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→‎List of Ministers: Reverting edits by No Great Shaker who changed the layout of ministers without gaining consensus. Changed it back to the layout that all other ministerial articles follow which is: Office held, name, party etc. I am concerned by the vandalism that is going on on this page!
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SallyWho (talk | contribs)
39 edits
→‎1940–45: Reverting cabinet member section, which again, was changed without consensus by no great shaker. The vandalism is appalling on this article. I’ve changed the layout so that it matches the layout of all the other articles relating to ministries.
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Line 103: Line 103:
On 23 May, Labour left the coalition to begin their [[1945 United Kingdom general election|general election campaign]]. Churchill resigned as prime minister but the King asked him to form a new government, known as the [[Churchill caretaker ministry]], until the election was held in July. Churchill agreed and his new ministry, essentially a Conservative one, held office for the next two months until it was replaced by Attlee's Labour government after their election victory.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}
On 23 May, Labour left the coalition to begin their [[1945 United Kingdom general election|general election campaign]]. Churchill resigned as prime minister but the King asked him to form a new government, known as the [[Churchill caretaker ministry]], until the election was held in July. Churchill agreed and his new ministry, essentially a Conservative one, held office for the next two months until it was replaced by Attlee's Labour government after their election victory.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}


===1940–45===
==War Cabinet members==

{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2020}}
{{For|a list of changes to the composition of the ministry|#Changes}}
{|class="wikitable unsortable" style="font-size:95%; width:99%;"

|-
{{Cabinet table start|hiderefcol=y}}
|+ Ministers who held War Cabinet membership, 1940–1945

! scope="col" width="12.5%" | Minister
{{Cabinet table minister
! scope="col" width="10%" colspan=2 | Party

! scope="col" width="25%" | Portfolio
| title = [[First Lord of the Treasury]]<br>[[Minister of Defence (UK)|Minister of Defence]]
! scope="col" width="12.5%" | Joined war cabinet

! scope="col" width="12.5%" | Left war cabinet
| minister1 = [[Winston Churchill]]
! scope="col" width="27.5% | Notes and citations

|-
| minister1_termstart = May 1940
| rowspan=2|'''{{sort|Churchill|[[Winston Churchill]]}}'''

| rowspan=2 style="background: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| minister1_termend = May 1945
| rowspan=2|[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

| [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]<br>[[First Lord of the Treasury]]<br>[[Minister of Defence (United Kingdom)|Minister of Defence]]
| minister1_party = Conservative Party (UK)
| 10 May 1940

| 23 May 1945
}}
| Minister of Defence was a new role created by Churchill for himself to hold full responsibility for prosecution of the war.

|-
{{Cabinet table minister
| [[Leader of the House of Commons]]

| 10 May 1940
| title = [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Deputy Prime Minister]]
| 19 February 1942

| Relinquished the role on 19 February 1942. Succeeded by Cripps.
| minister1 = [[Clement Attlee]]
|-

| '''{{sort|Chamberlain|[[Neville Chamberlain]]}}'''
| minister1_termstart = February 1942
| style="background: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| minister1_termend = May 1945
| [[Lord President of the Council]]

| 10 May 1940
| minister1_party = Labour Party (UK)
| 29 September 1940

| Resigned for health reasons (cancer of the colon) and died on 9 November 1940.
}}
|-

| '''{{sort|Halifax|[[E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax|Viscount Halifax]]}}'''
{{Cabinet table minister
| style="background: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| title = [[Lord President of the Council]]
| [[Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs|Foreign Secretary]]

| 10 May 1940
| minister1 = [[Neville Chamberlain]]
| 22 December 1940

| Was replaced by Eden and sent to Washington DC as British Ambassador to the United States.
| minister1_termstart = May 1940
|-

| rowspan=4|'''{{sort|Attlee|[[Clement Attlee]]}}'''
| minister1_termend = October 1940
| rowspan=4 style="background: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

| rowspan=4|[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| minister1_party = Conservative Party (UK)
| [[Lord Privy Seal]]

| 11 May 1940
| minister2 = [[John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley|Sir John Anderson]]
| 15 February 1942

| Change of role in February 1942. Succeeded by Cripps.
| minister2_termstart = October 1940
|-

| [[Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs]]
| minister2_termend = September 1943
| 15 February 1942

| 24 September 1943
| minister2_party = National Government (United Kingdom)
| Succeeded Cranborne. Successor (Cranborne again) was not in the war cabinet.

|-
| minister3 = [[Clement Attlee]]
| [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Deputy Prime Minister]]

| 19 February 1942
| minister3_termstart = September 1943
| 23 May 1945

| New office created for Attlee to have general responsibility for domestic affairs.
| minister3_termend = May 1945
|-

| [[Lord President of the Council]]
| minister3_party = Labour Party (UK)
| 24 September 1943

| 23 May 1945
}}
| Succeeded Anderson who became Chancellor on death of Kingsley Wood.

|-
{{Cabinet table minister
| '''{{sort|Greenwood|[[Arthur Greenwood]]}}'''

| style="background: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| title = [[Lord Privy Seal]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

| [[Minister without portfolio]]
| minister1 = [[Clement Attlee]]
| 11 May 1940

| 22 February 1942
| minister1_termstart = May 1940
| Left the war cabinet and was acting Leader of the Opposition until 23 May 1945.

|-
| minister1_termend = February 1942
| rowspan=4|'''{{sort|Beaverbrook|[[Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook|Lord Beaverbrook]]}}'''

| rowspan=4 style="background: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| rowspan=4|[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| minister1_party = Labour Party (UK)

| [[Minister of Aircraft Production]]
| minister2 = [[Stafford Cripps|Sir Stafford Cripps]]
| 2 August 1940

| 30 April 1941
| minister2_termstart = February 1942
| New office created for Beaverbrook who was new to politics. Successor (Moore-Brabazon) was not in the war cabinet.

|-
| minister2_termend = October 1942<ref name="no cabinet">Successor not in cabinet.</ref>
| [[Minister of State]]

| 1 May 1941
| minister2_party = Labour Party (UK)
| 29 June 1941

| Nominal role only. Beaverbrook had no specific portfolio.
}}
|-

| [[Minister of Supply]]
{{Cabinet table minister
| 29 June 1941

| 4 February 1942
| title = [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]
| Succeeded Duncan. Successor (Duncan again) was not in the war cabinet.

