Thomas Wilson

Thomas Wilson (23 June 1916 – 27 July 2001) was a 20th-century British economist, who spoke out strongly against the introduction of the poll tax in Britain.

Life He was born in Belfast on 23 June 1916, the son of John Bright Wilson, an Ulster Protestant, and was educated at the Methodist College in the city. He studied history at Queen's College, Belfast, before switching to economics, then obtained a doctorate (PhD) at the London School of Economics under Evan Durbin and Nicholas Kaldor. Although a socialist and communist-sympathiser, his observations on the Russian delegates at the 1938 World Youth Congress in Poughkeepsie, New York led him to conclude the system as a tyranny.

In the Second World War he worked first for the Ministry of Economic Warfare and Aircraft Production in Whitehall, then became an advisor to Winston Churchill's statistics branch under Lord Cherwell. Desiring more active duties in 1944 he was given leave to join the Merchant Navy and escorted the Mulberry Harbour to Arromanches.

In 1984 he was invited to be an official assessor on the poll tax proposals by Margaret Thatcher. Much to the government's dismay, he was strongly opposed to the concept, but rather than follow his educated opinion he was instead replaced by more sympathetic "experts".

Family In 1943 he married Dorothy Joan Parry (d.1998). She developed multiple sclerosis.

They had a son and two daughters.

Publications Fluctuations in Income and Employment (1941)

Ulster: Conflict and Consent (1989) Churchill and the Prof (1995)