‘Duchess of Downing St’ dies aged 86
Lady Falkender HAROLD Wilson’s former right-hand woman has died aged 86.
Baroness Falkender, formerly Marcia Williams, was the Labour PM’S secretary from 1956 to 1983.
Dubbed the Duchess of Downing Street, she was one of the most powerful women in politics during the 1960s and 70s.
Lord Lipsey, a political adviser in Wilson’s government, said: “She was a formidable personality.”
He told BBC Radio 4: “She had a general influence over Harold. She was his confidante – the person to whom he could turn when things were tough.”
Lady Falkender won €85,000 libel damages from the BBC in 2007 over false claims she had a fling with Wilson and engineered honours for her pals. Peter as Pete