George Wigg, Baron Wigg
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George Edward Cecil Wigg, Baron Wigg PC (November 28, 1900 – August 11, 1983) was a British politician who only served in relatively junior offices but had a great deal of influence behind the scenes, especially with Harold Wilson. Wigg served in the British Army for almost all his career up to his election as Member of Parliament for Dudley in 1945. He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Emanuel Shinwell during the Attlee government.
According to veteran Press Association reporter Chris Moncrieff, Wigg was unpopular with Labour MPs [1] but managed mischievously to use procedure to place the Profumo affair on the record in Parliament and led the pursuit of Profumo which resulted in his resignation.
Wigg was already known for passing on gossip to Labour leader Harold Wilson, and when Labour won the 1964 election Wilson appointed Wigg as Paymaster-General. This was a cover as his real responsibilities were many and varied. He was Wilson's link to the Security Service and the Secret Intelligence Service. In November 1967, he was appointed Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board (Wigg loved horse racing) and left Parliament with a life peerage as Baron Wigg, of the Borough of Dudley.
He had been made a Privy Councillor in 1964.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cyril Lloyd |
Member of Parliament for Dudley 1945–1967 |
Succeeded by Donald Williams |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by John Boyd-Carpenter |
Paymaster-General 1964–1967 |
Vacant Title next held by Lord Shackleton |
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Categories: 1900 births | 1983 deaths | Labour MPs (UK) | Members of the United Kingdom Parliament from English constituencies | Life peers | Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom | UK MPs 1945-1950 | UK MPs 1950-1951 | UK MPs 1951-1955 | UK MPs 1955-1959 | UK MPs 1959-1964 | UK MPs 1964-1966 | UK MPs 1966-1970 | British MP stubs | Peerage of the United Kingdom baron stubs