|-
| minister1 = [[Kingsley Wood|Sir Kingsley Wood]]
| [[Minister of War Production]]

| 4 February 1942
| minister1_termstart = October 1940
| 19 February 1942

| New office created for Beaverbrook. Succeeded by Lyttelton as Minister of Production.
| minister1_termend = February 1942<ref>Left the war cabinet but remained chancellor.</ref>
|-

| rowspan=2|'''{{sort|Anderson|[[John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley|Sir John Anderson]]}}'''
| minister1_party = Conservative Party (UK)
| rowspan=2 style="background: {{National Government (United Kingdom)/meta/color}}" |

| rowspan=2|[[National Government (United Kingdom)|National]]
| minister2 = [[John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley|Sir John Anderson]]
| [[Lord President of the Council]]

| 3 October 1940
| 24 September 1943
| minister2_termstart = September 1943

| Succeeded Chamberlain. Previously Home Secretary (from 12 May 1940), but was outside the war cabinet. Became Chancellor and was succeeded by Attlee.
| minister2_termend = May 1945
|-

| [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]
| minister2_party = National Government (United Kingdom)
| 24 September 1943

| 23 May 1945
}}
| Appointed on death of Kingsley Wood. Previously Lord President.

|-
{{Cabinet table minister
| '''{{sort|Bevin|[[Ernest Bevin]]}}'''

| style="background: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| title = [[Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs|Foreign Secretary]]
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

| [[Secretary of State for Employment|Minister of Labour and National Service]]
| minister1 = [[E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax|The Viscount Halifax]]
| 3 October 1940

| 23 May 1945
| minister1_termstart = May 1940
| Appointed Minister of Labour and National Service on 13 May 1940 but was outside the war cabinet until 3 October 1940.

|-
| minister1_termend = December 1940
| '''{{sort|Wood|[[Kingsley Wood|Sir Kingsley Wood]]}}'''

| style="background: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| minister1_party = Conservative Party (UK)

| [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]
| minister2 = [[Anthony Eden]]
| 3 October 1940

| 22 February 1942
| minister2_termstart = December 1940
| Appointed Chancellor on 12 May 1940 but was outside the war cabinet until 3 October. Left the war cabinet in February 1942 but remained Chancellor until his death on 21 September 1943.

|-
| minister2_termend = May 1945
| rowspan=2| '''{{sort|Eden|[[Anthony Eden]]}}'''

| rowspan=2 style="background: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| rowspan=2|[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| minister2_party = Conservative Party (UK)

| [[Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs]]
}}
| 22 December 1940

| 26 July 1945
{{Cabinet table minister
| Succeeded Halifax. Previously Secretary of State for War (from 11 May 1940), but was outside the war cabinet.

|-
| title = [[Home Secretary]]
| [[Leader of the House of Commons]]

| 22 November 1942
| minister1 = [[Herbert Morrison]]
| 23 May 1945

| Succeeded Cripps.
| minister1_termstart = October 1942
|-

| rowspan=2|'''{{sort|Lyttelton|[[Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos|Oliver Lyttelton]]}}'''
| minister1_termend = May 1945
| rowspan=2 style="background: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |

| rowspan=2|[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| minister1_party = Labour Party (UK)
| [[Minister-Resident for the Middle East]]

| 29 June 1941
}}
| 12 March 1942

| New role created to relieve military commanders of civil responsibility. Lyttelton was previously President of the Board of Trade (from 3 October 1940), but was outside the war cabinet. Became Minister of Production and was succeeded by Casey.
{{Cabinet table minister
|-

| [[Minister of Production]]
| title = [[Minister of Aircraft Production]]
| 12 March 1942

| 23 May 1945
| minister1 = [[Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook|The Lord Beaverbrook]]
| Succeeded Beaverbrook. The office was initially called Minister of War Production when created on 4 February 1942.

|-
| minister1_termstart = August 1940
| '''{{sort|Cripps|[[Stafford Cripps|Sir Stafford Cripps]]}}'''

| style="background: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| minister1_termend = May 1941<ref name="no cabinet" />
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

| [[Leader of the House of Commons]]<br>[[Lord Privy Seal]]
| minister1_party = Conservative Party (UK)
| 19 February 1942

| 22 November 1942
}}
| Previously British Ambassador to the Soviet Union. Became Minister of Aircraft Production (outside the war cabinet) and was succeeded by Eden as Leader of the House. His successor as Lord Privy Seal (Cranborne) was not in the war cabinet.

|-
{{Cabinet table minister
| '''{{sort|Casey|[[Richard Casey, Baron Casey|Richard Casey]]}}'''

| style="background: {{National Government (United Kingdom)/meta/color}}" |
| title = [[Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs]]
| [[National Government (United Kingdom)|National]]

| [[Minister-Resident for the Middle East]]
| minister1 = [[Clement Attlee]]
| 12 March 1942

| 14 January 1944
| minister1_termstart = February 1942
| Previously Australian Ambassador to the United States. Became Governor of Bengal and was succeeded by Moyne.

|-
| minister1_termend = September 1943<ref name="no cabinet" />
| '''{{sort|Morrison|[[Herbert Morrison]]}}'''

| style="background: {{Labour Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| minister1_party = Labour Party (UK)

| [[Home Secretary]]
}}
| 22 November 1942

| 23 May 1945
{{Cabinet table minister
| Appointed Home Secretary on 2 October 1940 but was outside the war cabinet until 22 November 1942.

|-
| title = [[Secretary of State for Employment|Minister of Labour and National Service]]
| '''{{sort|Woolton|[[Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton|Lord Woolton]]}}'''

| style="background: {{National Government (United Kingdom)/meta/color}}" |
| minister1 = [[Ernest Bevin]]
| [[National Government (United Kingdom)|National]]

| [[Minister of Reconstruction]]
| minister1_termstart = October 1940
| 11 November 1943

| 23 May 1945
| minister1_termend = May 1945
| New role created to lead post-war planning. Woolton was previously Minister of Food (from 3 April 1940), but was outside the war cabinet.

|-
| minister1_party = Labour Party (UK)
| '''{{sort|Moyne|[[Walter Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne|Lord Moyne]]}}'''

| style="background: {{Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color}}" |
}}
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

| [[Minister-Resident for the Middle East]]
{{Cabinet table minister
| 14 January 1944

| 6 November 1944
| title = [[Resident (title)|Minister-Resident for the Middle East]]
| Succeeded Casey. Previously the Deputy Minister-Resident. Was assassinated by Jewish militants on 6 November 1944. The office was abolished.

