Edward heath previous offices

Edward heath cause of death
Edward heath party
Edward heath the crown

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About The Book

The magisterial official life of Britain’s complex and misunderstood former prime minister, which offers a fundamental reassessment of his reputation.Edward Heath arguably changed the lives of the British people more than any prime minister since Winston Churchill. By securing Britain’s entry into Europe he reversed almost a thousand years of history and embarked on a course that would lead to the legal, political, economic and social transformation of this country. By abolishing the Resale Price Maintenance he cleared the way for the all-conquering march of the supermarket and revolutionised every high street in the country. He forced through both reforms by a combination of determination, patience and persuasive powers, against the inertia or active hostility of a large part of the British population, including many in his own party.

Yet Heath today is a largely forgotten figure, completely eclipsed by his more famous successor. His working class origins and suspect accent made him an unlikely Tory leader. But he was a trail-blazer, and without him i

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Sir Edward Heath

Edward ‘Ted’ Heath was born in Kent to working class parents, in contrast to many previous Conservative leaders and Prime Ministers. He was grammar school educated before going to Balliol College, Oxford, where he was awarded an organ scholarship in his first term. He received a second class degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and travelled widely in Europe during his holidays, especially in Spain and Germany. It was during these travels that he first witnessed the horrors of fascism and dictatorship that were sweeping across Europe.

Heath served in the Second World War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before briefly entering the Civil Service. He was elected to Parliament in 1950 and rose rapidly to become Government Chief Whip to Anthony Eden before backing Harold Macmillan‘s attempt to lead the UK into the European Community.

He was elected leader of the Conservative Party in 1965, and so began his long-lasting rivalry with Harold Wilson, leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister.

Heath won the 1970 election, and served his only term

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Edward Heath: The Authorised Biography

Edward Heath was at the centre of British politics for much of the second half oth the twentieth century. In this masterly official biography, distinguished historian Philip Ziegler charts his remarkable career. Brillantly capturing Heath's rivalry with Harold Wilson and the supreme drama of 1974 -the year of two elections and a hung parliament- with its uncanny parallels for our own times, Ziegler also explores the difficulties of Heath's later years, which were blighted by the "long sulk" as he failed to come to terms with losing the leadership to Margaret Thatcher. But this should not disguise Heath's achievements. By securing Britain's historic entry into Europe he arguably changed the lives of the British people more fundamentally than any prime minister since Winston Churchill. With exclusive access to personal papers, Edward Heath offers a timely reassessment of our most enigmatic former prime minister.