History of the Conservative Party (UK) holding a leadership election to allow him to renew his mandate. In spite of his track record as Conservative party leader, which had included defeat at three out of four general elections, few both inside and out of the party expected him to be seriously challenged, let alone defeated. However, Margaret Thatcher stood against Heath and in a shock result outpolled him on the first ballot, leading him to withdraw from the contest. Thatcher then faced off four other candidates to become the first woman to lead a major British political party. Thatcher had much support from the monetarists, led
Next Conservative Party (UK) leadership election Next Conservative Party (UK) leadership election The next Conservative Party leadership election has not yet been launched, but the current leader and Prime Minister, Theresa May, has indicated she would most likely not seek to lead the party into another general election in 2022. These comments were in reaction to a no confidence vote by the party in her leadership that was triggered on 11 December 2018, following the receipt of 48 letters from Conservative MPs calling for one. A leadership election would have been called had May lost the vote, but she won with 200 against and 117 for.