National Government

4th National Government of the United Kingdom
1937–1939
Neville Chamberlain
Date formed28 May 1937 (1937-05-28)
Date dissolved3 September 1939 (1939-09-03)
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge VI
Prime MinisterNeville Chamberlain
Prime Minister's history1937–1940
Total no. of members119 appointments
Member parties
Status in legislatureMajority (coalition)
428 / 615 (70%)
Opposition partyLabour Party
Opposition leaders
History
Legislature term(s)37th UK Parliament
PredecessorThird National Government
SuccessorChamberlain war ministry

The National Government of 1937–1939 was formed by Neville Chamberlain on his appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom by King George VI. He succeeded Stanley Baldwin, who announced his resignation following the coronation of the King and Queen in May 1937.

As a National Government it contained members of the Conservative Party, Liberal Nationals and National Labour, as well as a number of individuals who belonged to no political party. In September 1939, Chamberlain requested the formal resignations of all his colleagues, reconstructing the government in order to better confront Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

Policies

Foreign policy

Neville Chamberlain was the serving prime minister

Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia to Germany. He said it brought "peace in our time" and was widely applauded. He also stepped up Britain's rearmament program, and worked closely with France. When in 1939 Hitler continued his aggression, taking over the rest of Czechoslovakia and threatening Poland, Chamberlain pledged to defend Poland's independence if the latter were attacked. Britain and France declared war when Germany attacked Poland in September 1939.

Domestic policies

Chamberlain wanted to focus on domestic issues. He obtained passage of the Factories Act 1937, designed to better working conditions in factories, and placed limits on the working hours of women and children.[1] The Coal Act 1938 allowed for nationalisation of coal deposits. Another major piece of legislation passed that year was the Holidays with Pay Act 1938. The Housing Act 1938 provided subsidies aimed at encouraging slum clearance, and maintained rent control.[1] Chamberlain's plans for the reform of local government were shelved because of the outbreak of war in 1939. Likewise, the proposal to raise the school-leaving age to 15, scheduled for implementation on 1 September 1939, could not go into effect.[2]

Cabinet

May 1937 – September 1939

For a full list of ministerial office-holders, see National Government 1935-1940.

Key office holders not in the Cabinet

Changes

  • February 1938 – Lord Halifax succeeds Eden as Foreign Secretary. Halifax is succeeded as Lord President by Lord Hailsham, who is succeeded as Lord Chancellor by Lord Maugham. Halifax is succeeded as Leader of the House of Lords by Lord Stanhope, who remains President of the Board of Education as well.
  • March 1938 – Lord Winterton, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, enters the Cabinet.
  • May 1938 – Orsmby-Gore inherits the title Baron Harlech. He subsequently steps down from the government and is succeeded by Malcolm MacDonald as Colonial Secretary. Lord Stanley succeeds MacDonald as Dominions Secretary. Kingsley Wood succeeds Lord Swinton as Secretary of State for Air. Walter Elliot succeeds Wood as Minister of Health. John Colville succeeds Elliot as Scottish Secretary.
  • June 1938 – The Earl of Munster succeeds Lord Hutchison as Paymaster-General.
  • October 1938 – Lord Stanhope succeeds Duff Cooper (resigned) as First Lord of the Admiralty, remaining also Leader of the House of Lords. Lord De La Warr succeeds Stanhope at the Board of Education. Sir John Anderson succeeds De La Warr as Lord Privy Seal, with special responsibility for Air Raid Precautions. Malcolm MacDonald succeeds Stanley (deceased) as Dominions Secretary, remaining also Colonial Secretary. Lord Runciman succeeds Lord Hailsham as Lord President.
  • January 1939 – Sir Thomas Inskip succeeds Malcolm MacDonald as Dominions Secretary. MacDonald remains Colonial Secretary. Lord Chatfield succeeds Inskip as Minister for Coordination of Defence. William Morrison succeeds Lord Winterton at the Duchy of Lancaster, who becomes Paymaster General outside the Cabinet. Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith succeeds Morrison as Minister of Agriculture. Lord Winterton leaves the Cabinet and the post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, becoming Paymaster-General in succession to the Earl of Munster.
  • April 1939 – Leslie Burgin becomes Minister without Portfolio pending the legislation to create the Ministry of Supply. He is succeeded as Minister of Transport by Euan Wallace.
  • June 1939 – Herwald Ramsbotham succeeds Sir Philip Sassoon (deceased) as First Commissioner of Works and is succeeded as Minister of Pensions by Sir Walter Womersley.
  • July 1939 – Leslie Burgin becomes Minister of Supply.

