Edward Short, formerly Education Secretary in the government ofHarold Wilson, was regarded as a "unity" candidate,[2] and won the election over his main rival, the left-winger Michael Foot, who had unsuccessfully stood for the deputy leadership in1970 and1971.
As a result of the first round, Crosland was eliminated. The remaining two candidates would face each other in a second round. The next day'sThe Glasgow Herald reported that both Short and Crosland attracted more votes than had been expected and that Short was the favourite to pick up most of Crosland's votes.[3]
Reporting on the result,The Glasgow Herald's political correspondent John Warden stated that Short was "reckoned to be the least divisive of the three candidates for the post". The same report noted that Short called for "unity and toleration in the Labour Party" in the wake of his victory.[4] An editorial in the same newspaper argued the result was a foregone conclusion after the first ballot, but warned that be settling for a compromise candidate "Labour may not have solved their difficulties".[5]
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