 | |
| Campaigned for | Labour Party leadership election, 2016 |
|---|---|
| Candidate | Owen Smith MP |
| Status | Announced: 13 July 2016 Nominated: 20 July 2016 Defeated: 24 September 2016 |
| Headquarters | 83 Victoria St, Westminster, London, SW1H 0HW |
| Key people |
|
| Slogan | Labour's Future |
| Website | www |
In 2016, Owen Smith, the Member of Parliament for Pontypridd, challenged Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership of the Labour Party, triggering an election in the United Kingdom, one year following the previous leadership ballot. His candidacy was announced in a statement on 13 July 2016, in which he declared himself to be a supporter of many of Corbyn's policies but that Corbyn did not possess the qualities necessary to win the next general election.[2] He pledged to prevent the party from splitting and to lead Labour back into government.
Smith initially faced Angela Eagle as a fellow challenger to Jeremy Corbyn, but her withdrawal from the race on 19 July 2016, resulting from Smith's stronger level of support in the Parliamentary Labour Party, left him as the sole candidate facing the incumbent.[3]
- ^ Conor Pope (22 July 2016). "Owen Smith snaps up former Corbyn policy chief for leadership bid". LabourList. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ Rowena Mason (13 July 2016). "Owen Smith to challenge Corbyn for Labour leadership". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ Grice, Andrew (19 July 2016). "Labour leadership election: Angela Eagle pulls out of contest to allow Owen Smith straight run at Jeremy Corbyn". The Independent. London, UK. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2016.