Attlee ministry

Clement Attlee

Clement Attlee formed the Attlee Ministry in the United Kingdom in 1945, succeeding Winston Churchill as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Leaders

The Labour Party came to power in the United Kingdom after its unexpected victory in the July 1945 general elections. Party leader Clement Attlee became Prime Minister replacing Winston Churchill in late July. Ernest Bevin was Foreign Secretary until shortly before his death in April 1951. Hugh Dalton became Chancellor of the Exchequer, but had to resign in 1947, while James Chuter Ede was Home Secretary for the whole length of the party's stay in power.

Other notable figures in the government included: Herbert Morrison, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House of Commons, who replaced Bevin as Foreign Secretary in March 1951; Sir Stafford Cripps was initially President of the Board of Trade but replaced Dalton as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1947; Hugh Gaitskell held several minor posts before replacing Cripps as Chancellor in 1950; Nye Bevan was Minister for Health; Arthur Greenwood was Lord Privy Seal and Paymaster General while future Prime Minister Harold Wilson became the youngest member of the cabinet in the 20th century (at the age of 31) when he was made President of the Board of Trade in 1947. The most notable of the few female members of the government was Ellen Wilkinson, who was Minister for Education until her early death in 1947.

Policies

Main article: Postwar Britain

It was an "age of austerity," as wartime rationing was continued and even expanded to cover bread. Living conditions were poor, instead of expansion it was a matter of replacing the national wealth destroyed or used up during the war. The Great Depression did not return, and full employment was the norm. Returning veterans were successfully reabsorbed into the economy and society.[1] The Attlee government nationalized about 20% of the economy, including coal, railways, road transport, the Bank of England, civil aviation, cable and wireless, electricity and gas, and steel. However there was no money for investment to modernize these industries, and there was no effort made to turn control over to union members. The Attlee government greatly expanded the welfare state, with the Family Allowances Act (1945) and especially the National Health Service Act of 1946, which nationalized the hospitals and provided for free universal medical care. The National Insurance Act of 1946 provided sickness and unemployment benefits for adults, plus retirement pensions. The National Assistance Act of 1948 provided a safety net for anyone not otherwise covered. The Education Act of 1944 was expanded, more council housing was built, and plans were made through the New Towns Act of 1946 for the growth of suburbs. Since there was little money for detailed planning, the government adopted Keynesianism, which allowed for planning in the sense of overall control of the national deficit and surplus.[2][3]

The Transport Act 1947 established the British Transport Commission taking over the railways from the Big Four being the Great Western Railway, London, Midland and Scottish Railway, London and North Eastern Railway and the Southern Railway to form British Railways.

In foreign affairs, the government was active in the United Nations and negotiated a $5 billion loan from the U.S. and Canada in 1946. It eagerly joined the Marshall Plan in 1948. It could no longer afford to support the Greek government and encouraged the U.S. to take its place through the Truman Doctrine in 1947. It took an active role in joining the United States in the Cold War and forming NATO. It gave independence to India, Pakistan, Ceylon and Burma and moved to strengthen the British Commonwealth.[4]

Fate

The Labour Party narrowly defeated the Conservative Party at the February 1950 general election. However, in the October 1951 general elections the Conservatives returned to power under Winston Churchill. Labour was to remain out of office for the next thirteen years, until 1964, when Harold Wilson became Prime Minister.

Cabinets

1945 − 1950

Changes

1950 − 1951

In February 1950, a substantial reshuffle took place following the General Election:

