What Determines Parties’ Choice of Incumbent-Renomination Methods? the Case of the UK Labour Party, 1979–2019

Abstract

ABSTRACT The UK Labour Party changed its incumbent-renomination process six times between 1979 and 2019. Using Labour as an influential case, I propose a two-part theory explaining parties’ choice of incumbent-renomination methods: who controls the party, and whether they believe MPs are bound by dictates of the parliamentary leadership or the extra-parliamentary party. Renomination is central to intra-party candidate selection affecting the functioning of parties, legislatures, governments and oppositions. Findings expand our understanding of intra-party organisational dynamics and incumbent-renomination processes.