Roy Jenkins

Roy Jenkins
Name	Roy Jenkins
Caption	Jenkins in 1975
Office	President of the European Commission
Term start	6 January 1977
Term end	19 January 1981
Predecessor	François-Xavier Ortoli
Successor	Gaston Thorn
Office1	Chancellor of the Exchequer
Term start1	30 November 1967
Term end1	19 June 1970
Primeminister1	Harold Wilson
Predecessor1	James Callaghan
Successor1	Iain Macleod
Office2	Home Secretary
Term start2	5 November 1965
Term end2	30 November 1967
Primeminister2	Harold Wilson
Predecessor2	Frank Soskice
Successor2	James Callaghan
Term start3	23 December 1974
Term end3	10 September 1976
Primeminister3	Harold Wilson
Predecessor3	James Callaghan
Successor3	Merlyn Rees
Birth date	11 November 1920
Birth place	Abersychan, Monmouthshire, Wales
Death date	5 January 2003 (aged 82)
Death place	East Hendred, Oxfordshire, England
Party	Labour (until 1981), Social Democratic (1981–1988), Liberal Democrats (1988–2003)
Alma mater	University College, Oxford
Spouse	Jennifer Morris (m. 1945)

Roy Jenkins. Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead, was a prominent British politician, writer, and historian who played a central role in shaping the social and political landscape of post-war Britain. A key figure in the Labour Party for decades, he served as Home Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer under Harold Wilson before becoming the first British President of the European Commission. His later co-founding of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) marked a significant realignment in British politics, and his acclaimed historical biographies cemented his reputation as a major intellectual figure.

Early life and education

Born in 1920 in Abersychan, Monmouthshire, he was the son of a Labour MP and trade union official. He was educated at Abersychan Grammar School before winning a scholarship to University College, Oxford, where he read Philosophy, Politics and Economics. His time at Oxford University was interrupted by service in the Second World War, where he worked as a cryptanalyst at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park. This period, alongside his exposure to the intellectual ferment of the Union and the Labour Club, profoundly shaped his pro-European and social liberal outlook.

Political career

Elected as the Labour MP for Stechford in 1948, he rose through the party ranks as a leading figure on its social democratic right wing. Appointed Home Secretary by Harold Wilson in 1965, he pursued a landmark liberalising agenda, steering through Parliament the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965, the Sexual Offences Act 1967, and the Theatres Act 1968. As Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1967, he faced severe economic pressures, devaluing the Pound sterling and implementing tough budgets to restore the balance of payments. After Labour's defeat in the 1970 election, he became a vocal pro-European, leading the successful campaign for British membership of the European Communities against the stance of many in his party.

European Commission Presidency

In 1977, following his second stint as Home Secretary, he was appointed President of the European Commission, becoming the first British holder of the office. His tenure, from 1977 to 1981, was marked by efforts to revive the community's momentum during a period of "Eurosclerosis". He championed the creation of the European Monetary System, a precursor to the euro, and emphasized the need for closer political cooperation. His presidency strengthened the profile of the Commission and reinforced his stature as a committed pro-European statesman on the international stage, engaging with leaders like Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and Helmut Schmidt.

Later political life and SDP

Disillusioned with the leftward shift of the Labour Party under Michael Foot, he resigned his seat in 1976 and served as President of the European Commission. Upon his return to British politics, he delivered the influential Dimbleby Lecture in 1979, calling for a realignment of the political centre. In 1981, he joined with David Owen, Shirley Williams, and Bill Rodgers—the "Gang of Four"—to found the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was elected SDP MP for Glasgow Hillhead in a 1982 by-election. The SDP formed an alliance with the Liberal Party under David Steel, but after disappointing results in the 1983 general election, he stepped down as SDP leader. He later accepted a life peerage as Baron Jenkins of Hillhead and sat in the House of Lords.

Writing and historical works

A prolific and celebrated author, he produced a series of major political biographies that won both critical and popular acclaim. His works included studies of Asquith, Dilke, and Gladstone, with his 2001 biography of the latter winning the Whitbread Prize for Biography. His final book, a biography of Winston Churchill, was published posthumously. These meticulously researched volumes, alongside his political memoirs, reflected his deep engagement with British history and the Liberal tradition, establishing him as a leading historian of political life.

Personal life and legacy

He married Jennifer Morris in 1945, and they had three children. Known for his sophisticated tastes in food, wine, and literature, he was a prominent member of London's intellectual and social circles, epitomising a certain style of "champagne socialism". His legacy is that of a pivotal reformer who modernised British social law, a principal architect of Britain's European destiny, and a catalyst for the centre-left realignment that eventually contributed to the creation of the Liberal Democrats. He died in 2003 at his home in East Hendred, Oxfordshire.

Category:1920 births Category:2003 deaths Category:Presidents of the European Commission Category:Chancellors of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom Category:Home Secretaries