Word: heathe
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...Wilson is the Artful Dodger of British politics. Throughout his long parliamentary career, he has demonstrated an uncanny ability to move swiftly from position to position as the moment dictates. In the days immediately following last month's election, Wilson sounded almost as conservative as Tory Leader Edward Heath in talking about the need for national unity to solve Britain's economic problems. But last week, in the Queen's speech from the throne outlining the government's policy for the year ahead, Wilson seemed very much an orthodox socialist...
...policy toward South Africa. If they could not support the government, he told them bluntly, they had one choice-to get out. As for the program itself, it remains to be seen how-and how fast-Wilson intends to carry out the program. In any case, as Heath quickly pointed out in the House of Commons, the government proposals are largely irrelevant to Britain's present problems: how to slow inflation and boost the economy at the same time. Conservatives charged that nationalization of oil would only worsen Britain's already serious balance of payments deficit, which...
...Valid as Heath's points were, his desultory, halfhearted riposte pointed up Britain's lack of a strong Conservative alternative to Labor. In commenting on Wilson's references to economic crisis, Heath spent much of the debate following the throne speech in a tired, I-told-you-so reprise of the recent campaign, self-righteously observing that he had said things would get worse. Wilson merely pointed his finger back, recalling that he too had said things would get worse...
...embarrassing absence of applause that followed Heath's speech indicated clearly that he is now no more than a caretaker leader of the Tories. As a three-time loser, Heath would undoubtedly be ousted as party leader-if only there were someone to replace him. At week's end a group of Tory backbenchers, the powerful 1922 Committee, gave him a rousing vote of nonsupport. Of the 21 attending a meeting of the committee, only two said they were for Heath. However, Heath's own preferred successor, former Northern Ireland Proconsul William Whitelaw, is disparaged by much...
...finally there is the case of the man whom many Tories saw as Heath's most attractive successor, Sir Keith Joseph, onetime Social Services Minister. Sir Keith has been laid low by a severe case of political harakiri. In a singularly maladroit (and largely inaccurate) speech early last month, he attacked the British lower classes for promiscuity and excessive breeding practices. Because of this, he is not expected to survive politically...