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Edward Richard George Heath
History of Great Britain

              

1916
Birth
9th July Broadstairs Birth of Edward Richard George Heath
9th July Broadstairs Birth of Edward Richard George Heath, son of a carpenter & maid
1937
Rally NSDAP
Nuremburg Attends the Nazi Party Nuremburg Rally
1945
Lieutenant Colonel
Appointed Lieutenant Colonel
1946
MBE Heath
Awarded the MBE
1946
Member of Parliament
Bexley Appointed prospective MP for Broadstairs
1950
Election
23rd Feb Bexley Elected Member of Parliament for Bexley
1955
Chief Whip
London Appointed Chief Whip
1955
Privy Council
Becomes the Right Honourable Edward Heath
1956
Health
12th Dec Eden goes to Jamaica for the sake of his health, Heath is left to manage the party
1956
Suez Canal Crisis
4th Nov Suez Canal Chief Whip during the Suez crisis
1957
Government
8th Jan Informs Butler that MacMillan has been selected to succeed Eden
1957
Resignation
8th Jan London Eden informs Heath that he intends to resign on his doctor's advice
1959
Election
8th Oct Bexley Almost doubles his majority to 8,633
1960
Lord Privy Seal
Appointed Lord Privy Seal
Appointed Lord Privy Seal in the Foreign Office
1960
Strike
12th Feb London Gains approval from the cabinet to offer the NUR 5% which ia accepted
1965
Election
22nd July Defeats Powell & Maudling in 1st round of the 1st leadership contest by secret ballot
1965
Party Leader
22nd July Appointed Party Leader of the Conservative Party
1965
Shadow Chancellor Exchequer
Appointed Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
1966
Election
31st Mar Loses the general election by 97 seats
31st Mar The Conservatives win 41.9% of votes cast & 253 seats
11th April The Conservatives make gains in the Local Government elections
1968
Devolution
London Supports a moderate form of devolution from Westminster
1968
Dismissal
Dismisses Enoch Powell from the shadow cabinet after his "rivers of blood" speech
1970
CPSF
29th Sep London Creates the Central Policy Review Staff, "think tank" to advise the Cabinet
1970
Election
18th June Conservatives 330, Labour 287, Liberals 6 & others 7
18th June The Conservative Party win 46.4% of votes cast & 330 MPs
18th June The Conservative victory is the biggest upset since 1945
18th June Wins a Conservative majority of 37
1970
European Union
London Britain had to accept the Merger Treaty & all decisions taken since the 2nd application & resolve problems of adaptation, ie the Commonwealth
29th June London Submits Britain's 3rd request to join the EC
1970
Prime Minister
19th June Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 47th Prime Minister of Great Britain
19th June Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain
1970
Reform
29th June London Removes restrictions on council house sales
9th Aug London Internment without trial introduced in Northern Ireland
1970
Speech
June Selsdon End of the Butskellite consensus
1970
State of Emergency
12th Dec London Announced in Cabinet in the face of growing industrial unrest
1970
Strike
Clyde The government withdraws Upper Clyde Shipbuilder support
1971
Admiral
Captains Britain's winning team for the Admiral's Cup
1971
Admiral's Cup
Captain's Britain's winning Admiral's Cup yachting team
1971
ANC
17th Dec The African National Council is formed to reject the Anglo-Rhodesia settlement
1971
Assassination
10th Mar Belfast 3 off-duty soldiers are murdered in a public house near Belfast
1971
Bombing of Belfast
4th Dec Belfast An explosion in a public house in Belfast kills 15
1971
Budget
30th Mar Child allowances & old age pensions are increased
30th Mar Selective employment tax is halved
30th Mar The top rate of tax is reduced to 75%
1971
Capture of Rockall
3rd Nov Rockall Britain annexes Rockall
1971
Constitution
24th Nov Agreement is reached on the new Rhodes ian constitution
1971
Demonstrations
11th Mar Belfast Demonstrators demand the arrest of IRA leaders
18th Mar Belfast 1,800 more troops are sent to Northern Ireland
1971
European Union
20th May Paris 20-21 May, meets Pompidou in Paris to discuss British membership of the EC
June London Cabinet approves the terms offerred for Britain's membership of the EC
1971
Independence
24th Nov Agreement is reached on the new Rhodes ian constitution
1971
London Airport
26th April Foulness The government decides to build the 3rd London airport at Foulness
1971
Prime Minister
23rd Mar Appointed Prime Ministrer of Northern Ireland
1971
Reform
London The Hague Convention of 1970 is ratified
15th Feb London Decimal coins replace shillings & pence, known as "D-Day"
6th Aug London Only registered unions are entitled to legal protection
6th Aug London Strike ballots & cooling off periods before strike action become statutory
1971
Report Compton
16th Nov The Compton Report rejects allegations of brutality in internment camps
1971
Rule of Rockall
3rd Nov Rockall Britain annexes Rockall
1971
Strike
