Selection Fever
Wilson indeed struggled to sort out a government. Many in his ranks outright opposed a coalition with Jo Grimond's Liberals, whose price for co-operation was proportional representation.
Meanwhile, at Smith Square, the intrigue was building in the Conservative Party already. The elder statesmen of the Party were locked in discussion about who would take over: at this point, there was still no obvious mechanism of choosing the leader other than over a bottle of port and a good argument.
On Sunday 18th October 1964, the meeting took place. Douglas-Home, Butler, Hogg and several dozen other grandees and assorted other gentlemen were present. Some were under orders from the eminence grise of the Party, Harold MacMillan, to block Butler again. Some of the more monetarist members of the outgoing Cabinet wanted one of their number to be chosen, but Anthony Barber's loss in Doncaster had weakened them. A centrist candidate was needed, but one whom not only had good relations with the Party's Right, but also seemed to be a new broom. A man of substance, but also a man who had not featured in Douglas-Home's administration. The debate over whom this could be raged into the early hours.
On Monday 19th October, the Conservative Party announced that their new leader had been selected. Iain McLeod, former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and new Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, gave his first interview as Party Leader to ITN's Robin Day that afternoon.
