Rule of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is brought under direct rule from Westminster
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Harold Wilson Biography and Timeline — Page 10
Follow Harold Wilson through 510 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Harold Wilson, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
510Distinct records
10 of 13Page
1974–1974Years on this page
1974
Invasion of Cyprus
Ecevit asks Britain to support the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, no support is given
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Political Support
Ecevit asks Britain to support the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, no support is given
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Economic Situation
Healey announces further economic measures as inflation, borrowing and industrial costs remain under pressure.
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Collective Bargaining
Re-establishes collective bargaining as the central mechanism for regulating industrial relations.
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
Dissolution of Parliament
Parliament adjourns for the last time until the election Octoberober 10
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
Election
Parliament adjourns for the last time until the election Octoberober 10
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
Employers Associations
Provides rules for employers associations alongside the law governing trade unions.
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
Finance Act
Finance Act 1974 receives Royal Assent, implementing tax changes from Healey's first Budget.
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Industrial Relations Act Repeal
Repeals Edward Heath's Industrial Relations Act and restores Labour's preferred voluntary industrial relations framework.
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
Industrial Tribunals
Maintains industrial tribunals as the forum for key employment disputes after repeal of the 1971 Act.
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
National Industrial Relations Court
Abolishes the National Industrial Relations Court created under the Conservative industrial relations system.
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
Trade Disputes
Restores statutory immunities for trade unions acting in contemplation or furtherance of trade disputes.
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
Trade Union and Labour Relations Act
Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 receives Royal Assent, repealing the Industrial Relations Act 1971.
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
Trade Unions
Restores a legal framework recognising trade unions and employers associations outside the 1971 registration system.
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
Election
The general election date is announced for October 10
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
Social Contract
Wins the October election while relying on continued union cooperation.
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
Prime Minister of United Kingdom
Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 4th term
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Budget
Healey presents a second 1974 Budget after Labour wins a narrow majority in the October election.
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Energy Conservation
The Budget package includes energy conservation measures after the oil shock and pressure on imports.
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Birmingham Pub Bombings
Two bombs explode in Birmingham pubs, killing twenty-one people and injuring many others.
Role range: 1974-1976
Government Response to Pub Bombings
Wilson condemns the Birmingham attacks and supports urgent counterterrorism legislation.
Role range: 1974-1976
IRA - IRA
Government record concerning the IRA: The Irish Republican Army is outlawed in Britain following deaths of 21, IRA bombs in British pubs killed 28 and wounded over 200 in the last 2 months
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
IRA - IRA
Historical IRA record under Labour Party Government: The Irish Republican Army is outlawed in Britain following deaths of 21, IRA bombs in British pubs killed 28 and wounded over 200 in the last 2 months
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
IRA - IRA
IRA context for Harold Wilson: The Irish Republican Army is outlawed in Britain following deaths of 21, IRA bombs in British pubs killed 28 and wounded over 200 in the last 2 months
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
IRA
The Irish Republican Army is outlawed in Britain following deaths of 21, IRA bombs in British pubs killed 28 and wounded over 200 in the last 2 months
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
Conference of EC
Attends EC Summit where "the British problem" & the "European Council" are discussed
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
Conference of Paris
Attends EC Summit where "the British problem" & the "European Council" are discussed
Role range: 1974-1979 – 1974-1976
Arms export licences & aid to Chile are cancelled
Arms export licences & aid to Chile are cancelled
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Concorde
England and France agree to build 16 Concorde airplanes
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
Consumer Credit Act
Consumer Credit Act 1974 regulates consumer credit, hire agreements, and licensing
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Control of Pollution Act
Control of Pollution Act 1974 reforms waste, water pollution, noise, and environmental controls
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Economy of Great Britain
The National Economic Board publishes, "The Regeneration of British Industry". Proposes to increase centrally planned investment through the National Enterprise Board
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
Election
Postpones the election from June to October
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
Election
Proposes the National Enterprise Board, prior to the Octoberober election
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
Health and Safety at Work etc Act
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 creates the modern framework for workplace health and safety
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Housing Act
Housing Act 1974 reforms housing action areas, improvement grants, and housing associations
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Legislation
The National Economic Board publishes, "The Regeneration of British Industry". Reverses the Industrial Relations Act of the Conservative Government
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
National Enterprise Board (NEB)
Proposes the National Enterprise Board, prior to the Octoberober election
Role range: 1974-1974 – 1974-1974
National Enterprise Board (NEB)
Plans for the NEB are outlined in the 1974 White Paper The Regeneration of British Industry
Role range: 1974-1976 – 1974-1976
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.