Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson was a British statesman and Labour 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. He was the first Labour leader to win four general elections and the most electorally successful in the party's history. Wilson was born in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, on 11 March 1916. He was the son of a chemist and a teacher. He won a scholarship to Oxford University, where he studied Modern History and Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He graduated with a first-class degree in 1937 and became a lecturer at New College, Oxford. Wilson joined the Labour Party in 1934 and became active in politics. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Ormskirk in 1945 and later for Huyton. He held various ministerial positions under Clement Attlee, including President of the Board of Trade and Secretary for Overseas Trade. He also served as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and Shadow Foreign Secretary under Hugh Gaitskell. Wilson became the leader of the Labour Party in 1963 after Gaitskell's death. He led the party to victory in the 1964 general election, ending 13 years of Conservative rule. He formed a minority government with a slim majority of four seats. He called another election in 1966 and increased his majority to 96 seats. Wilson's first term as Prime Minister was marked by a series of social and economic reforms, such as the abolition of capital punishment, the decriminalisation of homosexuality, the legalisation of abortion, the introduction of comprehensive education, the creation of the Open University, the establishment of the Race Relations Board, and the nationalisation of various industries. He also faced several challenges, such as devaluation of the pound, trade union disputes, industrial unrest, inflation, and rising unemployment. Wilson's foreign policy was based on maintaining good relations with the United States and supporting Britain's entry into the European Economic Community (EEC). He also tried to mediate between India and Pakistan during the 1965 war, between Nigeria and Biafra during the civil war, and between Israel and Egypt during the Six-Day War. He opposed the Vietnam War and refused to send British troops there. He also supported Rhodesia's independence under majority rule. Wilson lost the 1970 general election to Edward Heath's Conservatives. He remained as leader of the opposition until 1974, when he returned to power after another hung parliament. He formed a minority government with the support of the Liberals and later secured a narrow majority in another election later that year. Wilson's second term as Prime Minister was dominated by the oil crisis, which caused stagflation and industrial decline. He also faced a constitutional crisis over devolution for Scotland and Wales, which resulted in two referendums in 1979. He renegotiated Britain's terms of membership in the EEC and held a referendum on whether to stay in or leave in 1975. The majority voted to remain. Wilson surprised many by announcing his resignation as Prime Minister and Labour leader on 16 March 1976. He was succeeded by James Callaghan. He was made a life peer as Baron Wilson of Rievaulx in 1983. He wrote several books on his political career and memoirs. Wilson suffered from colon cancer since 1979 and Alzheimer's disease since 1982. He died on 24 May 1995 at St Thomas' Hospital in London. He was buried at St Mary's Old Church on St Mary's island in Isles of Scilly, where he had a holiday home. He was survived by his wife Mary and his two sons Robin and Giles.