Edward Heath

Heath led the Conservative Party to victory in the 1970 general election, defeating Harold Wilson. He became Prime Minister with a mandate to reform industrial relations and join the European Economic Community.

Heath signed the Treaty of Accession, bringing the United Kingdom into the European Economic Community on January 1, 1973. This ended years of negotiations and was a major step in European integration.

Heath's government faced a miners' strike over pay, leading to the Three-Day Week to conserve electricity. The crisis forced a general election in February 1974, which Heath lost.

Heath called a snap election on the issue of 'Who governs Britain?' but failed to win a majority. Labour formed a minority government under Harold Wilson, ending Heath's premiership.

After losing a second election in October 1974, Heath was defeated in the Conservative leadership contest by Margaret Thatcher. He resigned as party leader, marking a shift to the right.