Edward Heath rapidly raised to power, he was appointed a junior whip in 1951 then promoted to Chief Whip in 1955. He was appointed Minister of Labour in 1959. in 1960 Lord Privy Seal, in 1963 President of the Board of Trade. In 1964 the Conservative party lost the general election and its current leader, Alec Douglas-Home, stepped down not long after but not after changing the leadership election rules, which made it easier for the rank and file to win the leadership.
Edward Heath was elected leader of the Conservative Party in 1965, being the first “commoner” to take power of the Conservatives. Edward Heath later won the 1970 General Election for the Conservative Party on the 'Selsdon