|-
| minister1 = [[Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos|Oliver Lyttelton]]
|}

| minister1_termstart = February 1942

| minister1_termend = March 1942

| minister1_party = Conservative Party (UK)

| minister2 = [[Richard Casey, Baron Casey|Richard Casey]]

| minister2_termstart = March 1942

| minister2_termend = January 1944

| minister2_party = National Government (United Kingdom)

| minister3 = [[Walter Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne|The Lord Moyne]]

| minister3_termstart = January 1944

| minister3_termend = November 1944<ref name="no cabinet" />

| minister3_party = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Cabinet table minister

| title = [[Minister without Portfolio]]

| minister1 = [[Arthur Greenwood]]

| minister1_termstart = May 1940

| minister1_termend = February 1942

| minister1_party = Labour Party (UK)

}}

{{Cabinet table minister

| title = [[Minister of Reconstruction]]

| minister1 = [[Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton|The Lord Woolton]]

| minister1_termstart = November 1943

| minister1_termend = May 1945

| minister1_party = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Cabinet table minister

| title = [[Minister of State]]

| minister1 = [[Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook|The Lord Beaverbrook]]

| minister1_termstart = May 1941

| minister1_termend = June 1941

| minister1_party = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Cabinet table minister

| title = [[Minister of Supply]]

| minister1 = [[Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook|The Lord Beaverbrook]]

| minister1_termstart = June 1941

| minister1_termend = February 1942

| minister1_party = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Cabinet table minister

| title = [[Minister of War Production]]

| minister1 = [[Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook|The Lord Beaverbrook]]

| minister1_termstart = February 1942

| minister1_termend = February 1942

| minister1_party = Conservative Party (UK)

| minister2 = [[Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos|Oliver Lyttelton]]

| minister2_termstart = March 1942

| minister2_termend = May 1945

| minister2_party = Conservative Party (UK)

}}

{{Cabinet table end}}


==List of Ministers==
==List of Ministers==

Revision as of 14:19, 8 June 2020

Churchill war ministry
1940–1945
Winston Churchill on 2 August 1944
Date formed10 May 1940 (1940-05-10)
Date dissolved23 May 1945 (1945-05-23)
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge VI
Prime MinisterWinston Churchill
Deputy Prime MinisterClement Attlee (1942–1945)
Total no. of members223 appointments
Member parties
Status in legislatureMajority (coalition)
History
Legislature terms37th UK Parliament
Incoming formationNorway Debate
PredecessorChamberlain war ministry
SuccessorChurchill caretaker ministry

The Churchill war ministry was the United Kingdom's coalition government for most of the Second World War from 10 May 1940 to 23 May 1945. It was led by Winston Churchill, who was appointed Prime Minister by King George VI following the resignation of Neville Chamberlain in the aftermath of the Norway Debate.

At the outset, Churchill formed a five-man War Cabinet which included Chamberlain as Lord President of the Council, Clement Attlee as Lord Privy Seal and later as Deputy Prime Minister, Viscount Halifax as Foreign Secretary and Arthur Greenwood as a minister without portfolio. Although the original war cabinet was limited to five members, in practice they were augmented by the service chiefs and ministers who attended the majority of meetings. The cabinet changed in size and membership as the war progressed but there were significant additions later in 1940 when it was increased to eight after Churchill, Attlee and Greenwood were joined by Ernest Bevin as Minister of Labour and National Service; Anthony Eden as Foreign Secretary – replacing Halifax, who was sent to Washington D.C. as ambassador to the United States; Lord Beaverbrook as Minister of Aircraft Production; Sir Kingsley Wood as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Sir John Anderson as Lord President of the Council – replacing Chamberlain who died in November (Anderson later became Chancellor after Kingsley Wood's death in September 1943).

The coalition was dissolved in May 1945, following the final defeat of Germany, when the Labour Party decided to withdraw in order to prepare for a general election. Churchill, who was the leader of the Conservative Party, was asked by the King to form a new, essentially Conservative, government. It was known as the Churchill caretaker ministry and managed the country's affairs until completion of the general election on 26 July that year.

Background

Main article: Norway Debate

The 1935 general election had resulted in a Conservative victory with a substantial majority and Stanley Baldwin became Prime Minister. In May 1937, Baldwin retired and was succeeded by Neville Chamberlain who continued Baldwin's foreign policy of appeasement in the face of German, Italian and Japanese aggression. Having signed the Munich Agreement with Hitler in 1938, Chamberlain became alarmed by the dictator's continuing aggression and, in March 1939, signed the Anglo-Polish military alliance which supposedly guaranteed British support for Poland if attacked. Chamberlain issued the declaration of war against Germany on 3 September 1939 and formed a war cabinet which included Winston Churchill (out of office since June 1929) as First Lord of the Admiralty.[1]

Dissatisfaction with Chamberlain's leadership became widespread in the spring of 1940 after Germany successfully invaded Norway. In response, the House of Commons held the Norway Debate from 7 to 9 May. At the end of the second day, the Labour opposition forced a division which was in effect a motion of no confidence in Chamberlain. The government's majority of 213 was reduced to 81, still a victory but nevertheless a shattering blow for Chamberlain.[2]

9–13 May 1940: Creation of a new government

Neville Chamberlain resigned to make way for Churchill as Prime Minister.

On Thursday, 9 May, Chamberlain attempted to form a National Coalition Government. In talks at Downing Street with Viscount Halifax and Churchill, he indicated that he was quite ready to resign if that was necessary for Labour to enter such a government. Labour's leader Clement Attlee and his deputy Arthur Greenwood then joined the meeting, and when asked, they indicated that they must first consult their party's National Executive Committee (then in Bournemouth to prepare for the annual conference), but it was unlikely they could serve in a government led by Chamberlain; they probably would be able to serve under some other Conservative.[3]

After Attlee and Greenwood left, Chamberlain asked whom he should recommend to the King as his successor. The version of events given by Churchill is that Chamberlain's preference for Halifax was obvious (Churchill implies that the spat between Churchill and the Labour benches the previous night had something to do with that); there was a long silence which Halifax eventually broke by saying he did not believe he could lead the government effectively as a member of the House of Lords instead of the House of Commons.[4] Churchill's version gets the date wrong, and he fails to mention the presence of David Margesson, the government Chief Whip.[4][5][6]

Halifax's account omits the dramatic pause and gives an additional reason: "PM said I was the man mentioned as most acceptable. I said it would be hopeless position. If I was not in charge of the war (operations) and if I didn't lead in the House, I should be a cypher. I thought Winston was a better choice. Winston did not demur."[3] According to Halifax, Margesson then confirmed that the House of Commons had been veering to Churchill.