July Clyde Militant shop stewards occupy the four UCS shipyards
1971
Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
June Clyde Upper Clyde Shipbuilders is declared insolvent & its liquidation announced
1972
Arrest
London 5 dockers are arrested under the Indus trial Relations Act
London Provokes the national Docks Strike
1972
Bloody Sunday
30th Jan Londonderry 14 unarmed are were killed by British soldiers during an illegal march in Londonderry
30th Jan Londonderry Paratroopers open fire on rioting Catholics in Londonderry killing 13
1972
Constitution
Ulster Dissolves the Northern Ireland Parliament & government
London Forms a short lived Northern Ireland Assembly
1972
Demonstrations
30th Jan Londonderry 14 unarmed are were killed by British soldiers during an illegal march in Londonderry
30th Jan Londonderry Paratroopers open fire on rioting Catholics in Londonderry killing 13
1972
Economy
20th Jan Unemployment reaches one million
6th Nov Announces a freeze on pay, prices & dividends for 90 days, Selsdon u-turn
1972
EFTA Membership
31st Dec Britain leaves EFTA in order to join the EU
1972
Election
Sutton & Cheam The Conservatives lose Sutton & Cheam to the Liberal Party
1972
European Union
Feb London During the 2nd reading of the European Communities Bill Parliament votes by 309 to 301
Dec London The European Communities Bill is enacted
31st Dec Britain leaves EFTA in order to join the EU
1972
Independence
The Pearce Comission says terms offered to Smith are unacceptable to Rhodes ian blacks
1972
Industrial Development Executive
Founds the Indus trial Development Executive with a Minister for Indus trial Development
1972
Massacre Bloody Sunday
30th Jan Londonderry Paratroopers open fire on rioting Catholics in Londonderry killing 13
1972
Motorman
The Government restores policing to "no go" areas in Northern Ireland
1972
Negotiations IRA
July London Heath permits his Secretary of State for Northern Ireland William Whitelaw to hold unofficial talks in London with a Provisional IRA delegation by Se n Mac Stiof in
1972
Prices & Incomes
The CBI agree to 200 companies limiting price increases to 5%
3rd Nov Cabinet agrees to introduce a statutory 90 day freeze of prices & incomes
1972
Reform
13th Mar The Housing Finance Bill is guillotined
1972
State of Emergency
9th Feb A state of emergency is declared
1972
Strike
5 dockers are arrested under the Indus trial Relations Act
The arrest of 5 dockers provokes the national Docks Strike
The NIRC orders a secret ballot for the BR offer which is rejected by 6-1
9th Jan 1st day of the miners strike
Feb London Miners reject Wilberforce's offer & gain concessions at Downing St
Feb London The miners return to work
Feb London Wilberforce reccomends 30% to the miners, accepted by the Government, 3X the NCB offer
9th Feb A state of emergency is declared
10th Feb Saltley Police are forced to give way to pickets at the Saltley coke works
24th Feb Clyde It is announced in Cabinet œ35 million will be found to keep 3 of the 4 shipyards open
July London Pay negotiations break down, miners want 47% but are offered 10%
2nd Nov London Negotiations break down
2nd Nov London The TUC insist on repealing the Housing Finance & Indus trial Relations Acts
1972
Treaty of Accession
Signs the teaty of Accession to Europe
22nd Jan Brussels Signs the teaty of Accession to Europe
1973
Agreement Sunningdale
28th June Sunningdale The agreement is supported by the nationalist Social Democratic & Labour Party, the unionist Ulster Unionist Party & the moderate unionist & cross-community Alliance Party
28th June Sunningdale The pro-agreement parties win a clear majority of seats (52 to 26), but a substantial minority inside the Ulster Unionist Party oppose the agreement
9th Dec Sunningdale An attempt to end the Northern Ireland troubles by forcing unionists to share power with nationalists
9th Dec Sunningdale The Agreement has three parts, an elected Northern Ireland Assembly, a power-sharing cross-community Northern Ireland Executive & a cross-border Council of Ireland
9th Dec Sunningdale theThe Sunningdale Agreement is fiercely repudiated Unionists & the Ulster Unionist Party ceases to support the Conservatives at Westminster contributing to Heath's downfall
1973
Bombing of Aldershot
Aldershot An IRA bomb kills 5 women, a gardener & a priest
1973
Conference of Sunningdale
6th Dec Sunningdale Convenes a conference to establish a power sharing Assembly between in Nth Ireland
9th Dec Sunningdale A communiqu‚ announces an agreement is issued, which later becomes known as the Sunningdale Agreement
9th Dec Sunningdale Declares a Council for Ireland & a British-Irish Commission for cross-border violence
9th Dec Sunningdale Declares the Constitutional status of Northern Ireland
9th Dec Sunningdale Talks were held between 6 Dec and 9 Dec in the Berkshire town of Sunningdale between the British Prime Minister Edward Heath, the Irish Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and the three pro-agreement paerties
