The Thatcherites of the Mid-90s

John Major between 1990 and 1997 experienced a world of turbulence equal to anything Wilson endured. Michael Hesletine only had to cross the road, and it was seen as a leadership bid. Leaders cannot afford to lose elections and carry on. If Starmer doesn't win, that's it. They'll be gone. But Wilson carried on. And he won two more elections, two in 74, and a referendum on Europe in 75. So there was no space for Jenkins to become leader or Prime Minister. He couldn't create the vacancy. There are lots of examples of this. John Major did that weird thing of resigning as Tory leader to fight a contest while staying on as Prime Minister.