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What happens next? Labour contest rules explained
AFP
LONDON
Petroleumworld.com 05 11 07British Prime Minister Tony Blair's resignation announcement Thursday triggered a leadership election in his ruling Labour Party, expected to lead to Chancellor Gordon Brown's succeeding him on June 27.
In Britain, the prime minister is the head of the largest party in parliament and a general election does not have to be called if he or she resigns.
The party's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) is to meet Sunday to set the timetable for the election campaign, Labour confirmed after Blair and deputy leader John Prescott announced their decisions to step down.
Party rules states that prospective candidates each have to secure the signatures of at least 44 (12.5 percent) of the 353 Labour Party members of parliament in the lower House of Commons to have their name on the ballot paper.
After nominations closes, hustings -- election meetings in which candidates stake their claim for the post -- take place across the country. All "validly nominated candidates" -- even if unchallenged -- are expected to attend.
At the moment finance minister Brown is the most likely winner, after other potentially strong candidates like Environment Secretary David Miliband and Home Secretary John Reid ruled themselves out in recent weeks.
Other minor candidates could stand. Former environment minister Michael Meacher and backbencher John McDonnell have said they want to challenge Brown, although it is unclear if they will be able to garner enough signatures to do so.
Voting begins after campaigning ends. Blair remains leader and prime minister until a successor is chosen.
Any fully-paid up member of the Labour Party or members of its affiliated organisations -- such as trades unions and socialist societies -- who pay a political subscription to Labour can vote.
Labour had 198,026 individual members as of December 31, 2005, according to the 2006 NEC annual report.
The ballot is expected to take about two weeks. A procedures committee, made up of the Labour Party general secretary and senior party representatives, including the NEC, oversees the election process.
The winner must have secured more than 50 percent of the votes of the electoral college, which is split three ways between Labour Party members, British and European parliament lawmakers and affiliated associations.
The timetable will be made public after the NEC meeting but the whole process is expected to take seven weeks. Blair said Thursday that he expected to stand down on June 27.
AFP 10 1324 GMT 05 07
Copyright© 2007 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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