Harold wilson, in full james harold wilson, baron wilson of rievaulx, born march 11, 1916, huddersfield, yorkshire, englanddied may 24, 1995, london, labour party politician who was prime minister of the united kingdom from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1976 the son of an industrial chemist, wilson was educated at the university of oxford, where, as a fellow of university college 1938. The english statesman harold wilson 19161995, who served as prime minister and leader of the labour party, was one of the most skillful political tacticians in 20thcentury british history james harold wilson was born on march 11, 1916, in huddersfield, yorkshire. Crines and kevin hickson s edited volume, harold wilson. Harold wilsons belief that he was the victim of a secret service plot to discredit him is well documented. One of the most persistent controversies involving the security service during the 1970s and 1980s was the socalled wilson plot, in which officers of the service were accused of having conspired against the labour prime minister sir harold wilson.
Harold wilsons most popular book is the governance of britain. Reappraising harold wilson edited by andrew crines and kevin hickson. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Crines and kevin hickson bring together contributors to reflect on wilsons legacy within twentieth. Who is harold wilson in robert frosts poem the death of. Harold wilson won more general elections than any other british party leader in the twentieth century and served four times as prime minister, albeit less than full terms and often with. This year marks the centenary of harold wilsons birth, the fiftieth anniversary of his most impressive general election victory and forty years. This article will outline the theory that british prime minister, harold wilson, was a deep cover communist operative at the time he redistributed the wealth of glam rocker and experimental musician, roy wood, and his band, the move, with a libel suit which redirected roy woods royalties to the charities of wilsons choice. John major had a torrid time as prime minister, but was a more substantial figure than his critics suggested. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Harold wilson born james harold wilson, baron wilson of rievaulx, kg, obe, was the labour prime minister of britain the united kingdom from 19641970 and from 19741976. This timely reassessment of his record and achievements is an important corrective and should be read by everyone interested in the modern conservative party. This year marks the centenary of harold wilsons birth, the fiftieth anniversary of his most impressive general election victory and forty years since his dramatic resignation as prime minister. He is the subject of many biographies both light and serious and academic analyses of his career and various aspects of the policies.
On 15 october 1964 after years in opposition, labour was elected the leading party in britain once again. Views of wales on reading the conclusions of the chilcot report, im reminded of the sharp contrast between tony blair and his predecessor as a labour prime minister, harold wilson. Books by harold wilson author of the governance of britain. 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 there is an extensive bibliography on harold wilson. Crines and kevin hicksons edited volume, harold wilson. Read more about the life and achievements of harold wilson in our past prime ministers section. James harold wilson happened to be prime minister leading a left wing party at a time when the mores of postwar political and economic change in britain and elsewhere were just beginning to be. Published to mark the centenary of wilsons birth, the volume contains twenty short essays, divided into themes, policies and perspectives. An excellent and timely reappraisal of harold wilson as politician and prime minister. Son of former pm harold wilson swaps teaching for a career as train driver.
Crines and kevin hickson have brought together a number of academic and political contributors to reassess the policies, ideologies, and legacies of harold wilson as prime minister. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Harold wilson is one of the most enigmatic personalities of recent british history. Harold wilson has 26 books on goodreads with 167 ratings. Harold wilson article about harold wilson by the free. Wilson believed mi5 were plotting against him but new revelations in bbc drama documentary the plot against harold wilson, to be broadcast next thursday, suggest the labour prime minister was also convinced he was the target of plans to. Prime minister harold wilsons skillful management of the country since 1964 paid labour dividends.
This book offers a robust counternarrative to existing appraisals of wilsons governments and his influence on british politics, writes gordon bannerman. Gerald kaufman, who was a member of wilsons kitchen cabinet, provides a fulsome tribute bordering on idolatry and myopic in its vision of a prime minster who was often drunk at pmqs. Published to mark the centenary of wilsons birth, the volume contains twenty short essays, divided into. His success at winning general elections four in all has so far not been matched. The prime minister, harold wilson, toasting with the lord mayor of liverpool, mrs ethelwormald, at the 33rd lancashire and cheshire. Harold wilson was the prime minister at that time and the balance of payments was uppermost as one of harold wilson s problems. The book was released to mark a number of anniversaries. Communications, home affairs, the national archives. Harold wilson was the longestserving labour prime minister of the 20th century. This is a cogent examination of the berlusconi phenomenon, exploring the success and development of the new populist rightwing coalition in italy since the collapse of the postwar party system in. Crines and kevin hickson bring together contributors to reflect on wilsons legacy within twentiethcentury politics. And he is also probably the most universally reviled political.
