As Prime Minister, Wilson oversaw a number of important reforms. Male homosexuality was decriminalised. The death penalty was effectively repealed.  Theatre censorship ceased. Legislation against racial discrimination was passed. The Open University was created. The age of voting was reduced to 18.

However, Britain’s deep economic problems returned. Wilson had established a Department for Economic Affairs to create a National Plan. But this policy was eventually abandoned. In November 1967, Wilson was forced to devalue the pound sterling. This was a difficult decision, and very damaging for the government. The situation was made much worse by Wilson’s televised (and incorrect) insistence that “It does not mean that the pound here in Britain, in your pocket or purse or in your bank, has been devalued.”

In foreign affairs, the era was dominated by the Vietnam War. US President Lyndon Johnson, whose relations with Wilson were always difficult, strongly pressed for some token British involvement. But, in Cabinet, many Labour ministers argued that Wilson should strongly condemn the war. Wilson, who knew how dependent Britain was on American financial help, offered moral and intelligence support to the US, but nothing more.

By the time Wilson was Prime Minister, Britain had largely retreated from its overseas empire. In 1965, the white leadership of the colony of Rhodesia had rebelled and declared independence, rather than consent to black majority rule. Ultimately, it would remain a rogue state until 1979. In 1967, Defence Secretary Denis Healey announced that British bases ‘East of Suez’ would be withdrawn by 1971, arguably marking the symbolic end of the British Empire.

Wilson also tried to secure British membership of the European Economic Community in 1967. But, as with Macmillan, French President Charles de Gaulle vetoed the application.

Towards the end of his ministry, Wilson put together a plan to tackle industrial relations. This was an ambitious white paper called In Place of Strife, authored by employment minister Barbara Castle. Ultimately, Wilson’s cabinet was too divided to consent to the measures.

In 1970, Wilson unexpectedly lost the election, with the Conservatives and UUP achieving a majority of 30.

Wilson returned to power in 1974 after the indecisive February election. He went back to the country in October to receive a majority of just 3. He soothed a deeply divided Labour Party on the matter of Europe by promising a referendum on membership. For a few months, Foreign Secretary James Callaghan renegotiated Britain’s membership, establishing a few changes, which Wilson then put to the country, recommending a ‘Yes’ vote. It would be ‘Yes’ that triumphed, receiving 67% of votes.

Wilson had wanted to leave on a high, and, having settled the Europe issue and with his party in power, in March 1976 he announced his resignation.