Conservative Government 1970-1974

Heath ministry
82nd ministry of the United Kingdom (since 1707)
1970–1974
Date formed	19 June 1970
Date dissolved	4 March 1974
People and organisations
Head of government	Edward Heath
Head of state	Queen Elizabeth II
Member party	Conservative Party
Status in legislature	Majority
Opposition cabinet	Wilson Shadow Cabinet
Opposition party	Labour Party
Opposition leader	Harold Wilson
History
Election(s)	1970 general election
Outgoing election	1974 general election
Predecessor	First Wilson ministry
Successor	Second 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.

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. 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 be over.

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