Wilson and the Vicissitudes of Economic Insolvency (1966–70)

Abstract

The general election of 1966 had given the Wilson government a good deal more than the ample parliamentary majority that it required for a normal term of office. It also increased the authority of the Prime Minister, for it seemed that it was his personal qualities, as compared with those of the new Conservative leader, Edward Heath, that had won for the government its vote of confidence. The old suspicion of leadership in the party, which was a legacy of 1931, was now fading away as the parliamentary party changed in composition. The trade-union element was weaker than before: only six of the 65 new M.P.s were of the traditional trade-union type, and over half of the Labour M.P.s were now university graduates. While some people might regret the changes, nobody could deny that there was plenty of talent on the government benches.