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Good Old Mr Wilson Trivia Quiz

Sorry, but this is not a quiz about the grumpy neighbour in the TV series 'Just Dennis,' instead it is about Harold Wilson who was the British Prime Minister from 1964-1970 and again from 1974-1976.

A multiple-choice quiz by kittyconner. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
kittyconner

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
94,480

Updated
Aug 18 24

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
16 / 25

Plays
675

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. Mr Wilson was born in 1916. What was his first name? Hint

John

Harold

James

Charles

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Question 2 of 25

2. In 1964, Harold Wilson was worried that the showing of which TV programme might keep voters away from the polling-booths? Hint

Steptoe and Son

Coronation Street

World in Action

Top of the Pops

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Question 3 of 25

3. M. Wilson and the Labour party won the 1964 election, but by how many seats? Hint

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Question 4 of 25

4. The Beatles referred to the Prime Minister as 'good old Mr Wilson' and in 1965 they were awarded with which honour? Hint

MBE

OBE

CBE

KCB

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Question 5 of 25

5. During his political life, Harold Wilson was MP for which two constituencies? Hint

Ormskirk and Huddersfield

Ormskirk and Westminster

Huddersfield and Huyton

Ormskirk and Huyton

6. In 1947, while serving in the Attlee government, he was made President of the Board of Trade, and at that time he was one of the youngest politicians since William Pitt to be a Cabinet Minister. How old was he? Hint

33-years-old

30-years-old

31-years-old

32-years-old

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Question 7 of 25

7. In 1951, he joined another MP in resigning from the Cabinet. Who was the other MP? Hint

Michael Foot

Hugh Gaitskill

George Brown

Aneurin Bevan

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Question 8 of 25

8. Following the 1951 defeat Harold Wilson was back in the Shadow Cabinet. Who was the Labour leader at that time? Hint

Hugh Gaitskill

James Callaghan

Aneurin Bevan

Clement Attlee

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Question 9 of 25

9. In 1963, Hugh Gaitskell died and Harold Wilson became leader. In his time as leader, he led his party to four election successes, something that had not been done since which other Prime Minister? Hint

Benjamin Disraeli

William Gladstone

Lord Shaftesbury

Lord Melbourne

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Question 10 of 25

10. Ian Smith declared UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence). He was then Prime Minister of which country? Hint

Rhodesia

South Africa

Zimbabwe

Nigeria

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Question 11 of 25

11. In 1966, Harold Wilson and Ian Smith met aboard which warship to discuss the British governments '5 point plan' for Rhodesia? Hint

HMS Lion

HMS Tiger

HMS Sealion

HMS Panther

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Question 12 of 25

12. Which of the following Acts of Parliament were brought into being under a Wilson Government? Hint

All of them

Abortion Act

Sexual Offences Act

Divorce Reform Bill

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Question 13 of 25

13. The Open University was founded by the Wilson government. Where is it based? Hint

Ashford

Thamesmead

Milton Keynes

Harlow

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Question 14 of 25

14. Harold Wilson once said, "A ---- is a long time in politics."

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 15 of 25

15. In 1967, after the devaluation of the pound, what campaign was officially endorsed by the Wilson government? Hint

'I'm going with Labour'

'The Brighton conference initative'

'The pound in your pocket'

'I'm backing Britain'

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Question 16 of 25

16. In 1969, British troops were deployed where? Hint

Northern Ireland

Egypt

Cyprus

Falklands

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Question 17 of 25

17. Politically, what was unusual about the 1970s in the UK? Hint

The complete Cabinet was sacked

Two General Elections took place in the same year

The government lost a vote of no confidence

Industry operated a two day week

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Question 18 of 25

18. When he called the 1970 election, Harold Wilson once again worried about peripheral events affecting the result. This time it was England's match in the World Cup. Who were England playing?
Hint

West Germany

Scotland

Brazil

France

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Question 19 of 25

19. Who in 1972 told the House of Commons that Mr Wilson "is quite unfit, even to be leader of the opposition." Hint

Edward Heath

Harold MacMillian

Alec Douglas-Home

Margaret Thatcher

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Question 20 of 25

20. In 1965, Harold Wilson appointed Barbara Castle as Minister of Transport. Which of the following did she NOT introduce? Hint

70 mph speed limit

Compulsory seat belts

Breathalyzer test

Wheel clamp

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Question 21 of 25

21. Harold Wilson's wife Mary had books published on which subject? Hint

cookery

poetry

history

gardening

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Question 22 of 25

22. What did Mary Wilson say was her most exciting experience during her time at No 10? Hint

Meeting the Beatles

Meeting Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin

meeting the Queen and Prince Philip

Meeting the Monty Python team

NEXT>

Question 23 of 25

23. A few eyebrows were raised when Harold Wilson's personal secretary was made Lady Faulkender. What was her name? Hint

Mary Williams

Maria Williams

Marcia Williams

Marie Williams

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Question 24 of 25

24. Harold Wilson retired in 1976 while still in office. Who then became Prime Minister? Hint

Neil Kinnock

Michael Foot

John Smith

James Callaghan

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Question 25 of 25

25. When Harold Wilson retired did he accept a peerage?

Yes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Mr Wilson was born in 1916. What was his first name?

Answer: James

Mr Wilson was born James Harold Wilson in Huddersfield, but like so many other people, he chose to go by his second given name.

2. In 1964, Harold Wilson was worried that the showing of which TV programme might keep voters away from the polling-booths?

Answer: Steptoe and Son

He persuaded the BBC to postpone the start of the programme until after the polls closed.