Changes

List of Ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

OfficeNameDatesNotes
Prime Minister
and First Lord of the Treasury
Clement Attlee26 July 1945 – 26 October 1951 
Lord ChancellorThe Lord Jowitt27 July 1945 
Lord President of the CouncilHerbert Morrison27 July 1945also Leader of the House of Commons
The Viscount Addison9 March 1951also Leader of the House of Lords
Lord Privy SealArthur Greenwood27 July 1945 
The Lord Inman17 April 1947 
The Viscount Addison7 October 1947also Leader of the House of Lords
Ernest Bevin9 March 1951 
Richard Stokes26 April 1951Also Minister of Materials from 6 July 1951
Chancellor of the ExchequerHugh Dalton27 July 1945 
Sir Stafford Cripps13 November 1947 
Hugh Gaitskell19 October 1950 
Minister of Economic AffairsSir Stafford Cripps29 September 1947New office. Combined with Chancellor of the Exchequer November 1947
Hugh Gaitskell28 February 1950 – 19 October 1950 
Parliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryWilliam Whiteley3 August 1945 
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryGlenvil Hall4 August 1945 
Douglas Jay2 March 1950 
Economic Secretary to the TreasuryDouglas Jay5 December 1947Office vacant 2 March 1950
John Edwards19 October 1950 
Lords of the TreasuryRobert John Taylor4 August 1945 – 26 October 1951 
Joseph Henderson4 August 1945 – 1 January 1950 
Michael Stewart10 August 1945 – 30 March 1946 
Arthur Blenkinsop10 August 1945 – 10 May 1946 
Frank Collindridge10 August 1945 – 9 December 1946 
Charles Simmons30 March 1946 – 1 February 1949 
William Hannan10 May 1946 – 26 October 1951 
Julian Snow9 December 1946 – 3 March 1950 
Richard Adams1 February 1949 – 23 April 1950 
William Wilkins1 January 1950 – 26 October 1951 
Herbert Bowden3 March 1950 – 26 October 1951 
Charles Royle23 April 1950 – 26 October 1951 
Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsErnest Bevin27 July 1945 
Herbert Morrison9 March 1951 
Minister of State for Foreign AffairsPhilip Noel-Baker3 August 1945
Hector McNeil4 October 1946 
Kenneth Younger28 February 1950 
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsHector McNeil4 August 1945 – 4 October 1946 
Christopher Mayhew4 October 1946 – 2 March 1950 
The Lord Henderson7 June 1948 – 26 October 1951 
Ernest Davies2 March 1950 – 26 October 1951 
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentJames Chuter Ede3 August 1945also Leader of the House of Commons 1951
Under-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentGeorge Oliver4 August 1945 
Kenneth Younger7 October 1947 
Geoffrey de Freitas2 March 1950 
First Lord of the AdmiraltyA. V. Alexander3 August 1945 
George Henry Hall4 October 1946Not in cabinet
The Lord Pakenham24 May 1951 
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the AdmiraltyJohn Dugdale4 August 1945 
James Callaghan2 March 1950 
Civil Lord of the AdmiraltyWalter James Edwards4 August 1945 
Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesTom Williams3 August 1945 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and FisheriesThe Earl of Huntingdon4 August 1945 – 22 November 1950 
Percy Collick5 September 1945 – 7 October 1947 
George Brown7 October 1947 – 26 April 1951 
The Earl of Listowel22 November 1950 – 26 October 1951 
Arthur Champion26 April 1951 – 26 October 1951 
Secretary of State for AirThe Viscount Stansgate3 August 1945 
Philip Noel-Baker4 October 1946Not in Cabinet
Arthur Henderson7 October 1947 
Under-Secretary of State for AirJohn Strachey4 August 1945 
Geoffrey de Freitas27 May 1946 
Aidan Crawley2 March 1950 
Minister of Aircraft ProductionJohn Wilmot4 August 1945Office abolished 1 April 1946
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aircraft ProductionArthur Woodburn4 August 1945 
Minister of Civil AviationThe Lord Winster4 August 1945 
The Lord Nathan4 October 1946 
The Lord Pakenham31 May 1948Office in Cabinet until 28 February 1950
The Lord Ogmore1 June 1951 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Civil AviationIvor Thomas10 August 1945 
George Lindgren4 October 1946 
Frank Beswick2 March 1950 
Secretary of State for the ColoniesGeorge Hall3 August 1945 
Arthur Creech Jones4 October 1946 
James Griffiths28 February 1950 
Minister of State for the ColoniesThe Earl of Listowel4 January 1948 
John Dugdale28 February 1950 
