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Roy Jenkins was Home Secretary from to and again from to He sponsored homosexual law reform and the legalisation of abortion as well as legislation outlawing racial discrimination. He helped create what its supporters called the civilised society but its enemies labelled the permissive society.
Meanwhile, as President of the European Commission, he had played a fundamental part in launching the idea of European monetary union. The first lecture was on Aneurin Bevan, responsible for the National Health Service and a great spokesman for democratic socialism. The second was Iain Macleod, responsible for the rapid pace of decolonisation and a great spokesman for progressive Conservatism. This lecture is on Roy Jenkins, who has three very great achievements to his credit: his liberal legislation as Home Secretary in the s; his strong support for European unity; and his support for the idea of realignment on the left.
But first, we shall listen to his voice. This is a recording of him speaking in at a rather rough meeting in East London where he was being attacked by militants from the left-wing of the Labour Party. As you will see, they threw flour bombs, but he handled it with great aplomb. I wonder how many listening to Roy Jenkins would have been able to guess that he was of Welsh origin.
Someone once said to Aneurin Bevan that they did not think Roy Jenkins was ambitious. His father had gone down the pits at the age of twelve, and worked underground for 24 years.
