Sir Edward Heath dies aged 89
Sir Edward Heath, former Conservative prime minister and the man who led Britain into the EEC, has died at home in Salisbury, aged 89.
The exact reason for his death is unknown but Sir Edward survived a health scare two years ago when he was flown home from a holiday in Austria after suffering a pulmonary embolism.
Leading the tributes was Tony Blair who said Sir Edward was “a man of great integrity” and deeply held, unwavering, beliefs.
“He will be remembered by all who knew him as a political leader of great stature and significance.”
Tory leader Michael Howard described the former prime minister as “one of the political giants of the second half of the 20th century.”
Margaret Thatcher, who ousted Sir Edward as leader of the Tory party, described him as “a political giant”.
Baroness Thatcher said Mr Heath was “in every sense” the first modern Tory leader due to his “humble background, grammar school education and by the fact of his democratic election.”
Sir Edward was a Tory MP for 51 years and served as premier from 1970 to 1974, between Labour’s Harold Wilson’s two separate terms in office.
His 1970-74 administration was blighted by industrial action and problems with the economy, resulting in the three-day week and threats by miners to bring down the government.
The Tories lost power in 1974, after Sir Edward called an election famously asking voters “who governs Britain?”
Having received a knighthood in 1992, Sir Edward finally retired from politics in 2001.
