After nearly half a century of silence, Harold Wilson's closest surviving advisers have disclosed the former Prime Minister's affair with Janet Hewlett-Davies, his deputy press secretary, a Downing Street aide. Joe Haines, Wilson's former press secretary, and Bernard Donoughue, a senior adviser, have chosen to make the relationship public, committing the details of the affair to history. Wilson himself confessed to the secret 'love match' while in office. The revelation has sparked a wide range of reactions, with discussions on the implications of revealing such personal details after the involved parties, including Wilson and his wife Mary, have passed away. Media outlets and commentators have highlighted the story, underscoring its significance in UK politics and raising questions about privacy, the public's right to know, and the historical documentation of political figures' lives.
The Guardian view on Harold Wilson’s affair: a secret at the sunset | Editorial https://t.co/Pq0t6MNQ2S
Harold Wilson's advisers today revealed that he had an affair with a staff member while PM. Wilson, his wife, and the staff member have now all passed - so do Britons think it was right to now reveal the secret, or should it have remained unsaid? 45% say the secret should have… https://t.co/JtBh1LHAWd
This is quite an extraordinary story of Harold Wilson’s secret affair with one of his advisers, kept secret only to be revealed by his inner circle all these years later. @thetimes #UKPolitics https://t.co/GSniLd8EDa
Breaking the secret justified on the grounds it gives a fuller picture and both plus Wilson’s wife, Mary, are dead? “Harold Wilson had affair while in No 10, advisers reveal.” https://t.co/VO5uyEJMn6
Harold Wilson confessed to secret affair while he was PM, close aide reveals https://t.co/8fHmLuiaDM
Harold Wilson had affair while in No 10, advisers reveal https://t.co/t4KKZhrMxJ
Harold Wilson confessed to secret ‘love match’ while PM, former aide reveals https://t.co/nqzwIWmcTg
Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson had ‘secret Downing Street affair with deputy press secretary’ https://t.co/Q1EAkVOJzN
Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson had secret Downing Street affair with his deputy press secretary Janet Hewlett-Davies https://t.co/jtfJXqsDwO https://t.co/S2VJVCa4Db
🤯 Revealed: Harold Wilson’s secret Downing Street affair Crackerjack scoop by @patrickkmaguire https://t.co/4zLw6gogfy
My favourite story on @thetimes today — Harold Wilson’s secret Downing Street affair. Former press secretary Joe Haines breaks nearly half a century of silence to tell the story of the prime minister’s relationship with Janet Hewlett-Davies. Great scoop @patrickkmaguire https://t.co/PMcayuy6Dr
🔺EXCLUSIVE: Former press secretary Joe Haines breaks nearly half a century of silence to tell the story of the prime minister Harold Wilson’s relationship with Janet Hewlett-Davies ⬇️ https://t.co/lofW8dMXns
EXC: Harold Wilson had an affair with a Downing Street aide, his closest surviving advisers have revealed after half a century of silence Joe Haines & Bernard Donoughue say they want to commit the Labour PM’s affair with Janet Hewlett-Davies to history https://t.co/ctHk0Aa5Xg