John Smith (Labour Party leader) offer of the office of Solicitor General for Scotland, not wishing his political career to become sidelined as a law officer. In October, he was made an Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Energy. In December 1975, he was made a Minister of State. Smith supported James Callaghan in the Labour Party leadership election after Wilson resigned in April 1976. When Callaghan became Prime Minister, Smith became a Minister of State at the Privy Council Office, serving with Labour's Deputy leader, Michael Foot, the Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons. In this position,
2007 Labour Party (UK) leadership election by at least 12.5% of Labour MPs (45 Labour MPs, including the candidate themselves). Gordon Brown, the only successfully nominated candidate, was declared leader at a special Labour conference on 24 June 2007. Only Gordon Brown attained over 45 nominations and was thus elected unopposed. During the months running up to Tony Blair's resignation, media attention focused on a wide range of Labour politicians, most of whom publicly refused to stand: 2007 Labour Party (UK) leadership election The 2007 Labour Party leadership election was formally triggered on 10 May 2007 by the resignation of Tony Blair, Labour Leader since the