Edward Heath

Lore & Background

Edward Heath was born in Broadstairs, Kent, to a chambermaid and a carpenter. He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Balliol College, Oxford, where he became active in Conservative politics, serving as President of the Oxford University Conservative Association and later President of the Oxford Union. During World War II, he served as an officer in the Royal Artillery. After the war, he worked briefly in the Civil Service before resigning to stand for Parliament, winning the Bexley seat in 1950. He rose through Conservative ranks, becoming Chief Whip under Anthony Eden in 1955, and held cabinet positions under Harold Macmillan (Minister of Labour and Lord Privy Seal) and Alec Douglas-Home (President of the Board of Trade). After the Conservatives lost the 1964 election, Heath succeeded Douglas-Home as party leader in 1965. Despite a landslide defeat in 1966, he remained leader and led the party to an unexpected victory in 1970.

Reader's Guide

Heath's premiership (1970–1974) was marked by significant achievements and severe crises. He oversaw decimalisation of British coinage in 1971, a sweeping reform of local government in 1972, and successfully negotiated British entry into the European Economic Community. However, his tenure also saw heightened violence during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, leading him to impose direct rule and approve internment without trial. His attempts to reform trade unionism with the Industrial Relations Act and to deregulate the economy were undermined by a miners' strike in early 1974, which forced him to introduce a Three-Day Week to conserve energy. The resulting February 1974 general election produced a hung parliament; despite receiving fewer votes, Labour won more seats, and Heath resigned after failing to form a coalition with the Liberal Party. After losing a second election to Harold Wilson in October 1974, Heath's leadership was challenged by Margaret Thatcher, who narrowly outpolled him in the first round. Heath resigned rather than contest a second round, returning to the backbenches. He became an embittered critic of Thatcher and Thatcherism, and later served as Father of the House until his retirement in 2001. He has been described as 'the first working-class meritocrat' to become Conservative leader and 'a One Nation Tory in the Disraeli tradition'.

Did You Know?

• Heath was a talented musician and won an organ scholarship at Balliol College, Oxford.
• As an undergraduate, he attended a Nuremberg rally in 1937 and met Hermann Göring, Joseph Goebbels, and Heinrich Himmler.
• He served as an officer in the Royal Artillery during World War II.
• His accent was satirised by Monty Python in the sketch 'Teach Yourself Heath'.