List of ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

OfficeNamePartyDatesNotes
Prime Minister,
First Lord of the Treasury
and Leader of the House of Commons		Neville ChamberlainConservative28 May 1937 – 3 September 1939
Lord High Chancellor of Great BritainThe Viscount HailshamConservativeMay 1937 
The Lord Maugham 9 March 1938 
Lord President of the CouncilThe Viscount HalifaxConservative28 May 1937also Leader of the House of Lords
The Viscount HailshamConservative9 March 1938 
The Viscount Runciman of DoxfordLiberal National31 October 1938 
Lord Keeper of the Privy SealThe Earl De La WarrNational Labour28 May 1937 
Sir John AndersonNational31 October 1938 
Chancellor of the ExchequerSir John SimonLiberal National28 May 1937
Parliamentary Secretary to the TreasuryDavid MargessonConservativeMay 1937 
Financial Secretary to the TreasuryJohn ColvilleConservativeMay 1937 
Euan WallaceConservative16 May 1938 
Harry CrookshankConservative21 April 1939 
Lords of the TreasuryJames StuartConservativeMay 1937 – September 1939 
Charles KerrLiberal National28 May 1937 – 4 April 1939 
Thomas DugdaleConservative28 May 1937 – September 1939 
Charles WaterhouseConservative28 May 1937 – 18 October 1937 
Ronald CrossConservative28 May 1937 – 18 October 1937 
Patrick MunroConservative18 October 1937 – September 1939 
Robert GrimstonConservative18 October 1937 – 18 May 1938 
Stephen FurnessLiberal National20 May 1938 – September 1939 
Sir James EdmondsonConservative4 April 1939 – September 1939 
Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsAnthony EdenConservativeMay 1937 
The Viscount HalifaxConservative21 February 1938
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsViscount CranborneConservativeMay 1937 – 20 February 1938 
The Earl of PlymouthConservativeMay 1937 – 12 May 1939 
Rab Butler 25 February 1938 – September 1939 
Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentSir Samuel Hoare, BtConservative28 May 1937 
Under-Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentGeoffrey LloydConservativeMay 1937 
Osbert PeakeConservative29 June 1939 (?) 
First Lord of the AdmiraltyDuff CooperConservative28 May 1937 
The Earl StanhopeConservative27 October 1938also Leader of the House of Lords
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the AdmiraltyGeoffrey ShakespeareLiberal National28 May 1937 
Civil Lord of the AdmiraltyJohn Llewellin 28 May 1937 
Sir Austin Hudson, BtConservative14 July 1939 
Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesWilliam MorrisonConservativeMay 1937 
Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith 29 January 1939 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and FisheriesThe Earl of FevershamConservativeMay 1937also Deputy Minister of Fisheries
Secretary of State for AirThe Viscount SwintonConservativeMay 1937 
Sir Kingsley WoodConservative16 May 1938
Under-Secretary of State for AirAnthony MuirheadConservative28 May 1937 
Harold BalfourConservative16 May 1938 
Secretary of State for the ColoniesHon. William Ormsby-GoreConservativeMay 1937
Malcolm MacDonaldNational Labour16 May 1938
Under-Secretary of State for the ColoniesThe Marquess of Dufferin and Ava 28 May 1937
Minister for Coordination of DefenceSir Thomas InskipConservativeMay 1937 
The Lord Chatfield 29 January 1939
Secretary of State for Dominion AffairsMalcolm MacDonaldNational LabourMay 1937 
Lord StanleyConservative16 May 1938 
Malcolm MacDonaldNational Labour31 October 1938 
Sir Thomas InskipConservative29 January 1939Viscount Caldecote
Under-Secretary of State for Dominion AffairsMarquess of HartingtonConservativeMay 1937succeeded as Duke of Devonshire 6 May 1938
President of the Board of EducationThe Earl StanhopeConservative28 May 1937also Leader of the House of Lords from 21 February 1938
The Earl De La WarrNational Labour27 October 1938 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of EducationKenneth LindsayNational Labour28 May 1937 
Minister of HealthSir Kingsley WoodConservativeMay 1937 
Walter Elliot 16 May 1938
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of HealthRobert BernaysLiberal National28 May 1937
Florence HorsbrughConservative14 July 1939
Secretary of State for India and BurmaThe Marquess of ZetlandConservativeMay 1937
Under-Secretary of State for IndiaLord StanleyConservative28 May 1937
Anthony MuirheadConservative16 May 1938
Minister of LabourErnest BrownLiberal NationalMay 1937
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of LabourRab ButlerConservative28 May 1937 
Alan Lennox-BoydConservative25 February 1938 
Chancellor of the Duchy of LancasterThe Earl WintertonConservative28 May 1937Office in Cabinet from 11 March 1938
William MorrisonConservative29 January 1939
Paymaster GeneralThe Lord Hutchison of MontroseLiberal NationalMay 1937 
The Earl of MunsterConservative2 June 1938 
The Earl WintertonConservative29 January 1939 
Minister for PensionsHerwald RamsbothamConservativeMay 1937 
Sir Walter WomersleyConservative7 June 1939 
Minister without PortfolioLeslie BurginLiberal National21 April 1939 – 14 July 1939 
Postmaster-GeneralGeorge TryonConservativeMay 1937 
Assistant Postmaster-GeneralSir Walter WomersleyConservativeMay 1937 
William MabaneLiberal7 June 1939 
Secretary of State for ScotlandWalter Elliot May 1937 
John Colville 16 May 1938 
Under-Secretary of State for ScotlandHenry WedderburnConservativeMay 1937 
Minister of SupplyLeslie BurginLiberal National14 July 1939 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of SupplyJohn Llewellin 14 July 1939 
President of the Board of TradeOliver Stanley 28 May 1937 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of TradeEuan WallaceConservative28 May 1937 
Ronald CrossConservative16 May 1938 
Secretary for Overseas TradeRobert HudsonConservative28 May 1937 
Secretary for MinesHarry CrookshankConservativeMay 1937 
Geoffrey LloydConservative21 April 1939 
Minister of TransportLeslie BurginLiberal National28 May 1937 
Euan WallaceConservative21 April 1939 
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of TransportSir Austin Hudson, BtConservativeMay 1937 
Robert BernaysLiberal National14 July 1939 
Secretary of State for WarLeslie Hore-BelishaLiberal National28 May 1937 
Under-Secretary of State for WarThe Lord Strathcona and Mount RoyalConservativeMay 1937 
The Earl of MunsterConservative29 January 1939 
Financial Secretary to the War OfficeSir Victor Warrender, BtConservativeMay 1937 
First Commissioner of WorksSir Philip Sassoon, BtConservative28 May 1937
Herwald RamsbothamConservative7 June 1939 
Attorney GeneralSir Donald SomervellConservativeMay 1937 
Solicitor GeneralSir Terence O'ConnorConservativeMay 1937 
Lord AdvocateThomas Cooper May 1937 
Solicitor General for ScotlandJames Reid May 1937 
Treasurer of the HouseholdSir Lambert WardConservative28 May 1937 
Hon. Arthur HopeConservative18 October 1937 
Charles WaterhouseConservative4 April 1939 
Comptroller of the HouseholdSir George Davies 28 May 1937 
Charles WaterhouseConservative18 October 1937 
Charles KerrLiberal National4 April 1939 
Vice-Chamberlain of the HouseholdHon. Arthur HopeConservative28 May 1937 
Ronald CrossConservative18 October 1937 
Robert GrimstonConservative4 April 1939 
Captain of the Gentlemen-at-ArmsThe Earl of Lucan May 1937 
Captain of the Yeomen of the GuardThe Lord Templemore May 1937 
Lords in WaitingThe Viscount Gage May 1937 – 11 April 1939 
The Earl of MunsterConservativeMay 1937 – 2 June 1938 
The Earl Erne May 1937 – 25 July 1939 
The Earl Fortescue 26 August 1937 – September 1939 
The Earl of Birkenhead 12 July 1938 – September 1939 
The Viscount Bridport 11 April 1939 – September 1939 
The Lord Ebury 25 July 1939 – September 1939 

