Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman is today making a new bid to get Westminster recognition for former Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
He is making an impassioned plea at Westminster for a statue of the Huddersfield-born Labour leader.
And he wants it to form part of celebrations to mark the centenary of Wilson’s birth in Milnsbridge in March next year.
There is, of course, a statue of Wilson outside Huddersfield Railway Station but there is not a full-size memorial at Westminster, unlike other former Prime Ministers.
Mr Sheerman was heading a 30-minute debate at Westminster Hall on a man he described as one of the country’s greatest leaders.
“We are talking about a man with a tremendous legacy.
“So much happened under Wilson’s tenure at Number 10 . We saw the end of the death penalty in this country and sweeping changes to help improve the lives of women and homosexuals.
“He kept this country out of the wars in both Vietnam and Iraq and was instrumental in a great number of important reforms.
“He won four elections and he kept the Labour Party together at a time of great conflict”.
Wilson, who went to school in Milnsbridge and Royds Hall, served as Prime Minister from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1976.
He had become an MP in 1945 and served on the Cabinet in many important posts.
He came from a political family as hs father James Herbert Wilson was active in both the Liberal Party and the Labour Party.
He remained a loyal Huddersfield Town fan all his life.
Mr Sheerman is working with many others on a series of events to mark the centenary next year.
