1945-51 Labour government
| Attlee ministries | |
|---|---|
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 |
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| Date formed |
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| Date dissolved |
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| People and organisations | |
| Head of state | George VI |
| Head of government | Clement Attlee |
| Head of government's history | 1945–1951 |
| Deputy head of government | Herbert Morrison |
| Total no. of ministers | 243 appointments |
| Member party | Labour Party |
| Status in legislature | Majority |
| Opposition party | Conservative Party |
| Opposition leader | Winston Churchill |
| History | |
| Election(s) | |
| Outgoing election | 1951 general election |
| Legislature term(s) | |
| Predecessor | Churchill caretaker ministry |
| Successor | Third Churchill ministry |
Clement Attlee was invited by King George VI to form the Attlee ministry in the United Kingdom in July 1945, succeeding Winston Churchill as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The Labour Party won a landslide victory at the 1945 general election, enacting much of the post-war consensus policies, especially the welfare state and nationalisation of some industries. The government was marked by post-war austerity measures, in giving independence to India, and engagement in the Cold War against Soviet Communism.
Attlee went on to win a narrow majority of five seats at the 1950 general election, forming the second Attlee ministry. Just twenty months after that election, Attlee called a new election for 25 October 1951 in an attempt to gain a larger majority, but was narrowly defeated by the Conservatives.
The Labour Party came to power in the United Kingdom after its unexpected victory in the July 1945 general election. 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 duration of the Attlee ministries' stay in power.
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