Byrne, C, Randall, N and Theakston, K orcid.org/0000-0002-9939-7516 (2020) Edward Heath: Leadership Competence and Capability. In: Roe-Crines, AS and Heppell, T, (eds.) Policies and Politics Under Prime Minister Edward Heath. Palgrave Studies in Political Leadership . Palgrave Macmillan , pp. 317-354. ISBN 978-3-030-53672-5
Abstract
The aim of this chapter is to reassess Edward Heath from a leadership competence and capability perspective. The chapter utilises a modified version of Stephen Skowronek’s account of leadership in ‘political time’ to the evaluation of Heath as Prime Minister. It is conducted via the following approach. First, by drawing upon his speeches as Leader of the Opposition between 1965 and 1970, the chapter identifies Heath as an affiliate of the political regime he inherited after the General Election of 1970. Second, by drawing upon archival research in the National Archives, the chapter characterises the regime difficulties Heath encountered in office, paying close attention to problems of economic management, worsening industrial relations, electoral dealignment, the fracturing of the party system and growing anti-immigration sentiment. Third, the chapter concludes that Heath is best characterised as a ‘disjunctive’ leader. We conclude by offering an evaluation of the performance of Heath as Prime Minister, which recognises the challenges he was confronting, and strategies available to him and disjunctive leaders in general, and the unique circumstances of the Heath government in particular. [183].
Metadata
Item Type: | Book Section |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2021. This version of the chapter has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use (https://www.springernature.com/gp/open-research/policies/accepted-manuscript-terms), but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53673-2_14 |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Politics & International Studies (POLIS) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 28 Aug 2020 14:19 |
Last Modified: | 15 Feb 2024 13:02 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53673-2 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Palgrave Macmillan |
Series Name: | Palgrave Studies in Political Leadership |
Identification Number: | 0.1007/978-3-030-53673-2_14 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:164892 |