In a letter to Churchill written that night,[7] Bob Boothby asserted that parliamentary opinion was hardening against Halifax, claiming in a postscript that according to Liberal MP Clement Davies, "Attlee & Greenwood are unable to distinguish between the PM & Halifax and are not prepared to serve under the latter". Davies (who thought Chamberlain should go, and be replaced by Churchill) had lunched with Attlee and Greenwood (and argued his case) shortly before they saw Chamberlain.[8] Labour's Hugh Dalton, however, noted in his diary entry for 9 May that he had spoken with Attlee, who "agrees with my preference for Halifax over Churchill, but we both think either would be tolerable".[9]

Neville Chamberlain resigns
Neville Chamberlain speaks to the nation following his resignation as Prime Minister, 10 May 1940.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

On the morning of Friday, 10 May, Germany invaded the Netherlands and Belgium. Chamberlain initially felt that a change of government at such a time would be inappropriate, but upon being given confirmation that Labour would not serve under him, he announced to the War Cabinet his intention to resign.[10] Scarcely more than three days after he had opened the debate, Chamberlain went to Buckingham Palace to resign as Prime Minister. Despite resigning as PM, however, he continued to be the leader of the Conservative Party. He explained to the King why Halifax, whom the King thought the obvious candidate,[11] did not want to become Prime Minister. The King then sent for Churchill and asked him to form a new government; according to Churchill, there was no stipulation that it must be a coalition government.[12]

At 21:00 on 10 May, Chamberlain announced the change of Prime Minister over the BBC. Churchill's first act as Prime Minister was to ask Attlee to come and see him at Admiralty House. Next, he wrote to Chamberlain to thank him for his promised support. He then began to construct his coalition cabinet: before he went to bed at 03:00 on Saturday, 11 May, six hours after Chamberlain's original announcement, Churchill had established the composition of the new War Cabinet and appointed the heads of the three Service Ministries.[13]

Clement Attlee was the serving deputy to Churchill from 1942.

On Saturday, 11 May, the Labour Party agreed to join a national government under Churchill's leadership and he was able to form his war cabinet. In his biography of Churchill, Roy Jenkins described the Churchill cabinet as one "for winning", while the former Chamberlain cabinet was one "for losing".[14] Labour leader Clement Attlee relinquished his official role as Leader of the Opposition to become Lord Privy Seal (until 19 February 1942 when he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister). Arthur Greenwood, Labour's deputy leader, was appointed a minister without portfolio.[15]

The main problem for Churchill as he became Prime Minister was that he was not the leader of the majority Conservative Party and, needing its support, was obliged to include Chamberlain in the war cabinet, but this was not to Labour's liking. Initially, Churchill proposed to appoint Chamberlain as both Leader of the House of Commons and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Attlee objected and Churchill decided to appoint Chamberlain as Lord President of the Council. The fifth member of the war cabinet was Halifax, who retained his position as Foreign Secretary.[16] Instead of Chamberlain, Kingsley Wood became Chancellor but, until 3 October 1940, he was not a member of the war cabinet.[17]

Churchill appointed himself as Leader of the House (it was normal procedure until 1942 for a prime minister in the Commons to lead the House) and created for himself the new role of Minister of Defence, so that he would be permanent chair of the Cabinet Defence Committee which included the three service ministers and the three service chiefs.[18] Anthony Eden became Secretary of State for War, Labour's A. V. Alexander succeeded Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty and the leader of the Liberal Party, Sir Archibald Sinclair, became Secretary of State for Air.[19] The three service Chiefs of Staff (CoS) at this time were Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, the First Sea Lord; Air Marshal Sir Cyril Newall, the Chief of the Air Staff; and Field Marshal Sir Edmund Ironside, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS). (On 27 May, Ironside was replaced at Churchill's request by his deputy Field Marshal Sir John Dill, and Ironside became Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces.)[20]

By Monday, 13 May, most of the senior government posts were filled. That day was Whit Monday, normally a bank holiday but cancelled by the incoming government. A specially convened sitting of the House of Commons was held and Churchill spoke for the first time as Prime Minister:[21]

I beg to move, that this House welcomes the formation of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious conclusion.

He explained that a War Cabinet of five members had been formed to represent the unity of the nation with all three main party leaders agreeing to serve either in the War Cabinet or in high executive office. Churchill was hoping to complete all ministerial appointments by the end of the 14th. He announced an adjournment of Commons business until the 21st and apologised for making only a short address for the present. Even so, his speech has become one of his most famous because he concluded with his statement of intent:[22]

I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this Government: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat". We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope. I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, "Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength".

In reply, Hastings Lees-Smith as acting Leader of the Opposition announced that Labour would vote for the motion to assure the country of a unified political front.[23] After several other members had spoken, including David Lloyd George and Stafford Cripps, the House divided on the question: "That this House welcomes the formation of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious conclusion". 381 members voted "aye" in favour of the motion and, apart from the two tellers for the "noes", the wartime coalition was endorsed unanimously.[24]

Leader of the Opposition

There was no de facto Leader of the Opposition from 11 May 1940 until Attlee resumed the role on 23 May 1945. The Labour Party appointed an acting Leader of the Opposition whose job, although he was in effect a member of the national government, was to ensure the continued functionality of the House of Commons. Due process in the Commons requires someone, even a member of the government, to fill the role even if there is no actual opposition.[25] The first acting leader was Hastings Lees-Smith, the MP for Keighley, who died in office on 18 December 1941. He was briefly succeeded by Frederick Pethick-Lawrence and then, from 22 February 1942, by Arthur Greenwood who had left the War Cabinet, until 23 May 1945.[26]

