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'''Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell'' (1906-1963) was a British politician, leader of the [[Labour]] party from [[1955]] until his death in [[1963]]. |
'''Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell''' (1906-1963) was a British politician, leader of the [[Labour]] party from [[1955]] until his death in [[1963]]. |
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He was born in [[London]] and educated at [[New College, Oxford]]. He first became interested in politics as a result of the [[General Strike]] of [[1926]], and lectured in [[economics]] for the Workers' Educational Association to miners in [[Nottinghamshire]]. He became Labour MP for [[Leeds]] in [[1945]], quickly rose through the ministerial ranks, and was [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] in the government of [[1950]]. It was at this time that he fell out with [[Aneurin Bevan]] over the [[National Health Service]]. He later defeated Bevan in the party leadership contest, following the resignation of Clement Attlee]] in 1955. |
He was born in [[London]] and educated at [[New College, Oxford]]. He first became interested in politics as a result of the [[General Strike]] of [[1926]], and lectured in [[economics]] for the Workers' Educational Association to miners in [[Nottinghamshire]]. He became Labour MP for [[Leeds]] in [[1945]], quickly rose through the ministerial ranks, and was [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] in the government of [[1950]]. It was at this time that he fell out with [[Aneurin Bevan]] over the [[National Health Service]]. He later defeated Bevan in the party leadership contest, following the resignation of Clement Attlee]] in 1955. |
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Revision as of 23:09, 29 November 2002
Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell (1906-1963) was a British politician, leader of the Labour party from 1955 until his death in 1963.
He was born in London and educated at New College, Oxford. He first became interested in politics as a result of the General Strike of 1926, and lectured in economics for the Workers' Educational Association to miners in Nottinghamshire. He became Labour MP for Leeds in 1945, quickly rose through the ministerial ranks, and was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the government of 1950. It was at this time that he fell out with Aneurin Bevan over the National Health Service. He later defeated Bevan in the party leadership contest, following the resignation of Clement Attlee]] in 1955.
Gaitskell's appointment as leader coincided with one of the Labour Party's leanest periods, and he is regarded by some as "the best Prime Minister we never had". A period of ill health led up to his untimely death, and left an opening for Harold Wilson.