Edward Heath
Search results
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, PC, FRS, FSS (11 March 1916 – 24 May 1995) was a British statesman and Labour Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from October 1964 to June 1970 and again from March 1974 to April 1976.
- Edward Heath
- Labour
- 2, including Robin
- James Callaghan
Apr 17, 2024 · Harold Wilson (born March 11, 1916, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England—died May 24, 1995, London) was a Labour Party politician who was prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1976.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Overview
- Major acts
- Interesting facts
- Biography
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
Labour 1964 to 1970, 1974 to 1976
As Prime Minister Harold Wilson enacted social reforms in education, health, housing, gender equality, price controls, pensions, provisions for disabled people and child poverty.
Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965: suspended the death penalty in England, Wales and Scotland. Sexual Offences Act 1967: decriminalisation of certain homosexual offences.
In 1969 he was struck in the eye by a stink bomb thrown by a schoolboy. Wilson’s response was "with an arm like that he ought to be in the English cricket XI″
Harold Wilson, the son of a chemist and teacher, was born in Yorkshire during the First World War. In 1924, aged 8, he visited 10 Downing Street, which would eventually become his home.
He studied Modern History for a year before transferring to Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University, graduating with a first class BA.
The Labour politician entered Parliament in 1945 as MP for Ormskirk and later becoming MP for Huyton. In 1947, then Prime Minister Clement Attlee made Wilson President of the Board of Trade. Aged 31, he had become the youngest member of the Cabinet in the 20th century.
Under Hugh Gaitskell’s leadership of the Labour party, Wilson served as Shadow Chancellor from 1955 to 1961, then as Shadow Foreign Secretary from 1961 to 1963. After Gaitskell passed away suddenly, Wilson fought and won a leadership contest against George Brown and James Callaghan. As Labour leader, he won 4 of the 5 General Elections he contested, although this includes a minority government.
His first election victory on 15 October 1964 saw him win with a small majority of 4, which increased significantly to 98 after a second General Election on 31 March 1966. As Prime Minister from 1964 to 1970, his main plan was to modernise. He believed that he would be aided by the “white heat of the technological revolution”. His government supported backbench MPs in liberalising laws on censorship, divorce, abortion, and homosexuality, and he abolished capital punishment. Crucial steps were taken towards stopping discrimination against women and ethnic minorities, and Wilson’s government also created the Open University.
In comparison, his outlook on foreign affairs was less modernising. He wanted to maintain Britain’s world role by keeping the Commonwealth united and nurturing the Anglo-American alliance. For example, his approach to the Vietnam War saw him skilfully balance modernist ambitions with Anglo-American interests when, despite repeated American requests, he kept British troops out while still maintaining good relations. Wilson biographer Philip Ziegler characterises his role as “honest broker”.
Harold Wilson was the Labour Prime Minister from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1976, leading a minority government in each period. He enacted social reforms in education, health, housing, gender equality and more. He also supported the UK's membership of the EEC and the Anglo-American alliance, but faced challenges such as sterling crises and the Vietnam War.
People also ask
When did Harold Wilson resign?
When did Harold Wilson become Prime Minister?
Who painted Harold Wilson?
Who was Harold Wilson?
Nov 17, 2019 · Here's what to know about the real Harold Wilson, his career as a Labour Party politician during a period of massive social change, and his friendly working relationship with the queen. Wilson served as Prime Minister twice.
- Samantha Vincenty
- Senior Staff Writer
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 – 24 May 1995) was one of the most prominent British politicians of the 20th century. He was an MP from 1945 to 1983.
Apr 27, 2019 · A profile of Harold Wilson, who led the Labour Party for 13 years and won four general elections, but resigned in 1976 without revealing his reasons. Learn about his personality, politics, achievements and controversies in this obituary from 1995.
May 25, 1995 · James Harold Wilson happened to be prime minister leading a left wing party at a time when the mores of post-war political and economic change in Britain (and elsewhere) were just beginning to...
