Second Heath shadow cabinet
The Second Shadow Cabinet of Edward Heath was created after the Conservative Party lost the February 1974 general election. It was led by the [Leader of the Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party (UK)|Leader of the Conservative Party] Edward Heath and featured prominent Conservative politicians both past and future. Included was Heath's successor Margaret Thatcher, the future Home Secretary William Whitelaw, and two future Foreign Secretaries, Lord Carrington and Francis Pym.
History
For the first time in history, a leadership election was held in 1975 for the Conservative Party whilst the position was not vacant. Margaret Thatcher challenged Heath, with whom the majority of the party was dissatisfied because of repeated losses at elections. She won, becoming the first female leader of a major political party in Britain.Shadow cabinet list
Initial Shadow Cabinet
Heath announced his new Shadow Cabinet on 12 March 1974.- Edward Heath – Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party
- Alec Douglas-Home – Shadow Foreign Secretary
- William Whitelaw – Shadow Secretary of State for Employment
- Robert Carr – Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Jim Prior – Shadow Home Secretary
- Margaret Thatcher – Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment
- Peter Walker – Shadow Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Consumer Affairs
- Peter Thomas – Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
- Francis Pym – Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Ian Gilmour – Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
- Geoffrey Howe – Shadow Secretary of State for Social Services
- Patrick Jenkin – Shadow Secretary of State for Energy
- Alick Buchanan-Smith – Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
- William van Straubenzee – Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science
- The Lord Windlesham – Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords
- The Lord Carrington - Chairman of the Conservative Party
- Maurice Macmillan – Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- Geoffrey Rippon – Shadow Minister for Europe
- The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone, Keith Joseph and Anthony Barber – Shadow Minister without Portfolio
- Humphrey Atkins – Opposition Chief Whip
June 1974 reshuffle
On 13 June 1974, a reshuffle saw Peter Carington replaced as party chair by William Whitelaw which coincided with Macmillan and Barber returning to the backbench.- Edward Heath – Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party
- Alec Douglas-Home – Shadow Foreign Secretary
- William Whitelaw – Chairman of the Conservative Party
- Robert Carr – Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Keith Joseph – Shadow Home Secretary
- Jim Prior – Shadow Secretary of State for Employment
- Margaret Thatcher – Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment
- Peter Walker – Shadow Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Consumer Affairs
- Peter Thomas – Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
- Francis Pym – Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Ian Gilmour – Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
- Geoffrey Howe – Shadow Secretary of State for Social Services
- Patrick Jenkin – Shadow Secretary of State for Energy
- Alick Buchanan-Smith – Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
- William van Straubenzee – Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science
- The Lord Windlesham – Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords
- David Howell – Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- Geoffrey Rippon – Shadow Minister for Europe
- The Lord Carrington - Shadow Minister with special responsibility for Britain in the EEC
- The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone – Shadow Minister without Portfolio
- Humphrey Atkins – Opposition Chief Whip
- 19 June 1974 - Norman St John-Stevas replaces William van Straubenzee as Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science, who leaves the Shadow Cabinet. Peter Walker moves to defence, Ian Gilmour to Northern Ireland. Michael Heseltine joines the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Paul Channon joins at Consumer Affairs.
- August 1974 - Alec Douglas-Home steps down as Shadow Foreign Secretary and is replaced by Geoffrey Rippon
November 1974 reshuffle
Following the October 1974 general election Heath reshuffled his Shadow Cabinet on 7 November 1974.- Edward Heath – Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party
- Robert Carr – Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Keith Joseph – Shadow Home Secretary
- Geoffrey Rippon – Shadow Foreign Secretary
- William Whitelaw – Chairman of the Conservative Party
- Jim Prior – Shadow Secretary of State for Employment
- Paul Channon – Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment
- Michael Heseltine – Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
- Peter Thomas – Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
- Francis Pym – Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Peter Walker – Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
- Geoffrey Howe – Shadow Secretary of State for Social Services
- Patrick Jenkin – Shadow Secretary of State for Energy
- Alick Buchanan-Smith – Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
- Norman St John-Stevas – Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science
- The Lord Windlesham – Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords
- Margaret Thatcher – Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- Timothy Raison – Shadow Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs
- Ian Gilmour – Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- The Lord Carrington – Shadow Minister for Europe
- The Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone – Shadow Minister without Portfolio
- Humphrey Atkins – Opposition Chief Whip