Heath ministry

Not to be confused with a health 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 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 ministry
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
1970 – 1974
Heath in 1969
Date formed	19 June 1970 (1970-06-19)
Date dissolved	4 March 1974 (1974-03-04)
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Edward Heath
Prime Minister's history	1970–1974
Deputy Prime Minister	[note 1]
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

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 with growth and contraction. Unemployment rose 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]

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 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 Conservatives 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

"Cabinet of Edward Heath" redirects here. Not to be confused with First Shadow Cabinet of Edward Heath or Second Shadow Cabinet of Edward Heath.

June 1970 – March 1974

The cabinet appointed in June 1970 comprised the following:^[4]

• Prime Minister: Edward Heath
• Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain: The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone
• Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council: William Whitelaw
• Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal: The Earl Jellicoe
• Chancellor of the Exchequer: Iain Macleod
• Foreign Secretary: Alec Douglas-Home
• Home Secretary: Reginald Maudling
• Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Jim Prior
• Secretary of State for Defence: The Lord Carrington
• Secretary of State for Education and Science: Margaret Thatcher
• Secretary of State for Employment: Robert Carr
• Minister of Housing and Local Government: Peter Walker
• Secretary of State for Social Services: Sir Keith Joseph
• Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Anthony Barber
• Secretary of State for Scotland: Gordon Campbell
• Minister for Technology: Geoffrey Rippon
• President of the Board of Trade: Michael Noble
• Secretary of State for Wales: Peter Thomas

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. Jim 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 – The 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

Cabinet members 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 High Chancellor of Great Britain	The Lord 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	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 for 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
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
	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
Home Secretary	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 of Culross	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	Jim 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

Notes

1. Reginald Maudling never acquired the title of Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He served as Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party up to 1972.

Sources

1. "BBC ON THIS DAY | 19 | 1970: Shock election win for Heath". BBC News. 19 June 1970. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
2. "UK | UK Politics | The Basics | past_elections | 1974 Feb: Hung parliament looms". BBC News. 5 April 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
3. "UK | UK Politics | The Basics | past_elections | 1974 Oct: Wilson makes it four". BBC News. 5 April 2005. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
4. "Edward Heath 1970". The Cabinet Papers. The National Archives. Retrieved 8 February 2023.

Further reading

• Ball, Stuart, and Anthony Seldon, eds. The Heath Government 1970–74: A Reappraisal (Routledge, 2014).

• Butler, D. and G. Butler, ed. (30 April 2016). Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900–2000. Springer. ISBN 9781349627332.
• Hughes, Rosaleen Anne. 'Governing in hard times': the Heath government and civil emergencies–the 1972 and the 1974 miners' strikes. (Diss. Queen Mary University of London, 2012). online
• Pryce, Sue, and Sue Pryce. "Edward Heath 1970–4: A Counter-Revolutionary?." in Presidentializing the Premiership (1997): 83–114.

• Roe-Crines, Andrew S. and Timothy Heppell. eds. Policies and Politics Under Prime Minister Edward Heath (Palgrave. 2020)
• Spelling, Alex. "Edward Heath and Anglo–American Relations 1970–1974: A Reappraisal." Diplomacy & Statecraft 20.4 (2009): 638–658.

Preceded by Second Wilson ministry	Government of the United Kingdom 1970–1974	Succeeded by Third Wilson ministry