The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation’s Westminster Lectures series got underway last week — and the opening event set a high bar. UCEC’s CEO Neil Carmichael, who serves as a trustee of the Foundation, was among those present for what proved to be a substantive and timely evening at Europe House, home of the European Parliament Liaison Office in the UK, which has generously joined the Foundation in delivering this and future events in the series.
The inaugural lecture was delivered by the Rt Hon Dominic Grieve KC, whose analysis of Ted Heath’s government — its achievements, its courage, and its enduring legacy — was, by all accounts, powerful, carefully argued, and grounded in evidence. Central to Grieve’s case was a striking economic fact: that Britain enjoyed its highest average levels of economic growth across its entire history during the 43 years of EU membership that began with Heath’s achievement in securing accession in 1973. That is not a trivial claim, and Grieve did not make it lightly. He attributed that record directly to Heath’s courage, vision and foresight — qualities that are, in the current political climate, worth naming plainly.
The evening also carried a personal dimension for Neil. Three former chairs of the Conservative Group for Europe were present — Dominic Grieve, Bob Walter, and Neil himself — all of whom knew Heath through their respective roles in an organisation of which he was a long-standing President. It was a reminder that the values Heath championed — internationalism, engagement, the patient building of relationships across borders — were not abstract principles but ones he pursued with consistency and conviction throughout his public life.
“The Rt Hon Dominic Grieve KC gave a powerful, thoughtful and evidence-based analysis of Ted Heath’s government, his achievements and legacy. Dominic noted Britain enjoyed the highest average level of economic growth throughout its history during the period of EU membership — the 43 years from 1973. Dominic attributed this success to Heath’s courage, vision and foresight in seeking and achieving membership of the European Union.”
— Neil Carmichael, UCEC
The series continues, and the next lecture is one that will resonate strongly with UCEC’s own work. On Thursday 11 September, also at Europe House, the Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP — Chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee — will speak on the subject of economic growth through trade with China. It is a topic that connects directly to Heath’s legacy: it was during his tenure that Britain made a significant contribution to the opening of diplomatic relations with China in the 1970s, a piece of political foresight whose importance has only grown with time.
For UCEC, whose own engagement with China reflects exactly the kind of long-term international relationship-building Heath believed in, the September lecture is a particularly fitting occasion. The argument that Britain’s prosperity depends on serious, sustained engagement with China is one UCEC has been making through its work. It is encouraging to see it being made at Westminster level too.
Thursday 11 September · Europe House, London
The Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee
