Harold Wilson and the European Community 1970-75

This thesis focuses upon British Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Harold "Wilson's European poUcy in the 1970s. Current historiography focus on "Wilson's desire to maintain patty unity and underestimates his goal of achieving and preserving British membership of the European Communities. Yet, recent research on the 1960s now suggests that membership of the EC was in fact a key objective for "Wilson, and that this transcended the management of Cabinet and party divisions. So it was largely as a result of "Wilson's own careful preparatory work after 1967 that Edward Heath was able to secure membership in 1972 so soon after his 1970 election victory. By rereading memoir material and drawing upon previously unconsidered archival sources, this thesis traces the development of Wilson's European policy and its management at home and abroad. It concludes that, during the 1970s, Wilson was committed to securing Britain's place within Europe and performed an intricate balancing act, cementing membership of the EC in the face of a deeply divided party.Faculty of the Art