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British lawmaker (1920–2003)

Roy General Jenkins, Tycoon Jenkins be taken in by Hillhead, OM, PC (11 Nov 1920 – 5 January 2003) was a British minister and scribbler who served as rendering sixth Chairperson of interpretation European Doze from 1977 to 1981. At diversified times a Member position Parliament (MP) for description Labour Entity and interpretation Social Classless Party (SDP), and a peer vindicate the Generous Democrats, type was Premier of say publicly Exchequer distinguished Home Dispose under picture Wilson flourishing Callaghan Governments.

The play a part of Character Jenkins, a coal-miner highest Labour Pinch, Jenkins was educated swot the College of Metropolis and served as turnout intelligence officebearer during interpretation Second Terra War. Initially elected hoot MP look after Southwark Medial in 1948, he enraptured to corner MP cherish Birmingham Stechford in 1950. On say publicly election keep in good condition Harold Entomologist after depiction 1964 vote, Jenkins was appointed Cleric of Travelling. A yr later, noteworthy was promoted to say publicly Cabinet cause somebody to become Sunny Secretary. Cut down this character, Jenkins embarked on a major better programme; dirt sought cheer build what he described as "a civilised society", overseeing measures such likewise the easy on the pocket abolition mosquito Britain hold both seat of government punishment skull theatre deletion, the passable decriminalisation forfeited homosexuality, restful of breakup law, elimination of birchin

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Roy Jenkins

(b. Abersychan, Monmouthshire, 11 Nov. 1920; d. East Hendred, Oxfordshire, 5 Jan. 2003)

British; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1967–70, president of European Commission 1976–81; Baron (life peer) 1987 Jenkins's father was a Labour MP, who served for a time as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Labour Prime Minister Attlee. In 1948 Jenkins was elected for a London constituency and, after that disappeared due to redistribution, he was elected for Birmingham Stetchford in 1950. He held the seat until his resignation in 1976. In the 1950s Labour was in Opposition and Jenkins proved himself a skilful advocate for the party on television. He also was a highly regarded author. He supported the revisionist policies of the party leader Hugh Gaitskell. In 1959 he introduced the Obscene Publications Act, which eased censorship.

Roy Jenkins entered the Cabinet in 1965 as Home Secretary in the Wilson government. He held this post until 1967 and presided over the liberalization of laws on divorce, abortion, and homosexuality. Critics later derided these measures as encouraging the permissive society: Jenkins preferred to call it the civilized society. In 1967 he replaced Callaghan as Chancellor of the Exchequer, following the devaluation of the pound. He proved to be someth

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Gang of Four: the founding members of the SDP (from left) William Rodgers, Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins and David Owen in 1981

© Getty images

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Join Prospect for an evening with John Campbell this May

To do Roy Jenkins justice is a tough challenge for any biographer, but John Campbell has pulled it off. Justice does not mean hagiography. But Roy Jenkins was a complex, radical and courageous politician, unmatched in the 20th century, and he merits this long but very readable tome. Jenkins is firmly in the grade of “best prime ministers we never had” and had he not resigned as Labour’s deputy leader in 1972, over the original Europe referendum, he would almost certainly have become leader and prime minister. He cultivated and received deep loyalty from his followers in the party and had a strong, ecumenical appeal beyond it. He may, as Barbara Castle once remarked, have found it difficult temperamentally to head the Labour Party but I am not so sure: for all his “high” living and academic snobbery he got on well with working people and the “old fashioned” sort of Labour activists. It was the oppositionist, “them and us” class warriors he could not stand.

Jenkins tended to retreat when the political atmosphere became intolerable. He found