[2] Aneurin Bevan had next been considered the primary front-runner for the Labour Party leadership, but had resigned from the Cabinet in 1951 to protest the introduction of National Health Service prescription charges.

Hugh Gaitskell simultaneously emerged as a potential candidate after a successful tenure as Chancellor of the Exchequer and after the trade union movement which had backed Bevan increasingly gravitated towards him.

[1] Three candidates were nominated: Morrison believed he would easily win against Gaitskell and Bevan on the basis of seniority, despite being warned he would actually be routed due to his old age and unpopularity in the party.

Bevan likewise continued his campaign despite being aware he could not win solely to deny Gaitskell the leadership, at one point proposing that they both stand down and allow Morrison to run unopposed.

However, he performed well enough in the election to be re-elected to Gaitskell's Shadow Cabinet, and the Gaitskellite and Bevanite factions of the party would increasingly reconcile after the Suez Crisis.