Member of Parliament (1948–1977) Roy Jenkins

1 member of parliament (1948–1977)

1.1 cabinet (1965–1970)
1.2 shadow cabinet (1970–1974)
1.3 return government (1974–1977)

member of parliament (1948–1977)

having failed win solihull in 1945, elected house of commons in 1948 by-election member of parliament southwark central, becoming baby of house. constituency abolished in boundary changes 1950 general election, when stood instead in new birmingham stechford constituency. won seat , represented constituency until 1977.

jenkins principal sponsor, in 1959, of bill became liberalising obscene publications act, responsible establishing liable deprave , corrupt criterion basis prosecution of suspect material , specifying literary merit possible defence. healey , crosland, had been close friend of hugh gaitskell , them gaitskell s death , elevation of harold wilson labour party leader setback.

after 1964 general election jenkins appointed minister of aviation , sworn of privy council. while @ aviation oversaw high-profile cancellations of bac tsr-2 , concorde projects (although latter later reversed after strong opposition french government). in january 1965 patrick gordon walker resigned foreign secretary , in ensuing reshuffle wilson offered jenkins department education , science; however. declined it, preferring stay @ aviation.

cabinet (1965–1970)

in summer of 1965 jenkins eagerly accepted offer replace frank soskice home secretary. wilson, dismayed sudden bout of press speculation potential move, delayed jenkins appointment until december. once jenkins took office – youngest home secretary since churchill – set reforming operation , organisation of home office. principal private secretary, head of press , publicity department , permanent under-secretary replaced. redesigned office, famously replacing board on condemned prisoners listed drinks cabinet. after 1966 general election, in labour won comfortable majority, jenkins pushed through series of police reforms reduced number of separate forces 117 49.

immigration divisive , provocative issue during late 1960s , on 23 may 1966 jenkins delivered speech on race relations, considered 1 of best. addressing london meeting of national committee commonwealth immigrants notably defined integration:

... not flattening process of assimilation equal opportunity, accompanied cultural diversity, in atmosphere of mutual tolerance.

before going on ask:

where in world there university preserve fame, or cultural centre keep eminence, or metropolis hold drawing power, if turn inwards , serve own hinterland , own racial group?

and concluding that:

to live apart, person, city, country, lead life of declining intellectual stimulation.

jenkins seen responsible wide-ranging social reforms of late 1960s, popular historian andrew marr claiming greatest changes of labour years jenkins. refused authorise birching of prisoners , responsible relaxation of laws relating divorce , abolition of theatre censorship , gave government support david steel s private member s bill legalisation of abortion , leo abse s bill decriminalisation of homosexuality. wilson, puritan background, not sympathetic these developments, however. jenkins replied public criticism asserting so-called permissive society in reality civilised society. conservatives, such peter hitchens, jenkins reforms remain objectionable. in book abolition of britain, hitchens accuses him of being cultural revolutionary takes large part of responsibility decline of traditional values in britain.

from 1967 1970 jenkins served chancellor of exchequer, replacing james callaghan following devaluation crisis of november 1967. gained reputation particularly tough chancellor 1968 budget increasing taxes £923 million, more twice increase of previous budget date. despite edward heath claiming hard, cold budget, without glimmer of warmth jenkins first budget broadly received warm reception, harold wilson remarking acclaimed speech of surpassing quality , elegance , barbara castle took s breath away . however, following further sterling crisis in november 1968 jenkins forced raise taxes further £250 million. after currency markets began settle , 1969 budget represented more of same £340 million increase in taxation further limit consumption.

by may 1969 britain s current account position in surplus, growth in exports, drop in overall consumption and, in part, inland revenue correcting previous underestimation in export figures. in july jenkins able announce size of britain s foreign currency reserves had been increased $1 billion since beginning of year. @ time presided on britain s excess of government revenue on expenditure in period 1936-7 1987–8. in part these successes there high expectation 1970 budget more generous one. jenkins, however, cautious stability of britain s recovery , decided present more muted , fiscally neutral budget. argued this, combined series of bad trade figures, contributed conservative victory @ 1970 general election. historians , economists have praised jenkins presiding on transformation in britain s fiscal , current account positions towards end of 1960s. andrew marr, example, described him 1 of 20th century s successful chancellors .

shadow cabinet (1970–1974)

after labour unexpectedly lost power in 1970 jenkins appointed shadow chancellor of exchequer harold wilson. jenkins subsequently elected deputy leadership of labour party in july 1970, defeating future labour leader michael foot , former leader of commons fred peart @ first ballot. @ time appeared natural successor harold wilson, , appeared many matter of time before inherited leadership of party, , opportunity become prime minister.

this changed completely, however, jenkins refused accept tide of anti-european feeling became prevalent in labour party in 1970s. in 1972, led 69 labour mps through division lobby in support of heath government s motion take britain eec. in so-doing defying three-line whip , five-to-one vote @ labour party annual conference. jenkins action gave european cause legitimacy have otherwise been absent had issue been considered solely party political matter. @ stage, however, jenkins not abandon position political insider, , chose stand again deputy leader, act colleague david marquand claimed later came regret. jenkins narrowly defeated michael foot on second ballot.

six months later, however, resigned both deputy leadership , shadow cabinet position in april 1972, on party s policy on favouring referendum on british membership of european economic community (eec). led former admirers, including roy hattersley, choosing distance jenkins. lavish lifestyle — wilson once described him more socialite socialist  — had alienated of labour party him. wilson accused him of having affair socialite ann fleming - , true. jenkins returned shadow cabinet in november 1973 shadow home secretary.

return government (1974–1977)

when labour returned power in 1974, jenkins appointed home secretary second time. earlier, had been promised treasury; however, wilson later decided appoint denis healey chancellor instead. upon hearing bernard donoughue wilson had reneged on promise, jenkins reacted angrily. despite being on public staircase, reported have shouted tell harold wilson must bloody come see me ... , if doesn t watch out, won t join bloody government ... typical of bloody awful way harold wilson things!

jenkins served 1974 1976. in period undermined previous liberal credentials extent pushing through controversial prevention of terrorism act, which, among other things, extended length of time suspects held in custody , instituted exclusion orders. although becoming increasingly disillusioned during time considered party s drift left, leading labour figure in referendum in september 1975 saw yes campaign win two-to-one victory in referendum on continued membership of european community.