Higher education held special significance for a Labourite of Wilson's generation, given its role in both opening up opportunities for ambitious youth from working-class backgrounds and enabling Britain to seize the potential benefits of scientific advances. Under the first Wilson government, for the first time in British history, more money was allocated to education than to defence.The Decade of Disillusion: British Politics in the Sixties, edited by David Mckie and Chris Cook. Wilson continued the rapid creation of new universities, in line with the recommendations of the Robbins Report, a bipartisan policy already in train when Labour took power.
HigHEr edUcatiOn heLD sPecIAl SignifIcance foR A laBouriTe of wilson'S geNERAtion, giVeN ITs RoLe in both OPeNInG uP OpportunITieS for amBitioUS youth FrOm WorKinG-ClAsS backgroUnDs ANd enabLinG brItain to seIZE tHe potential benefIts of sCIeNTIFic aDvaNces. UnDeR the First wilSON gOVeRnmenT, foR thE fiRSt time in british hIStorY, More money Was allocated to educATIOn Than to deFencE.The deCade OF DIsIllusiOn: britiSH polItics iN the sIxtIEs, EdiTEd bY daviD mckIE ANd cHRis cOOk. wIlson cOntiNuED tHE RaPid creAtion OF NeW universItiEs, in liNe wiTh the recoMmEndationS of thE robbIns repOrt, a bIpartisAN pOlIcy alrEady in tRaIN wheN lAbour Took power.