Heath Cabinet
The Heath Cabinet was formed by Prime Minister Edward Heath on June 23, 1970 and served 1,354 days through March 4, 1974.
Cabinet formation and political issues
The last two years in office of Prime Minister Harold Wilson from 1968 to 1970 were marked by a fluctuating economy with growth and contraction, from which the Conservative Party was able to take advantage of the elections in June 1970. During this time, unemployment rose sharply. Despite these weak economic figures, opinion polls saw confirmation from the Labor Party government that Wilson called the new elections for June 1970.
Edward Heath, who succeeded Alec Douglas-Home as chairman of the Conservative Party in 1965 , formed the cabinet following the victory of the Conservative Tories in the general election on June 18, 1970 . In these elections, his party received 13,145,123 votes (46.4 percent) and won 330 of the 630 seats in the House of Commons , while the Labor Party of the previous Prime Minister Wilson only 12,208,758 votes (43.1 percent) and 288 seats won. The election victory was a surprise because of the opinion polls to the contrary.
At the start of Heath's tenure, the economy strengthened and unemployment was relatively low. In 1973 Great Britain joined the European Economic Community . However, that positive sentiment changed with the October 1973 oil crisis . Just before Christmas, Heath announced a "three-day week" in which the use of offices, factories and most public buildings was limited to three days a week. He also faced a battle with unions over wage freezes and other restrictions that fueled the rise of strikes. In the period that followed, a recession began that lasted until 1975. Heath responded by calling new elections in February 1974 to force voters to decide whether the government or the unions would move Britain forward.
The general election of February 28, 1974 ended Heath's tenure. Although the Conservatives were ahead with 11,872,180 votes (37.9 percent), they only won 297 of the 635 parliamentary seats due to majority voting, while Wilson's Labor Party won 301 seats with 11,645,616 votes (37.2 percent). Thus possessed no party an absolute majority of seats in the House of Commons, producing a so-called "hanging Parliament" ( hung parliament ) . Since talks between the Tories and the Liberal Party to form a coalition failed, Wilson formed his second cabinet as Prime Minister on March 4, 1974 as a minority government .
Cabinet members 1970 to 1974
| Office | Surname | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Prime Minister , First Lord of the Treasury and Minister of Public Service |
Edward Heath | June 19, 1970 - March 4, 1974 | |
| Lord Chancellor | Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone | June 20, 1970 | |
| Lord President of the Council | William Whitelaw | June 20, 1970 | also Leader of the House of Commons |
| Robert Carr | April 7, 1972 | ||
| James Prior | 5th November 1972 | ||
| Lord Seal Keeper | George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe | June 20, 1970 | at the same time Leader of the House of Lords |
| David Hennessy, 3rd Baron Windlesham | 5th June 1973 | ||
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Iain Macleod | 20th Jun 1970 | Died in office on July 20, 1970 |
| Anthony Barber | July 25, 1970 | ||
| Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | Alec Douglas Home | June 20, 1970 | |
| Minister for Overseas Development | Richard Wood | October 15, 1970 | |
| Interior minister | Reginald Maudling | June 20, 1970 | |
| Robert Carr | July 18, 1972 | ||
| Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | James Prior | June 20, 1970 | |
| Joseph Godber | 5th November 1972 | ||
| Minister for Aviation Procurement | Frederick Corfield | October 15, 1970 | Newly created office, which was abolished on May 1, 1971. The tasks were the Ministry of Defense transferred |
| Defense Minister | Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington | June 20, 1970 | |
| Ian Gilmour | January 8, 1974 | ||
| Minister for Education and Science | Margaret Thatcher | June 20, 1970 | |
| Minister for Employment | Robert Carr | June 20, 1970 | The name of the office was Minister for Employment and Productivity until November 12, 1970 |
| Maurice Macmillan | April 7, 1972 | ||
| William Whitelaw | 2nd December 1973 | ||
| Energy minister | Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington | January 8, 1974 | |
| Assistant Minister for Energy | Patrick Jenkin | January 8, 1974 | Cabinet member |
| Environment Minister | Peter Walker | October 15, 1970 | |
| Geoffrey Rippon | 5th November 1972 | ||
| Minister for Social Services | Keith Joseph | June 20, 1970 | |
| Minister for Housing and Local Government | Peter Walker | June 24, 1970 - October 15, 1970 | Dissolution of the office and takeover of the tasks by the newly created Ministry of the Environment on October 15, 1970 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Anthony Barber | June 20, 1970 | With special responsibility for European politics |
| Geoffrey Rippon | July 28, 1970 | ||
| John Davies | 5th November 1972 | ||
| Minister for Northern Ireland | William Whitelaw | March 24, 1972 | |
| Francis Pym | 2nd December 1973 | ||
| Minister for Overseas Development | Richard Wood | June 23, 1970 - October 15, 1970 | Reorganization of the post of Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on November 12, 1970 |
| Paymaster General | David McAdam Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles | 23 June 1970 | Minister for the Arts. No cabinet minister |
| Maurice Macmillan | 2nd December 1973 | ||
| Minister with no portfolio | Niall Macpherson, 1st Baron Drumalbyn | October 15, 1970 | |
| Morys Bruce, 4th Baron Aberdare | January 8, 1974 | ||
| Minister for Post and Telecommunications | Christopher Chataway | June 24, 1970 | |
| John Eden | April 7, 1972 | ||
| Minister for Public Buildings and Works | Julian Amery | June 23, 1970 - October 15, 1970 | The newly created Ministry of the Environment took over the tasks on October 15, 1970 |
| Minister for Scotland | Gordon Campbell | June 20, 1970 | |
| Technology Minister | Geoffrey Rippon | June 20, 1970 | |
| John Davies | July 28, 1970 - October 15, 1970 | The newly created Ministry of Trade and Industry took over the duties on October 15, 1970 | |
| Minister of Commerce | Michael Noble | June 20, 1970 - October 15, 1970 | The newly created Ministry of Trade and Industry took over the duties on October 15, 1970 |
| Minister for Trade and Industry | John Davies | October 15, 1970 | |
| Peter Walker | 5th November 1972 | ||
| Space Minister | Frederick Corfield | May 1, 1971 | |
| Michael Heseltine | April 7, 1972 | Amalgamated with the Ministry of Shipping on November 5, 1972 | |
| Minister for Industrial Development | Christopher Chataway | April 7, 1972 | |
| Minister of transport | John Peyton | June 23, 1970 - October 15, 1970 | The newly created Ministry of the Environment took over the tasks on October 15, 1970 |
| Minister for Wales | Peter Thomas | June 20, 1970 | |
| Attorney General for England and Wales | Peter Rawlinson | June 23, 1970 | |
| Solicitor General for England and Wales | Geoffrey Howe | June 23, 1970 | |
| Michael Havers | 5th November 1972 | ||
| Lord Advocate | Norman Wylie | June 23, 1970 | |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | David William Robert Brand | June 23, 1970 | |
| William Stewart | 5th November 1972 | Not a member of the House of Commons |
Web links
- Heath Cabinet
- UK Governments (rulers.org)
Individual evidence
- ↑ 1970: Shock election win for Heath in BBC Home
- ↑ 1974 Feb: Hung parliament looms in: BBC News