Second Shadow Cabinet of Harold Wilson
# Second Shadow Cabinet of Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson of the Labour Party would form his Second Shadow Cabinet, as Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition, after losing the 1970 general election to Conservative Edward Heath. He would retain leadership of the Opposition for the length of the Heath Ministry, from 1970 − 1974. In February 1974, his party would narrowly win an election. Wilson was then forced to form a minority government, which would only last until another election in October of that year. Following that election, Wilson would form a majority government.

## Shadow Cabinet list

### June 1970

| Portfolio | Shadow Minister | Term |
| - | - | - |
| Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition Leader of the Labour Party | The Rt Hon. Harold Wilson | 1970 – 1974 |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition | The Rt Hon. Roy Jenkins | 1970 – 1972 |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition | The Rt Hon. Edward Short | 1972 – 1974 |
| Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer | The Rt Hon. Roy Jenkins | 1970 – 1972 |
| Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer | The Rt Hon. Denis Healey | 1972 – 1974 |
| Shadow Foreign Secretary | The Rt Hon. Denis Healey | 1970 – 1972 |
| Shadow Foreign Secretary | The Rt Hon. James Callaghan | 1972 – 1974 |
| Shadow Home Secretary | The Rt Hon. James Callaghan | 1970 – 1971 |
| Shadow Home Secretary | Shirley Williams | 1971 – 1973 |
| Shadow Home Secretary | The Rt Hon. Roy Jenkins | 1973 – 1974 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Employment | The Rt Hon. Barbara Castle | 1970 – 1971 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Employment | The Rt Hon. James Callaghan | 1971 – 1972 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Employment | The Rt Hon. Reg Prentice | 1972 – 1974 |
| Shadow Leader of the House of Commons | The Rt Hon. Fred Peart | 1970 – 1971 |
| Shadow Leader of the House of Commons | The Rt Hon. Michael Foot | 1971 – 1972 |
| Shadow Leader of the House of Commons | The Rt Hon. Edward Short | 1972 – 1974 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science | The Rt Hon. Edward Short | 1970 – 1972 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science | Unknown | 1972 – 1973 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science | The Rt Hon. Roy Hattersley | 1973 – 1974 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | The Rt Hon. Tony Benn | 1970 – 1972 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry | The Rt Hon. Harold Lever | 1972 – 1974 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment | The Rt Hon. Anthony Crosland | 1970 – 1974 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Defence | The Rt Hon. George Thomson | 1970 – 1972 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Defence | The Rt Hon. Fred Peart | 1972 – 1974 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services | Shirley Williams | 1970 – 1971 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services | The Rt Hon. Barbara Castle | 1971 – 1972 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services | John Silkin | 1972 - 1974 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | The Rt Hon. William Ross | 1970 – 1974 |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | The Rt Hon. Merlyn Rees | 1972 – 1974 |
| Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords | The Rt Hon.The Lord Shackleton PC | 1970 – 1974 |
| Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Commons | The Rt Hon. Bob Mellish | 1970 – 1974 |
| Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | The Rt Hon. Cledwyn Hughes | 1970 – 1971 |
| Shadow Minister of Power | Michael Foot | 1970 – 1971 |
| Shadow Minister for Europe | The Rt Hon. Harold Lever | 1970 – 1971 |
| Shadow Minister for Europe | Peter Shore | 1971 – 1972 |
| Shadow Minister for Europe | Michael Foot | 1972 – 1974 |

### Changes

**1971**

* James Callaghan replaces Barbara Castle as Shadow Secretary of State for Employment
* Barbara Castle replaces Shirley Williams as Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services
* Shirley Williams replaces James Callaghan as Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department
* Michael Foot replaces Fred Peart as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
* Fred Peart replaces Cledwyn Hughes as Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
* Peter Shore joins the shadow cabinet as Shadow Minister for Europe

**1972**

* Reg Prentice joins the shadow cabinet, replacing James Callaghan as Shadow Employment Secretary
* James Callaghan replaces Denis Healey as Shadow Foreign Secretary
* Denis Healey replaces Roy Jenkins as Shadow Chancellor
* Fred Peart replaces George Thomson as Shadow Defence Secretary
* Edward Short replaces Roy Jenkins as Deputy Leader of the Opposition and takes Fred Peart’s former post, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
* Roy Jenkins is removed from the shadow cabinet
* Michael Foot replaces Peter Shore as Shadow Europe Minister
* Harold Lever replaces Tony Benn as Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary
* Merlyn Rees joins the shadow cabinet with a newly created post: Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
* Barbara Castle is removed from the shadow cabinet

**1973**

* Roy Jenkins returns to the shadow cabinet, replacing Shirley Williams as Shadow Home Secretary
* Shirley Williams takes the newly created post of Shadow Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection
