A historic nomination paper signed by Margaret Thatcher, which paved the way for her becoming leader of the Conservative Party, has been uncovered in a long-forgotten cardboard box.
The document belonged to Tory statesman Sir Edward du Cann, who chaired the influential 1922 Committee during the Conservative leadership election of 1975. Among the items found was the crucial paperwork confirming Thatcher as the party’s leader — a moment that profoundly shaped British history.
The paper, simply titled “Election of a leader of the Conservative Party” and dated February 11, 1975, features signatures from the scrutineers alongside Thatcher’s own. At the time, Thatcher was 49 years old and won in the second round of voting with 146 votes, defeating William Whitelaw, who received 79 votes.
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Her nomination was proposed by Keith Joseph and seconded by Airey Neave, who tragically was later assassinated by the IRA. On January 27, 1975, Thatcher herself wrote “I consent to be nominated” and signed the form as “Margaret H Thatcher.”
This piece of House of Commons notepaper carries significant historic weight, but the discovery includes other notable documents. Among them is a letter addressed to Sir Edward du Cann from the month preceding Thatcher’s nomination. The letter urged du Cann to stand for leadership, praising his warmth, persuasive abilities, and the respect he commanded within the party. Despite these endorsements, he declined to run.
The archive was recently found in a garage in Somerset and is slated for auction at Duke’s of Dorchester on January 29 of next year.
Guy Schwinge of Hanover Forbes, the art consultants handling the sale, remarked: “This collection of papers is of great historical importance. Margaret Thatcher was a trailblazer whose leadership philosophy — Thatcherism — transformed the UK. Her unique synergy with figures like Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev played a key role in global events such as the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.”
Schwinge also highlighted growing interest from collectors and institutions worldwide, noting the significance of the find coinciding with both the centenary of Thatcher’s birth and the 50th anniversary of her topping the Conservative leadership race. The collection includes nomination papers from all candidates in both ballots for that election.
Sir Edward du Cann, who passed away in 2017, was a Conservative MP from 1956 to 1987 and served as party chairman from 1965 to 1967, as well as chair of the 1922 Committee from 1972 to 1984.
Experts anticipate that the archive could far exceed the pre-auction estimate of £100,000, reflecting its historical and political significance.