Tributes pour in for Britain’s ‘political giant’ Edward Heath

LONDON – Tributes poured in yesterday for former British leader Sir Edward Heath who has died aged 89, with fellow political veteran Margaret Thatcher describing him as a “political giant” and Prime Minister Tony Blair calling him a “man of great integrity”.

Heath, most famously remembered for leading Britain into Europe, passed away on Sunday after growing weak in recent days, a spokesman said. Despite only serving one term in office from 1970 until 1974, He famously took Britain into what was then the European Economic Community, the forerunner to the European Union.It was a rare moment of triumph during Heath’s time in Downing Street, which was sandwiched between terms for the far more popular Labour Party prime minister Harold Wilson.In a formidable political career, Heath led the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975 when he was succeeded by the then-largely untested Thatcher.He felt snubbed and never forgave Thatcher, lapsing into what was popularly dubbed “the longest sulk in modern politics”.Friends say his feelings towards her mellowed after she, too, left Downing Street and she offered warm words of tribute.”Ted Heath was a political giant,” Thatcher said.”He was also, in every sense, the first modern Conservative leader – by his humble background, his grammar school education and by the fact of his democratic election,” she said.She praised his work during the difficult post-World War II era.”For that, and much else besides, we are all in his debt,” she said.Heath, the lower middle class son of a carpenter and a domestic servant who won a place at Oxford University from his local state school, was viewed by his then-largely patrician party as a useful weapon with which to counteract Wilson’s man-of-the-people image.Yet despite his background, Heath lacked any sort of common touch.He antagonised many political rivals and established few real allies, either in the party or in the wider country.Despite only serving one term in office from 1970 until 1974, He famously took Britain into what was then the European Economic Community, the forerunner to the European Union.It was a rare moment of triumph during Heath’s time in Downing Street, which was sandwiched between terms for the far more popular Labour Party prime minister Harold Wilson.In a formidable political career, Heath led the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975 when he was succeeded by the then-largely untested Thatcher.He felt snubbed and never forgave Thatcher, lapsing into what was popularly dubbed “the longest sulk in modern politics”.Friends say his feelings towards her mellowed after she, too, left Downing Street and she offered warm words of tribute.”Ted Heath was a political giant,” Thatcher said.”He was also, in every sense, the first modern Conservative leader – by his humble background, his grammar school education and by the fact of his democratic election,” she said.She praised his work during the difficult post-World War II era.”For that, and much else besides, we are all in his debt,” she said.Heath, the lower middle class son of a carpenter and a domestic servant who won a place at Oxford University from his local state school, was viewed by his then-largely patrician party as a useful weapon with which to counteract Wilson’s man-of-the-people image.Yet despite his background, Heath lacked any sort of common touch.He antagonised many political rivals and established few real allies, either in the party or in the wider country.