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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Hugh Gaitskell
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(1906–63) Labour politician and MP for Leeds South (1945–70). In 1950 he became chancellor of the exchequer in Attlee's government, and in 1955 he succeeded *Attlee as leader of the Labour party. In this role he strenuously opposed those advocating unilateral nuclear disarmament, calling on fellow members to 'fight and fight and fight again to save the party we love'; and he strove to replace the commitment to public ownership (Clause 4) with a more flexible ideal, that of the pursuit by any available means of greater equality and prosperity throughout society. He died suddenly, the year before the general election victory which made Harold *Wilson prime minister in his place.
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