14 May 1940 to 23 May 1945

  • 2 August 1940: Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, joined the War Cabinet.
  • 22 September 1940: resignation of Neville Chamberlain for health reasons (terminal bowel cancer).
  • October 1940: Sir John Anderson succeeded Chamberlain as Lord President and joined the War Cabinet. Sir Kingsley Wood, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Ernest Bevin, the Minister of Labour, also entered the War Cabinet. Lord Halifax assumed the additional job of Leader of the House of Lords.
  • 9 November 1940: death of Neville Chamberlain.
  • 22 December 1940: Anthony Eden succeeded Lord Halifax as Foreign Secretary (Eden held the post until 26 July 1945) and joined the War Cabinet as its eighth member. Halifax became Ambassador to the United States. His successor as Leader of the House of Lords was not in the War Cabinet.
  • May 1941: Beaverbrook ceased to be Minister of Aircraft Production, but remained in the War Cabinet as Minister of State. His successor was not in the War Cabinet.
  • June 1941: Beaverbrook became Minister of Supply, remaining in the War Cabinet.
  • 1941: Oliver Lyttelton enters the Cabinet as Minister-Resident for the Middle East.
  • 4 February 1942: Lord Beaverbrook becomes Minister of War Production; his successor as Minister of Supply is not in the War Cabinet.
  • 19 February 1942: Beaverbrook resigns and no replacement Minister of War Production is appointed for the moment. Clement Attlee becomes Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister. Sir Stafford Cripps succeeds Attlee as Lord Privy Seal and takes over the position of Leader of the House of Commons from Churchill. Sir Kingsley Wood leaves the War Cabinet, though remaining Chancellor of the Exchequer.
  • 22 February 1942: Arthur Greenwood leaves the War Cabinet to assume the role of Leader of the Opposition, necessary for House of Commons functionality, till 23 May 1945.[26]
  • March 1942: Oliver Lyttelton fills the vacant position of Minister of Production ("War" was dropped from the title). Richard Casey (a member of the Australian Parliament) succeeds Oliver Lyttelton as Minister Resident in the Middle East.
  • October 1942: Sir Stafford Cripps retires as Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons and leaves the War Cabinet. His successor as Lord Privy Seal (Viscount Cranborne) is not in the Cabinet, Anthony Eden takes the additional position of Leader of the House of Commons. The Home Secretary, Herbert Morrison, enters the Cabinet.
  • 21 September 1943: death of Sir Kingsley Wood.
  • September 1943: Sir John Anderson succeeds Sir Kingsley Wood as Chancellor of the Exchequer, remaining in the War Cabinet. Clement Attlee succeeds Anderson as Lord President, remaining also Deputy Prime Minister. Attlee's successor as Dominions Secretary is not in the Cabinet.
  • November 1943: Lord Woolton enters the Cabinet as Minister of Reconstruction.
  • January to November 1944: Lord Moyne replaces Richard Gardiner Casey as Minister Resident in the Middle East.

End of the ministry, 23 May 1945

In October 1944, Churchill had proposed to the Commons that the current Parliament, which had begun in 1935, should be extended by a further year. He correctly anticipated the defeat of Germany in the spring of 1945 but he did not expect the end of the Far East war until 1946. He therefore recommended that the end of the European war should be "a pointer (to) fix the date of the (next) General Election".[27]

Attlee, along with Eden and others, attended the San Francisco Conference and had returned to London by 18 May 1945 (ten days after V-E Day) when he met Churchill to discuss the future of the coalition. Attlee, in agreement with Churchill, wanted it to continue until after the Japanese surrender but he discovered that others in the Labour Party, especially Morrison and Bevin, wanted an election in October after Parliament ended. On 20 May, Attlee attended his party conference and found that opinion was against him so he informed Churchill that Labour must leave the coalition.[28]

On 23 May, Labour left the coalition to begin their general election campaign. Churchill resigned as prime minister but the King asked him to form a new government, known as the Churchill caretaker ministry, until the election was held in July. Churchill agreed and his new ministry, essentially a Conservative one, held office for the next two months until it was replaced by Attlee's Labour government after their election victory.[citation needed]

1940–45

For a list of changes to the composition of the ministry, see § Changes.


Portfolio Minister Took office Left office Party
First Lord of the Treasury
Minister of Defence		May 1940May 1945 Conservative
Deputy Prime MinisterFebruary 1942May 1945 Labour
Lord President of the CouncilMay 1940October 1940 Conservative
October 1940September 1943 National
September 1943May 1945 Labour
Lord Privy SealMay 1940February 1942 Labour
February 1942October 1942[29] Labour
Chancellor of the ExchequerOctober 1940February 1942[30] Conservative
September 1943May 1945 National
Foreign SecretaryMay 1940December 1940 Conservative
December 1940May 1945 Conservative
Home SecretaryOctober 1942May 1945 Labour
Minister of Aircraft ProductionAugust 1940May 1941[29] Conservative
Secretary of State for Dominion AffairsFebruary 1942September 1943[29] Labour
Minister of Labour and National ServiceOctober 1940May 1945 Labour
Minister-Resident for the Middle EastFebruary 1942March 1942 Conservative
March 1942January 1944 National
January 1944November 1944[29] Conservative
Minister without PortfolioMay 1940February 1942 Labour
Minister of ReconstructionNovember 1943May 1945 Conservative
Minister of StateMay 1941June 1941 Conservative
Minister of SupplyJune 1941February 1942 Conservative
Minister of War ProductionFebruary 1942February 1942 Conservative
March 1942May 1945 Conservative

