Second Shadow Cabinet of Harold Wilson

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Second Shadow Cabinet of Harold Wilson
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Shadow Cabinet of United Kingdom
1970 – 1974
Date formed19 June 1970
Date dissolved4 March 1974
People and organisations
Monarch Elizabeth II
Leader of the Opposition Harold Wilson
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Roy Jenkins (1970–72)
Edward Short (1972–74)
Member party
  •   Labour Party
Status in legislature Official Opposition
288 / 630 (46%)
History
Legislature terms 45th UK Parliament
Incoming formation 1970 United Kingdom general election
Outgoing formation February 1974 United Kingdom general election
Predecessor First Shadow Cabinet of Edward Heath
Successor Second Shadow Cabinet of Edward Heath

Harold Wilson of the Labour Party formed his Second Shadow Cabinet as Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition after losing the 1970 general election to Conservative Edward Heath.

Contents

He retained leadership of the Opposition for the length of the Heath ministry from 1970 to 1974. In February 1974, his party narrowly won an election. Wilson was then forced to form a minority government that lasted only until another election in October of that year. Following that election, Wilson formed a majority government.

Shadow Cabinet list

Harold Wilson, Leader of the Opposition (1970-1974) Lord Harold Wilson Allan Warren.jpg
Harold Wilson, Leader of the Opposition (1970–1974)
PortfolioShadow MinisterTerm
Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition
Leader of the Labour Party 		The Rt Hon. Harold Wilson 1970 – 1974
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party 		The Rt Hon. Roy Jenkins 1970 – 1972
The Rt Hon. Edward Short 1972 – 1974
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer The Rt Hon. Roy Jenkins 1970 – 1972
The Rt Hon. Denis Healey 1972 – 1974
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons The Rt Hon. Fred Peart 1970 – 1971
The Rt Hon. Michael Foot 1971 – 1972
The Rt Hon. Edward Short 1972 – 1974
Shadow Foreign Secretary The Rt Hon. Denis Healey 1970 – 1972
The Rt Hon. James Callaghan 1972 – 1974
Shadow Home Secretary The Rt Hon. James Callaghan 1970 – 1971
Shirley Williams 1971 – 1973
The Rt Hon. Roy Jenkins 1973 – 1974
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence The Rt Hon. George Thomson 1970 – 1972
The Rt Hon. Fred Peart 1972 – 1974
Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment The Rt Hon. Anthony Crosland 1970 – 1974
Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry The Rt Hon. Tony Benn 1970 – 1974
Shadow Secretary of State for Employment The Rt Hon. Barbara Castle 1970 – 1971
The Rt Hon. James Callaghan 1971 – 1972
The Rt Hon. Reg Prentice 1972 – 1974
Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services Shirley Williams 1970 – 1971
The Rt Hon. Barbara Castle 1971 – 1972
John Silkin 1972 – 1974
Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science The Rt Hon. Edward Short 1970 – 1972
The Rt Hon. Roy Hattersley 1972 – 1974
Shadow Minister of Fuel and Power Michael Foot 1970 – 1971
The Rt Hon. Harold Lever 1971 – 1972
The Rt Hon. Eric Varley 1972 – 1974
Shadow Minister for Europe The Rt Hon. Harold Lever 1970 – 1971
Peter Shore 1971 – 1972
Michael Foot 1972 – 1974
Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland The Rt Hon. Merlyn Rees 1972 – 1974
Other frontbenchers
Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food The Rt Hon. Cledwyn Hughes 1970 – 1971
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland The Rt Hon. William Ross 1970 – 1974
Shadow Secretary of State for Wales George Thomas 1970 – 1974
Shadow President of the Board of Trade Roy Mason 1970
Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords The Rt Hon. The Lord Shackleton PC 1970 – 1974
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons The Rt Hon. Bob Mellish 1970 – 1974
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords The Rt Hon. Baron Beswick 1970 – 1973
The Rt Hon. Baroness Llewelyn-Davies 1973 – 1974

Initial Shadow Cabinet

Wilson announced his new Shadow Cabinet on 22 July 1970, following the election of Roy Jenkins as Deputy Leader and the Shadow Cabinet election. [1] It featured three members who were not in the former cabinet, Foot, Williams and Houghton.

Junior Shadow Ministers

Changes

December 1971

April 1972

December 1972

November 1973

See also

References

  1. ↑ John Warden (23 July 1970). "No Surprises in Wilson's Shadow Cabinet". The Glasgow Herald. p. 19. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  2. ↑ Warden, John (17 December 1971). "Wilson Gives Foot Key Market Role". The Glasgow Herald. p. 22. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  3. ↑ John Warden (12 April 1972). "Wilson acts to sten defections". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Peter Long (13 April 1972). "Wilson patches up front ranks". The Sydney Morning Herald. London. p. 5. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  5. ↑ William Russell (7 December 1972). "Wilson gives Shore key prices post". The Glasgow Herald. p. 16. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  6. ↑ "Prices Job For Mrs Williams". The Glasgow Herald. 23 November 1973. p. 1. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
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