Was harold wilson considered to have been on the left. This year marks the centenary of harold wilson s birth, the fiftieth anniversary of his most impressive general election victory and forty years since his dramatic resignation as prime minister. Northern ireland university of huddersfield research portal. Tony blair with lady wilson after he had unveiled the statue of sir harold wilson in 2006 actor. Following his third election victory in 2008, the italian prime minister silvio berlusconi was the most controversial head of government in the eu.
Although the majority of seats was one of the smallest in british history, the first years of harold wilsons. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading harold wilson. Harold wilsons knowledge of public ownership rhetoric, gleaned with such care during his period as a bevanite, served him in good stead as prime minister, and continued to bamboozle many of his former leftwing colleagues into the belief that the vast, undemocratic corporatist machinery which he was setting up was in some sense a move. It is wellwritten, informative and detailed, if perhaps a little too sympathetic towards it subject.
He led the country from 1964 to 1970, and then again from 1974 to 1976 and came in on a pledge for change reflecting the mood for modernisation in the country. Wilson was a remarkably conciliatory prime minister, and was very adept at maintaining relative peace amongst the various wings and factions of the party which ranged from those who believed in modern, continentalstyle social democracy to those w. Harold wilson served as prime minister between 1964 to 1970 and 1974 to 1976. This article is the first in a series of pieces on the life and legacy of harold wilson published in celebration of the centenary of his birth, 11 march 1916. This book is an attempted reappraisal of harold wilson celebrating the centenary of his birth, his 1966 electoral victory and his sudden retirement ten years later. The unprincipled prime minister dr ben williams is a politics tutor at the university of salford. Gerald kaufman, who was a member of wilsons kitchen cabinet, provides a fulsome tribute bordering on idolatry and myopic in its vision of a prime minster who was often.
Harold wilson was elected prime minister in 1964 following widespread discontent against the conservative government. Although most of what he did was the usual prime minister stuff, for some reason his time in office, as well as his thenunexplained sudden resignation, led to a number of conspiracy theories, a coup plot and the formation of shadowy rightwing groups of malcontents and old soldiers. Son of former pm harold wilson swaps teaching for a career. He completed his phd at the university of liverpool between 2009 and 20 and has written. Essay from the year 2006 in the subject history europe other countries european postwar period, grade. Dr kevin hickson is senior lecturer in british politics at the university of liverpool and has published over ten books on british political ideologies and party politics. Reappraising harold wilson, is an indication that a fundamental reassessment of the wilson governments has begun. There is more than one author in the goodreads database with this name.
Harold wilson, the son of a chemist and teacher, was born in yorkshire during the first world war. He was one of the longestserving premiers of the twentieth century, having won a staggering four general elections, yet, despite this monumental record, his place in labours history remains somewhat. Harold wilson by ben pimlott is a very good book about the first and so far only leader of the labour party to have triumphed in four general elections. This book of thoughtful essays could hardly arrive at a better time. He distinguished himself early, capturing a scholarship to oxford university, where he earned a first.
James harold wilson, baron wilson of rievaulx, kg, obe, frs, pc was a british labour politician. When the post office tower was officially opened on 8 october 1965 by prime minister harold wilson, it was britains tallest building. Having spent years out of office after defeat in 1951. In 1924, aged 8, he visited 10 downing street, which would eventually become his home. A reappraisal of harold wilson kindle edition by crines, andrew s. Wilson functions as a kind of foil to another character in the poem the elderly hired man. Reappraising harold wilson by kevin hickson, andrew crines isbn. He was one of the longestserving premiers of the twentieth century, having won a staggering four general elections, yet, despite this monumental.
His record is dissected, achievements and failures reassessed and time as pm set in context with what came before and after. The unprincipled prime minister reappraising harold wilson by kevin hickson. Paul foot argued that wilson was always an unprincipled opportunist and the left were naive for believing otherwise p. With contributions from wilsons contemporaries and political experts from the left, right and centre, it offers a. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Harold wilson remained the partys longestserving prime minister until 6 february 2005, when his record was broken by tony blair. Harold wilson was one of the longestserving prime ministers of the 20th century, winning four elections one more than both tony blair and margaret thatcher. Others like ralph miliband made the case that as long as the labour party remained committed to the parliamentary system, it could not be a vehicle for socialism. Successes and failures of harold wilsons premiership. He held office as prime minister for longer than any other labour leader, and longer than any other premier in peacetime apart from mrs thatcher.
567 742 455 1200 1378 1459 606 1186 859 1216 463 208 718 34 538 99 77 381 164 1197 758 468 1301 168 918 579 91 51 814 372 427 1306 1156 1031 718 7 925