Heath, Sir Edward Richard George

views updated

Heath, Sir Edward Richard George (1916– ) British statesman, prime minister (1970–74). He entered Parliament in 1950. In 1965, he became leader of the Conservative Party, succeeding Harold Wilson as prime minister. Heath secured Britain's membership of the European Community (EC) (1973), but poor industrial relations led to a bitter miners' strike and the introduction of a ‘three-day week’ (1974). Defeated in two elections in 1974, the following year Margaret Thatcher replaced Heath as Conservative Party leader. Heath remained an outspoken advocate of European integration even after his retirement from the Commons in 2001.

http://www.number-10.gov.uk

More From encyclopedia.com