Newcastle's first task was to select someone to represent the government in the Commons.
To great surprise, he rejected the favourites, William Pitt and Henry Fox, and chose Sir Thomas Robinson, who had barely even been considered a candidate by most.
Newcastle was largely instrumental in appointing men considered slightly weaker so that he could dominate them.
Both Pitt and Fox bore a grudge over the perceived slight and stepped up their attacks on the ministry.

In April and May 1754 Newcastle oversaw a general election, largely adopting the electoral strategy drawn up by his brother and winning a large majority.
His own personal ability to have MPs elected on his slate reached new heights.
He now felt emboldened enough to try to push through some financial reforms.
He proposed measures to reduce the amount of interest paid to the Bank of England on the National Debt.
His decision to do so may partly have been to deflect criticism that he was not sufficiently qualified on financial matters to control the Treasury.
At the same time, he was still largely directing foreign policy, his main emphasis.
Newcastle's first task was to select someone to represent the government in the Commons. To great surprise, he rejected the favourites, William Pitt and Henry Fox, and chose Sir Thomas Robinson, who had barely even been considered a candidate by most. Newcastle was largely instrumental in appointing men considered slightly weaker so that he could dominate them. Both Pitt and Fox bore a grudge over the perceived slight and stepped up their attacks on the ministry.
In April and May 1754 Newcastle oversaw a general election, largely adopting the electoral strategy drawn up by his brother and winning a large majority. His own personal ability to have MPs elected on his slate reached new heights. He now felt emboldened enough to try to push through some financial reforms. He proposed measures to reduce the amount of interest paid to the Bank of England on the National Debt. His decision to do so may partly have been to deflect criticism that he was not sufficiently qualified on financial matters to control the Treasury. At the same time, he was still largely directing foreign policy, his main emphasis.
Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle