1975 Conservative Party (UK) leadership election a major British political party. 1975 Conservative Party (UK) leadership election The 1975 Conservative Party leadership election was held in February 1975, in which the party's sitting MPs voted Margaret Thatcher as party leader on the second ballot. Previous leader Edward Heath stood aside after the first ballot, in which he unexpectedly finished behind Thatcher. The Conservatives were the official Opposition to the Labour government, so Thatcher also became Leader of the Opposition. Edward Heath, leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister had called and unexpectedly lost the February 1974 general election. Although the Labour Party were able only
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