I've used my lunch break to read up on the Feb 74 election: while Heath was entitled to do what he did, and people at the time argued that it was indeed his duty, it was a mistake for 3 reasons -

- he used up his option. He could have let Wilson try to form a government, and fail, and then have had his own turn

- it pissed off his own party, because it looked bad to have the govt hanging on over the weekend after the election

- it made him look like a bad loser, so he was finished after that however right he may have been

Gordo take note?

Btw, he couldn't do a deal with the Libs because he knew his own party wouldn't agree to electoral reform. Plus ca change...