Second Wilson shadow cabinet

Harold Wilson of the Labour Party formed his Second Shadow Cabinet as Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition after losing the 1970 general election to Conservative Edward Heath.
He retained leadership of the Opposition for the length of the Heath ministry from 1970 to 1974. In February 1974, his party narrowly won an election. Wilson was then forced to form a minority government that lasted only until another election in October of that year. Following that election, Wilson formed a majority government.

Initial Shadow Cabinet

Wilson announced his new Shadow Cabinet on 22 July 1970, following the election of Roy Jenkins as Deputy Leader and the Shadow Cabinet election. It featured three members who were not in the former cabinet, Foot, Williams and Houghton.

Harold Wilson – Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party
Roy Jenkins – [Deputy Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Deputy Leader of the Opposition], Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Fred Peart – Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Denis Healey – Shadow Foreign Secretary
James Callaghan – Shadow Home Secretary
George Thomson – Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Anthony Crosland – Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment
Tony Benn – Shadow Secretary of State for Industry and Technology
Michael Foot – Shadow Minister for Fuel and Power
Barbara Castle – Shadow Secretary of State for Employment
Shirley Williams – Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services
Edward Short – Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science
Douglas Houghton – Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party
William Ross – Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
Harold Lever – Shadow Minister for Europe

Junior Shadow Ministers

Changes

December 1971

James Callaghan replaces Barbara Castle as Shadow Secretary of State for Employment
Barbara Castle replaces Shirley Williams as Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services
Shirley Williams replaces James Callaghan as Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department
Michael Foot replaces Fred Peart as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Fred Peart replaces Cledwyn Hughes as Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Peter Shore joins the shadow cabinet as Shadow Minister for Europe

April 1972

Roy Jenkins resigns as Deputy Leader and Shadow Chancellor
George Thomson resigns as Shadow Defence Secretary and is replaced by Roy Hattersley
Harold Lever resigns is replaced as Shadow Minister of Fuel and Power by Eric Varley
Denis Healey replaces Roy Jenkins as Shadow Chancellor
James Callaghan replaces Denis Healey as Shadow Foreign Secretary
Reg Prentice joins the shadow cabinet, replacing James Callaghan as Shadow Employment Secretary
Edward Short replaces Roy Jenkins as Deputy Leader of the Opposition

December 1972

Edward Short becomes Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
Roy Hattersley replaces Edward Short as Shadow Education Secretary
Fred Peart replaces Roy Hattersley as Shadow Defence Secretary
Norman Buchan replaces Fred Peart as Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Michael Foot replaces Peter Shore as Shadow Europe Minister
Peter Shore becomes Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Harold Lever takes responsibility for shadowing the Trade and Industry affairs dealing with company law, mergers, competition and insurance
Merlyn Rees joins the shadow cabinet with a newly created post: Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Barbara Castle is replaced as Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Services by John Silkin

November 1973

Roy Jenkins returns to the shadow cabinet, replacing Shirley Williams as Shadow Home Secretary
Shirley Williams takes the newly created post of Shadow Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection