Timeline Domestic politics 1940-1951
Date Event
September 1939 Britain declares war on Germany
March 1940 Britain lays mines in Norwegian waters
May 1940 Parliamentary debate on Norway. Chamberlain resigns. Churchill
becomes PM.
December 1942 Publication of the Beveridge Report
March 1944 Butler Act on education is passed
July 1945 General election – Labour forms a government
March 1946 Nationalisation of the Bank of England
May 1946 National Insurance Act provides for the first time a scheme of social
security intended to cover all citizens
January - February Severe winter brings about a fuel crisis
1947
July 1947 Convertibility Crisis – Britain’s over-valued pound and depressed
economy create a crisis over repaying a US loan
July 1948 NHS service comes into effect
September 1949 The weakness of the pound on international markets leads to a
devaluation of 30%
February 1950 General election – Labour wins with a reduced majority
June 1950 Korean War begins
February 1951 Nationalisation of iron and steel
October 1951 General election – conservatives return to power
Date Event
September 1939 Britain declares war on Germany
March 1940 Britain lays mines in Norwegian waters
May 1940 Parliamentary debate on Norway. Chamberlain resigns. Churchill
becomes PM.
December 1942 Publication of the Beveridge Report
March 1944 Butler Act on education is passed
July 1945 General election – Labour forms a government
March 1946 Nationalisation of the Bank of England
May 1946 National Insurance Act provides for the first time a scheme of social
security intended to cover all citizens
January - February Severe winter brings about a fuel crisis
1947
July 1947 Convertibility Crisis – Britain’s over-valued pound and depressed
economy create a crisis over repaying a US loan
July 1948 NHS service comes into effect
September 1949 The weakness of the pound on international markets leads to a
devaluation of 30%
February 1950 General election – Labour wins with a reduced majority
June 1950 Korean War begins
February 1951 Nationalisation of iron and steel
October 1951 General election – conservatives return to power
