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'''Harold Wilson''' (born James Harold Wilson), Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, was the [[Labour Party|Labour]] Prime Minister of Britain (the [[United Kingdom]]) from 1964-1970 and from 1974-1976. Having spent 13 years out of office after defeat in 1951; Harold Wilson was elected prime minister in 1964 following widespread discontent against the Conservative government. Wilson's government saw the liberalisation of Britain begin, with the legalisation of homosexuality, abortion and the removal of theatrical and cinema moral censorship. All anointed to be causes of the "permissive society" in Britain in the 1960s. Wilson set out also to drastically advance the British Economy through the creation of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). However all his Economic ideas held little success and he was defeated in the 1970 election by [[Edward Heath]]; whom Wilson would then defeat again narrowly in 1974. Combined, the economic failures of Heath and Wilson set the stage for the renewal of British energy and leadership under [[Margaret Thatcher]], beginning in 1979.[[File:Pimlott.jpg|thumb|350px]]

'''Harold Wilson''' (born James Harold Wilson), Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, was the [[Labour Party|Labour]] Prime Minister of Britain (the [[United Kingdom]]) from 1964-1970 and from 1974-1976. Having spent 13 years out of office after defeat in 1951; Harold Wilson was elected prime minister in 1964 following widespread discontent against the Conservative government. Wilson's government saw the liberalisation of Britain begin, with the legalisation of homosexuality, abortion and the removal of theatrical and cinema moral censorship. All anointed to be causes of the "permissive society" in Britain in the 1960s. Wilson set out also to drastically advance the British Economy through the creation of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA). However all his Economic ideas held little success and he was defeated in the 1970 election by [[Edward Heath]]; whom Wilson would then defeat again narrowly in 1974. Combined, the economic failures of Heath and Wilson set the stage for the renewal of British energy and leadership under [[Margaret Thatcher]], beginning in 1979.[[File:Pimlott.jpg|thumb|350px]]

==Career==

==Career==

===Socialism===

===Socialism===

Despite its alleged commitment to socialism, the British Labour Party has been flexible and reformist in its doctrine ever since it was founded in 1900. After the crisis of 1931, the party adopted a broadly social democratic program in which socialism was linked with the idea of economic planning and social welfare. The Attlee government of 1945-51 was very moderate in its commitment to socialism. The years of opposition saw violent arguments in the party between left-wing Bevanites and the center-right supporters of Hugh Gaitskell. But the main differences concerned foreign and defense policy. On domestic issues, the party was now broadly revisionist, committed to the mixed economy and social equality.  

Despite its alleged commitment to socialism, the British Labour Party has been flexible and reformist in its doctrine ever since it was founded in 1900. After the crisis of 1931, the party adopted a broadly social democratic program in which socialism was linked with the idea of economic planning and social welfare. The Attlee government of 1945-51 was very moderate in its commitment to socialism. The years of opposition saw violent arguments in the party between left-wing Bevanites and the center-right supporters of Hugh Gaitskell. But the main differences concerned foreign and defense policy. On domestic issues, the party was now broadly revisionist, committed to the mixed economy and social equality.  

===New Left===

===New Left===

Wilson, on becoming prime minister in 1964, tried to bypass old doctrinal arguments by harnessing socialism to ideas of scientific modernization. But his government was a great failure, not least in its relations with the trade unions, the linchpin of the party since its founding. This bred much disillusionment and launched a new left-wing socialism in the 1970s. Wilson represented the older traditions of the Party and never understood the emerging "New Left" with new social roots, radical new ideas and new styles of political behaviour in the late 1970s. Following the disillusion and demoralization of traditional Labour Party activists with Wilson's government, a more radical and well-educated local Labour leadership appeared at the local level.  The Labour government of 1974-79 added to this division. The left-wing pressure reached its climax in the early 1980s when Thatcher was in power, but resulted only in heavy defeats for Labour in 1983 and 1987. The general impression in 1989 is of a loss of political and intellectual confidence, with British socialism trapped between a cherished past and an uncertain future.<ref>Kenneth O. Morgan, ''Britain since 1945: The People's Peace'' (2001)</ref>

Wilson, on becoming prime minister in 1964, tried to bypass old doctrinal arguments by harnessing socialism to ideas of scientific modernization. But his government was a great failure, not least in its relations with the trade unions, the linchpin of the party since its founding. This bred much disillusionment and launched a new left-wing socialism in the 1970s. Wilson represented the older traditions of the Party and never understood the emerging "New Left" with new social roots, radical new ideas and new styles of political behaviour in the late 1970s. Following the disillusion and demoralization of traditional Labour Party activists with Wilson's government, a more radical and well-educated local Labour leadership appeared at the local level.  The Labour government of 1974-79 added to this division. The left-wing pressure reached its climax in the early 1980s when Thatcher was in power, but resulted only in heavy defeats for Labour in 1983 and 1987. The general impression in 1989 is of a loss of political and intellectual confidence, with British socialism trapped between a cherished past and an uncertain future.<ref>Kenneth O. Morgan, ''Britain since 1945: The People's Peace'' (2001)</ref>

===Europe===

===Europe===

In October 1966 Wilson quietly began an enquiry 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. His bid was subsequentially rejected, vetoed again by France.

In October 1966 Wilson quietly began an enquiry 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. His bid was subsequentially rejected, vetoed again by France.

He died of colon cancer and Alzheimer's disease in 1995.

He died of colon cancer and Alzheimer's disease in 1995.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Fielding, Steven.  "Rethinking Labour's 1964 Campaign". ''Contemporary British History'' 2007 21(3): 309-324  

* Fielding, Steven.  "Rethinking Labour's 1964 Campaign". ''Contemporary British History'' 2007 21(3): 309-324  

* Vickers, Rhiannon. "Harold Wilson, the British Labour Party, and the War in Vietnam". ''Journal of Cold War Studies'' 2008 10(2): 41-70 30p.in [[EBSCO]]

* Vickers, Rhiannon. "Harold Wilson, the British Labour Party, and the War in Vietnam". ''Journal of Cold War Studies'' 2008 10(2): 41-70 30p.in [[EBSCO]]

{{UKPrimeMinisters}}

{{UKPrimeMinisters}}

 

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:British History]]

[[Category:United Kingdom Prime Ministers|Wilson, Harold]]

[[Category:United Kingdom Prime Ministers|Wilson, Harold]]

[[Category:New Left]]

[[Category:New Left]]

[[Category:Peerage of the United Kingdom]]

[[Category:Peerage of the United Kingdom]]