Wilson came culturally from a provincial non-conformist background, and he showed no particular enthusiasm for much of this agenda (which some linked to the "permissive society"),[note 1] but the reforming climate was especially encouraged by Roy Jenkins during his period at the Home Office.

While condemning racial discrimination (and adopting legislation to make it an offence), Wilson's Home Secretary James Callaghan introduced significant new restrictions on the right of immigration to the United Kingdom.

Education held special significance for a Labourite of Wilson's generation, in view of its role in both opening up opportunities for those from working-class backgrounds and enabling Britain to seize the potential benefits of scientific advances.

[6] Wilson also deserves credit for grasping the concept of an Open University, to give adults who had missed out on higher education a second chance through part-time study and distance learning.

His political commitment included assigning implementation responsibility to Jennie Lee, the widow of Aneurin Bevan, the charismatic leader of Labour's left wing whom Wilson had joined in resigning from the Attlee cabinet.

Conversion continued on a large scale during the subsequent Conservative Heath administration, although the Secretary of State, Margaret Thatcher, ended the compulsion of local governments to convert.

Wilson's first government reluctantly decided that it could not fulfill its long-held promise to raise the school leaving age to 16, because of the investment required in infrastructure, such as tens of thousands of extra classrooms and teachers.

[41] In addition, the First Wilson government encouraged the introduction of discretionary local authority rent rebates to assist with housing costs,[43] and also initiated the possibility of paying rates by instalments.

"[10] Legislation was introduced which regulated tenancies for properties with a rateable value of up to £200 per year (£400 in London), which meant that tenants were not only to be protected from intimidation, but that evictions would now require court orders.

[52] The Act also introduced a new system of process planning under which the spatial distribution of social and economic trends superseded physical standards as the principal concern of planners.

As noted by the same study, examples of such discretionary awards "are for special diets in the case of certain illnesses; for extra fuel in the case of the old or the housebound or of damp housing; for laundry costs for the incontinent or for extra clothing needed because of heavy wear and tear arising from a disability; domestic help for people who cannot do their own housework; fares to visit a relative in hospital, and so on.”[62] According to another study, "In general, MSS supplementary benefits are on a slightly more generous scale than the previous National Assistance Board allowances, and the rules and conditions for getting them are simpler.

"[70] The new Supplementary Benefit scheme included a fixed basic weekly rate that those with an income below this level would now have a right to claim, while extra payments were made available on a discretionary basis for additional needs.

[75] According to one study, “Under the Supplementary Benefits (SB) scheme board and lodging charges had always been met where a claimant's accommodation and meals, etc., were provided on a commercial basis.

This included “a higher one for certain specific conditions such as diabetes and ulcerative colitis and a lower one where a diet involving extra or more expensive foods is recommended by a doctor (eg because the person is convalescing after a major illness or operation or suffers poor health because of chronic illness such as bronchitis).”[87] Also, when the Supplementary Benefits scheme was introduced in 1966 “central heating additions (CTAs) were paid, based on claimants’ actual heating costs.

There was also provision that where claimants came from a number of similar dwellings a common figure could be established and applied in each of their cases.”[88] The Commission was also empowered by Schedule 2 of the Act to determine the requirements of persons in hospital or local authority homes.

[90] The Prices and Incomes Board of 1966 provided that the Secretary of State shall “pay to any members of the Board such renumeration, and such travelling or 70 other allowances, as he may with the approval of the Treasury determine, as well as pay “such pension, allowance or gratuity, as he may, with the like approval, determine.”[91] The return for deferred retirement was improved [92] and from 1967 the next of kin of a service man buried overseas “has been permitted either a visit to attend the funeral, or if this is not possible a subsequent visit within the next two years to see the grave, at public expense, together with a companion.”[93] Also, as noted by one study, “At the same time the provisions for war widows who were separated from their husbands at the time of death were improved.

This measure was considered to be redistributive to some degree, "from richer to poorer and from mainly male taxpayers to mothers who received family allowances, a tentative move towards what Roy Jenkins called 'civilised selectivity'".

Trade unions were supportive of the advances made in social protection by the Wilson government, which had a considerable impact on the living standards of the lowest quintile of the population.

In introducing the Urban Aid Programme, the then Home Secretary James Callaghan stated that the goal of the legislation was to "provide for the care of our citizens who live in the poorest overcrowded parts of our cities and towns.

[108] As a result of this legislation, many ideas were put into practice such as language classes for immigrants, daycentres for the elderly or disabled, day nurseries, adventure playgrounds, and holidays for deprived or handicapped children.

The Community Development Projects involved co-operation between specially created local teams of social workers, who were supported by part-timers (such as policemen and youth employment officers).

[121] In addition, the Agriculture Act of 1967 gave the Agricultural Wages Board the power to fix minimum rates of sick pay for farmworkers,[40] while extra allowances "encouraged general practitioners to work in groups, and vocational training payments encouraged young doctors to undertake specific training before entering practice.”[122] The National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) (Benefit) Amendment Regulations 1967 provided for an extension of the circumstances in which “certain increases of disablement pension are payable to persons temporarily abroad.”[123] Efforts were made to increase support for occupational health and improving working conditions in merchant shipping,[124] while Wilson's government also ensured that low-income earners improved their position relative to that of average-income earners during its time in office.

It was also provided that legal aid would always be granted for committal proceedings in offences triable only on indictment.”[159] That same year however, a flexible part-payments scheme with a means test that determines a defendant’s fair share was introduced.

[38] Wilson believed in a strong "Special Relationship" with the United States and wanted to highlight his dealings with the White House to strengthen his own prestige as a statesman.

An entry attempt had been issued in July 1961 by the Macmillan government, and negotiated by Edward Heath as Lord Privy Seal, but was vetoed in 1963 by French President Charles de Gaulle.

Wilson refused to grant independence to the white minority government headed by Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith which was not willing to extend unqualified voting rights to the native African population.

The franchise was open to those who had achieved a certain (fairly low) standard of education, and to property owners, and to people of "importance", i.e., chiefs and indunas – in other words, you needed to qualify for a vote – which many natives did.

In 1968, arguably in response to sensationalist stories about supposed "scroungers" and "welfare cheats", the government made the decision to introduce a controversial new rule terminating benefits for single men under the age of 45.

"[38] According to another historian, Eric Shaw, in the rush to build, and to overcome shortages in funds, the First Wilson Government "succumbed to the fashion for high-rise blocks of flats."

In May 1970, Wilson responded to an apparent recovery in his government's popularity by calling a general election, but, to the surprise of most observers, was defeated at the polls by the Conservatives under Edward Heath.