Introduction: the Fall and Rise of a Reputation
Harold Wilson’s Labour party came to power in October 1964 with a pledge to modernise Britain. ‘Modernisation’ was the omnibus phrase that he used in each and every area of policy, from the shape of the economy to Britain’s military commitments abroad. The idea was not limited to his famous speech at Labour’s 1963 Conference in Scarborough, in which he invoked the ‘white heat’ of the ‘technological revolution’. It was, rather, a constant theme in Labour’s appeal to the electorate. Science and the Future of Britain, Labour’s 1961 statement of aims in that field, set out new ways to achieve ‘the expansion and modernisation of our industries’. As chairman of the Science and Industry group of the National Executive Committee, Wilson was intimately concerned with that pamphlet, and with bringing scientists and other experts into the policy-making process. In his very first meeting with the TUC after becoming prime minister, he told trade union leaders that ‘modernisation and the National Plan’ were his priorities. Harold Wilson also emphasised modernity in foreign policy. Following the Conservatives’ failure to enter the European Community, Wilson encouraged the Labour party to view Commonwealth regeneration as an alternative. Genuinely committed to the strengthening of Commonwealth links, Wilson maintained that Britain’s international role would be best served by assisting the world’s poorest nations. The Commonwealth offered Britain leadership and influence and the moral dignity of assisting a diverse, underdeveloped and multi-racial grouping. In defence policy also, the Labour government would seek to bring stability to underdeveloped
Where did we go wrong? : from the gold standard to Europe
Examining some economic landmarks of the last 70 years, Lord Roll seeks to identify errors of policy which can be linked to the deteriorating performance of the British economy in relation to other industrialized countries. He also examines the failure to assess early enough the significance of the movement for European integration and the consequential errors of policy which culminated in our belated entry to the ERM and our ejection from it in 1992. The author's "A History of Economic Thought", which has run to five editions, has been in print for over 50 years.
Anticolonialism in British Politics: The Left and the End of Empire 1918-1964
The Left and imperialism socialism and Empire before 1939 the war years, 1939-1945 the labour governments, 1945-1951 the left outside Parliament, 1945-1954 the movement for colonial freedom, 1954-1964 campaigns and schisms, 1954-1964.