Page "Harold Wilson" Paragraph 165

Wilson coined the term ' Selsdon Man ' to refer to the anti-interventionist policies of the Conservative leader Edward Heath, developed at a policy retreat held at the Selsdon Park Hotel in early 1970.

This phrase, intended to evoke the ' primitive throwback ' qualities of anthropological discoveries such as Piltdown Man and Swanscombe Man, was part of a British political tradition of referring to political trends by suffixing ' man '.

Another famous quote is " A week is a long time in politics ": this signifies that political fortunes can change extremely rapidly.

Other memorable phrases attributed to Wilson include " the white heat of the revolution.

" In his broadcast after the 1967 devaluation of the pound, Wilson said: " This does not mean that the pound here in Britain – in your pocket or purse – is worth any less ....", and the phrase " the pound in your pocket " subsequently took on a life of its own.