Premiership of Tom Makepeace

Premiership of Tom Makepeace
31 July 2003 – 11 May 2010
Monarch	The King's son
Cabinet	First Makepeace ministry Second Makepeace ministry
Party	Conservative
Election	2005
Seat	10 Downing Street
Preceded by	Francis Urquhart
Succeeded by	Undisclosed Labour Leader

Tom Makepeace's term as the prime minister of the United Kingdom began on 31 July 2003 when he accepted an invitation of The King's son to form a government, succeeding Francis Urquhart, and ended on 11 May 2010 upon his party's assumed defeat in the 2010 general election. While serving as prime minister, Makepeace also served as the first lord of the treasury, minister for the civil service, and leader of the Conservative Party.

Makepeace became Prime Minister following Urquhart's assassination in 2003, being elected unopposed as his successor in the 2003 Conservative Party leadership election. He led his party to a landslide victory in the 2005 general election, though is assumed to have lost the following election four years later, ending 31 years of a Conservative rule of government that began in 1979 under Margaret Thatcher.

Conservative leadership bid

The 2003 Conservative Party leadership election was called in 2003 following the decision of Tom Makepeace, former foreign secretary and deputy prime minister, to challenge Francis Urquhart, the incumbent Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for leadership of the Conservative Party.

In the months leading up to the election, Urquhart was embattled and increasingly unpopular, and he was driven only by his desire to beat Margaret Thatcher's record for time served in office. He and Makepeace also had a rivalry, as they frequently clashed over Europe and various domestic policies. Makepeace was fired from the cabinet due to his opposition to Urquhart's plan to make English the official language of the European Union. He was offered the post of Education Secretary, but he instead chose to resign and return to the backbenches of the House of Commons, from where he opposed Urquhart's government.

Following his resignation, Makepeace challenged Urquhart for the leadership of the Conservative Party, and, despite losing in the first ballot, he managed to force a second ballot. Urquhart's assassination led to Makepeace becoming Prime Minister unopposed.

Makepeace premership

The situation in Cyprus that began during the premiership of Francis Urquhart returned to normal under Makepeace's leadership, with Makepeace negotiating a new peace treaty. Under Makepeace's leadership, the Conservatives won a landslide victory in the 2005 general election. Their landslide victory in the election was largely out of sympathy for Urquhart's assassination two years prior.

He led his party to a landslide victory in the 2005 general election, though is assumed to have lost the following election four years later, ending 31 years of a Conservative rule of government that began in 1979 under Margaret Thatcher.

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