9th Dec Sunningdale The Consultative Assembly is to be made up of 30 members from D il ireann and 30 members from the Northern Ireland Assembly, It is to have "advisory and review functions" only
9th Dec Sunningdale The Council of Ministers is to be composed of seven members from the power-sharing executive, and seven members from the Irish Government
1973
Constitution
The Northern Ireland Assembly is elected, a power sharing executive
20th Mar The British government publishes a white paper which proposes a 78-member Northern Ireland Assembly, to be elected by proportional representation
20th Mar The British government would retain control over law and order & a Council of Ireland would give the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland a voice in each other's affairs
3rd May The Northern Ireland Assembly Bill resulting from the white paper becomes law on 3 May, 1973, & elections for the new assembly are held on 28 June
11th Nov Ulster A power sharing executive is set up by Unionist, SDLP & Alliance Parties
31st Dec Belfast The power-sharing Administration of the Northern Ireland Assembly is sworn in
1973
Council Ireland
20th Mar The British government would retain control over law and order & a Council of Ireland would give the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland a voice in each other's affairs
3rd May The Northern Ireland Assembly Bill resulting from the white paper becomes law on 3 May, 1973, & elections for the new assembly are held on 28 June
1973
Economy
April For the remainder of the year pay rises are to be œ1 & 4% pa, maximum rise of œ250 pa
July The MLR is increased from 7.5% to 11.5% in one month
Oct Pay increases will be limited to œ2.25 or 7% per week & a maximum increase of œ350 pa
Oct Pay increases will be limited to œ2.25 or 7% per week with a maximum of œ350 pa
1973
Election
July Ely & Ripon The Liberals win the Ely & Ripon Bi-Election
1973
European Union
Jan "Fanfare for Europe" celebrations are held to mark Britain's entry into the EU
1st Jan Britain officially becomes a member of the EU
1973
Legislation
3rd May The Northern Ireland Assembly Bill resulting from the white paper becomes law on 3 May, 1973, & elections for the new assembly are held on 28 June
1973
Northern Ireland Assembly
20th Mar The British government publishes a white paper which proposes a 78-member Northern Ireland Assembly, to be elected by proportional representation
1973
Referendum
Northern Ireland votes by an overwhelming majority to remain in the United Kingdom
1974
Agreement Sunningdale
May Sunningdale Unionist opposition, Provisional IRA violence & finally a loyalist general strike cause the collapse of the Agreement
1974
Bombing of Birmingham
21st Nov Birmingham IRA bombs in 2 Birmingham pubs kill 21
1974
Bombing of Dublin
17th May Dublin Protestant car bombs in Dublin kill 22
1974
Constitution
Ulster The Assembly & power sharing executive is established
1974
Economy
Feb The RPI shows that fod prices had risen + 20% over the last year
Feb Trade figures show a defict of œ383 million, the largest on record
1974
Election
Feb An error is reported in the NCB's claim miners earn +8% national average, it is -8%
Feb Enoch Powell decides he cannot stand for the Conservatives because of their EU policy
Feb The Conservative Party win 37.9% of votes cast & 297 MPs
Feb The election's main issues are the miner's strike & "who governs Britain"
Feb The RPI shows that fod prices had risen + 20% over the last year
25th Feb Powell makes a speech asking the electorate to vote Labour because of their EC policy
1st Mar Attempts unsuccessfully to form a coaltion with the Liberals
1974
Resignation
4th Mar Coalition negotiations with leaders of the Liberal Party fail & Heath resigns as Prime Minister & is replaced by Harold Wilson & a minority Labour government
4th Mar No Party wins an election majority & negotiations with the Liberals break down
1974
Strike
Ulster Protestants stage a general strike & the Assembly collapses
Feb An error is reported in the NCB's claim miners earn +8% national average, it is -8%
Feb The election's main issues are the miner's strike & "who governs Britain"
1975
Election
4th Feb Margaret Thatcher wins 130 votes, Ted Heath 119 & Hugh Fraser 16, 1st round
11th Feb Defeated by Margaret Thatcher
11th Feb Heath's favoured candidate William Whitelaw loses to Thatcher, 146 to 79
1976
Conference of Conservatives
6th Oct Brighton Address es Conservative Party Conference for the 1st time since Thatcher's leadership
1990
Release Hostages
London Secures the release of 33 British hostages
1993
Release Hostages
9th Dec 3 British prisoners are released by the Iraqis after Heath visits Saddam Hussein
2000
Knighthood
7th June Becomes the Right Honourable Sir Edward Heath, KG, MBE
2000
Retirement
24th Oct Bexley Announces retirement from the House of Commons, 50 unbroken years as MP for Bexley
2003
Bloody Sunday