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Portrait of Harold Wilson

Prime Ministers · 20th century

Harold Wilson

1916–1995 · British

Labour

In office: 1964–1970; 1974–1976

Harold Wilson led Labour to four general election victories (1964, 1966 and both elections of 1974) and served two terms as prime minister. His governments devalued the pound, founded the Open University, kept Britain out of the Vietnam War and held the 1975 referendum on staying in the European Community. He resigned unexpectedly in March 1976.

How to spot them

  • ▸Gannex raincoat and pipe; a Yorkshireman from Huddersfield
  • ▸'The white heat' of the technological revolution
  • ▸'The pound in your pocket' devaluation broadcast of 1967
  • ▸'A week is a long time in politics'
  • ▸The 'Lavender List' resignation honours

In office

The 'white heat' of the technological revolution speech (1963)

Scarborough Labour conference speech setting out a modernising, scientific Britain

'The pound in your pocket' devaluation (1967)

Sterling devalued from $2.80 to $2.40; his broadcast insisted the pound in your pocket had not lost its value

Founding of the Open University (1969)

He called it the 'University of the Air'; received its royal charter in 1969

Keeping British troops out of the Vietnam War (1960s)

Resisted US President Lyndon Johnson's pressure to send forces

The 1975 referendum on membership of the European Community (1975)

The UK's first nationwide referendum; about 67 per cent voted to stay in

Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence (1965)

Ian Smith's white minority government broke away; Wilson imposed sanctions and held talks on HMS Tiger and HMS Fearless

The 'Lavender List' resignation honours (1976)

Controversial honours list said to have been drafted on lavender notepaper by Marcia Williams

Key ideas

  • Social liberalisation under his first government included abolition of the death penalty for murder (1965), and the decriminalisation of male homosexuality and reform of abortion law (1967, via private members' bills)
  • In Place of Strife (1969), Barbara Castle's trade union reform plan, was abandoned after union and cabinet opposition

Quick-fire facts

  • •Born in Huddersfield; became an Oxford economics lecturer at 21
  • •President of the Board of Trade in 1947, aged 31: the youngest cabinet minister of the 20th century
  • •The Beatles received MBEs in 1965 on his government's recommendation
  • •Won four general elections: 1964, 1966, February 1974 and October 1974
  • •Made a Knight of the Garter in 1976 and a life peer, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, in 1983
  • •Buried on St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly, where he had a holiday bungalow
  • •His wife Mary Wilson was a published poet

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Sources