Harold Wilson Extended Interview on "Grumpy" Joe Haines and Marcia Williams Scandal (1977)

On 15 February 1977, former Prime Minister Harold Wilson was interviewed by ITN's Julian Haviland on the row that had emerged after Joe Haines, Wilson's long-time press secretary, released a book containing damaging allegations about his former boss. The Politics of Power, sections of which were serialised in The Times, alleged that Wilson was under the influence of Marcia Williams, Wilson's private and political secretary. Specifically, Haines alleged that Wilson's resignation honours list was drawn up by Williams, by now Baroness Falkenden, to include honours and knighthoods for herself and her friends. Haines argued that Wilson had been scared of Williams' "temper", and made decisions based on a desire to avoid incurring her wrath rather than a belief of what was right. Wilson strenuously denied the allegations, arguing that Haines attempted to influence policy more than Williams, and that the so-called Lavender List of resignation honours was his decision.
Joe Haines and Harold Wilson are once again in the news after Haines, aged 96, has revealed that Wilson confessed to a secret extramarital affair during his second premiership. After keeping the affair a secret for more than 50 years, Haines and Downing Street colleague Bernard Donaghue disclosed that Wilson had actually been in a relationship with his deputy press secretary, Janet Hewlett-Davies, 22 years his junior. Haines said the revelation was motivated by a desire to ensure the historical record of Wilson's time in office was as accurate as possible.
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[@Da1Dez]

My Grandad who just turned 90 says Harold is still the best prime minister this country has ever had and who did the best for Britain's economy, culture and working class. Wilson gave him and fellow railway workers a 10% pay increase, back in the days when Britain invested in it's own proud nation rather than now where it has to hold onto millions to please foreign countries that use us as a door matt.

[@MarkHarrison733]

Wilson was a complete disaster. He also allowed uncontrolled mass immigration.

[@121zoso]

Think I’m right in saying Wilson would have been aged 61 here . The same age Keir Starmer Is now . People certainly looked older back then .

[@MarkHarrison733]

Wilson was an alcoholic.

[@johnthomas7038]

Starmer hasn't led a government yet - let's see what he looks like after he has.

[@wilsonfisk6626]

It's the smoking.

[@Da1Dez]

Not to mention Wilson had already left office by this time, yet Starmer is about to begin!

[@nicokern7615]

Take into consideration that Harold Wilson served as Prime Minister for 8 years (1964-1966 and 1974-1976) and leader of the opposition for 4 years (1970-1974) in politically and economically very difficult times for the UK (devaluation of the pound, pressure from the US to enter the Vietnam war, violence in Northern Ireland, strikes, ...)
Additionally, there were rumors that he himself was a Soviet agent (which was later found to be wrong by both British and American intelligence) aswell as high-ranking parts of MI5 which tried to form a plot against him
To cope with all that pressure, Wilson began to drink more than usual during his 2nd term of office as Prime Minister
That all wore Wilson down politically, mentally and physically, and it's to his eternal credit that he noticed his own mental decline before it was too late and resigned so that a "fresher" man could take over

[@LeighRichards27]

Wilson's a largely forgotten figure now - even by labour - yet he won 4 general elections.

[@MarkHarrison733]

Wilson really only won one GE.

[@leemorris2924]

@@MarkHarrison733 Apart from the other three that he won...

[@MarkHarrison733]

@@leemorris2924 He only won one GE, in 1966.

[@nicokern7615]

​@@MarkHarrison733Wilson won the general elections of 1964 (defeating the Tory Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home), 1966, February 1974 and October 1974 (all against Tory leader Ted Heath)
He only ever lost one, namely in 1970 against Heath's Conservatives, which made Heath Prime Minister

[@MarkHarrison733]

@@nicokern7615 Wilson only "won" due to Scotland in 1964 and October 1974. He lost in 1970 and February 1974.

[@jamesgale2147]

ever and always the most articulate of men

[@MarkHarrison733]

He knew he had Alzheimer's disease by 1975.

[@westminsterwatcher5152]

Decent man!

[@MarkHarrison733]

He abused children.

[@MichaelJ44]

Huh

[@MarkHarrison733]

Wilson carried out genocide in the Biafran War at the behest of the USSR.