Anthony Crosland | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Crosland in 1970 | |
| Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | |
| In office 8 April 1976 – 19 February 1977 | |
| Prime Minister | James Callaghan |
| Preceded by | James Callaghan |
| Succeeded by | David Owen |
| Secretary of State for the Environment | |
| In office 5 March 1974 – 8 April 1976 | |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Geoffrey Rippon |
| Succeeded by | Peter Shore |
| Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment | |
| In office 19 June 1970 – 5 March 1974 | |
| Leader | Harold Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Thatcher |
| Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning | |
| In office 6 October 1969 – 19 June 1970 | |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Tony Greenwood (Minister, Housing and Local Government) |
| Succeeded by | Peter Walker (Minister of State, Housing and Local Government) |
| President of the Board of Trade | |
| In office 29 August 1967 – 6 October 1969 | |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Douglas Jay |
| Succeeded by | Roy Mason |
| Secretary of State for Education and Science | |
| In office 22 January 1965 – 29 August 1967 | |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Michael Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Gordon Walker |
| Minister of State for Economic Affairs | |
| In office 20 October 1964 – 22 January 1965 | |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Austen Albu |
| Economic Secretary to the Treasury | |
| In office 19 October 1964 – 22 December 1964 | |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Maurice Macmillan |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished (eventually Jock Bruce-Gardyne) |
| Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby | |
| In office 8 October 1959 – 19 February 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Kenneth Younger |
| Succeeded by | Austin Mitchell |
| Member of Parliament for South Gloucestershire | |
| In office 23 February 1950 – 6 May 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Corfield |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Anthony Raven Crosland 29 August 1918 St Leonards-on-Sea, England |
| Died | 19 February 1977 (aged 58) Oxford, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouses | |
| Parent | Jessie Raven Crosland (mother) |
| Education | Highgate School |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Oxford |
Charles Anthony Raven Crosland (29 August 1918 – 19 February 1977) was a British Labour Party politician and author. A social democrat on the right wing of the Labour Party, he was a prominent socialist intellectual. His influential book The Future of Socialism (1956) argued against many Marxist notions and the traditional Labour Party doctrine that expanding public ownership was essential to make socialism work, arguing instead for prioritising the end of poverty and improving public services. He offered positive alternatives to both the right wing and left wing of the Labour Party.
Having served as Member of Parliament (MP) for South Gloucestershire from 1950 to 1955, Crosland returned to Parliament for Great Grimsby (1959–1977). During Harold Wilson's governments of 1964–1970 he served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury (1964), then Minister of State for Economic Affairs (1964–1965). Entering the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Education and Science (1965–1967), he led the Labour campaign to replace grammar schools with comprehensive schools that did not use the eleven-plus for the selection of pupils. He later served as President of the Board of Trade (1967–1969), then Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning (1969–1970).
When Labour returned to power he served as Secretary of State for the Environment (1974–1976) and briefly as Foreign Secretary (1976–1977). In that role he promoted détente with the Soviet Union. He died suddenly in February 1977 of a cerebral haemorrhage, aged 58.