1997 Conservative Party leadership election

1997 Conservative Party leadership election

← 1995 10–19 June 1997 (1997-06-10 – 1997-06-19) 2001 →

Candidate William Hague Kenneth Clarke John Redwood First ballot 41 (25.0%) 49 (29.9%) 27 (16.5%) Second ballot 62 (38.2%) 66 (40.7%) 34 (20.9%) Third ballot 92 (56.7%) 70 (43.2%) Eliminated   Candidate Peter Lilley Michael Howard First ballot 24 (14.6%) 23 (14.0%) Second ballot Withdrew Eliminated Third ballot Withdrew Eliminated

Leader before election John Major Elected Leader William Hague

The 1997 Conservative Party leadership election was triggered when John Major resigned as leader on 2 May 1997, following his party's landslide defeat at the 1997 general election, which ended 18 years of Conservative Government of the United Kingdom.^[1] Major had been Conservative leader and prime minister since November 1990.^[1]