Harold Wilson James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, (11 March 1916 – 24 May 1995) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from October 1964 to June 1970, and again from March 1974 to April 1976. He ...

of the Labour Party would form his Second Shadow Cabinet, as Leader of Her Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition, after losing the 1970 general election to Conservative Edward Heath. He would retain leadership of the Opposition for the length of the Heath Ministry, from 1970 − 1974. In February 1974, his party would narrowly win an election. Wilson was then forced to form a

minority government A minority government, minority cabinet, minority administration, or a minority parliament is a government and Cabinet (government), cabinet formed in a parliamentary system when a political party or Coalition government, coalition of parties do ...

, which would only last until another election in October of that year. After that election, Wilson would form a

majority government A majority government is a government by one or more governing parties that hold an absolute majority of seats in a legislature. This is as opposed to a minority government, where the largest party in a legislature only has a plurality of seats. ...

Shadow Cabinet list

June 1970

Changes

1971

* James Callaghan replaces Barbara Castle as Shadow Secretary of State for Employment * Barbara Castle replaces Shirley Williams as Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services * Shirley Williams replaces James Callaghan as Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department * Michael Foot replaces Fred Peart as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons * Fred Peart replaces Cledwyn Hughes as Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food * Peter Shore joins the shadow cabinet as Shadow Minister for Europe

1972

* Reg Prentice joins the shadow cabinet, replacing James Callaghan as Shadow Employment Secretary * James Callaghan replaces Denis Healey as Shadow Foreign Secretary * Denis Healey replaces Roy Jenkins as Shadow Chancellor * Fred Peart replaces George Thomson as Shadow Defence Secretary * Edward Short replaces Roy Jenkins as Deputy Leader of the Opposition and takes Fred Peart’s former post, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons * Roy Jenkins is removed from the shadow cabinet * Michael Foot replaces Peter Shore as Shadow Europe Minister * Harold Lever replaces Tony Benn as Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary * Merlyn Rees joins the shadow cabinet with a newly created post: Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland * Barbara Castle is removed from the shadow cabinet

1973

* Roy Jenkins returns to the shadow cabinet, replacing Shirley Williams as Shadow Home Secretary * Shirley Williams takes the newly created post of Shadow Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection

References

* {{UK Labour Party British shadow cabinets Harold Wilson

Wilson Wilson may refer to: People * Wilson (name) ** List of people with given name Wilson ** List of people with surname Wilson * Wilson (footballer, 1927–1998), Brazilian manager and defender * Wilson (footballer, born 1984), full name Wilson Ro ...

Official Opposition (United Kingdom) 1970 establishments in the United Kingdom 1974 disestablishments in the United Kingdom 1970 in British politics