Peasants' uprising or religious war? Re-examining the 1975 conservative leadership contest

British Journal of Political Science

Volumn 30, Issue 4, 2000, Pages 599-629

  Cowley, Philip ^a   Bailey, Matthew ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0039001724     PISSN: 00071234     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S0007123400000260     Document Type: Article

References (70)

1. All unattributed quotations in this article are drawn from correspondence with Conservative MPs from the 1974 Parliament.
2. The best accounts are in G. Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher (London: William Kimber, 1975); N. Fisher, The Tory Leaders (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1977); P. Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher: A Tory and Her Party (London: Hutchinson, 1978); J. Campbell, Edward Heath: A Biography (London: Pimlico, 1994), chap. 34; and J. Ramsden, The Winds of Change (London: Longman, 1996), chap. 7. The book by L. P. Stark, Choosing a Leader (London: Macmillan, 1996), is also excellent.
3. The best accounts are in G. Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher (London: William Kimber, 1975); N. Fisher, The Tory Leaders (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1977); P. Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher: A Tory and Her Party (London: Hutchinson, 1978); J. Campbell, Edward Heath: A Biography (London: Pimlico, 1994), chap. 34; and J. Ramsden, The Winds of Change (London: Longman, 1996), chap. 7. The book by L. P. Stark, Choosing a Leader (London: Macmillan, 1996), is also excellent.
4. The best accounts are in G. Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher (London: William Kimber, 1975); N. Fisher, The Tory Leaders (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1977); P. Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher: A Tory and Her Party (London: Hutchinson, 1978); J. Campbell, Edward Heath: A Biography (London: Pimlico, 1994), chap. 34; and J. Ramsden, The Winds of Change (London: Longman, 1996), chap. 7. The book by L. P. Stark, Choosing a Leader (London: Macmillan, 1996), is also excellent.
5. The best accounts are in G. Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher (London: William Kimber, 1975); N. Fisher, The Tory Leaders (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1977); P. Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher: A Tory and Her Party (London: Hutchinson, 1978); J. Campbell, Edward Heath: A Biography (London: Pimlico, 1994), chap. 34; and J. Ramsden, The Winds of Change (London: Longman, 1996), chap. 7. The book by L. P. Stark, Choosing a Leader (London: Macmillan, 1996), is also excellent.
6. The best accounts are in G. Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher (London: William Kimber, 1975); N. Fisher, The Tory Leaders (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1977); P. Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher: A Tory and Her Party (London: Hutchinson, 1978); J. Campbell, Edward Heath: A Biography (London: Pimlico, 1994), chap. 34; and J. Ramsden, The Winds of Change (London: Longman, 1996), chap. 7. The book by L. P. Stark, Choosing a Leader (London: Macmillan, 1996), is also excellent.
7. The best accounts are in G. Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher (London: William Kimber, 1975); N. Fisher, The Tory Leaders (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1977); P. Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher: A Tory and Her Party (London: Hutchinson, 1978); J. Campbell, Edward Heath: A Biography (London: Pimlico, 1994), chap. 34; and J. Ramsden, The Winds of Change (London: Longman, 1996), chap. 7. The book by L. P. Stark, Choosing a Leader (London: Macmillan, 1996), is also excellent.
8. J. Critchley, Westminster Blues (London: Futura, 1985), p. 121. See also N. Lawson, The View from Number 11 (London: Bantam, 1992), who describes the result as 'more a rejection of Ted... than a positive endorsement of her' (p. 13); and D. Kavanagh, Politics and Personalities (London: Macmillan, 1990), p. 69. Philip Norton goes so far as to say that she was elected for 'one principal reason: she was not Edward Heath' (P. Norton, '"The Lady's Not For Turning". But What about the Rest? Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Party 1979-89', Parliamentary Affairs, 43 (1990), 41-58).
9. J. Critchley, Westminster Blues (London: Futura, 1985), p. 121. See also N. Lawson, The View from Number 11 (London: Bantam, 1992), who describes the result as 'more a rejection of Ted... than a positive endorsement of her' (p. 13); and D. Kavanagh, Politics and Personalities (London: Macmillan, 1990), p. 69. Philip Norton goes so far as to say that she was elected for 'one principal reason: she was not Edward Heath' (P. Norton, '"The Lady's Not For Turning". But What about the Rest? Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Party 1979-89', Parliamentary Affairs, 43 (1990), 41-58).
