Marcia Williams: The Life and Times of Baroness Falkender

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Her appearance in the third series of The Crown, where she is portrayed, as ever, whipping Wilson into submission, sums up what remains of her legacy: “You’re pathetic! You disgust me!” Marcia-the-witch tells Harold-the-drip. “If you ever want to be a real leader, a real man, a real socialist, you’re going to have to grow some balls.” It was a matter of universal agreement during the years of Harold Wilson’s leadership of the Labour party that his private and political secretary, Marcia Williams, who has died aged 86, was the single most influential figure among his staff. She exerted an unrivalled degree of power throughout his four periods in office as prime minister and ran his office for 27 years, but became a source of conflict and division that clouded his years in Downing Street and ultimately diminished his political standing.

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Abandoning old policies can be, and often is, forgiven. Abandoning old friends is not, and the real doubts about Wilson’s instinct for loyalty began when he edged away from Aneurin Bevan, one of the authentic heroes of the Labour movement. Bevan resigned from the Attlee government in protest at what he called the “imposition” of health charges. Wilson resigned shortly afterwards. But he chose to point out that he was opposed to the whole drift of the government’s economic policy, “not just the levy on teeth and spectacles”. It was assumed that he made the distinction in the hope of trivialising Bevan’s rebellion and capturing the leadership of the Labour left.In 1976, the couple announced their separation, and two years later, they were officially divorced. William Hague says the prospect of The Telegraph being owned by a UAE-based company is 'disturbing and...

A source of loyalty and inspiration: Marcia Williams, as she then was, with Wilson in October 1972. Photograph: Alamy TV star looks a far cry from his 90s appearance as he walks the red carpet at Hollywood Christmas Parade - but can you guess who it is? Prince William 'set the wheels in motion' in stripping Andrew of his royal duties because he thought the family was being 'too soft' with duke's sex assault caseTiffany Haddish vows to 'get help' and 'learn balance and boundaries' after second DUI arrest in under two years I'm A Celeb's Grace Dent admits her heart is broken as she thanks tearful campmates for 'holding her up' in emotional goodbye letter after leaving show Whatever the truth of the matter, in October 1956 Wilson appointed Marcia as his personal secretary. Over the next six years she would deftly guide his rapid rise from chairman of the public accounts committee and shadow chancellor to prime minister. Stacey Solomon rolls round on the floor in panic as she attempts to rescue a bird trapped under her sofa - whilst husband Joe Swash films the whole thing Mysterious 'witch bottles' appear along the Gulf of Mexico - and researchers are avoiding opening them

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