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Harold Wilson
Historical figureUnited Kingdom1916-1995

Harold Wilson

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1964-1970, 1974-1976) · Leader of the Labour Party (1963-1976)

Labour prime minister twice over, 1964-1970 and 1974-1976, who spoke of a technological revolution, set up economic planning, backed liberal social laws and stayed out of Vietnam.

Compare yourself See the 12 scores
Profile on 12 axesAll 12 documented
ECONOMYSTATESOCIETYWORLDOwnershipMarketsWelfareAuthoritySecurityStructureMoralityReligionTechnologyCultureTradeForeign
Where they stood

Harold Wilson, axis by axis

  1. 01Ownership-35
    PublicPrivate
  2. 02Markets-45
    PlannedFree
  3. 03Welfare-55
    SharedSelf-reliant
  4. 04Authority-40
    DemocraticStrong leader
  5. 05Security-30
    LibertyOrder
  6. 06Structure0
    LocalCentral

    He ordered studies of devolution for Scotland and Wales in the 1970s but did not pass it, so the score is balanced.

  7. 07Morality-50
    ProgressiveTraditional

    His government backed private members' bills to ease the laws on divorce, abortion, censorship and homosexuality. These were mostly free votes, but he scores as progressive.

  8. 08Religion-5
    SecularReligious
  9. 09Technology-60
    EmbraceCaution

    Modernising through science was his main theme, summed up in his phrase about the white heat of the technological revolution, so he scores toward embrace.

  10. 10Culture0
    MulticulturalNational identity

    His government passed race relations laws against discrimination, but also tightened Commonwealth immigration rules in 1968. The score is balanced.

  11. 11Trade-15
    GlobalProtected

    He applied to join the European Economic Community in 1967 and called the 1975 referendum. He also used temporary import curbs in sterling crises, so he leans mildly toward global trade.

  12. 12Foreign policy-25
    CooperationStrength

Who was Harold Wilson?

Harold Wilson was raised in Huddersfield by a chemist and a teacher. He took a first in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford. He became an MP in 1945, and at just 31 he joined Clement Attlee's cabinet at the Board of Trade. Labour chose him as leader in 1963 after the sudden death of Hugh Gaitskell. Of the five general elections he fought as leader, he won four. He governed from 1964 to 1970, lost power, then returned in 1974. In March 1976 he stunned the country by resigning. His last term was marked by high inflation, strikes, the 1975 vote on Europe and the failure to calm Northern Ireland. He entered the Lords in 1983 and died in 1995.

Political views

  • Reopened the terms of Britain's place in the European Economic Community in 1974 and 1975, then put the result to a national vote.Source: gov.uk
  • Promised in 1964 to end poverty in a country rich enough to afford plenty, and to bring the social services into one coordinated effort.Source: api.parliament.uk
  • Set up the Department for Economic Affairs to produce a National Plan for growth.Source: gov.uk
  • Stopped hanging for murder in 1965 across England, Scotland and Wales.Source: gov.uk
  • Founded the Open University and brought in measures against unfair treatment of women and ethnic minorities.Source: gov.uk
  • Cut the value of the pound in 1967 and announced that Britain would pull its forces out of east of Suez.Source: gov.uk
  • Kept British troops out of Vietnam, even while staying close to the United States.Source: gov.uk

Legacy

Wilson's admirers say he held a divided Labour Party together, passed liberal social laws, widened access to university and kept Britain out of Vietnam. Critics on the right blame him for the pound's crises, devaluation, steep top tax rates and rising unemployment. Some on the left said he let socialist hopes fade. Biographers often call him an honest broker abroad. Fans see great skill in how he handled his party, while opponents say he thought too much about the next headline and too little about the long term. On the 12 axes he scores clearly toward public ownership, planning, shared welfare and embracing technology.

In their own words

“no longer do we have the scandal of poverty in the midst of great potential abundance”
Speech in the Debate on the Address, House of Commons, 3 November 1964

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Harold Wilson: questions

Was Harold Wilson a socialist?

He led the Labour Party and backed planning, public services and state help for industry. But he was a practical, moderate figure, and some on the left said he dropped socialist goals in office.

What did Wilson mean by the white heat of technology?

It was a 1963 phrase he used to say Britain should be rebuilt through science and new industry. It became the theme of his 1964 election campaign.

Did Britain fight in Vietnam under Wilson?

No. He kept British troops out of the war while staying allied with the United States. Critics at the time argued over whether he should have spoken out more.

Sources