Under-Secretary of State for the ColoniesArthur Creech Jones4 August 1945 
Ivor Thomas4 October 1946 
David Rees-Williams7 October 1947 
Thomas Fotheringham Cook2 March 1950 
Secretary of State for Commonwealth RelationsThe Viscount Addison7 July 1947also Leader of the House of Lords
Philip Noel-Baker7 October 1947 
Patrick Gordon Walker28 February 1950 
Minister of State for Commonwealth RelationsArthur Henderson14 August 1947 – 7 October 1947 
Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth RelationsArthur Bottomley7 July 1947 
Patrick Gordon Walker7 October 1947 
The Lord Holden2 March 1950 
David Rees-Williams4 July 1950Lord Ogmore from 5 July
The Earl of Lucan1 July 1951 
Minister of DefenceClement Attlee27 July 1945Also Prime Minister
A. V. Alexander20 December 1946 
Emanuel Shinwell28 February 1950 
Secretary of State for Dominion AffairsThe Viscount Addison3 August 1945also Leader of the House of Lords; became Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations 7 July 1947
Under-Secretary of State for Dominion AffairsJohn Parker4 August 1945 
Arthur Bottomley10 May 1946 
Minister of EducationEllen Wilkinson3 August 1945 
George Tomlinson10 February 1947 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of EducationArthur Jenkins4 August 1945 
David Hardman30 October 1945 
Minister of FoodSir Ben Smith3 August 1945 
John Strachey27 May 1946 
Maurice Webb28 February 1950 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of FoodEdith Summerskill4 August 1945 
Stanley Evans2 March 1950 
Fred Willey18 April 1950 
Minister of Fuel and PowerEmanuel Shinwell3 August 1945 
Hugh Gaitskell7 October 1947Office no longer in Cabinet
Philip Noel-Baker28 February 1950 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fuel and PowerWilliam Foster4 August 1945 
Hugh Gaitskell10 May 1946 
Alfred Robens7 October 1947 
Harold Neal26 April 1951 
Minister of HealthAneurin Bevan3 August 1945 
Hilary Marquand17 January 1951Office not in Cabinet
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of HealthCharles Key4 August 1945 
John Edwards12 February 1947 
Arthur Blenkinsop1 February 1949 
Secretary of State for India and BurmaThe Lord Pethick-Lawrence3 August 1945 
The Earl of Listowel17 April 1947Offices abolished 14 August 1947 (India) and 4 January 1948 (Burma)
Under-Secretary of State for India and BurmaArthur Henderson4 August 1945 – 14 August 1947 
Minister of InformationEdward Williams4 August 1945 
The Earl of Listowel26 February 1946Office abolished 31 March 1946
Minister of Labour and National ServiceGeorge Isaacs3 August 1945 
Aneurin Bevan18 January 1951 
Alfred Robens24 April 1951 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of LabourNess Edwards4 August 1945 
Fred Lee2 March 1950 
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterJohn Hynd4 August 1945 
The Lord Pakenham17 April 1947 
Hugh Dalton31 May 1948Office in Cabinet
The Viscount Alexander of Hillsborough28 February 1950 
Minister of National InsuranceJames Griffiths4 August 1945 
Edith Summerskill28 February 1950 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National InsuranceGeorge Lindgren4 August 1945 
Tom Steele4 October 1946 
Bernard Taylor2 March 1950 
Paymaster Generaloffice vacant  
Arthur Greenwood9 July 1946 
Hilary Marquand5 March 1947 
The Viscount Addison2 July 1948also Leader of the House of Lords
The Lord Macdonald of Gwaenysgor1 April 1949 
Minister without PortfolioA. V. Alexander4 October 1946 – 20 December 1946 
Arthur Greenwood17 April 1947 – 29 September 1947 
Minister for PensionsWilfred Paling3 August 1945 
John Hynd17 April 1947 
George Buchanan7 October 1947 
Hilary Marquand2 July 1948 
George Isaacs17 January 1951 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for PensionsJennie Adamson4 August 1945 
Arthur Blenkinsop10 May 1946 
Charles Simmons1 February 1949 
Postmaster GeneralThe Earl of Listowel4 August 1945 
Wilfred Paling17 April 1947 
Ness Edwards28 February 1950 
Assistant Postmaster GeneralWilfrid Burke10 August 1945 
Charles Rider Hobson7 October 1947 
Secretary of State for ScotlandJoseph Westwood3 August 1945 
Arthur Woodburn7 October 1947 
Hector McNeil28 February 1950 
Under-Secretary of State for ScotlandGeorge Buchanan4 August 1945 – 7 October 1947 
Tom Fraser4 August 1945 – 26 October 1951 
John James Robertson7 October 1947 – 26 October 1951 