List of Ministers

Government ministers, 1940–1945 (members of the War Cabinet in bold face)
Office Name Party Dates Notes
Prime Minister
Minister of Defence and First Lord of the Treasury 		Winston Churchill style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 10 May 1940 Member of War Cabinet; also Leader of the House of Commons 1940–42
Lord Chancellor Viscount Simon style="background: Template:National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)/meta/color" | Liberal National 12 May 1940 Chancellor of the Exchequer under Chamberlain. Made Viscount on 13 May 1940[31]
Lord President of the Council Neville Chamberlain style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 11 May 1940 Member of War Cabinet. Died in November 1940.
Sir John Anderson style="background: Template:National Government (United Kingdom)/meta/color" | National 3 October 1940 Member of War Cabinet
Clement Attlee style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 24 September 1943 Member of War Cabinet
Lord Privy Seal Clement Attlee style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 11 May 1940 Member of War Cabinet; also Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
Sir Stafford Cripps style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 19 February 1942 Member of War Cabinet; also Leader of the House of Commons
Viscount Cranborne style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 November 1942 also Leader of the House of Lords
The Lord Beaverbrook style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 24 September 1943
Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Kingsley Wood style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 May 1940 In War Cabinet from 3 October 1940 – 19 February 1942
Sir John Anderson style="background: Template:National Government (United Kingdom)/meta/color" | National 24 September 1943  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
(A sinecure position for the Government Chief Whip) 		David Margesson style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 17 May 1940 – 22 December 1940 Jointly
Sir Charles Edwards style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 17 May 1940 – 12 March 1942 Jointly
James Stuart style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 14 January 1941 – 23 May 1945 Jointly
William Whiteley style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 12 March 1942 – 23 May 1945 Jointly
Financial Secretary to the Treasury Harry Crookshank style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
Ralph Assheton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 7 February 1943  
Osbert Peake style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 29 October 1944  
Lords of the Treasury
(Junior Lord of the Treasury, including nominals position for government whips)
 Stephen Furness[32] style="background: Template:National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)/meta/color" | Liberal National 12 May 1940 – 18 May 1940  
James Stuart style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 May 1940 – 14 January 1941  
Patrick Munro[32] style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 May 1940 – 13 March 1942  
Patrick Buchan-Hepburn[32] style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 May 1940 – 26 June 1940  
William Whytehead Boulton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 May 1940 – 13 March 1942  
Wilfred Paling style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 18 May 1940 – 8 February 1941  
James Thomas style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 26 June 1940 – 25 September 1943  
Thomas Dugdale
(Deputy Chief Whip)[33] 		style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 8 February 1941 – 23 February 1942  
William Murdoch Adamson[32] style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 1 March 1941 – 2 October 1944  
Arthur Young style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 23 February 1942 – 3 July 1944  
John McEwen[32] style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 13 March 1942 – 6 December 1944  
Leslie Pym style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 13 March 1942 – 23 May 1945  
Alec Beechman style="background: Template:National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)/meta/color" | Liberal National 25 September 1943 – 23 May 1945  
Cedric Drewe style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 3 July 1944 – 23 May 1945  
William John
(Deputy Chief Whip)[33] 		style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 2 October 1944 – 23 May 1945  
Patrick Buchan-Hepburn[32] style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 6 December 1944 – 23 May 1945  
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Viscount Halifax style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 11 May 1940 also Leader of the House of Lords from 3 October 1940; Member of War Cabinet
Anthony Eden style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 December 1940 Member of War Cabinet; also Leader of the House of Commons 1942–45
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs R. A. Butler style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
Richard Law style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 20 July 1941  
George Hall style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 25 September 1943  
Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Home Security Sir John Anderson style="background: Template:National Government (United Kingdom)/meta/color" | National 12 May 1940  
Herbert Morrison style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 2 October 1940 In War Cabinet from 22 November 1942
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department Osbert Peake style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
The Earl of Munster style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 31 October 1944  
Parliamentary Secretary for the Home Department William Mabane style="background: Template:National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)/meta/color" | Liberal National 15 May 1940 – 3 June 1942  
Ellen Wilkinson style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 8 October 1940 – 23 May 1945  
First Lord of the Admiralty A. V. Alexander[34] style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 11 May 1940  
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty Sir Victor Warrender, Bt style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 17 May 1940 Lord Bruntisfield
Civil Lord of the Admiralty Sir Austin Hudson, Bt[35] style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
Richard Pilkington style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 March 1942  
Financial Secretary to the Admiralty George Hall[36] style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 4 February 1942  
James Thomas[36] style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 25 September 1943  
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Robert Hudson style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 14 May 1940  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries The Lord Moyne style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940 – 8 February 1941  
Tom Williams style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 15 May 1940 – 23 May 1945  
The Duke of Norfolk style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 8 February 1941 – 23 May 1945  
Secretary of State for Air Sir Archibald Sinclair, Bt style="background: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Liberal 11 May 1940  
Under-Secretary of State for Air Harold Balfour style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940 – 21 November 1944  
The Lord Sherwood style="background: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Liberal 20 July 1941 – 23 May 1945  
Rupert Brabner style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 21 November 1944 – 27 March 1945  
Quintin Hogg style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 April 1945 – 23 May 1945  
Minister of Aircraft Production The Lord Beaverbrook style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 14 May 1940 In War Cabinet from 2 August 1940 – 1 May 1941
John Moore-Brabazon style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 1 May 1941  
John Llewellin style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 February 1942  
Sir Stafford Cripps style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 22 November 1942  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aircraft Production John Llewellin style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
Frederick Montague style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 1 May 1941  
Ben Smith style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 4 March 1942  
Alan Lennox-Boyd style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 11 November 1943  
Minister of Civil Aviation The Viscount Swinton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 8 October 1944 New office
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Civil Aviation Robert Perkins style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 March 1945  
Secretary of State for the Colonies The Lord Lloyd style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 May 1940 also Leader of the House of Lords from 22 December 1940
The Lord Moyne style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 8 February 1941 also Leader of the House of Lords
Viscount Cranborne style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 February 1942 also Leader of the House of Lords
Oliver Stanley style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 November 1942  
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies George Hall style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 15 May 1940  
Harold Macmillan style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 February 1942  
The Duke of Devonshire style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 1 January 1943  
Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs The Viscount Caldecote style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 14 May 1940 also Leader of the House of Lords
Viscount Cranborne style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 3 October 1940  
Clement Attlee style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 19 February 1942 Member of War Cabinet
Viscount Cranborne style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 24 September 1943 also Leader of the House of Lords
Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs Geoffrey Shakespeare style="background: Template:National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)/meta/color" | Liberal National 15 May 1940  
Paul Emrys-Evans style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 March 1942  
Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 15 May 1940  
Viscount Wolmer style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 February 1942  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Warfare Dingle Foot style="background: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Liberal 17 May 1940  
President of the Board of Education Herwald Ramsbotham style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 14 May 1940  
Rab Butler style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 20 July 1941 Renamed Minister of Education 3 August 1944
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education James Chuter Ede style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 15 May 1940  
Minister of Food The Lord Woolton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 13 May 1940  
John Llewellin style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 11 November 1943  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Food Robert Boothby style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
Gwilym Lloyd George style="background: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Liberal 22 October 1940  
William Mabane style="background: Template:National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)/meta/color" | Liberal National 3 June 1942  
Minister of Fuel and Power Gwilym Lloyd George style="background: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Liberal 3 June 1942 New office
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fuel and Power Geoffrey Lloyd style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 3 June 1942 – 23 May 1945  
Tom Smith style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 3 June 1942 – 23 May 1945  
Minister of Health Malcolm MacDonald style="background: Template:National Labour Organisation/meta/color" | National Labour 13 May 1940  
Ernest Brown style="background: Template:National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)/meta/color" | Liberal National 8 February 1941  
Henry Willink style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 11 November 1943  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health Florence Horsbrugh style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
Secretary of State for India and Burma Leo Amery style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 13 May 1940  
Parliamentary Secretary for India and Burma The Duke of Devonshire style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 17 May 1940  
The Earl of Munster style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 1 January 1943  
The Earl of Listowel style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 31 October 1944  
Minister of Information Duff Cooper style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 May 1940 Attended War Cabinet from 28 May 1940
Brendan Bracken style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 20 July 1941  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Information Harold Nicolson style="background: Template:National Labour Organisation/meta/color" | National Labour 17 May 1940  
