WikipediaExtracts:Harold Wilson

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James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx (11 March 1916 – 23 May 1995), was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1976. He was Leader of the Labour Party from 1963 to 1976, Leader of the Opposition twice — from 1963 to 1964 and from 1970 to 1974 — and a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1945 to 1983. Wilson is the only Labour leader to have formed a government after a general election four separate times.

Born in Huddersfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, to a politically active lower middle-class family, Wilson studied philosophy, politics and economics at Jesus College, Oxford. He was later an Economic History lecturer at New College, Oxford, and a research fellow at University College, Oxford. Elected to Parliament in 1945, Wilson was appointed to the Attlee government as a Parliamentary secretary; he became Secretary for Overseas Trade in 1947, and was elevated to the Cabinet shortly thereafter as President of the Board of Trade. Following Labour's defeat at the 1955 election, Wilson joined the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Chancellor, and was moved to the role of Shadow Foreign Secretary in 1961. When Labour leader Hugh Gaitskell died in January 1963, Wilson won the leadership election to replace him, becoming Leader of the Opposition.

Wilson led Labour first to a narrow victory in the 1964 election, and then with an increased majority in 1966. During this period, Britain enjoyed low unemployment and economic prosperity, but also a persistent balance of payments deficit that forced Wilson to devalue the pound in 1967. His government oversaw significant societal changes, abolishing both capital punishment and theatre censorship, partially decriminalising male homosexuality in England and Wales, relaxing divorce laws, limiting immigration, outlawing racial discrimination, and liberalising birth control and abortion law. Meanwhile, the steel sector was effectively nationalised and the Ministry of Technology established to promote science in industry. In response to the intensifying sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, Wilson sent over British troops to contain the violence in 1969, which contributed to escalating the Troubles.

After unexpectedly losing the 1970 election to Edward Heath's Conservatives, Wilson remained as leader of the party, resuming the role of Leader of the Opposition for another four years. The February 1974 election resulted in a hung parliament, and after coalition talks failed between the Conservatives and Liberal Party Wilson was appointed prime minister for a second time on 4 March. He called a snap election eight months later, which gave Labour a small majority. During his second government, he oversaw the referendum that confirmed the UK's membership of the European Communities, the creation of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention as a step toward devolution, and the refusal to commit British troops in the Vietnam War, but also worsening economic conditions and rising pressure on sterling. On 5 April 1976, Wilson suddenly stepped down as prime minister, citing his steadily worsening mental and physical health. He was succeeded by Foreign Secretary James Callaghan. Wilson remained in the House of Commons until retiring in 1983, when he was elevated to the House of Lords as Lord Wilson of Rievaulx. Suffering from Alzheimer's disease, he maintained a relatively low profile in his later years until his death in May 1995.

While seen by admirers as leading the Labour Party through difficult political issues with considerable skill, Wilson's reputation was low when he left office, and is still disputed in historiography. Some scholars praise his unprecedented electoral success for a Labour prime minister and holistic approach to governance, while others criticise his political style and handling of economic issues. His stated ambitions of substantially improving Britain's long-term economic performance, reducing inequality and applying technology more democratically were to some extent unfulfilled.