After the Conservative Party lost the general election of 1964, the defeated Home changed the party leadership rules to allow for a ballot by MPs and then, in July 1965, he resigned. Heath—who was Shadow Chancellor at the time, and had recently won favourable publicity for leading the fight against Labour's Finance Bill—unexpectedly won the party's leadership contest, gaining 150 votes to Reginald Maudling's 133 and Enoch Powell's 15. Heath became the Conservatives' youngest leader and retained office following the party's defeat in the general election of 1966.
after the conservative party lost the general election of 1964 the defeated home changed the party leadership rules to allow for a ballot by mps and then in july 1965 he resigned heath—who was shadow chancellor at the time and had recently won favourable publicity for leading the fight against labour's finance bill—unexpectedly won the party's leadership contest gaining 150 votes to reginald maudling's 133 and enoch powell's 15 heath became the conservatives' youngest leader and retained office following the party's defeat in the general election of 1966