Harold Wilson, Labour and the Machinery of Government

Abstract

Changes to the machinery of government were central to Labour's policy agenda during 1964–70, key parts of which, particularly the drive for planned economic growth, were not achieved. The reforms attempted can be placed within a long British socialist tradition, flavoured by Fabian elitism and containing intellectual contradictions. The ideological basis for the objectives being pursued, such as economic expansion, was never properly explored or developed. Harold Wilson's Civil Service ‘revolution’ was not entirely original, nor complete, nor fully successful. But some of his innovations, such as the incorporation of more outsiders into Whitehall, the first use of special advisers, and the establishment of the Ministry of Overseas Development and the Welsh Office, did last. Certain features of Tony Blair's approach to Whitehall, such as the deployment of special advisers and attempts to co-ordinate government and communications more fully from the centre, are reminiscent of the Wilson period. The resilience of the Treasury was apparent through both premierships. An unusual continuity can be traced between attempts to plan growth under Wilson and targets for improvements and reform in public services under Blair.