Keith Joseph oversaw the major policy review initiated by Margaret Thatcher after taking over the leadership of the Conservative Party in 1975, and coordinated the work of the various policy groups through a small committee which generally consisted of himself along with Chris Patten, Director of the Conservative Research Department, and Angus Maude, Deputy Party Chairman, with James Douglas of the Research Department acting as Secretary. Closely connected with this work, was the Shadow Cabinet Policy Sub-Committee, set up by Thatcher at Keith Joseph's request in July 1975, and also chaired by him.