Was the Heath government a total failure?
Was the Heath government a total failure? It is undoubtedly true that during Heath’s time in office, 1970-1975, he faced many difficulties, many of them at the hands of the Trade Unions, which made his time in government difficult to make any progress. However it cannot be denied that the Heath Government did make some successes, and considering the harsh times that Heath faced, it could be argued that the Heath government was not a total failure and instead was one that had experienced lot of bad luck. The Heath government was not a total failure as when he came into office in 1970, he marked changed throughout Britain, mainly because Heath himself came in with a ‘bustle of no-nonsense efficiency’ and many saw that it was what Britain needed. One of Heath’s first successes was the establishment of a New Relations Court, made by legislation, similar to that of Barbara Castle. This was a success for Heath as it would see fair play for workers and employers, and end industrial anarchy that had bedevilled the country. This showed that Heath knew what he wanted and had the determination to get what he wanted, an important characteristic that made the public have hope that Heath could get them out of the situation they had lived in for years. Therefore, you could argue that the Heath government made legislations based on the public needs, which shows a successful government that was not a total failure. Even though Heath showed his will to get things right, as anyone would, he made many mistakes and drove Britain into even harsher times. The aim to reduce government’s involvement in the economy began to lose focus when Rolls Royce rain into difficulties in its aero engine operation, and had to be bailed out with government money in 1971 meaning that the government had to nationalise one of the most prestigious companies. After this, Heath’s administration increasingly became one of intervention. This change in policy seemed essential with the rapid rise of