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Heath ministry

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This article is about the cabinet of Edward Heath. For the cabinet he led in Opposition, see First Shadow Cabinet of Edward Heath and Second Shadow Cabinet of Edward Heath.

Heath ministry
1970–1974
Date formed19 June 1970
Date dissolved4 March 1974
People and organisations
Head of stateQueen Elizabeth II
Head of governmentEdward Heath
Member partyConservative Party
Status in legislatureMajority
Opposition cabinetWilson Shadow Cabinet
Opposition partyLabour Party
Opposition leaderHarold Wilson
History
Election1970 general election
Outgoing election1974 general election
PredecessorFirst Wilson ministry
SuccessorSecond Wilson ministry

Edward Heath, of the Conservative Party, formed the Heath ministry and became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 19 June 1970, following the 18 June general election. Heath’s 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.

Heath had been elected leader of the Conservative Party in 1965 to succeed Alec Douglas Home, within a few months of the party's election defeat after 13 years in government. His first general election as leader the following year ended 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 fluctuation being growth and contraction, with unemployment rising significantly, but when Harold 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]

The government of Edward Heath initially enjoyed a strong economy and relatively low unemployment, and by 1973 Britain had entered 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 whether it was the government or the unions which ran Britain. The election on 28 February 1974 resulted in a hung parliament, in which the Tories had the most votes but Labour had the most seats. After talks with the Liberals 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 gained 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]

Cabinet

June 1970 – March 1974

Changes

  • July 1970 – Iain Macleod dies, and is succeeded as Chancellor by Anthony Barber. Geoffrey Rippon succeeds Barber as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. John Davies succeeds Rippon as Secretary for Technology.
  • October 1970 – The Ministry of Technology and the Board of Trade are merged to become the Department of Trade and Industry. John Davies becomes Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Michael Noble leaves the cabinet. The Ministry of Housing and Local Government is succeeded by the new department of the Environment which was headed by Peter Walker.
  • March 1972 – Robert Carr succeeds William Whitelaw as Lord President and Leader of the House of Commons. Maurice Macmillan succeeds Carr as Secretary for Employment. Whitelaw becomes Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
  • July 1972 – Robert Carr succeeds Reginald Maudling as Home Secretary. James Prior succeeds Robert Carr as Lord President and Leader of the House of Commons. Joseph Godber succeeds Prior as Secretary for Agriculture.
  • November 1972 – Geoffrey Rippon succeeds Peter Walker as Secretary for the Environment. John Davies succeeds Rippon as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Peter Walker succeeds Davies as Secretary for Trade and Industry. Geoffrey Howe becomes Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs with a seat in the cabinet.
  • June 1973 – Lord Windlesham succeeds Lord Jellicoe as Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords.
  • December 1973 – William Whitelaw succeeds Maurice Macmillan as Secretary for Employment. Francis Pym succeeds Whitelaw as Secretary for Northern Ireland. Macmillan becomes Paymaster-General.
  • January 1974 – Ian Gilmour succeeds Lord Carrington as Secretary for Defence; Lord Carrington becomes Secretary of State for Energy.

