1920- . British politician. He became a
Labour minister 1964, was home secretary
1965-67 and 1974-76, and chancellor of the
Exchequer 1967-70. He was president of the
European Commission 1977-81. In 1981 he
became one of the founders of the Social
Democratic Party and was elected 1982, but
lost his seat 1987. In the same year, he was
elected chancellor of Oxford University.
Educated at Oxford University, Jenkins was a
close friend of the future Labour leader
Gaitskell. A Labour MP from 1948, he was
minister of aviation 1964-65, then home
secretary and chancellor of the Exchequer
under Harold Wilson. In 1970 he became deputy
leader of the Labour Party, but resigned 1972
because of disagreement with Wilson on the
issue of UK entry to the European Community.