 This did not meet with Eden's approval at Cabinet on 7 January.His political standing destroyed, Eden resigned on grounds of ill health on 9 January 1957.At that time the Conservative Party had no formal mechanism for selecting a new leader, and the Queen appointed Macmillan Prime Minister after taking advice from Churchill and the Marquess of Salisbury, who had asked the Cabinet individually for their opinions, all but two or three opting for Macmillan.