List of Ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

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 Chancellor The Lord Hailsham 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 Privy Seal
and Leader of the House of Lords		 The Earl Jellicoe 20 June 1970
The Lord Windlesham 5 June 1973  
Chancellor of the Exchequer Iain Macleod 20 June 1970 Died in office, 20 July 1970
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, Treasury Terence Higgins 23 June 1970  
John Nott 7 April 1972  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Francis Pym 20 June 1970  
Humphrey Atkins 2 December 1973  
Financial Secretary to the Treasury Patrick Jenkin 23 June 1970  
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  
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Sir 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  
The Lady Tweedsmuir 7 April 1972 – 4 March 1974  
Julian Amery 5 November 1972 – 4 March 1974  
Lord Balniel 5 November 1972 – 4 March 1974  
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs The Marquess of Lothian 24 June 1970 – 7 April 1972  
Anthony Royle 24 June 1970 – 8 January 1974  
Anthony Kershaw 15 October 1970 – 5 June 1973  
Peter Blaker 8 January 1974 – 4 March 1974  
Minister for Overseas Development Richard Wood 15 October 1970  
Secretary of State for the Home Department Reginald Maudling 20 June 1970  
Robert Carr 18 July 1972  
Minister of State for Home Affairs Richard Sharples 23 June 1970 – 7 April 1972  
The Lord Windlesham 23 June 1970 – 26 March 1972  
Mark Carlisle 7 April 1972 – 4 March 1974  
The Viscount Colville 21 April 1972 – 4 March 1974  
Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs Mark Carlisle 24 June 1970  
David Lane 7 April 1972  
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food James Prior 20 June 1970  
Joseph Godber 5 November 1972  
Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Anthony Stodart 7 April 1972 New post
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Anthony Stodart 24 June 1970 – 7 April 1972  
Peter Mills 7 April 1972 – 5 November 1972  
Peggy Fenner 5 November 1972 – 4 March 1974  
The Earl Ferrers 8 January 1974 – 4 March 1974  
Minister for Aviation Supply Frederick Corfield 15 October 1970 New post. Abolished 1 May 1971 and functions transferred to Ministry of Defence
Parliamentary Secretary for Aviation Supply David Price 15 October 1970 New post. Abolished 1 May 1971 and functions transferred to Ministry of Defence
Secretary of State for Defence The Lord Carrington 20 June 1970  
Ian Gilmour 8 January 1974  
Minister of State for Defence Lord Balniel 23 June 1970  
Ian Gilmour 5 November 1972  
George Younger 8 January 1974  
Minister of State for Defence Procurement Ian Gilmour 7 April 1971 Office abolished 5 November 1972
Under-Secretary of State for the Navy Peter Kirk 24 June 1970  
Antony Buck 5 November 1972  
Under-Secretary of State for the Air Force Antony Lambton 24 June 1970  
Anthony Kershaw 5 June 1973  
The Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal 8 January 1974  
Under-Secretary of State for the Army Ian Gilmour 24 June 1970  
Geoffrey Johnson-Smith 7 April 1971  
Peter Blaker 5 November 1972  
Dudley Smith 8 January 1974  
Secretary of State for Education and Science Margaret Thatcher 20 June 1970  
Minister of State, Education and Science Norman St John-Stevas 5 June 1973 Minister for the Arts
Under-Secretary of State, Education and Science The Lord Belstead 24 June 1970 – 5 June 1973  
William van Straubenzee 24 June 1970 – 5 November 1972  
Norman St John-Stevas 5 November 1972 – 2 December 1973  
Timothy Raison 5 June 1973 – 4 March 1974  
The Lord Sandford 2 December 1973 – 4 March 1974  
Secretary of State for Employment Robert Carr 20 June 1970 Employment and Productivity until 12 November 1970
Maurice Macmillan 7 April 1972  
William Whitelaw 2 December 1973  
Minister of State, Employment Paul Bryan 23 June 1970  
Robin Chichester-Clark 7 April 1972  
Under-Secretary of State, Employment Dudley Smith 24 June 1970 – 7 January 1974  
David Howell 5 January 1971 – 26 March 1972  
Nicholas Scott 8 January 1974 – 4 March 1974  
Secretary of State for Energy The Lord Carrington 8 January 1974  
Minister for Energy Patrick Jenkin 8 January 1974 In Cabinet
Minister of State, Energy David Howell 8 January 1974  
Under-Secretary of State, Energy Peter Emery 8 January 1974  
Secretary of State for the Environment Peter Walker 15 October 1970  
Geoffrey Rippon 5 November 1972  
Minister for Local Government and Development Graham Page 15 October 1970  
Minister for Housing and Construction Julian Amery 15 October 1970  
Paul Channon 5 November 1972  
Minister for Transport Industries John Peyton 15 October 1970  
Under-Secretary of State, Environment Eldon Griffiths 15 October 1970 – 4 March 1974  
Paul Channon 15 October 1970 – 26 March 1972  
The Lord Sandford 15 October 1970 – 5 June 1973  
Michael Heseltine 15 October 1970 – 7 April 1972  
Keith Speed 7 April 1972 – 4 March 1974  
Reginald Eyre 7 April 1972 – 4 March 1974  
Lady Young 5 June 1973 – 4 March 1974  
Hugh Rossi 8 January 1974 – 4 March 1974  
Secretary of State for Social Services Sir Keith Joseph 20 June 1970  
Minister of State, Health and Social Security The Lord Aberdare 23 June 1970 – 8 January 1974  
Parliamentary Secretary, Health and Social Security Paul Dean 24 June 1970 – 4 March 1974  
Michael Alison 24 June 1970 – 4 March 1974  
Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government Peter Walker 24 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Part of Environment from 15 October 1970
Minister of State, Housing and Local Government Graham Page 23 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Part of Environment from 15 October 1970
Parliamentary Secretary, Housing and Local Government Eldon Griffiths 23 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Part of Environment from Oct 1970
Paul Channon 23 June 1970 – 15 October 1970
The Lord Sandford 23 June 1970 – 15 October 1970
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Anthony Barber 20 June 1970 With special responsibility for Europe
