Sir Edward Richard George Heath (1916-) entered the British parliament as a member of the Conservative party in 1950. After holding several ministerial posts he became leader of the party, then in opposition, in 1965. As leader of the opposition he travelled extensively throughout Britain, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Australia and the Far East, and wrote and lectured widely on his major preoccupation--Britain's relationship with Europe.

The conservatives won the 1970 general election and Heath became prime minister. During his administration Britain signed the Treaty of Accession and entered the European Community (1973), restrictions of immigration from Commonwealth countries was imposed and legislation to improve industrial relations, which would prove to be ineffective, was introduced.

In the early 1970s soaring inflation and economic instability resulted in a series of major industrial disputes. The miners' strike reduced power supplies so significantly that the country was temporarily reduced to a three-day working week.

The Conservative party lost the general election in 1974. A year later, Heath lost the party leadership to Margaret Thatcher.