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| Edward Heath: whiff of scandal still surrounds enigmatic leader | Edward Heath: whiff of scandal still surrounds enigmatic leader |
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| For most of the last century, Conservative prime ministers were upper class, clubbable men who were expected to marry a suitably respectable woman as part of their job description. Edward Heath altered the blueprint. The son of a maid and a carpenter, he could be aloof from colleagues and disliked schmoozing with dignitaries. | For most of the last century, Conservative prime ministers were upper class, clubbable men who were expected to marry a suitably respectable woman as part of their job description. Edward Heath altered the blueprint. The son of a maid and a carpenter, he could be aloof from colleagues and disliked schmoozing with dignitaries. |
| But it was his decision to remain a bachelor and withhold any public indication of an interest in sex that fuelled 50 years of speculation about a secret gay life. Twelve years after his death, his sexual preferences are once again the subject of intense speculation. | But it was his decision to remain a bachelor and withhold any public indication of an interest in sex that fuelled 50 years of speculation about a secret gay life. Twelve years after his death, his sexual preferences are once again the subject of intense speculation. |
| Instead of claims that Heath was gay, Wiltshire police have investigated accusations that he was a paedophile whose crimes were covered up by establishment figures. Family and friends of the late premier have vehemently denied the allegations, saying he had little if any active interest in sex. | Instead of claims that Heath was gay, Wiltshire police have investigated accusations that he was a paedophile whose crimes were covered up by establishment figures. Family and friends of the late premier have vehemently denied the allegations, saying he had little if any active interest in sex. |
| Born in 1916 and brought up in Broadstairs in Kent between the wars, Heath was self-contained and studious with a talent for music, according to fellow pupils at Chatham Grammar school. At Balliol College Oxford, Heath threw himself into student politics. Contemporaries said he had little time for socialising and seemed sexually ambivalent, if not a little naive. | Born in 1916 and brought up in Broadstairs in Kent between the wars, Heath was self-contained and studious with a talent for music, according to fellow pupils at Chatham Grammar school. At Balliol College Oxford, Heath threw himself into student politics. Contemporaries said he had little time for socialising and seemed sexually ambivalent, if not a little naive. |
| According to the late Labour chancellor Denis Healey, a fellow student, Heath was noticeably shocked when told on a June afternoon that mutual acquaintances were probably in a sexual relationship. “Ted looked at me and said: ‘I can’t imagine anyone in the Conservative Association doing that,’” Healey told the documentary maker Michael Cockerell. | According to the late Labour chancellor Denis Healey, a fellow student, Heath was noticeably shocked when told on a June afternoon that mutual acquaintances were probably in a sexual relationship. “Ted looked at me and said: ‘I can’t imagine anyone in the Conservative Association doing that,’” Healey told the documentary maker Michael Cockerell. |
| Heath rose through the party after the war, entering parliament as the MP for Bexley in Kent in 1950, and was elected Tory leader in 1965. He was chosen in part because of his lower-middle-class origins as the party sought to dent the popularity of Labour leader Harold Wilson. | Heath rose through the party after the war, entering parliament as the MP for Bexley in Kent in 1950, and was elected Tory leader in 1965. He was chosen in part because of his lower-middle-class origins as the party sought to dent the popularity of Labour leader Harold Wilson. |
| Across Westminster, MPs shared unsubstantiated stories that Heath had been involved in an “incident” with a man at the beginning of the war. | Across Westminster, MPs shared unsubstantiated stories that Heath had been involved in an “incident” with a man at the beginning of the war. |
| During elections against Wilson in 1966, 1970, 1974 and 1975, the Tories suspected that Labour sought slyly to contrast the family man image of Wilson with that of the single bachelor Heath. Private Eye magazine referred to him as “Sailor Ted”, a reference to his love of yachting, but also an allusion to his alleged sexuality. | During elections against Wilson in 1966, 1970, 1974 and 1975, the Tories suspected that Labour sought slyly to contrast the family man image of Wilson with that of the single bachelor Heath. Private Eye magazine referred to him as “Sailor Ted”, a reference to his love of yachting, but also an allusion to his alleged sexuality. |
| There were no “out” lesbian or gay politicians in parliament at the time, and anyone who was exposed for being lesbian or gay could expect to be hounded out of their job. Senior Tories encouraged Heath to marry. When that failed, they encouraged Heath’s female friends to marry Heath instead. | There were no “out” lesbian or gay politicians in parliament at the time, and anyone who was exposed for being lesbian or gay could expect to be hounded out of their job. Senior Tories encouraged Heath to marry. When that failed, they encouraged Heath’s female friends to marry Heath instead. |
| Sir Tufton Beamish, an executive member of the 1922 committee, was dispatched to meet Heath’s close friend the concert pianist Moura Lympany in the early 1970s. Lympany told Cockerell that Beamish asked if she might marry the prime minister. She replied that she was in love with someone else. | Sir Tufton Beamish, an executive member of the 1922 committee, was dispatched to meet Heath’s close friend the concert pianist Moura Lympany in the early 1970s. Lympany told Cockerell that Beamish asked if she might marry the prime minister. She replied that she was in love with someone else. |
| Heath gained his only victory over Wilson in 1970 and made history by overseeing the decimalisation of UK money and taking the country into the Common Market. However, he struggled to impose discipline over some Tory MPs or the unions. | Heath gained his only victory over Wilson in 1970 and made history by overseeing the decimalisation of UK money and taking the country into the Common Market. However, he struggled to impose discipline over some Tory MPs or the unions. |
| His downfall came in 1974 after he called an unnecessary election which resulted in a hung parliament followed by a minority Labour government. The following year, Margaret Thatcher successfully challenged Heath for the party’s leadership, an act that Heath regarded as treacherous. | His downfall came in 1974 after he called an unnecessary election which resulted in a hung parliament followed by a minority Labour government. The following year, Margaret Thatcher successfully challenged Heath for the party’s leadership, an act that Heath regarded as treacherous. |
| Heath’s refusal to work closely with or forgive Thatcher for the next 25 years became known as “the longest sulk in history”. | Heath’s refusal to work closely with or forgive Thatcher for the next 25 years became known as “the longest sulk in history”. |
| Heath remained in parliament until 2001 and died four years later. In 2007, Brian Coleman, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, told the Times that Heath was warned to stop cruising for sex in public lavatories. However, no supporting evidence has been found to substantiate the claim. | Heath remained in parliament until 2001 and died four years later. In 2007, Brian Coleman, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, told the Times that Heath was warned to stop cruising for sex in public lavatories. However, no supporting evidence has been found to substantiate the claim. |
| Michael McManus, an author of a book on the Conservative party’s attitude towards gay rights who worked for Heath for five years, wrote that his former employer “was a gay man who had sacrificed his personal life to his political career, exercising iron self-control and living a celibate existence”. | Michael McManus, an author of a book on the Conservative party’s attitude towards gay rights who worked for Heath for five years, wrote that his former employer “was a gay man who had sacrificed his personal life to his political career, exercising iron self-control and living a celibate existence”. |
| Heath declined to talk about his personal life until his death, insisting that it was “not something one should talk about.” What is certain is that the private life of one of Britain’s most enigmatic prime ministers is still under intense scrutiny, more than 100 years after his birth. | Heath declined to talk about his personal life until his death, insisting that it was “not something one should talk about.” What is certain is that the private life of one of Britain’s most enigmatic prime ministers is still under intense scrutiny, more than 100 years after his birth. |