Panorama - Tory Leadership Contest
The Conservative Party comes under scrutiny in this investigation of the processes and the policies behind the leadership contest. The programme also takes a look at the electioneering of Margaret Thatcher and the media crowd following her campaign. According to an article in the Times on the day following the broadcast, Mrs Thatcher withdrew from the programme at the last minute because she felt that she would not have had the right of reply.
The two campaigners for Mrs Thatcher were Airey Neave, later shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland, and William Shelton. After the election, Mrs Thatcher appointed her main contender, Willie Whitelaw, as shadow home secretary and Sir Geoffrey Howe, another contender for the leadership, as shadow chancellor.
