Originally Posted by Carl W Schwamberger

So, for anyone else to emerge Halifax has to be unavailable. Halifaxes position in the House of Lords is susposed to have made him a poor candidate. Assuming he rejects the opportunity, or is rejected, then it is still not clear who would be the next choice.

I've pursued this question off and on for several decades and the two names that always come up are Halifax & Atlee. But, Atlee as a minority member has a weak chance at it & Halifax is also in weak position and reluctant. There must have been other powerful indivduals in the Conservative party who would have been available.