Conservative Government
19 June 1970 - 4 March 1974
The Conservatives only gained a slim majority in the June 1970 election with 330 sears to Labour's 288 and the Liberals' six. Despite early attempts to liberalise the economy, strikes and rising unemployment caused a return to inflationary policies. The combination of yet more strikes, rising inflation and the oil crisis hindered Heath's government, which began to enforce a three day working week in early 1974 due to a coal miner's strike.
| Position | Name | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | E. Heath | 19 Jun 70 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Lord President | W. Whitelaw | 20 Jun 70 - 7 Apr 72 |
| R. Carr | 7 Apr 72 - 5 Nov 72 | |
| J. Prior | 5 Nov 72 - 4 Mar 74 | |
| Lord Chancellor | Q. Hogg | 20 Jun 70 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Lord Privy Seal | Earl of Jellicoe | 20 Jun 70 - 5 Jun 73 |
| Lord Windlesham | 5 Jun 73 - 4 Mar 74 | |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | I. MacLeod | 20 Jun 70 - 25 Jul 70 |
| A. Barber | 25 Jul 70 - 4 Mar 74 | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Sir A. Douglas-Home | 20 Jun 70 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Secretary of State for Home Affairs | R. Maudling | 20 Jun 70 - 18 Jul 72 |
| R. Carr | 18 Jul 72 - 4 Mar 74 | |
| Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | J.Prior | 20 Jun 70 - 5 Nov 72 |
| J. Godber | 5 Nov 72 - 4 Mar 74 | |
| Minister for Defence | Lord Carrington | 20 Jun 70 - 8 Jan 74 |
| I. Gilmour | 8 Jan 74 - 4 Mar 74 | |
| Secretarty of State for Education and Science | M. Thatcher | 20 Jun 70 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Minister for Employment and Productivity | R. Carr | 20 Jun 70 - 7 Apr 72 |
| M. Macmillan | 7 Apr 72 - 2 Dec 73 | |
| W. Whitelaw | 2 Dec 73 - 4 Mar 74 | |
| Secretary of State for Energy | Lord Carrington | 8 Jan 74 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Minister for the Environment | P. Walker | 15 Oct 70 - 5 Nov 72 |
| G. Rippon | 5 Nov 72 - 4 Mar 74 | |
| Secretary of State for Social Security | Sir K. Joseph | 20 Jun 70 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Minister for Housing and Local Government | P. Walker | 20 Jun 70 - 15 Oct 70 |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | A. Barber | 2 Jun 70 - 28 Jul 70 |
| G. Rippon | 28 Jul 70 - 5 Nov 72 | |
| J. Davies | 5 Nov 72 - 4 Mar 74 | |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | W. Whitelaw | 24 Mar 72 - 2 Dec 73 |
| F. Pym | 2 Dec 73 - 4 Mar 74 | |
| Paymaster-General | M. Macmillan | 2 Dec 73 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | G. Campbell | 20 Jun 70 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Minister for Technology | G. Rippon | 20 Jun 74 - 28 Jul 70 |
| J. Davies | 28 Jul 70 - 15 Oct 70 | |
| President of the Board of Trade | M. Noble | 20 Jun 70 - 15 Oct 70 |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and President of the Board of Trade | J. Davies | 15 Oct 70 - 5 Nov 72 |
| Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and President of the Board of Trade | P. Walker | 5 Nov 72 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Minister for Trade and Consumer Affairs | Sir G. Howe | 5 Nov 72 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Secretary of State for Wales | P. Thomas | 20 Jun 70 - 4 Mar 74 |
| R. Gunter | 6 Apr 68 - 1 Jul 68 | |
| R. Mason | 1 Jul 68 - 19 Jun 70 | |
| A. Benn | 4 Jul 66 - 19 Jun 70 | |
| A. Crosland | 29 Aug 67 - 6 Oct 69 | |
| R. Mason | 6 Oct 69 - 19 Jun 70 | |
| Minister for Transport | T. Fraser | 18 Oct 64 - 23 Dec 65 |
| B. Castle | 23 Dec 65 - 6 Apr 68 | |
| R. Marsh | 6 Apr 68 - 19 Jun 70 | |
| Secretary of State for Wales | J. Griffiths | 18 Oct 64 - 6 Apr 66 |
| C. Hughes | 6 Apr 66 - 6 Apr 68 | |
| G. Thomas | 6 Apr 68 - 19 Jun 70 |
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