There was already a vacancy for the Deputy Leader of the Party due to the death of Aneurin Bevan in July, and many senior party figures were weighing up whether to stand for that post; contested elections for vacant posts were usual, but incumbents were not normally challenged. The result of the faction-fighting was that many on the left thought Gaitskell was both out of touch with the party and that a challenge might force him to the left, so they were keen to have a credible challenger.
The death of Aneurin Bevan in July created an opening for the Deputy Party Leader. Many senior figures were weighing their options to fill this position; it was common practice for vacant posts to be contested by other members. The internal power struggle within the party led some on the left to believe Gaitskell had become disconnected from the party's core values and that a challenge might force him to adopt more radical policies, making them eager for a credible challenger.