1975 Conservative Party (UK) leadership election cabinet members pledged their support for Heath including Jim Prior, Peter Carrington, Leader in the House of Lords, and Robert Carr, Shadow Chancellor. However Margaret Thatcher opted to stand, with Airey Neave as her campaign manager, as did backbencher Hugh Fraser. Even then many believed that Heath would win easily. Thatcher's support was seen as minimal, with all the Conservative daily newspapers backing Heath (although the weekly "The Spectator" backed Thatcher). As the election went on it became clear that the race was going to be much closer, as Thatcher became the clear candidate to be supported by discontented backbenchers.
1938 National Conservative leadership convention who was largely unknown outside of Saskatchewan until he gave a speech that rallied the convention and caused him to emerge as a dark horse contender. 1938 National Conservative leadership convention A National Conservative leadership convention began on July 5, 1938, culminating in a leadership ballot on July 7th. The Conservative Party of Canada chose Robert James Manion to succeed former Prime Minister R. B. Bennett as party leader. The Bennett Conservatives were defeated in the 1935 federal election after a single term during the Great Depression. The Conservatives won only 40 seats, in part, because the party split after