10. J. Critchley, Westminster Blues (London: Futura, 1985), p. 121. See also N. Lawson, The View from Number 11 (London: Bantam, 1992), who describes the result as 'more a rejection of Ted... than a positive endorsement of her' (p. 13); and D. Kavanagh, Politics and Personalities (London: Macmillan, 1990), p. 69. Philip Norton goes so far as to say that she was elected for 'one principal reason: she was not Edward Heath' (P. Norton, '"The Lady's Not For Turning". But What about the Rest? Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Party 1979-89', Parliamentary Affairs, 43 (1990), 41-58).
11. J. Critchley, Westminster Blues (London: Futura, 1985), p. 121. See also N. Lawson, The View from Number 11 (London: Bantam, 1992), who describes the result as 'more a rejection of Ted... than a positive endorsement of her' (p. 13); and D. Kavanagh, Politics and Personalities (London: Macmillan, 1990), p. 69. Philip Norton goes so far as to say that she was elected for 'one principal reason: she was not Edward Heath' (P. Norton, '"The Lady's Not For Turning". But What about the Rest? Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Party 1979-89', Parliamentary Affairs, 43 (1990), 41-58).
12. The word 'accident' (or its plural) is used by N. Wapshott and G. Brock, Thatcher (London: Macdonald and Sydney, 1983), p. 106; A. Gamble, The Free Economy and the Strong State (London: Macmillan, 1988), p. 83; W. Keegan, Mrs Thatcher's Economic Experiment (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1984), p. 65; and, in quotes, by I. Crewe and D. Searing, 'Thatcherism: Its Origins, Electoral Impact and Implications for Downs's Theory of Party Strategy' (Essex Papers in Politics and Government, 1986), p. 5. See also R. Shepherd, The Power Brokers (London: Hutchinson, 1991), p. 170.
13. The word 'accident' (or its plural) is used by N. Wapshott and G. Brock, Thatcher (London: Macdonald and Sydney, 1983), p. 106; A. Gamble, The Free Economy and the Strong State (London: Macmillan, 1988), p. 83; W. Keegan, Mrs Thatcher's Economic Experiment (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1984), p. 65; and, in quotes, by I. Crewe and D. Searing, 'Thatcherism: Its Origins, Electoral Impact and Implications for Downs's Theory of Party Strategy' (Essex Papers in Politics and Government, 1986), p. 5. See also R. Shepherd, The Power Brokers (London: Hutchinson, 1991), p. 170.
14. The word 'accident' (or its plural) is used by N. Wapshott and G. Brock, Thatcher (London: Macdonald and Sydney, 1983), p. 106; A. Gamble, The Free Economy and the Strong State (London: Macmillan, 1988), p. 83; W. Keegan, Mrs Thatcher's Economic Experiment (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1984), p. 65; and, in quotes, by I. Crewe and D. Searing, 'Thatcherism: Its Origins, Electoral Impact and Implications for Downs's Theory of Party Strategy' (Essex Papers in Politics and Government, 1986), p. 5. See also R. Shepherd, The Power Brokers (London: Hutchinson, 1991), p. 170.
15. The word 'accident' (or its plural) is used by N. Wapshott and G. Brock, Thatcher (London: Macdonald and Sydney, 1983), p. 106; A. Gamble, The Free Economy and the Strong State (London: Macmillan, 1988), p. 83; W. Keegan, Mrs Thatcher's Economic Experiment (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1984), p. 65; and, in quotes, by I. Crewe and D. Searing, 'Thatcherism: Its Origins, Electoral Impact and Implications for Downs's Theory of Party Strategy' (Essex Papers in Politics and Government, 1986), p. 5. See also R. Shepherd, The Power Brokers (London: Hutchinson, 1991), p. 170.
16. The word 'accident' (or its plural) is used by N. Wapshott and G. Brock, Thatcher (London: Macdonald and Sydney, 1983), p. 106; A. Gamble, The Free Economy and the Strong State (London: Macmillan, 1988), p. 83; W. Keegan, Mrs Thatcher's Economic Experiment (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1984), p. 65; and, in quotes, by I. Crewe and D. Searing, 'Thatcherism: Its Origins, Electoral Impact and Implications for Downs's Theory of Party Strategy' (Essex Papers in Politics and Government, 1986), p. 5. See also R. Shepherd, The Power Brokers (London: Hutchinson, 1991), p. 170.
