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Harold Wilson: The Unprincipled Prime Minister?: Reappraising Harold Wilson
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. He was one of the longest-serving premiers of the twentieth century, having won a staggering four general elections, yet, despite this monumental record, his place in Labour’s history remains somewhat ambiguous.
By the end of his two periods in power, both the left and right of the party were highly critical of Wilson - the former regarding him as a traitor to socialism, the latter as contributing directly to British decline.
With contributions from leading experts in the fields of political study, and from Wilson’s own contemporaries, this remarkable new study offers a timely and wide-ranging reappraisal of one of the giants of twentieth-century politics, examining the context within which he operated, his approach to leadership and responses to changing social and economic norms, the successes and failure of his policies, and how he was viewed by peers from across the political spectrum. Finally, it examines the overall impact of Harold Wilson on the development of British politics.
By the end of his two periods in power, both the left and right of the party were highly critical of Wilson - the former regarding him as a traitor to socialism, the latter as contributing directly to British decline.
With contributions from leading experts in the fields of political study, and from Wilson’s own contemporaries, this remarkable new study offers a timely and wide-ranging reappraisal of one of the giants of twentieth-century politics, examining the context within which he operated, his approach to leadership and responses to changing social and economic norms, the successes and failure of his policies, and how he was viewed by peers from across the political spectrum. Finally, it examines the overall impact of Harold Wilson on the development of British politics.
319 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 31, 2022
A timely reminder of what might be.
It’s an exhaustive and thorough review of the political life of Harold Wilson. He bestrode politics for the best part of the 1960’s and most of the 1970’s although his latter days were a pale shadow of his first two governments. It’s a very interesting set of short pieces across all aspects of politics and government and it is well worth the effort.
It seems to me that the parallels with current politics are strong and indeed the present Labour leader seems closer to Harold Wilson than Blair and the political environment seems closer to 1964 than 1997. We shall see.
It’s an exhaustive and thorough review of the political life of Harold Wilson. He bestrode politics for the best part of the 1960’s and most of the 1970’s although his latter days were a pale shadow of his first two governments. It’s a very interesting set of short pieces across all aspects of politics and government and it is well worth the effort.
It seems to me that the parallels with current politics are strong and indeed the present Labour leader seems closer to Harold Wilson than Blair and the political environment seems closer to 1964 than 1997. We shall see.
January 13, 2025
Good collection of essays on the Wilson Administration. Many of the essays attempt to flesh out a legacy for Harold Wilson, but are complicated by Wilson's penchant for manoeuvring and subordinating his beliefs to try and hold the factious party together.
It is clear historians are unable to understand his true political convictions with any confidence.
It is clear historians are unable to understand his true political convictions with any confidence.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews