1975 Conservative Party leadership election

1975 Conservative Party leadership election

← 1965 4–11 February 1975 (1975-02-04 – 1975-02-11) 1989 →

Candidate Margaret Thatcher Edward Heath William Whitelaw First ballot 130 (47.1%) 119 (43.1%) Did not enter Second ballot 146 (52.9%) Withdrew 79 (28.6%)   Candidate Geoffrey Howe Jim Prior Hugh Fraser First ballot Did not enter Did not enter 16 (5.8%) Second ballot 19 (6.9%) 19 (6.9%) Did not enter

Leader before election Edward Heath Elected Leader Margaret Thatcher

The 1975 Conservative Party leadership election was held in February 1975. The party's sitting MPs voted Margaret Thatcher as party leader on the second ballot. Incumbent 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.