17. See, for example, H. Young and A. Sloman, The Thatcher Phenomena (London: BBC, 1986), p. 31. This view is well summed up by Critchley's observation that Thatcher is a 'zealot whose fundamentalist beliefs were not, at the time of her election to the leadership of the party, as widely known as they are today' (Westminster Blues, p. 122). Also see Campbell, Edward Heath, pp. 667-8.
18. See, for example, H. Young and A. Sloman, The Thatcher Phenomena (London: BBC, 1986), p. 31. This view is well summed up by Critchley's observation that Thatcher is a 'zealot whose fundamentalist beliefs were not, at the time of her election to the leadership of the party, as widely known as they are today' (Westminster Blues, p. 122). Also see Campbell, Edward Heath, pp. 667-8.
19. See, for example, H. Young and A. Sloman, The Thatcher Phenomena (London: BBC, 1986), p. 31. This view is well summed up by Critchley's observation that Thatcher is a 'zealot whose fundamentalist beliefs were not, at the time of her election to the leadership of the party, as widely known as they are today' (Westminster Blues, p. 122). Also see Campbell, Edward Heath, pp. 667-8.
20. H. Young, One of Us (London: Pan, Final Edition, 1993), p. 96.
21. Cited in Young and Sloman, The Thatcher Phenomena, p. 33.
22. See Campbell, Edward Heath, p. 669.
23. The usual suspects are Kenneth Baker, Peter Walker and Timothy Kitson. All deny responsibility.
24. R. Behrens, The Conservative Party from Heath to Thatcher (Farnborough: Saxon House, 1980), p. 32. We are grateful to John Ramsden for pointing out that Heath did sometimes also manage to insult his opponents.
25. See, for example, E. Du Cann, Two Lives: The Political and Business Careers of Edward Du Cann (Upton upon Severn: Images, 1995), p. 198; J. Critchley, A Bag of Boiled Sweets (London: Faber and Faber, 1994), pp. 138-9; Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher, p. 187; Fisher, The Tory Leaders, p. 141. For the period of government between 1970 and 1974, see P. Norton, Conservative Dissidents (London: Temple Smith, 1978).
26. See, for example, E. Du Cann, Two Lives: The Political and Business Careers of Edward Du Cann (Upton upon Severn: Images, 1995), p. 198; J. Critchley, A Bag of Boiled Sweets (London: Faber and Faber, 1994), pp. 138-9; Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher, p. 187; Fisher, The Tory Leaders, p. 141. For the period of government between 1970 and 1974, see P. Norton, Conservative Dissidents (London: Temple Smith, 1978).
27. See, for example, E. Du Cann, Two Lives: The Political and Business Careers of Edward Du Cann (Upton upon Severn: Images, 1995), p. 198; J. Critchley, A Bag of Boiled Sweets (London: Faber and Faber, 1994), pp. 138-9; Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher, p. 187; Fisher, The Tory Leaders, p. 141. For the period of government between 1970 and 1974, see P. Norton, Conservative Dissidents (London: Temple Smith, 1978).
28. See, for example, E. Du Cann, Two Lives: The Political and Business Careers of Edward Du Cann (Upton upon Severn: Images, 1995), p. 198; J. Critchley, A Bag of Boiled Sweets (London: Faber and Faber, 1994), pp. 138-9; Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher, p. 187; Fisher, The Tory Leaders, p. 141. For the period of government between 1970 and 1974, see P. Norton, Conservative Dissidents (London: Temple Smith, 1978).
29. See, for example, E. Du Cann, Two Lives: The Political and Business Careers of Edward Du Cann (Upton upon Severn: Images, 1995), p. 198; J. Critchley, A Bag of Boiled Sweets (London: Faber and Faber, 1994), pp. 138-9; Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher, p. 187; Fisher, The Tory Leaders, p. 141. For the period of government between 1970 and 1974, see P. Norton, Conservative Dissidents (London: Temple Smith, 1978).
30. Cited in P. Whitehead, The Writing on the Wall (London: Michael Joseph, 1986), p. 325.
31. See, for example, F. Pym, The Politics of Consent (London: Sphere Books, 1985), p. 21; P. Rawlinson, A Price Too High (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1989), pp. 244-5; J. Prior, A Balance of Power (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1986), pp. 101-2; N. Fowler, Ministers Decide (London: Chapman, 1991), pp. 7-8; and P. Walker, Staying Power (London: Bloomsbury, 1991), pp. 120, 128-30.
