Description:

Harold Wilson
[London, England], October 16, 1981
Harold Wilson TLS: "I can well understand the concern you feel particularly over the recent troubles there have been in the Party," Ex-Forbes
TLS
A 2pp typed letter signed by Harold Wilson (1916-1995), twice the former Prime Minister of Great Britain but then in his role as member of the House of Commons, as "Harold Wilson" near the center of the second page. October 16, 1981. [London, England.] On two sheets of watermarked stationery with "House of Commons / London SWIA OAA" letterhead embossed in green, and its logo depicting a crowned and chained portcullis at top. Light expected wear including a flattened central horizontal fold and a few extra wrinkles. Staple holes are located at upper left. Else near fine. 5.875" x 8.375." Ex-Collection of Steve Forbes.

Harold Wilson wrote this letter to a concerned constituent named John Simmons, who had contacted the former leader of the Labour Party to express his concerns. In his response letter, Wilson assured Simmons that the Labour Party was still "very much the Party of compassion" and that it would not forsake the most vulnerable members of its population, notably the disabled, homeless, or unemployed, during a time of economic malaise resulting from the 1979 energy crisis and the 1980 recession. Wilson praised the efforts of the current Leader of the Labour Party, Michael Foot (1913-2010), who served as leader of the opposition between 1980-1983.

Wilson conceded that the Labour Party had suffered from "recent troubles," almost certainly referring to the internal schism whereby the so-called "Gang of Four" (Roy Jenkins, David Owen, William Rodgers, and Shirley Williams) defected from the Labour Party to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in January 1981. Two months after the launch of the right-wing SDP in March 1981, they formed an alliance with the Liberal Party, and Labour Party polling numbers started to tank.

Wilson wrote in part:

"I can well understand the concern you feel particularly over the recent troubles there have been in the Party. I share that concern and I hope that the problems will soon be resolved so that the Party can formulate its policy and present it to the electorate clearly so that they see the alternatives.

Let me assure you that for my own part I am certain that we remain very much the Party of compassion and I hope that the record over the years is a testimony to this. I have only just this week been dealing with questions relating to the disabled and have had to remind a number of people who have written in to me about the vast amount that was done by the Labour Governments of which I was Prime Minister, to care for the needs of the disabled and to improve their position within the community. I think if you look at that record as well as the record over a wide area of reform in the social services, you will see that our care and compassion was made clear and effective.

But obviously the first priority in these very difficult days is the question of unemployment and Michael Foot has himself headed a very strong campaign to get action and to get a change of policy from this present Government. The Party is therefore giving a very high and first priority to the questions of unemployment since, as you so clearly say in your letter, so much flows from this and hope, dignity, pride, and, as I have said, care and compassion.

I am grateful to you for writing to me to let me have your own views and to let me know of your worries…"

Lord Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx (1916-1995), was a British Labour Party career politician who twice served as Prime Minister, the first time from 1964-1970, and the second time from 1974-1976. Wilson's parliamentary tenure extended nearly 50 years, from 1945-1983 in the House of Commons, and from 1983 until the early 1990s in the House of Lords.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Provenance: Purchased from one John Wilson in London, England. Ex-Collection of Steve Forbes.
  • Dimensions: 5.875" x 8.375"
  • Medium: TLS

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