Changes

Heath's electoral victory in 1970 was something of a surprise, as the incumbent [[Labour Party]] was comfortably ahead in the polls. Some have attributed the sudden souring of public opinion to [[England]]'s defeat in the soccer [[World Cup]] the week before, or, perhaps more plausibly, to some bad economic figures that emerged during the election campaign.

Heath's electoral victory in 1970 was something of a surprise, as the incumbent [[Labour Party]] was comfortably ahead in the polls. Some have attributed the sudden souring of public opinion to [[England]]'s defeat in the soccer [[World Cup]] the week before, or, perhaps more plausibly, to some bad economic figures that emerged during the election campaign.

Heath's most lasting achievement was to lead the UK into the [[EEC]] (later the [[European Union]]) in 1973. His tenure, however, was blighted by industrial unrest, including a devastating miners' strike. This resulted in the famous 'three-day-week', in which commercial consumption of electricity was limited to three days per week, with the exception of essential services.

Heath's most lasting 'achievement' was to lead the UK into the [[EEC]] (later the [[European Union]]) in 1973. His tenure, however, was blighted by industrial unrest, including a devastating miners' strike. This resulted in the famous 'three-day-week', in which commercial consumption of electricity was limited to three days per week, with the exception of essential services.

In early 1974, Health called an election on the slogan "Who rules Britain?", the subtext being "Who rules Britain: the elected government or the miners' unions?". This election, held in February, produced a "hung Parliament", in which no single party held a majority. Minor parties such as the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] and the [[Liberals (UK party)|Liberal Party]] refused to form a coalition with the Conservatives, and Heath accordingly resigned. Labour's [[Harold Wilson]] returned as Prime Minister, and won a small overall majority of three seats in a further election in October 1974.

In early 1974, Health called an election on the slogan "Who rules Britain?", the subtext being "Who rules Britain: the elected government or the miners' unions?". This election, held in February, produced a "hung Parliament", in which no single party held a majority. Minor parties such as the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] and the [[Liberals (UK party)|Liberal Party]] refused to form a coalition with the Conservatives, and Heath accordingly resigned. Labour's [[Harold Wilson]] returned as Prime Minister, and won a small overall majority of three seats in a further election in October 1974.

His personal relations with colleagues and others were more problematic. His personal mannerisms were somewhat cold and aloof, possibly a defense mechanism for a man from the lower middle class, a grammar school boy, mixing, both at Oxford and later in the Conservative Party, in environments dominated by the upper middle and upper classes of former public (US: private) schoolboys. During the party leadership campaign in 1975, he declined to canvass personally: that, and previous snubs to party colleagues, almost certainly contributed largely to his defeat. His hauteur was unsoftened by his private life. He never married or had children.

His personal relations with colleagues and others were more problematic. His personal mannerisms were somewhat cold and aloof, possibly a defense mechanism for a man from the lower middle class, a grammar school boy, mixing, both at Oxford and later in the Conservative Party, in environments dominated by the upper middle and upper classes of former public (US: private) schoolboys. During the party leadership campaign in 1975, he declined to canvass personally: that, and previous snubs to party colleagues, almost certainly contributed largely to his defeat. His hauteur was unsoftened by his private life. He never married or had children.

{{UKPrimeMinisters}}

{{UKPrimeMinisters}}

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heath, Edward}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heath, Edward}}

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:UK Tory Party]]

[[Category:UK Tory Party]]

[[Category:United Kingdom Prime Ministers|Heath, Edward]]

[[Category:United Kingdom Prime Ministers|Heath, Edward]]