George Wigg was born on 28th November, 1900. He was educated at Queen
Mary's Grammar School in Basingstoke. In 1919 he joined the British
Army and served until 1937. On the outbreak of the Second
World War he rejoined the army.
A
member of the Labour Party, Wigg was elected
to the House of Commons in the 1945
General Election. Soon afterwards Clement
Attlee appointed
Wigg as parliamentary private secretary to Emanuel
Shinwell as
Minister of Fuel and Power (1945-47), Secretary of State for War (1947-50)
and Minister of Defence (1950-51).
After
the 1951 General Election Wigg returned to
the backbenches where he took a keen interest in security issues.
On 2nd March, 1963, Wigg, made a speech where he referred to rumours
that John
Profumo
was having an affair with Christine Keeler. A few weeks later Profumo
made a personal statement where he admitted he knew Keeler but denied
there was any impropriety in their relationship. This statement failed
to stop newspapers publishing stories suggesting that Profumo had
lied about his relationship with Keeler. On 5th June 1963, Profumo
admitted that he had misled the House of Commons
and resigned from office.
When
Harold
Wilson became
prime minister he appointed Wigg as his Paymaster General. Wigg left
the House of Commons in 1967 when he was
created Baron Wigg and was appointed as Chairman of the Horserace
Betting Levy Board.
George
Wigg died in 1983.
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