17.3 The Coalition government

Question 1

Which parties were included in the coalition government CABINET?

Answer 1

The War cabinet included 2 Labour, 3 Conservatives and at times 2 Liberals

Question 2

Which area of government did Labour mainly control during the WW2 coalition government?

Answer 2

Labour was given 16 government posts which were mainly focused on the Ministry of Labour (Ernest Bevin)

Arthur Greenwood - Reconstruction from 1943

Herbert Morrison - Morrison shelters

Question 3

Why was Ernest Bevin’s role as Minister of Labour particularly important?

Answer 3

Importance of Labour and TU support for the war especially in the war economy to avoid strikes

Question 4

Which party have more posts in the WW2 coalition government?

Answer 4

Conservatives had 52 posts versus 16 Labour

Question 5

Why was the coalition perhaps more stable than LG’s in 1916?

Answer 5

Perhaps because Churchill had no major rivals

Question 6

What significant political changes were there during WW2 coalition government?

Answer 6

• Churchill became ill and was forced to resign

- Halifax was sent as an ambassador to the US