Margaret Thatcher became the first female Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition after winning the 1975 leadership election, the first Conservative leadership election where the post was not vacant.

After announcing her first Shadow Cabinet in February 1975, she reshuffled it twice: in January and November 1976.

Thatcher's Shadow Cabinet ceased to exist upon her becoming Prime Minister following the 1979 general election.

Maudling was dropped as Shadow Foreign Secretary and replaced by John Davies.

He was in turn replaced as Shadow Energy Secretary by Tom King.