Heath, Edward Richard George

Heath, Edward Richard George ( ‘Ted’ Heath) (b. 9 July 1916). British Prime Minister 1970–4 Born in Broadstairs, Kent, he was educated at Chatham School and Oxford, where he won a music scholarship. His early travels through the European mainland instilled in him a strong dislike and suspicion of Fascism which led him to oppose appeasement. At the same time, it gave him a deep understanding of, and commitment to, a common European cultural heritage, which became the basis for his pro-European attitudes. After a distinguished military career in World War II, he was elected to Parliament for the Conservative Party to represent Bexley in 1950. He was a member of the Conservative whips' office in 1952–5, and then became chief whip until 1959. Having worked hard to keep the party together during the Suez Crisis, he was then Minister of Labour (1959–60), Lord Privy Seal (1960–3), and President of the Board of Trade (1963–4). In 1961–3, he was prominent as Britain's chief negotiator for entry into the European Economic Community (EEC). When Douglas-Home resigned as party leader in 1965, Heath became leader in the first election for the post ever held. He was chosen for his youthful dynamism, which the party hoped could match that of his political rival, Wilson. As party leader, he tried to reinvigorate the Conservative agenda by proposing tax cuts, union reforms, membership of the EEC, and the general reduction of government involvement in industry.

Heath became Prime Minister after winning the 1970 general election. He succeeded in the task that was most dear to him, obtaining British entry into the EEC, which occurred on 1 January 1973. Domestically, though, he faced many difficulties. He responded to the growing IRA campaign in Northern Ireland and the intransigence of the Protestant majority over Catholic participation in business and politics with the imposition of direct rule from London. Meanwhile, despite his earlier intention to disengage government from industry, Heath was forced to rescue a number of key industries which were failing because of Britain's increasing economic difficulties. His main problem, though, was with trade unions. Unable to negotiate a moderate wage settlement, he imposed an incomes policy in an attempt to deal with inflation. This led to a national coal strike in 1972, and strikes in the coal, power, and transport industries during the winter of 1973–4, culminating, in January-March 1974, in a three-day week caused by power shortages. In February 1974, Heath was forced to call a general election. He hoped to win, thus restoring his authority over the unions; the Conservatives gained more votes than Labour, but fewer seats, and Harold Wilson formed a minority government. Heath lost a subsequent election in October 1974, and was replaced as party leader in 1975 by Margaret Thatcher. He remained in Parliament until 2001, and over the years became strongly critical of the Conservatives' drift against the European integration and towards monetarist economic policies.