NationStates Jolt Archive


Edward Heath dies

Swimmingpool
17-07-2005, 23:52
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4691051.stm

Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath has died at the age of 89.

His successor Lady Thatcher said he was a "political giant" and "in every sense the first modern Conservative leader".

Sir Edward, who was knighted in 1992, won his first seat for the Tories in Bexley in 1950 and led the 1970-74 Conservative Government.

He took Britain into the European Economic Community and sent troops to Northern Ireland. His leadership was lost to Margaret Thatcher in 1975.

Lady Thatcher said he was the first modern leader for the party, "by his humble background, by his grammar school education and by the fact of his democratic election".

Prime minister Tony Blair said: "He was a man of great integrity and beliefs he held firmly from which he never wavered.

"He will be remembered by all who knew him as a political leader of great stature and significance."

Earlier on Sunday Sir Edward's spokesman had revealed he was gravely ill and receiving medical attention at home.

The former premier had celebrated his 89th birthday with a party at his home in Salisbury a week ago.

"Enormous patriot"

Sir Edward's term in office was blighted by industrial action and problems with the economy.

With the country on a three-day week and rubbish piling up in the streets, the miners threatened to bring his government down.

Industrial unrest, combined with economic difficulties, led to the Tories being pushed from power in February 1974.

Sir Edward never forgave Mrs Thatcher for ousting him as leader and refused to serve in her cabinet.

When asked in a TV interview if it was true that when Mrs Thatcher was herself deposed he said "rejoice, rejoice," he joked: "I think I said it three times."

After more than 50 years as an MP he retired from politics in 2001.

His former colleague Lord Walker said history would "give him a high rating", adding that he was a "very great man and an enormous patriot".

Former Labour chancellor Denis Healey said Sir Edward had been a friend for many years after the pair met at Oxford University.

"I liked him very much and I think he represented the sensible wing of the Tory Party but of course like others, Ken Clarke and Geoffrey Howe in particular, they could just not win over the extreme ring-wing Conservatives."

In 2003, Sir Edward's health deteriorated while he was on holiday in Austria.

He was being treated for a minor stomach upset at Salzburg's main hospital when tests revealed he was suffering from a pulmonary embolism - a blood clot on the lung.

Sir Edward, a bachelor, was famed for his love of music and sailing, in which he competed at international level.

Heath, named in the Beatles song "Taxman", brought Britain into the EU, but his premiership was also marked by severe violence in Northern Ireland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Heath
Gataway_Driver
17-07-2005, 23:54
One of the greatest PM's we will ever have. :(
Bodies Without Organs
18-07-2005, 00:03
Goodbye, sailor.
Nimzonia
18-07-2005, 00:26
I used to live in Heath's constituency of Old Bexley and Sidcup for years. I can't say I particularly care that he's dead.
Gataway_Driver
18-07-2005, 00:28
I used to live in Heath's constituency of Old Bexley and Sidcup for years. I can't say I particularly care that he's dead.

No I mean its not like he did much :rolleyes:
Swimmingpool
18-07-2005, 00:34
I used to live in Heath's constituency of Old Bexley and Sidcup for years. I can't say I particularly care that he's dead.
Neither do I really. I just find it odd that he died soon after Jim Callaghan.
Nimzonia
18-07-2005, 00:43
No I mean its not like he did much :rolleyes:

Don't you :rolleyes: at me, villein. Reagan did stuff too, but I don't particularly care that he's dead either.
Gataway_Driver
18-07-2005, 00:50
Don't you :rolleyes: at me, villein. Reagan did stuff too, but I don't particularly care that he's dead either.

Yes but Reagan wasn't the PM of the UK now was he?
Nimzonia
18-07-2005, 00:54
Yes but Reagan wasn't the PM of the UK now was he?

In that case, I won't care when Thatcher, Major and Blair are dead either. Being Prime Minister doesn't put someone at the top of my 'give a shit if they died' list.
Gataway_Driver
18-07-2005, 00:59
In that case, I won't care when Thatcher, Major and Blair are dead either. Being Prime Minister doesn't put someone at the top of my 'give a shit if they died' list.

You won't even take the time to appreciate how these people have affected your life?
Nimzonia
18-07-2005, 01:12
You won't even take the time to appreciate how these people have affected your life?

Not really, no. It's what we pay them for, and it's not like there'd be nobody to do it if they didn't.
Nadkor
18-07-2005, 01:14
RIP

Seems to have been a decent enough guy.
Gataway_Driver
18-07-2005, 01:15
Not really, no. It's what we pay them for, and it's not like there'd be nobody to do it if they didn't.

LOL You think they do it for the money? Well I must say thats a very cold cynical view on the world but hey all of us politicians are cold, heartless bastards anyway.
Nimzonia
18-07-2005, 01:20
LOL You think they do it for the money? Well I must say thats a very cold cynical view on the world but hey all of us politicians are cold, heartless bastards anyway.

I didn't say that. My meaning was that it is merely a necessary public office that someone is paid to fulfill, and there are plenty of people capable of fulfilling it. Doing it for idealism rather than money doesn't make someone particularly more impressive either, as there are millions of idealists of every flavour, and the nation isn't expected to give a thought for them when they kick the bucket.
Alien Born
18-07-2005, 01:26
I wonder how many of the people who commented here actually remember him being PM. I do. They were difficult times for any politician. Yes he sent the troops in to NI, but not unprovoked. Yes he lost battles with the unions, but he fought hard. He did represent a more moderate conservatism, and his destruction by the radical left opened the door for Thatcher and the hard line right wing to enter power in the UK. No he was not the greatest of British MPs but he was true to his beliefs at all times. An observation that can not be made of too many current politicians. RIP
Gataway_Driver
18-07-2005, 01:32
I didn't say that. My meaning was that it is merely a necessary public office that someone is paid to fulfill, and there are plenty of people capable of fulfilling it.

A lot less than you think.

Doing it for idealism rather than money doesn't make someone particularly more impressive either, as there are millions of idealists of every flavour, and the nation isn't expected to give a thought for them when they kick the bucket.

Idealism? Again you think that the PM works towards their own utopia? No what he did was improve the economy an international relations to help put us in the place we are in now.
But lets not stop at what he did when he was PM, born a son of a builder to be involved in the D-day landings. Then to become an mp in 1950, 10 years on he becomes PM and successfully leads us into the ECC at the objection to much of his own party. He pretty much commited political suicide.

But hey like you say anyone can do that.
Gataway_Driver
18-07-2005, 01:35
I wonder how many of the people who commented here actually remember him being PM. I do. They were difficult times for any politician. Yes he sent the troops in to NI, but not unprovoked. Yes he lost battles with the unions, but he fought hard. He did represent a more moderate conservatism, and his destruction by the radical left opened the door for Thatcher and the hard line right wing to enter power in the UK. No he was not the greatest of British MPs but he was true to his beliefs at all times. An observation that can not be made of too many current politicians. RIP

I don't remember him because I was born during the Thatcher era. All the knowledge I have of him is due to my Uni degree. He's the conservative I would probably support most especialy with his views on Europe
Nimzonia
18-07-2005, 01:40
But hey like you say anyone can do that.

Well, pardon me if I don't join you in the Ted Heath cult of personality.
Gataway_Driver
18-07-2005, 01:45
Well, pardon me if I don't join you in the Ted Heath cult of personality.

LOL. I support the Lib Dems but you gotta see the qualities of the opposition and believe me he was good.
It just annoy's me how people can just brush aside these people when they die because they are not in the public eye. People just say oh well. Sad really