[Magdalen] BSA

[Roger Stokes]

Different system for securing the party's support.  Edward Heath did not 
have a good record as Conservative Leader haviung lost three of the four 
hGeneral Elections on his watch and there was significant pressure to 
replace him.  Margaret Thatcher was the only member of the Shadow 
Cabinet to raise her head above the parapet so the discontent with Heath 
coalesced round her.

Although Heath got a plurality of the vote in the first ballot (49% to 
45%) Heath got the message that he was no longer wanted and asked a 
colleague to take ober the leadership responsibilities pending the 
second ballot the following week, which he did not contest. Although she 
had become Leader by being willing to stand up to the incumbent Heath 
she did not like it when she was toppled by a similar coup, regarding it 
as a betrayal.

Roger

On 29/07/2015 11:44, Allan Carr wrote:
> Margaret Thatcher, who was the longest serving Prime Minister of the 20th
> century?
>
> The Iron Lady?
>
>
> On Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Roger Stokes <roger.stokes65 at btinternet.com>
> wrote:
>
>> On 29/07/2015 00:15, Grace Cangialosi wrote:
>>
>>> This is a fascinating thread. Can someone explain to me why we've never
>>> had a woman president in the US, when there are so many countries that have
>>> them (or prime ministers) or have had them, and nobody batted an eye? What
>>> is it about our history and culture that has mitigated against that?
>>>
>> To be elected someone first needs to beat off challengers from their own
>> party to secure the nomination.  That demands a large degree of
>> assertiveness - my policies are the best for this country. Unfortunately an
>> assertive woman is often regarded as aggressive, which is not liked.
>>
>> Roger
>>
>