Speculation about Heath’s future

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33665, 15 October 1974, Page 19

Speculation about Heath’s future

X.z P. 4 -Reuter — Copyright > LONDON. October 14. Returned to power, but with an over-all majority of only three in Parliament, the British Prime Minister Mr W ilson 1 will appear on television tonight to explain his Labour Gosernment’s priorities in the fight against inflation.

As the Labour Part}’ prepares its legislative programme after its j narrow election victory last Thursday, the Conservatives begin a critical study of Mr Edward I Heath's party leadership. Calls for Mr Heath’s resignation, after the second Conservative electoral defeat this year, have already come from within the party, and proposals for his successor are likely to be advanced today at a private meeting of the party’s 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers in the House of Commons. The “Daily Telepgraph," whose editorials normally support the Conservatives, reports today that Sir Keith Joseph, a former Tory, Cabinet Minister and outspoken critic of Labour’s’ economic policies, has wide support within the party, and is favoured more than the party chairman, Mr William Whitelaw. Sir Keith, who is the party’s spokesman on home! affairs, is known to have dis-j agreed with Mr Heath on economic matters. Another strong contender! for the leadership is a former partv chairman, Mr Edward Du Cann.

Quick decision? The Conservative Party procedure for electing leaders is to hold a secret ballot of its Parliamentary representatives. The main case for any delay is to allow time for a natural successor to emerge, and to allow the party to first work out its Parliamentary strategy and priorities. But opinion seems to be veering towards a quick decision, to avoid prolonged internal bickerings and lobbying, and to help the new man to settle in before emotions become too much aroused.

Mr Heath spent the weekend quietly with friends, and attended a belated birthday for his father, Mr William Heath, who was 86 on election day. According to some sources, Mr Heath is likely to tell Conservative members of Parliament soon after the! House of Commons con-!

venes on October 29 that he is readv to go whenever the party thinks suitable. \\ nnon'ti bill Mr Wilson spent the weekend at the Prime Minister’s official country residence. Chequers, catching up with Government business which fell behind during the election campaign, and preparing for his television speech tonight. He is expected to make a genera] call for support from both business and labour for the Government’s plans to cut the rate of inflation, now estimated to be running at nearly 17 per cent.

I Full details of Labour’s economic programme are not i expected until the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Denis Healey) presents his Budget inext month. Tonight, Mr Wilson is likely to caution listeners about the need for some belt-tightening by consumers. Labour’s plans for

nationalising key sectors of the economy have worried industry, and Mr Wilson's speech will probablv be a bid to infuse confidence in the business community. There could be short-term measures to encourage exports, and proposals likclv to appeal to the 11 Scottish and three Welsh Nationalists in the new Parliament, whose support Mr Wilson will need should som«> of his members be absent from the House.