Ernest Thurtle style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 20 July 1941  
Minister of Labour and National Service Ernest Bevin style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 13 May 1940 In War Cabinet from 3 October 1940
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour Ralph Assheton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940 – 4 February 1942  
George Tomlinson style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 8 February 1941 – 23 May 1945  
Malcolm McCorquodale style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 February 1942 – 23 May 1945  
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Lord Hankey[37] style="background: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | Independent 14 May 1940  
Duff Cooper[37] style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 20 July 1941  
Ernest Brown[37] style="background: Template:National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)/meta/color" | Liberal National 11 November 1943  
Minister Resident North-West Africa Harold Macmillan style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 30 December 1942  
Minister Resident Middle East Oliver Lyttelton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 19 February 1942 Member of War Cabinet
Richard Casey style="background: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | Independent 19 March 1942 Member of War Cabinet until 23 December 1943. Not a British MP
The Lord Moyne style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 28 January 1944  
Sir Edward Grigg style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 21 November 1944  
Deputy Minister of State The Lord Moyne style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 27 August 1942 – 28 January 1944  
Minister Resident, Washington John Llewellin style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 November 1942  
Ben Smith style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 11 November 1943  
Minister Resident West Africa The Viscount Swinton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 8 June 1942  
Harold Balfour style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 21 November 1944  
Minister without Portfolio Arthur Greenwood style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 11 May 1940 – 22 February 1942 Member of War Cabinet
Sir William Jowitt style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 30 December 1942 – 8 October 1944  
Paymaster General Viscount Cranborne[38] style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940 Office vacant 3 October 1940
The Lord Hankey style="background: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | Independent 20 July 1941  
Sir William Jowitt[38] style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 4 March 1942  
The Lord Cherwell[39] style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 30 December 1942  
Minister for Pensions Sir Walter Womersley style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Pensions Ellen Wilkinson style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 17 May 1940  
The Lord Tryon style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 8 October 1940  
Wilfred Paling style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 8 February 1941  
Postmaster-General William Morrison style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
Harry Crookshank style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 7 February 1943  
Assistant Postmaster-General Charles Waterhouse style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 17 May 1940  
Allan Chapman style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 1 March 1941  
Robert Grimston style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 March 1942  
Minister of Reconstruction The Lord Woolton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 11 November 1943 Member of War Cabinet
Secretary of State for Scotland Ernest Brown style="background: Template:National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)/meta/color" | Liberal National 14 May 1940  
Tom Johnston style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 8 February 1941  
Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Joseph Westwood style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 17 May 1940 – 23 May 1945  
Henry Wedderburn style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 8 February 1941 – 4 March 1942  
Allan Chapman style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 March 1942 – 23 May 1945  
Minister of Shipping Ronald Cross[40] style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 14 May 1940 Merged into Minister of War Transport 1 May 1941
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Shipping Sir Arthur Salter style="background: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | Independent 15 May 1940  
Minister of Social Insurance Sir William Jowitt style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 8 October 1944 Renamed Minister of National Insurance 17 November 1944
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Insurance Charles Peat style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 March 1945  
Minister of State The Lord Beaverbrook style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 1 May 1941 Member of War Cabinet
Oliver Lyttelton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 29 June 1941 Member of War Cabinet. Office vacant from 12 March 1942
Minister of Supply Herbert Morrison style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 12 May 1940  
Sir Andrew Rae Duncan style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 3 October 1940  
The Lord Beaverbrook style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 29 June 1941 Member of War Cabinet
Sir Andrew Rae Duncan style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 February 1942  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Supply Harold Macmillan style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940 – 4 February 1942  
Wyndham Raymond Portal, 1st Viscount Portal style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 September 1940 – 22 February 1942  
Ralph Assheton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 February 1942 – 7 February 1943  
Charles Peat style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 March 1942 – 22 March 1945  
Duncan Sandys style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 7 February 1943 – 21 November 1944  
John Wilmot style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 21 November 1944 – 23 May 1945  
James de Rothschild style="background: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Liberal 22 March 1945 – 23 May 1945  
Minister of Town and Country Planning William Morrison style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 30 December 1942 Minister designate until 7 February 1943
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Town and Country Planning Henry Strauss style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 30 December 1942  
Arthur Jenkins style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 22 March 1945  
President of the Board of Trade Sir Andrew Rae Duncan style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 May 1940  
Oliver Lyttelton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 3 October 1940  
Sir Andrew Rae Duncan style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 29 June 1941  
John Llewellin style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 February 1942  
Hugh Dalton style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 22 February 1942  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade Gwilym Lloyd George style="background: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Liberal 15 May 1940 Also Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Food from 22 October 1940
Charles Waterhouse style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 8 February 1941  
Secretary for Overseas Trade Harcourt Johnstone style="background: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Liberal 15 May 1940  
Secretary for Mines David Grenfell style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 15 May 1940  
Secretary for Petroleum Geoffrey Lloyd style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940 – 3 June 1942 Combined into Minister for Fuel and Power
Minister of Transport Sir John Reith style="background: Template:National Government (United Kingdom)/meta/color" | National 14 May 1940  
John Moore-Brabazon style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 3 October 1940 became Minister of War Transport 1 May 1941
Minister of War Production The Lord Beaverbrook style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 February 1942 Office vacant 19 February 1942
Oliver Lyttelton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 March 1942 Post retitled Minister of Production upon appointment
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Production George Garro-Jones style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 10 September 1942  
Secretary of State for War Anthony Eden style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 11 May 1940  
David Margesson style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 December 1940  
Sir P. J. Grigg style="background: Template:National Government (United Kingdom)/meta/color" | National 22 February 1942  
Under-Secretary of State for War Sir Henry Page Croft style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 17 May 1940 – 23 May 1945 Lord Croft
Sir Edward Grigg style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 17 May 1940 – 4 March 1942  
Arthur Henderson style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 4 March 1942 – 7 February 1943  
Financial Secretary to the War Office Richard Law style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 17 May 1940  
Duncan Sandys style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 20 July 1941  
Arthur Henderson style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 7 February 1943  
Minister of War Transport The Lord Leathers style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 1 May 1941  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of War Transport Frederick Montague style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 18 May 1940 – 1 May 1941  
John Llewellin style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 1 May 1941 – 4 February 1942  
Sir Arthur Salter style="background: Template:Independent politician/meta/color" | Independent 29 June 1941 – 4 February 1942  
First Commissioner of Works The Lord Tryon style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 18 May 1940  
Sir John Reith style="background: Template:National Government (United Kingdom)/meta/color" | National 3 October 1940 Minister of Works and Buildings, and 1st Commissioner. Later Lord Reith
The Lord Portal style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 February 1942 Renamed Minister of Works and Planning from 11 February 1942, and Minister of Works from February 1943
Duncan Sandys style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 21 November 1944  
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Works George Hicks style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 19 November 1940 – 23 May 1945  
Henry Strauss style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 March 1942 – 30 December 1942  
Attorney General Sir Donald Somervell<ref>"Mr Donald Somervell" Hansard<ref> style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
Solicitor General Sir William Jowitt style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 15 May 1940  
Sir David Maxwell Fyfe style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 4 March 1942  
Lord Advocate Thomas Cooper style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
James Reid style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 5 June 1941  
Solicitor General for Scotland James Reid style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 15 May 1940  
David King Murray style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 5 June 1941 Knighted
Treasurer of the Household Robert Grimston style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 17 May 1940  
Sir James Edmondson style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 March 1942  
Comptroller of the Household William Whiteley style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 17 May 1940  
William John style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 12 March 1942  
George Mathers style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 2 October 1944  
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household Sir James Edmondson style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 17 May 1940  
William Whytehead Boulton style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 12 March 1942  
Arthur Young style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 13 July 1944  
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms The Lord Snell style="background: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | Labour 31 May 1940 – 21 April 1944  
The Earl Fortescue style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 March 1945  
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard The Lord Templemore style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 31 May 1940  
Lords in Waiting The Earl Fortescue style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 31 May 1940 – 22 March 1945  
The Viscount Clifden style="background: Template:Liberal Party (UK)/meta/color" | Liberal 31 May 1940 – 23 May 1945  
The Lord Alness style="background: Template:National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)/meta/color" | Liberal National 31 May 1940 – 23 May 1945  
The Marquess of Normanby style="background: Template:Conservative Party (UK)/meta/color" | Conservative 22 March 1945 – 23 May 1945  