3. M. Wilson and the Labour party won the 1964 election, but by how many seats?

Answer: 5

This majority was decreased even more by the death of sitting MPs, so in 1966, Harold Wilson 'went to the country' again and this time returned with a majority of 97.

4. The Beatles referred to the Prime Minister as 'good old Mr Wilson' and in 1965 they were awarded with which honour?

Answer: MBE

The award caused something of an outcry, causing at least one previous recipient of an OBE to return it. He said he didn't want to be on the same level as 'vulgar nincompoops!'

5. During his political life, Harold Wilson was MP for which two constituencies?

Answer: Ormskirk and Huyton

He was first elected MP for Ormskirk in 1945 and then for Huyton in 1951.

Answer: 31-years-old

William Pitt was only 22 when he was Chancellor.

7. In 1951, he joined another MP in resigning from the Cabinet. Who was the other MP?

Answer: Aneurin Bevan

They resigned over the fact that the Budget was allocated money to defence to the detriment of the Health Service and other social programmes. This was the time of the Korean war.

8. Following the 1951 defeat Harold Wilson was back in the Shadow Cabinet. Who was the Labour leader at that time?

Answer: Clement Attlee

Clement Attlee continued to lead the Labour party until 1955 when he was succeeded by Hugh Gaitskill.

Answer: William Gladstone

Some political writers suggest that Harold Wilson had a sneaking admiration for Gladstone.

10. Ian Smith declared UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence). He was then Prime Minister of which country?

Answer: Rhodesia

Ian Smith believed that the Wilson government wanted to 'sell out' Rhodesia to appease the Organisation of African Unity, he also believed that to remove all European influence from the country would send it spiralling into chaos, and open the door to the then Eastern Bloc influence. Rhodesia is now named Zimbabwe.

11. In 1966, Harold Wilson and Ian Smith met aboard which warship to discuss the British governments '5 point plan' for Rhodesia?

Answer: HMS Tiger

The talks were far from successful and the '5 point plan' was rejected.

12. Which of the following Acts of Parliament were brought into being under a Wilson Government?

Answer: All of them

The Sexual Offences Act decriminalised homosexuality among consenting men over the age of 21; the Abortion Act legalised termination under certain circumstance, and finally the Divorce Act made getting a divorce easier.

13. The Open University was founded by the Wilson government. Where is it based?

Answer: Milton Keynes

The Open University was a great success and has gone from strength to strength.

14. Harold Wilson once said, "A ---- is a long time in politics."

Answer: week

Sometimes during his time at No 10 that 'week' may have felt like a year.

15. In 1967, after the devaluation of the pound, what campaign was officially endorsed by the Wilson government?

Answer: 'I'm backing Britain'

The devaluation of the pound meant that it bought less overseas, so Britons were encouraged to buy British made goods. It was also a time when the Union flag was seen everywhere: shopping bags, t-shirts, bed linen, and minis (both cars and skirts).

16. In 1969, British troops were deployed where?

Answer: Northern Ireland

At first the troops were welcomed by the Catholics of the province, but with time that changed and British troops remained on the streets of Northern Ireland.

17. Politically, what was unusual about the 1970s in the UK?

Answer: Two General Elections took place in the same year

In February 1974, Labour came to power with a minority government. Wilson, as Prime Minister, went to the polls again in October and returned to power with a majority of just three seats but an apparently fragmented opposition.

18. When he called the 1970 election, Harold Wilson once again worried about peripheral events affecting the result. This time it was England's match in the World Cup. Who were England playing?

Answer: West Germany

He was right to be worried: England won, Labour lost.

19. Who in 1972 told the House of Commons that Mr Wilson "is quite unfit, even to be leader of the opposition."

Answer: Edward Heath

Be that as it may, Harold Wilson served as Prime Minister of Great Britain twice (1964-70 and again from 1974-76). During the second of these periods he was noticeably unwell, and resigned suddenly in 1976.

20. In 1965, Harold Wilson appointed Barbara Castle as Minister of Transport. Which of the following did she NOT introduce?

Answer: Wheel clamp

When James Callaghan took over from Harold Wilson, he sacked Barbara Castle stating she was 'too old'. However, she went on to serve in both the European Parliament and House of Lords.

21. Harold Wilson's wife Mary had books published on which subject?

Answer: poetry

Unlike political leaders wives of today, Mary never interfered in what she consider to be her husband's business.

22. What did Mary Wilson say was her most exciting experience during her time at No 10?

Answer: Meeting Neil Armstrong & Buzz Aldrin

Although she said it was nice to have the Queen and Prince Philip to tea, meeting the 'men who walked on the moon' was more exciting.

23. A few eyebrows were raised when Harold Wilson's personal secretary was made Lady Faulkender. What was her name?

Answer: Marcia Williams

It came as quite a surprise to the public, for although she had been his personal secretary for 30 years, no one had heard of her before she was awarded the honour.

24. Harold Wilson retired in 1976 while still in office. Who then became Prime Minister?

Answer: James Callaghan

James Callaghan's term as Prime Minister led to the shambles that was known as the 'winter of discontent,' he called an election, lost, and the next Labour Prime Minister to enter Downing Street was Tony Blair, 18 years later.

25. When Harold Wilson retired did he accept a peerage?

Answer: yes

He became Lord Wilson of Rievaulx, but his time in the Lords wasn't a notable one and as the illness he feared took hold he retreated from political life. How will he be remembered? Perhaps as a man that tried and can anyone ask for more?

Source: Author kittyconner

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Lanni before going online.
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