(One of a series of weekday posts on the life of Winston S. Churchill.)
July 25, 1945 – The BBC reported Churchill's surprising defeat in the General Election:
Clement Attlee has been elected Britain's new prime minister after Labour won a sweeping victory in the general election.There was much more in the news report which you can find in text form at On This Day at BBC.co.uk.
The outgoing prime minister and great wartime leader Winston Churchill tendered his resignation immediately.
The landslide victory comes as a major shock to the Conservatives following Mr Churchill's hugely successful term as Britain's war-time coalition leader, during which he mobilised and inspired courage in an entire nation.
Out of 627 seats Labour increased its seats from 164 to 393, giving the party its first independent majority of 159 seats over all other parties. […]
Following the announcement of the results this afternoon, Mr Churchill, who has held the positions of Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister of Defence continuously since May 10, 1940, went to Buckingham Palace to hand in his resignation.
Mr Attlee, 62, was welcomed by the King shortly afterwards and asked to form a new Government.
Throughout the election campaign Mr Churchill had appealed to the country to give his new National Government - formed after the dissolution of the Coalition government in May - a good majority.
But the appeal was rejected by the people of Britain, largely, it is thought, because they believed Labour's promises to implement the Beveridge Report and its plans for creating a welfare state.
In a statement issued from 10 Downing Street tonight Mr Churchill expressed his "profound gratitude for the unflinching, unswerving support" given to him by the people of Britain during the war years. […]
At a news conference this evening, Mr Attlee promised a new world order and an economic policy to raise the standards of life for people all over the world.
He said: "We are facing a new era and I believe that the voting at this election has shown that the people of Britain are facing that new era with the same courage as they faced the long years of war."
The outgoing prime minister had broken off meetings with the leaders of America and Russia in Potsdam on Wednesday (July 25) to return to Britain for the election results. […]
There quite a bit on the page including a photo of the victorious Attlee and a woman at his right who looks like Margaret Thatcher at 40. There’s also a brief Churchill biography, recollections of people who lived through the war and much more.
I hope you take a look. It’s a most interesting page.
6 comments:
Enjoy your series on Churchill.
Regarding the photo of Attlee and the woman to his right, Margaret Thatcher was born in 1925 and would have been 20 at the time. Maybe Attlee's wife?
Atlee was elected because of the greed of the working class when introduced to socialism. They see the rich and believe the socialist is going to give them some of that wealth. The fact it never works out that way doesn't seem to get through to the next group voting for socialism.
Anon @ 10:48,
I'm glad you enjoy the series.
I too think the woman wasn't Margaret Thatcher.
I should, perhaps, have made that more clear.
Do you have a favorite period or issue in Churchill's life you think I should look at?
No promises, but I'm always glad to hear from people who admire that graat man.
Thank you.
Fish 2,
Churchill would have agreed with every word you said.
Thank you.
Are you the first Fish who started commenting here?
He was outstanding.
Best to you both.
John
And now we witness the result of a people's willingness to use political means to gain what they have no right to. Despite their being one of our most faithful allies, domestically they are peopled by serfs. Serfs without the right of arms or self defense, living at the discretion of the their political masters in the most violent crime ridden nation of the western world.
Churchill would weep. The English Bulldog has been put on a choke chain.
Churchill on Atlee:
A sheep in sheep's clothing.
A modest man, who has much to be modest about.
An empty taxi arrived at 10 Downing Street, and when the door was opened, Atlee got out.
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I've read Manchester's biography - it's only fault is that it ended too soon (due to the demise of the author for those who don't know).
I'm currently working my way through Jenkins. Not as interesting because it's almost all politics and WSC was far more than that.
Keep up the posts even though they don't get much comment. I read them regularly.
Loco, I've heard that someone has taking on the task of finishing Manchester's Last Lion series. No name was given. Hope it is so. I'm sure from the research already done by WM it will be an excellent and informative read.
John, Keep up the good work. I enjoy the series eminencely. A daily read for me. Also, keep laying it on that DA. His non-case must be exposed.
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