sitting Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Wilson's decision to call an election turned on the fact that his government, elected a mere 17 months previously in 1964 had an unworkably small majority of only 4 MPs...
.
There were three candidates (Jeremy Thorpe
Jeremy Thorpe
John Jeremy Thorpe is a British former politician who was leader of the Liberal Party from 1967 to 1976 and was the Member of Parliament for North Devon from 1959 to 1979. His political career was damaged when an acquaintance, Norman Scott, claimed to have had a love affair with Thorpe at a time...
, Emlyn Hooson
Emlyn Hooson, Baron Hooson
Hugh Emlyn Hooson, Baron Hooson QC is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom. He was the Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire from 1962 until 1979....
and Eric Lubbock
Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury
Eric Reginald Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury, PC is an English politician. A Liberal Member of Parliament from 1962 to 1970, he succeeded as Baron Avebury in 1971...
), who were elected by a ballot of the Liberal Parliamentary Party using Alternative Vote
Instant-runoff voting
Instant-runoff voting , also known as preferential voting, the alternative vote and ranked choice voting, is a voting system used to elect one winner. Voters rank candidates in order of preference, and their ballots are counted as one vote for their first choice candidate. If a candidate secures a...
. Jeremy Thorpe secured the most votes in the first round, but did not win overall, as the rules said that he needed to win more than half of votes cast. Both Hooson and Lubbock's second preferences voted for one another, cancelling one another out, so faced with a deadlock, both other candidates withdrew from the contest to endorse Thorpe who was consequentially elected unopposed.
First Round Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Thorpe Jeremy Thorpe John Jeremy Thorpe is a British former politician who was leader of the Liberal Party from 1967 to 1976 and was the Member of Parliament for North Devon from 1959 to 1979. His political career was damaged when an acquaintance, Norman Scott, claimed to have had a love affair with Thorpe at a time... |
6 | 50 | |
| Emlyn Hooson Emlyn Hooson, Baron Hooson Hugh Emlyn Hooson, Baron Hooson QC is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom. He was the Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire from 1962 until 1979.... |
3 | 25 | |
| Eric Lubbock Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury Eric Reginald Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury, PC is an English politician. A Liberal Member of Parliament from 1962 to 1970, he succeeded as Baron Avebury in 1971... |
3 | 25 | |