 After Lange's death in 1974, Gjems-Onstad became leader of the party's parliamentary group.While Hagen and Almås had broken out and formed the Reform Party earlier the same year, Gjems-Onstad welcomed Hagen back to the party in 1975 for "constructive cooperation".He thereafter changed to support the work led by Hagen and Arve Lønnum of strengthening the party organisation.