Churchill war ministry

The Churchill war ministry was the United Kingdom's unity 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 of the United Kingdom 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 whose members were 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. There were significant additions later in 1940 when it was increased to eight. Churchill, Attlee, and Greenwood were joined by Ernest Bevin, as Minister of Labour and National Service; Anthony Eden, as Foreign Secretary, replacing Halifax who had been sent to Washington 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 had died in November (Anderson later became Chancellor following 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.