32. See, for example, F. Pym, The Politics of Consent (London: Sphere Books, 1985), p. 21; P. Rawlinson, A Price Too High (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1989), pp. 244-5; J. Prior, A Balance of Power (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1986), pp. 101-2; N. Fowler, Ministers Decide (London: Chapman, 1991), pp. 7-8; and P. Walker, Staying Power (London: Bloomsbury, 1991), pp. 120, 128-30.
33. See, for example, F. Pym, The Politics of Consent (London: Sphere Books, 1985), p. 21; P. Rawlinson, A Price Too High (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1989), pp. 244-5; J. Prior, A Balance of Power (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1986), pp. 101-2; N. Fowler, Ministers Decide (London: Chapman, 1991), pp. 7-8; and P. Walker, Staying Power (London: Bloomsbury, 1991), pp. 120, 128-30.
34. See, for example, F. Pym, The Politics of Consent (London: Sphere Books, 1985), p. 21; P. Rawlinson, A Price Too High (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1989), pp. 244-5; J. Prior, A Balance of Power (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1986), pp. 101-2; N. Fowler, Ministers Decide (London: Chapman, 1991), pp. 7-8; and P. Walker, Staying Power (London: Bloomsbury, 1991), pp. 120, 128-30.
35. See, for example, F. Pym, The Politics of Consent (London: Sphere Books, 1985), p. 21; P. Rawlinson, A Price Too High (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1989), pp. 244-5; J. Prior, A Balance of Power (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1986), pp. 101-2; N. Fowler, Ministers Decide (London: Chapman, 1991), pp. 7-8; and P. Walker, Staying Power (London: Bloomsbury, 1991), pp. 120, 128-30.
36. N. Jesse, 'Thatcher's Rise and Fall: An Institutional Analysis of the Tory Leadership Selection Process', Electoral Studies, 15 (1996), 183-202.
37. M. Wickham-Jones, 'Right Turn: A Revisionist Account of the 1975 Conservative Party Leadership Election', Twentieth Century British History, 8 (1997), 74-89. A third revisionist account is that in B. Arnold, Margaret Thatcher (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1984), although Arnold's revisionism concerns Thatcher's aims and tactics rather than the voting itself.
38. M. Wickham-Jones, 'Right Turn: A Revisionist Account of the 1975 Conservative Party Leadership Election', Twentieth Century British History, 8 (1997), 74-89. A third revisionist account is that in B. Arnold, Margaret Thatcher (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1984), although Arnold's revisionism concerns Thatcher's aims and tactics rather than the voting itself.
39. Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher, chap. 15.
40. M. Foley, The Rise of the British Presidency (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1993), especially chap. 3.
41. See, for example, P. Cowley, 'How Did He Do That? The Second Round of the 1990 Conservative Leadership Contest', in D. M. Farrell, D. Broughton, D. Denver and J. Fisher eds., British Elections and Parties Yearbook 1996 (London: Frank Cass, 1996); and P. Cowley and J. Garry, 'The British Conservative Party and Europe: The Choosing of John Major', British Journal of Political Science, 28 (1998), 473-499.
42. See, for example, P. Cowley, 'How Did He Do That? The Second Round of the 1990 Conservative Leadership Contest', in D. M. Farrell, D. Broughton, D. Denver and J. Fisher eds., British Elections and Parties Yearbook 1996 (London: Frank Cass, 1996); and P. Cowley and J. Garry, 'The British Conservative Party and Europe: The Choosing of John Major', British Journal of Political Science, 28 (1998), 473-499.
43. Norton, Conservative Dissidents.
44. Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher, p. 33; see also Kavanagh, Politics and Personalities, p. 69.
45. Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher, p. 33; see also Kavanagh, Politics and Personalities, p. 69.
46. Hence Ian Gilmour's jibe about the folly of the Conservatives retreating 'behind a privet hedge'. See Foley, The Rise of the British Presidency, p. 61; Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher, p. 63; and Ramsden, The Winds of Change, p. 446.
47. Hence Ian Gilmour's jibe about the folly of the Conservatives retreating 'behind a privet hedge'. See Foley, The Rise of the British Presidency, p. 61; Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher, p. 63; and Ramsden, The Winds of Change, p. 446.
