History of the Labour Party (UK) 1983 election, Labour suffered a landslide defeat, winning only 27.6% of the vote and securing just 209 seats. This was their worst performance at a general election since 1918. Labour won only half a million votes more than the SDP-Liberal Alliance, which had attracted the votes of many moderate Labour supporters, although the Alliance only won 23 seats. Michael Foot criticised the Alliance for "siphoning" Labour support and allowing the Tories to win more seats. Michael Foot resigned and was replaced as leader by Neil Kinnock who was elected on 2 October 1983 and progressively moved the party towards the
Chairman of the Labour Party (UK) the role has a larger portfolio for organising election campaigning under Jeremy Corbyn, working alongside the Co-National Campaign Coordinator, Andrew Gwynne. From 2007 to 2017, it was held concurrently by the party's Deputy Leader. The Labour Party is currently chaired by Ian Lavery, who was appointed following the 2017 general election. Chairman of the Labour Party (UK) The Chairman of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom is responsible for party administration, overseeing the General election campaigns of the Labour Party. When the Labour Party are in government, the Chairman is usually a member of the Cabinet holding a sinecure