Labour Government
4 March 1974 - 4 May 1979
The first of two elections in 1974 failed to secure a majority for any one party but Labour took power under Harold Wilson. A further election was called in October of that year when Labour achieved a majority of three seats. Wilson's government faced international recession. A referendum in 1975 about Britain remaining in the Eorpean Economic Community (EEC) prevented an internal split within the Labour party.
| Position | Name | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | H. Wilson | 4 Mar 74 - 5 Apr 76 |
| Lord President | E. Short | 5 Mar 76 - 8 Apr 76 |
| M. Foot | 8 Apr 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Lord Chancellor | Lord Elwyn-Jones | 5 Mar 74 - 4 May 79 |
| Lord Privy Seal | Lord Shepherd | 7 Mar 74 - 10 Sep 76 |
| Lord Peart | 10 Sep 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | D. Healey | 5 Mar 74 - 4 May 79 |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | J. Barnett | 21 Feb 77 - 4 May 79 |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | J. Callaghan | 5 Mar 74 - 8 Apr 76 |
| A. Crossland | 8 Apr 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Secretary of State for Home Affairs | R. Jenkins | 5 Mar 74 - 10 Sep 76 |
| M. Rees | 10 Sep 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | F. Peart | 5 Mar 74 - 10 Sep 76 |
| J. Silkin | 10 Sep 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Minister for Defence | R. Mason | 5 Mar 74 - 10 Sep 76 |
| F. Mulley | 10 Sep 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Secretarty of State for Education and Science | R. Prentice | 5 Mar 74 - 10 Jun 75 |
| F. Mulley | 10 Jun 75 - 10 Sep 76 | |
| S. Williams | 10 Sep 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Minister for Employment | M. Foot | 5 Mar 74 - 8 Apr 76 |
| A. Booth | 8 Apr 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Secretary of State for Energy | E. Varley | 5 Mar 74 - 10 Jun 75 |
| A. Benn | 10 Jun 75 - 4 May 79 | |
| Minister for the Environment | A. Crossland | 5 Mar 74 - 8 Apr 76 |
| P. Shore | 8 Apr 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Minister for Planning and Local Government | J. Silkin | 18 Oct 74 - 5 Apr 76 |
| Secretary of State for Health and Social Security | B. Castle | 5 Mar 74 - 8 Apr 76 |
| D. Ennals | 8 Apr 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Secretary of State for Industry | A. Benn | 5 Mar 74 - 10 Jun 75 |
| E. Varley | 10 Jun 75 - 5 Apr 76 | |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | H. Lever | 5 Mar 74 - 5 Apr 76 |
| Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | M. Rees | 5 Mar 74 - 10 Sep 76 |
| R. Mason | 10 Sep 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Minister for Overseas Development | R. Prentice | 10 Jun 75 - 21 Dec 76 |
| Minister for Prices and Consumer Protection | S. Williams | 5 Mar 74 - 10 Sep 76 |
| R. Hattersley | 10 Sep 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | W. Ross | 5 Mar 74 - 8 Apr 76 |
| B. Millan | 8 Apr 76 - 4 May 79 | |
| Secretary of State for Trade | P. Shore | 5 Mar 74 - 8 Apr 76 |
| E. Dell | 8 Apr 76 - 11 Nov 78 | |
| J. Smith | 11 Nov 78 - 4 May 79 | |
| Minister for Transport | W. Rodgers | 10 Sep 76 - 4 May 79 |
| Secretary of State for Wales | J. Morris | 5 Mar 74 - 4 Mar 74 |
| Chief Whip | R. Mellish | 26 Jul 74 - 8 Apr 76 |
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