48. Hence Ian Gilmour's jibe about the folly of the Conservatives retreating 'behind a privet hedge'. See Foley, The Rise of the British Presidency, p. 61; Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher, p. 63; and Ramsden, The Winds of Change, p. 446.
49. Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher, p. 169.
50. Ideology is, for example, part - albeit usually a small part - of the accounts of Critchley (A Bag of Boiled Sweets, p. 139), Behrens (The Conservative Party from Heath to Thatcher), Kavanagh (Politics and Personalities, p. 69), and Ramsden (The Winds of Change, chap. 7).
51. Ideology is, for example, part - albeit usually a small part - of the accounts of Critchley (A Bag of Boiled Sweets, p. 139), Behrens (The Conservative Party from Heath to Thatcher), Kavanagh (Politics and Personalities, p. 69), and Ramsden (The Winds of Change, chap. 7).
52. Ideology is, for example, part - albeit usually a small part - of the accounts of Critchley (A Bag of Boiled Sweets, p. 139), Behrens (The Conservative Party from Heath to Thatcher), Kavanagh (Politics and Personalities, p. 69), and Ramsden (The Winds of Change, chap. 7).
53. Ideology is, for example, part - albeit usually a small part - of the accounts of Critchley (A Bag of Boiled Sweets, p. 139), Behrens (The Conservative Party from Heath to Thatcher), Kavanagh (Politics and Personalities, p. 69), and Ramsden (The Winds of Change, chap. 7).
54. Cosgrave, Margaret Thatcher, p. 35.
55. Wapshott and Brock, Thatcher, p. 136. See also B. Evans and A. Taylor, From Salisbury to Major (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1996).
56. Wapshott and Brock, Thatcher, p. 136. See also B. Evans and A. Taylor, From Salisbury to Major (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1996).
57. Norton, 'The Lady's Not For Turning'.
58. For the Thatcher equation, y = 0 was 88 per cent; y = 1 was 40 per cent. For the Heath equation, y = 0 was 41 per cent; y = 1 was 93 per cent.
59. See, for example, John Garry, 'The British Conservative Party: Divisions over European Policy', West European Politics, 18 (1995), 170-89; and David Baker, Andrew Gamble, Steve Ludlam and David Seawright, 'Backbenchers with Attitude: A Seismic Study of the Conservative Party and Dissent on Europe', in Shaun Bowler, David M. Farrell and Richard S. Katz, eds, Party Discipline and Parliamentary Government (Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1999).
60. See, for example, John Garry, 'The British Conservative Party: Divisions over European Policy', West European Politics, 18 (1995), 170-89; and David Baker, Andrew Gamble, Steve Ludlam and David Seawright, 'Backbenchers with Attitude: A Seismic Study of the Conservative Party and Dissent on Europe', in Shaun Bowler, David M. Farrell and Richard S. Katz, eds, Party Discipline and Parliamentary Government (Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1999).
61. Thatcher puts the phrase in quotation marks: 'without knowing it, I had what the Americans call "momentum"' (Thatcher, The Path to Power, p. 278).
62. Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher, p. 198. Or as Norman St John-Stevas put it: 'She had belled the cat and had reaped the reward of her boldness' (The Two Cities (London: Faber and Faber, 1984), p. 17).
63. Gardiner, Margaret Thatcher, p. 198. Or as Norman St John-Stevas put it: 'She had belled the cat and had reaped the reward of her boldness' (The Two Cities (London: Faber and Faber, 1984), p. 17).
64. As one MP wrote: 'I felt it was in the best interests of the Party to achieve a clear cut result in the second round.'
65. Whitelaw appears to have shared many of these doubts. Lunching with the editor of the Guardian shortly after the contest (9 April 1975), he confessed that he was not sorry that he had not won and 'thought he probably didn't have the capacity to be a good Conservative leader' (The Hetherington Papers (22/7). See also W. Whitelaw, The Whitelaw Memoirs (London: Aurum Press, 1989), pp. 142-3.
66. Thatcher, The Path to Power, p. 268.
67. See, for example, Jesse's description of loyalty to the leader as a 'Hobbesian' fear of the unknown ('Thatcher's Rise and Fall').
68. See G. Howe, Conflict of Loyalty (London: Macmillan, 1994), chap.3.
69. Wickham-Jones, 'Right Turn', p. 76.
70. P. Cosgrave, Thatcher: The First Term (London: Bodley Head, 1985), p. x.