Why did Jim Callaghan not stay on as Labour leader and Leader of Opposition in 1980? What about the repercussions?
Why did Jim Callaghan not stay on as Labour leader and Leader of Opposition in 1980? What about the repercussions? This is question that not many political commentators have seemed to ponder over, unlike the surprise resignation of his predecessor, Harold Wilson in 1976. It should have been considerably more noteworthy, considering that Wilson had continued as Labour leader following the surprise defeat to the Tories in 1970. Wilson returned to power in 1974, despite an economic crisis, possibly due to his experience as a former Prime Minister who could steady the ship and provide a reassuring hand to the country. Callaghan and Labour were leading in the opinion polls in 1980 as well as having made significant gains in the local elections held that year, with Margaret Thatcher seen to be floundering and not managing the economy well at the time. Reasons which might have triggered his resignation 1. Following the disillusioning defeat in 1979, a change in rules with regar