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,
Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn The Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn began when Jeremy Corbyn was elected as Leader of the UK Labour Party in September 2015, the election having been triggered by the resignation of Ed Miliband in the wake of Labour's defeat at the 2015 general election. At the same time, Corbyn became the Leader of the Opposition. Corbyn faced a second leadership election in 2016, when he was challenged by Owen Smith, but was re-elected in September. Having felt disillusioned with a lack of a left-wing voice in the leadership contest, Corbyn decided to stand