References

  1. ^ Jenkins 2001, pp. 551–552.
  2. ^ Jenkins 2001, pp. 576–582.
  3. ^ a b quoted in Gilbert, as from David Dilks, ed. (1971). The Diaries of Sir Alexander Cadogan O.M 1938–45. London: Cassel. p. 280 (diary entry for 9 May 1940). ISBN 978-03-04937-37-0.
  4. ^ a b Churchill 1968, pp. 523–524.
  5. ^ Jenkins 2001, p. 583.
  6. ^ Shakespeare 2017, p. 362.
  7. ^ cited in Gilbert: "Letter of 9 May 1940, marked by Churchill 'secret, for dinner, in a box'; Churchill papers 2/392".
  8. ^ Schneer, Jonathan (16 March 2015). Ministers at War. Oneworld Publications. p. 28. ISBN 978-17-80746-14-2.
  9. ^ quoted in Thomas-Symonds, Nicklaus (1 March 2012). Attlee: A Life in Politics. I.B.Tauris. pp. 94–95. ISBN 978-08-57730-74-9.
  10. ^ War Cabinet No. 119 of 1940, 4.30 p.m. (there were three War Cabinet meetings that day): Cabinet papers 65/7 cited in Gilbert.
  11. ^ Wheeler-Bennett 1958, pp. 433–434.
  12. ^ Churchill 1968, p. 525.
  13. ^ Gilbert 1983, pp. 299–314.
  14. ^ Jenkins 2001, pp. 714–715.
  15. ^ Jenkins 2001, p. 587.
  16. ^ Jenkins 2001, pp. 587–588.
  17. ^ Jenkins 2001, p. 588.
  18. ^ Hermiston 2016, p. 27.
  19. ^ Hermiston 2016, p. 26.
  20. ^ Hastings 2009, p. 25.
  21. ^ "His Majesty's Government – Churchill". Hansard, House of Commons, 5th Series, vol. 360, col. 1501. 13 May 1940. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  22. ^ "His Majesty's Government – Churchill". Hansard, House of Commons, 5th Series, vol. 360, col. 1502. 13 May 1940. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  23. ^ "His Majesty's Government – Lees-Smith". Hansard, House of Commons, 5th Series, vol. 360, cols 1504–1505. 13 May 1940. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  24. ^ "His Majesty's Government – Division". Hansard, House of Commons, 5th Series, vol. 360, col. 1525. 13 May 1940. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  25. ^ "Ministers of the Crown Act 1937". Modern Law Review. 1 (2). Blackwell Publishing: 145–148. 1937. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2230.1937.tb00014.x. ISSN 0026-7961.
  26. ^ a b Jenkins 2001, p. 685.
  27. ^ Hermiston 2016, p. 356.
  28. ^ Jenkins 2001, p. 790.
  29. ^ a b c d Successor not in cabinet.
  30. ^ Left the war cabinet but remained chancellor.
  31. ^ >Dutton, D. J. (6 January 2011), "Simon, John Allsebrook, first Viscount Simon (1873–1954)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 7 June 2020
  32. ^ a b c d e f "Junior Lord of the Treasury". Hansard. UK Parliament
  33. ^ a b "Deputy Chief Whip" Hansard. UK Parliament
  34. ^ "First Lord of the Admiralty". Hansard. UK Parliament
  35. ^ "Civil Lord of the Admiralty". Hansard. UK Parliament
  36. ^ a b "Financial Secretary to the Admiralty". Hansard. UK Parliament
  37. ^ a b c "Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster". Hansard. UK Parliament
  38. ^ a b "Paymaster-General". Hansard. UK Parliament
  39. ^ Blake, Robert (3 January 2008), "Lindemann, Frederick Alexander, Viscount Cherwell (1886–1957), scientist and politician", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, retrieved 7 June 2020
  40. ^ Kent, Hilary (1993). "Cross, Sir Ronald Hibbert (1896–1968)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 13. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 12 December 2015.

Bibliography

Further reading

  • Butler, David; Butler, Gareth (2000). Twentieth Century British Political Facts, 1900–2000. London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-03-33772-22-5.
Preceded by Government of the United Kingdom
1940–1945 		Succeeded by
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