Heath ministry

Heath ministry
Heath ministry
; Cabinet of the United Kingdom
1970 – 1974
	Heath in 1969
Date formed	19 June 1970
Date dissolved	4 March 1974
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Edward Heath
Prime Minister's history	1970–1974
Deputy Prime Minister
Total no. of members	211 appointments
Member party	Conservative Party
Status in legislature	Majority (1970–1974); Caretaker (March 1974); 330 / 630 (52%) (1970–1974); 297 / 635 (47%) (March 1974);
Opposition cabinet	Wilson Shadow Cabinet
Opposition party	Labour Party
Opposition leader	Harold Wilson
History
Election	1970 general election
Outgoing election	1974 general election
Legislature terms	45th UK Parliament
Predecessor	Second Wilson ministry
Successor	Third Wilson ministry

Edward Heath of the Conservative Party formed the Heath ministry and was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II on 19 June 1970, following the general election of the previous day. The Heath ministry ended after the February 1974 general election, which produced a hung parliament, leading to the formation of a minority government by Harold Wilson of the Labour Party.

Quick Facts Date formed, Date dissolved ...

Heath had been elected Leader of the Conservative Party in 1965 – succeeding Alec Douglas-Home – within a few months of the party's election defeat after 13 years in government. In the following year, his first general election as Leader resulted in defeat as Wilson's Labour government increased its majority. The Conservatives enjoyed a surge in support over the next two years as the British economy went through a period of deflation that culminated in a devaluation, at the same time that the merging of businesses was encouraged. Unemployment rose significantly, but when Wilson called a general election for June 1970, the opinion polls all pointed towards a third successive Labour victory. It was a major surprise when the Conservatives won with a majority of 30 seats.^[1]

Heath's government initially enjoyed a strong economy and relatively low unemployment, and on 1 January 1973 the United Kingdom became a member state of the European Communities, principally the European Economic Community. But then came the 1973 oil crisis, and just before Christmas, Heath declared a three-day week in which the use of offices, factories and most public buildings was reduced to three days a week. He also faced a battle with the unions over pay freezes and restraints, which sparked a rise in strikes. The economy also entered a recession.

Heath's response in February 1974 was to call a general election, urging the voters to decide the question of whether Britain was to be run by the government or by the unions. In the election on 28 February the Conservatives received the most votes, but in the resulting hung parliament Labour had the most seats. After Conservative talks with the Liberal Party about forming a coalition government failed, Labour formed a minority government on 4 March.^[2] A second general election was widely anticipated later in 1974, and was called by Harold Wilson for 10 October, in which the Labour Party secured a three-seat majority. This meant that Wilson had now won four of the five general elections he had contested, while Heath had now lost three of his four general elections, and it seemed inevitable that his leadership would soon end.^[3]

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Heath ministry

Cabinet

June 1970 – March 1974

Changes

List of ministers

References

Further reading

Wikiwand - on

Office	Name	Dates	Notes
Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service	Edward Heath	19 June 1970 – 4 March 1974
Parliamentary Secretary for the Civil Service Department	David Howell	23 June 1970 – 26 March 1972
	Kenneth Baker	7 April 1972 – 4 March 1974
	Geoffrey Johnson-Smith	5 November 1972 – 4 March 1974
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain	Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone	20 June 1970
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons	William Whitelaw	20 June 1970
	Robert Carr	7 April 1972
	Jim Prior	5 November 1972
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords	George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe	20 June 1970
	David Hennessy, 3rd Baron Windlesham	5 June 1973
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Iain Macleod	20 June 1970	Died in office, 20 July 1970
Chancellor of the Exchequer	Anthony Barber	25 July 1970
Chief Secretary to the Treasury	Maurice Macmillan	23 June 1970
	Patrick Jenkin	7 April 1972
	Tom Boardman	8 January 1974
Minister of State for Treasury	Terence Higgins	23 June 1970
Minister of State for Treasury	John Nott	7 April 1972
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury	Francis Pym	20 June 1970
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury	Humphrey Atkins	2 December 1973
Financial Secretary to the Treasury	Patrick Jenkin	23 June 1970
Financial Secretary to the Treasury	Terence Higgins	7 April 1972
Lords of the Treasury	Reginald Eyre	24 June 1970 – 23 September 1970
	David Howell	24 June 1970 – 6 January 1971
	Hector Monro	24 June 1970 – 28 July 1971
	Bernard Weatherill	24 June 1970 – 17 October 1971
	Walter Clegg	24 June 1970 – 7 April 1972
	Victor Goodhew	21 October 1970 – 9 October 1973
	Paul Hawkins	5 January 1971 – 2 December 1973
	Tim Fortescue	8 November 1971 – 7 April 1972
	Keith Speed	8 November 1971 – 21 September 1973
	Hugh Rossi	7 April 1972 – 8 January 1974
	Oscar Murton	7 April 1972 – 30 October 1973
	Michael Jopling	30 October 1973 – 4 March 1974
	Hamish Gray	30 October 1973 – 4 March 1974
	John Stradling Thomas	30 October 1973 – 4 March 1974
	Marcus Fox	2 December 1973 – 4 March 1974
	Kenneth Clarke	8 January 1974 – 4 March 1974
Foreign Secretary	Alec Douglas-Home	20 June 1970
Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs	Joseph Godber	23 June 1970 – 5 November 1972
	Richard Wood	15 October 1970 – 4 March 1974