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→Prime Minister
Wilson realized he had to fight the 1966 strike by the National Union of Seamen. Determined to save his government's income policy and bolster the British pound, Wilson declared a state of emergency. When that proved ineffective, he turned to claiming that the union was being influenced by Communists. The 47-day strike ended when the shipowners presented an acceptable offer. While Wilson appeared to be the winner, his tactics antagonized many Labour Party supporters.<ref> Keir Thorpe, "The 'Juggernaut Method': The 1966 State of Emergency and the Wilson Government's Response to the Seamen's Strike". ''Twentieth Century British History'' 2001 12(4): 461-485 in [[EBSCO]].</ref>
Wilson realized he had to fight the 1966 strike by the National Union of Seamen. Determined to save his government's income policy and bolster the British pound, Wilson declared a state of emergency. When that proved ineffective, he turned to claiming that the union was being influenced by Communists. The 47-day strike ended when the shipowners presented an acceptable offer. While Wilson appeared to be the winner, his tactics antagonized many Labour Party supporters.<ref> Keir Thorpe, "The 'Juggernaut Method': The 1966 State of Emergency and the Wilson Government's Response to the Seamen's Strike". ''Twentieth Century British History'' 2001 12(4): 461-485 in [[EBSCO]].</ref>
===Liberalisation===
The Wilson government committed itself to the Liberalisation of British Society in the 1960's. Wilson's Home Secretary [[Roy Jenkins]] undertook an extreme liberal agenda abolishing Capital Punishment, completely legalizing abortion and then homosexuality<ref>The Making of Modern Britain 1951-2007- Chris Rowe: Page 51</ref>. At the same time censorship on obsenity was abolished paving the way for what would become known as the "Permissive Society" in Britain during the 1960's and a new sex culture emerged. This polarized society creating tense divisions between the [[Liberal]] young generations and older Conservative Christians such as [[Mary Whitehouse]] who seeked to defend tradition morals and values in the country, becoming what would be known as the "Generation Gap" in Britain.<ref>The Making of Modern Britain 1951-2007- Chris Rowe: Page 69</ref>
===Immigration===
===Immigration===
In October 1966 Wilson quietly began an nquiry among European Economic Community (EEC) countries to see if the conditions existed for British membership in the EEC. His move politically rather than economically motivated. Faced with the contraction of Britain's political influence in Europe and in the Atlantic alliance, the erosion of Britain's position in the Commonwealth, and the termination of Britain's defense commitments east of Suez, Wilson had little choice but to turn to the EEC.
In October 1966 Wilson quietly began an nquiry among European Economic Community (EEC) countries to see if the conditions existed for British membership in the EEC. His move politically rather than economically motivated. Faced with the contraction of Britain's political influence in Europe and in the Atlantic alliance, the erosion of Britain's position in the Commonwealth, and the termination of Britain's defense commitments east of Suez, Wilson had little choice but to turn to the EEC.
===Administration===
===Administration===
Changes to the machinery of government were central to the British Labour Party's policy agenda during 1964-70, key parts of which, particularly the drive for planned economic growth, were not achieved. The ideological basis for the objectives being pursued, such as economic expansion, was never properly explored or developed. However, some of Wilson's innovations, such as the incorporation of more outsiders into Whitehall, the first use of special advisers, and the establishment of the Ministry of Overseas Development and the Welsh Office, were successful.<ref>Andrew Blick, "Harold Wilson, Labour and the Machinery of Government" ''Contemporary British History'' 2006 20(3): 343-362 </ref>
Changes to the machinery of government were central to the British Labour Party's policy agenda during 1964-70, key parts of which, particularly the drive for planned economic growth, were not achieved. The ideological basis for the objectives being pursued, such as economic expansion, was never properly explored or developed. However, some of Wilson's innovations, such as the incorporation of more outsiders into Whitehall, the first use of special advisers, and the establishment of the Ministry of Overseas Development and the Welsh Office, were successful.<ref>Andrew Blick, "Harold Wilson, Labour and the Machinery of Government" ''Contemporary British History'' 2006 20(3): 343-362 </ref>
==Image==
==Image==
Wilson acquired a reputation as a somewhat devious, scheming figure. He cultivated a particular image of himself in the media, which included ostentatiously smoking a pipe, though in private he is said to have preferred cigars. He came from a working-class background, and retained a northern English working-class accent throughout his life.
Wilson acquired a reputation as a somewhat devious, scheming figure. He cultivated a particular image of himself in the media, which included ostentatiously smoking a pipe, though in private he is said to have preferred cigars. He came from a working-class background, and retained a northern English working-class accent throughout his life.