Notes

  1. ↑ The Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons was given statutory recognition in the Ministers of the Crown Act 1937 as the primary opposition leader.

References

  1. 1 2 Graham Macklin, Chamberlain (Haus Books, 2006) p 158
  2. ↑ Taylor, 1965, p=406

Bibliography

Secondary sources

  • Butler, David, and Butler, G. Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900–2000
  • Cowling, Maurice. The Impact of Hitler: British Politics and British Policy, 1933–1940 (Cambridge University Press, 1975).
  • Feiling, Keith. A Life of Neville Chamberlain (London: Macmillan, 1970)
  • Macklin, Graham. Chamberlain (Haus Books, 2006)
  • Mowat, Charles Loch. Britain between the Wars: 1918–1945 (1955), pp. 413–79
  • Raymond, John, ed. The Baldwin Age (1960), essays by scholars 252 pages; online
  • Roberts, Andrew. 'The Holy Fox': The Life of Lord Halifax (1997).
  • Self, Robert C. Neville Chamberlain: A Biography (2006) excerpt and text search
  • Smart, Nick. The National Government. 1931–40 (Macmillan 1999) ISBN 0-333-69131-8
  • Taylor, A. J. P. English History 1914–1945 (1965), pp. 321–88
  • Thorpe, Andrew. Britain in the 1930s. The Deceptive Decade, (Oxford: Blackwell, 1992). ISBN 0-631-17411-7

Primary sources

  • Chamberlain, Neville. The Neville Chamberlain Diary Letters: The Downing Street Years, 1934–1940 edited by Robert Self (2005)
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