Margaret Herbison2 March 1950 – 26 October 1951 
Minister of SupplyJohn Wilmot3 August 1945 
George Strauss7 October 1947 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of SupplyWilliam Leonard4 August 1945 – 7 October 1947 
Arthur Woodburn1 April 1946 – 7 October 1947 
John Freeman7 October 1947 – 23 April 1951 
John Henry Jones7 October 1947 – 2 March 1950 
Michael Stewart2 May 1951 – 26 October 1951 
Minister of Town and Country PlanningLewis Silkin4 August 1945 
Hugh Dalton28 February 1950Became Minister of Local Government and Planning 31 January 1951
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Town and Country PlanningFred Marshall10 August 1945 
Evelyn King7 October 1947 
George Lindgren2 March 1950 
President of the Board of TradeSir Stafford Cripps27 July 1945 
Harold Wilson29 September 1947 
Sir Hartley Shawcross24 April 1951 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of TradeEllis Smith4 August 1945 
John Belcher12 January 1946 
John Edwards1 February 1949 
Hervey Rhodes2 March 1950 
Secretary for Overseas TradeHilary Marquand4 August 1945 
Harold Wilson5 March 1947 
Arthur Bottomley7 October 1947 
Minister of TransportAlfred Barnes3 August 1945 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of TransportGeorge Strauss4 August 1945 
James Callaghan 
The Lord Lucas of Chilworth2 March 1950 
Secretary of State for WarJack Lawson3 August 1945 
Frederick Bellenger4 October 1946 
Emanuel Shinwell7 October 1947 
John Strachey28 February 1950 
Under-Secretary of State for WarThe Lord Nathan4 August 1945 
The Lord Pakenham4 October 1946 – 17 April 1947Office combined with Financial Secretary
Financial Secretary to the War OfficeFrederick Bellenger4 August 1945 
John Freeman4 October 1946Under-Secretary role incorporated 17 April 1947
Michael Stewart 
Woodrow Wyatt2 May 1951 
Minister of WorksGeorge Tomlinson4 August 1945 
Charles Key10 February 1947 
Richard Stokes28 February 1950 
George Brown26 April 1951 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of WorksHarold Wilson4 August 1945 
Evan Durbin5 March 1947 
The Lord Morrison26 September 1948 
Attorney GeneralSir Hartley Shawcross4 August 1945 
Sir Frank Soskice24 April 1951 
Solicitor GeneralSir Frank Soskice4 August 1945 
Sir Lynn Ungoed-Thomas24 April 1951 
Lord AdvocateGeorge Reid Thomson10 August 1945 
John Wheatley7 October 1947 
Solicitor General for ScotlandDaniel Patterson Blades10 September 1945 
John Wheatley19 March 1947 
Douglas Johnston24 October 1947 
Treasurer of the HouseholdGeorge Mathers4 August 1945 
Arthur Pearson30 March 1946 
Comptroller of the HouseholdArthur Pearson4 August 1945 
Michael Stewart30 March 1946 
Frank Collindridge9 December 1946 
Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdJulian Snow10 August 1945 
Michael Stewart9 December 1946 
Ernest Popplewell16 October 1947 
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Lord Ammon4 August 1945 
The Lord Shepherd18 October 1949 
Captain of the Yeomen of the GuardThe Lord Walkden4 August 1945 
The Lord Shepherd6 July 1949 
The Lord Lucas of Chilworth18 October 1949 
The Earl of Lucan5 March 1950 
The Lord Archibald8 June 1951 
Lords in WaitingThe Lord Westwood10 September 1945 – 17 January 1947 
The Lord Pakenham14 October 1945 – 4 October 1946 
The Lord Henderson21 October 1945 – 7 June 1948 
The Lord Chorley11 October 1946 – 31 March 1950 
The Lord Morrison17 January 1947 – 26 September 1948 
The Lord Lucas of Chilworth9 July 1948 – 18 October 1949 
The Lord Shepherd14 October 1948 – 6 July 1949 
The Lord Kershaw6 July 1949 – 26 October 1951 
The Lord Darwen18 October 1949 – 26 December 1950 
The Lord Burden31 March 1950 – 26 October 1951 
The Lord Haden-Guest13 February 1951 – 26 October 1951 

Major legislation enacted during the Attlee Government

Notes

  1. Andrew Marr, A History of Modern Britain (2007) pp 1–111
  2. Stephen J. Lee, Aspects of British Political History 1914–1995 (1996) pp 185–89
  3. Alan Sked and Chris Cook, Post-War Britain: A Political History (1993) pp 24–223
  4. Stephen J. Lee, Aspects of British Political History 1914–1995 (1996) pp 261–66, 310–12

References

Preceded by
Churchill caretaker ministry
Government of the United Kingdom
1945–1951
Succeeded by
Third Churchill ministry
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