Geoffrey Rippon 28 July 1970  
John Davies 5 November 1972  
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland William Whitelaw 24 March 1972  
Francis Pym 2 December 1973  
Minister of State, Northern Ireland Paul Channon 26 March 1972 – 5 November 1972  
The Lord Windlesham 26 March 1972 – 5 June 1973  
William van Straubenzee 5 November 1972 – 4 March 1974  
David Howell 5 November 1972 – 8 January 1974  
Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland David Howell 26 March 1972 – 5 November 1972  
Peter Mills 5 November 1972 – 4 March 1974  
The Lord Belstead 5 June 1973 – 4 March 1974  
Minister of Overseas Development Richard Wood 23 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Reorganised under Foreign Office, 12 November 1970
Paymaster-General The Viscount Eccles 23 June 1970 Minister for Arts. Not in Cabinet
Maurice Macmillan 2 December 1973  
Minister without Portfolio The Lord Drumalbyn 15 October 1970  
The Lord Aberdare 8 January 1974  
Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Christopher Chataway 24 June 1970  
Sir John Eden 7 April 1972  
Minister of Public Buildings and Works Julian Amery 23 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Reorganised under Department of Environment 15 October 1970
Parliamentary Secretary, Public Buildings and Works Anthony Kershaw 24 June 1970 – 15 October 1970
Secretary of State for Scotland Gordon Campbell 20 June 1970  
Minister of State for Scotland The Lady Tweedsmuir 23 June 1970  
The Lord Polwarth 7 April 1972  
Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Alick Buchanan-Smith 24 June 1970 – 4 March 1974  
George Younger 24 June 1970 – 8 January 1974  
Teddy Taylor 24 June 1970 – 28 July 1971  
Hector Monro 28 July 1971 – 4 March 1974  
Teddy Taylor 8 January 1974 – 4 March 1974  
Minister of Technology Geoffrey Rippon 20 June 1970  
John Davies 28 July 1970 – 15 October 1970 Office reorganised under Trade & Industry 15 October 1970
Minister of State, Ministry of Technology Sir John Eden 23 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Office reorganised under Trade & Industry 15 October 1970
The Earl of Bessborough 24 June 1970 – 15 October 1970
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Technology David Price 24 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Office reorganised under Trade & Industry 15 October 1970
Nicholas Ridley 24 June 1970 – 15 October 1970
President of the Board of Trade Michael Noble 20 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Office reorganised under Trade & Industry 15 October 1970
Minister of State, Board of Trade Frederick Corfield 24 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Office reorganised under Trade & Industry 15 October 1970
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade Anthony Grant 24 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Office reorganised under Trade & Industry 15 October 1970
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry John Davies 15 October 1970  
Peter Walker 5 November 1972  
Minister of State for Trade Michael Noble 15 October 1970 – 5 November 1972  
Minister of State, Trade and Consumer Affairs Sir Geoffrey Howe 5 November 1972 In Cabinet
Under-Secretary of State for Trade Anthony Grant 15 October 1970  
The Earl of Limerick 7 April 1972  
Minister of State for Industry Sir John Eden 15 October 1970  
Tom Boardman 7 April 1972 Office eliminated 8 January 1974
Under-Secretary of State for Industry Nicholas Ridley 15 October 1970  
Peter Emery 7 April 1972 Office eliminated 8 January 1974
Minister for Aerospace Frederick Corfield 1 May 1971  
Michael Heseltine 7 April 1972 Consolidated with Shipping 5 November 1972
Under-Secretary of State for Aerospace David Price 1 May 1971  
Cranley Onslow 7 April 1972 Consolidated with Shipping 5 November 1972
Minister for Industrial Development Christopher Chataway 7 April 1972  
Under-Secretary of State for Industrial Development Anthony Grant 7 April 1972  
Minister of Transport John Peyton 23 June 1970 – 15 October 1970 Transport merged with Environment Oct 1970
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport Michael Heseltine 24 June 1970 – 15 October 1970
Secretary of State for Wales Peter Thomas 20 June 1970  
Minister of State for Wales David Gibson-Watt 23 June 1970  
Attorney General Sir Peter Rawlinson 23 June 1970  
Solicitor General Sir Geoffrey Howe 23 June 1970  
Sir Michael Havers 5 November 1972  
Lord Advocate Norman Wylie 23 June 1970  
Solicitor General for Scotland David William Robert Brand 23 June 1970  
William Stewart 5 November 1972 Not an MP
Treasurer of the Household Humphrey Atkins 24 June 1970  
Bernard Weatherill 2 December 1973  
Comptroller of the Household Walter Elliott 24 June 1970  
Reginald Eyre 24 September 1970  
Bernard Weatherill 7 April 1972  
Walter Clegg 2 December 1973  
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Jasper More 24 June 1970  
Bernard Weatherill 17 October 1971  
Walter Clegg 7 April 1972  
Paul Hawkins 2 December 1973  
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms The Earl St Aldwyn 24 June 1970  
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard The Viscount Goschen 24 June 1970  
The Lord Denham 20 November 1971  
Lords in Waiting The Lord Mowbray 24 June 1970 – 4 March 1974  
The Lord Denham 24 June 1970 – 20 November 1971  
The Lord Bethell 24 June 1970 – 5 January 1971  
The Earl Ferrers 5 January 1971 – 8 January 1974  
The Marquess of Lothian 7 April 1972 – 27 July 1973  
The Earl of Gowrie 7 April 1972 – 4 March 1974  
The Baroness Young 21 April 1972 – 5 June 1973  
The Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal 27 June 1973 – 8 January 1974  
The Lord Sandys 8 January 1974 – 4 March 1974  
The Earl Cowley 8 January 1974 – 4 March 1974  
The Earl Alexander of Tunis 8 January 1974 – 4 March 1974  

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ [2]
  3. ^ [3]
  • D. Butler and G. Butler (ed.). Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900–2000.
Preceded by Government of the United Kingdom
1970–1974 		Succeeded by
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