Harold Wilson held out the promise of technology and of 'the Britain that is going to be forged in the white heat of this revolution'. A balance of payment crisis, leading to devaluation in 1967, frustrated the fulfilment of his primeministerial promises. Meanwhile foreign affaris were dominated by the issue of Rhodesia, in which Wilson took a personal initiative in diplomacy with Ian Smith but failed to make any progress.

Paul Routledge is chief political commentator of the Daily Mirror, who earlier in his career reported on the Wilson administration. His books include biographies of Arthur Scargill, Betty Boothroyd, Airie Neave and Peter Mandelson.