John Freeman

John Freeman was born on 19th February, 1915. After being educated at Westminster School and Brasenose College, Oxford, he worked as an advertising consultant (1937-1940). Freeman served in the British Army during the Second World War.

A member of the Labour Party he was elected to represent Watford in the 1945 General Election. He joined the government of Clement Attlee and served as Financial Secretary to the War Office, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for War and Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Supply.

The National Insurance Act created the structure of the Welfare State and after the passing of the National Health Service Act in 1948, people in Britain were provided with free diagnosis and treatment of illness, at home or in hospital, as well as dental and ophthalmic services. However, Freeman, Harold Wilson and Aneurin Bevan resigned from the government on 21st April when Hugh Gaitskell, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that he intended to introduce measures that would force people to pay half the cost of dentures and spectacles and a one shilling prescription charge.

Freeman resigned from the House of Commons in 1955. He worked for the New Statesman and served as editor of the magazine between 1961 and 1965.

Other posts held by Freeman include High Commissioner in India (1965-68), Ambassador to the United States (1969-71) and Chairman of London Weekend Television.