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Harold Wilson 1966

Labour Government
31 March 1966 - 19 June 1970

Labour's majority was substantially increased at the March 1966 election. The legacy of the Conservative government left Labour with serious economic difficulties. A series of economic crises followed which forced rapid changes in domestic, foreign and defence policy. The decision was made to withdraw from almost all military commitments east of Suez and concentrate on gaining membership of the European Economic Community (EEC).

Cabinet members
Position Name Dates
Prime Minister H. Wilson 16 Oct 64 - 19 Jun 70
First Secretary of State G. Brown 16 Oct 64 - 11 Aug 66
  M. Stewart 11 Aug 66 - 18 Mar 68 
  B. Castle 6 Apr 68 - 19 Jun 70 
Lord President H. Bowden 16 Oct 64 - 11 Aug 66
  R. Crosman 11 Aug 66 - 18 Oct 68 
  F. Peart 18 Oct 68 - 19 Jun 70 
Lord Chancellor Lord Gardiner 16 Oct 64 - 19 Jun 70
Lord Privy Seal Earl of Longford 18 Oct 64 - 23 Dec 65
  Sir F. Soskice 23 Dec 65 - 6 Apr 66 
  Earl of Longford 6 Apr 66 - 16 Jan 68 
  Lord Shackleton 16 Jan 68 - 6 Apr 68 
  F. Peart 6 Apr 68 - 18 Oct 68 
  Lord Shackleton 18 Oct 68 - 19 Jun 70 
Chancellor of the Exchequer J. Callaghan 16 Oct 64 - 30 Nov 67
  R. Jenkins 30 Nov 67 - 19 Jun 70 
Chief Secretary to the Treasury J. Diamond 1 Nov 68 - 19 Jun 70
Minister for Economic Affairs G. Brown 16 Oct 64 - 11 Aug 66
  M. Stewart 11 Aug 66 - 29 Aug 67 
  P. Shore 29 Aug 67 - 19 Jun 70 
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs P. Gordon Walker 16 Oct 64 - 22 Jan 65
  M. Stewart 22 Jan 65 - 11 Aug 66
  G. Brown 11 Aug 66 - 16 Mar 68 
  M. Stewart 16 Mar 68 - 19 Jun 70 
Secretary of State for Home Affairs Sir F. Soskice 18 Oct 64 - 23 Dec 65
  R. Jenkins 23 Dec 65 - 30 Nov 67 
  J. Callaghan 30 Nov 67 - 19 Jun 70 
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries F. Peart 18 Oct 64 - 6 Apr 68
  C. Hughes 6 Apr 68 - 19 Jun 70 
Secretary of State for the Colonies A. Greenwood 18 Oct 64 - 23 Dec 65
  Earl of Longford 23 Dec 65 - 6 Apr 66
  F. Lee 6 Apr 66 - 7 Jan 67 
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations A. Bottomley 18 Oct 64 - 11 Aug 66 
  H. Bowden 11 Aug 66 - 29 Aug 67 
  G. Thomson 29 Aug 67 - 17 Oct 68 
Minister for Defence D. Healey 16 Oct 64 - 19 Jun 70 
Secretarty of State for Education and Science M. Stewart 18 Oct 64 - 22 Jan 65 
  A. Crosland 22 Jan 65 - 29 Aug 67 
  P. Gordon Walker 29 Aug 67 - 6 Apr 68 
  E. Short 6 Apr 68 - 19 Jun 70 
Minister for Employment and Productivity B. Castle 6 Apr 68 - 19 Jun 70
Secretary of State for Social Security R. Crossman 1 Nov 68 - 19 Jun 70
Minister for Housing and Local Government R. Crossman 18 Oct 64 - 11 Aug 66
  A. Greenwood 11 Aug 66 - 6 Oct 69 
Minister of Labour R. Gunter 18 Oct 64 - 6 Apr 68
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster D. Houghton 18 Oct 64 - 6 Apr 66
  G. Thomson 6 Apr 66 - 19 Jun 70 
Minister for Local Government and Planning A. Crosland 6 Oct 69 - 19 Jun 70 
Minister for Overseas Development B. Castle 18 Oct 64 - 23 Dec 65 
Paymaster-General Lord Shackleton 6 Aug 68 - 1 Nov 68
Minister without Portfolio D. Houghton 6 Apr 66 - 7 Jan 67 
Minister for Power F. Lee 18 Oct 64 - 6 Apr 66
  R. Marsh 6 Apr 66 - 6 Apr 68 
  R. Gunter 6 Apr 68 - 1 Jul 68 
  R. Mason 1 Jul 68 - 19 Jun 70 
Secretary of State for Scotland W. Ross 18 Oct 64 - 19 Jun 70
Minister for Technology F. Cousins 18 Oct 64 - 4 Jul 66
  A. Benn 4 Jul 66 - 19 Jun 70 
President of the Board of Trade D. Jay 18 Oct 64 - 29 Aug 67
  A. Crosland 29 Aug 67 - 6 Oct 69 
  R. Mason 6 Oct 69 - 19 Jun 70 
Minister for Transport T. Fraser 18 Oct 64 - 23 Dec 65
  B. Castle 23 Dec 65 - 6 Apr 68 
  R. Marsh 6 Apr 68 - 19 Jun 70 
Secretary of State for Wales J. Griffiths 18 Oct 64 - 6 Apr 66
  C. Hughes 6 Apr 66 - 6 Apr 68 
  G. Thomas 6 Apr 68 - 19 Jun 70 

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