Page "Harold Wilson" Paragraph 136

A plan to boost economic growth to 4 % a year was never met, while development aid was cut severely as a result of austerity measures.

A proposed “ minimum income guarantee ” for widows and pensioners was never implemented, together with Richard Crossman ’ s compulsory national superannuation scheme.

This scheme, a system of universal secondary pensions, was aimed at providing British pensioners with an income closer to what they enjoyed during the best years of their working life, when their earnings were at their highest.

According to Brian Lapping, this would have been Wilson ’ s largest reform of social security, had it been carried out.

In addition, the government's austerity measures led to an unpopular squeeze on consumption in 1968 and 1969.