UNDERRATED PM WHOSE DEEDS DESERVE PRAISE
HAROLD Wilson’s second premiership between 1974 and 1976 has always been underrated. His achievements have too often been overshadowed by rumours of an extramarital affair with his political secretary, Marcia Wiliams.
Now we learn that it was not in fact Ms Williams to whom the PM turned but an assistant press officer named Janet Hewlett-Davies.
We should remember, of course, that neither party is alive to respond to the revelations by Joe Haines.
Wilson died 48 years ago, while Ms Hewlett-Davies died last year, which makes it all the more remarkable this story has captured so much attention.
Then an assistant press officer, Ms Hewlett-Davies would go on to have a fine career in Whitehall in senior communications roles – a remarkable achievement, even more so for a woman at that time.
And Wilson himself achieved far more in his second, curtailed premiership than is popularly understood. Beginning with no majority at all, and then a majority of just three from October 1974, his achievements were considerable.
In 1975, he secured the UK’s future in the Common Market. He made workplaces fairer: the Equal Pay Act, passed by his previous administration in 1970 and championed by Barbara Castle, came into effect in 1975 after a five-year transition period. Women across the country benefited – no longer could they receive lower pay for doing the same job. We still have a long way to go to close the gender pay gap but this made a huge difference.
Wilson also made workplaces safer, undoubtedly preventing many injuries and saving lives. The Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 introduced the Health and Safety Executive, which is still around today. The Employment Protection Act 1975 introduced paid statutory maternity leave and created the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service – still a major part of dispute resolution today. All in all, it’s an impressive list.
While, once again, it’s Wilson’s private life that is in focus, let’s not let it distract from his record.
● Nick Thomas-Symonds is author of Harold Wilson: The Winner