Edward Heath the Liberal Party. Despite losing a second general election in October that year, he vowed to continue as leader of his party. In February 1975, Margaret Thatcher challenged and defeated him to win the leadership. Returning to the backbenches, Heath became an active critic of Thatcher's leadership. He remained a backbench MP until retiring at the 2001 election, serving as the Father of the House for his last nine years in Parliament. Outside politics, Heath was a world-class yachtsman and a talented musician. He died in 2005, aged 89. He is one of only four British prime ministers never to
Heath Caper a smear. Heath Caper The Heath Caper was an alleged plot by the KGB and the Czechoslovakian secret service (StB) to gain blackmail leverage over British Conservative politician Edward Heath. Josef Frolik, published details of the alleged plot in his memoirs in 1975. In 2012 the BBC interviewed Jan Mrazek, the supposed StB handler, who denied any involvement. The archives did not contradict him, however they did disagree with some of his general claims. Jan Mrazek claimed were made that George Kennedy Young, a former member of MI6, and on the opposite wing of the Conservative Party had initiated the