 The " customary processes " once again took place . The usual privacy of the consultations was made impossible because they took place during the party conference , and the potential successors made their bids very publicly . Butler had the advantage of giving the party leader 's keynote address to the conference in Macmillan 's absence , but was widely thought to have wasted the opportunity by delivering an uninspiring speech . Hailsham put off many potential backers by his extrovert , and some thought vulgar , campaigning . Maudling , like Butler , made a speech that failed to impress the conference . Senior Conservative figures such as Lord Woolton and Selwyn Lloyd urged Home to make himself available for consideration . 
