| Incumbent: | 1940–1945 |
| Government Head Title: | Prime Minister |
| Government Head: | Winston Churchill |
| Deputy Government Head: | Clement Attlee (1942–1945) |
| State Head Title: | Monarch |
| State Head: | George VI |
| Total Number: | 223 appointments |
| Legislature Term: | 1935–1945 |
| Incoming Formation: | Norway Debate |
| Previous: | Chamberlain war ministry |
| Successor: | Churchill caretaker ministry |
| Flag: | Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government, 1837-1952).svg |
| Flag Border: | false |
The Churchill war ministry was the United Kingdom's 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 which included 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 but there were significant additions later in 1940 when it was increased to eight after Churchill, Attlee, and Greenwood were joined by Ernest Bevin as Minister of Labour and National Service; Anthony Eden as Foreign Secretary, replacing Halifax who was 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 died in November (Anderson later became chancellor after 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 the completion of the general election on 26 July that year.
See main article: Norway Debate. The 1935 general election had resulted in a Conservative victory with a substantial majority and Stanley Baldwin became Prime Minister. In May 1937, Baldwin retired and was succeeded by Neville Chamberlain who continued Baldwin's foreign policy of appeasement in the face of German, Italian and Japanese aggression. Having signed the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler in 1938, Chamberlain became alarmed by the dictator's continuing aggression and, in March 1939, signed the Anglo-Polish military alliance which supposedly guaranteed British support for Poland if attacked. Chamberlain issued the declaration of war against Germany on 3 September 1939 and formed a war cabinet which included Winston Churchill (out of office since June 1929) as First Lord of the Admiralty.
Dissatisfaction with Chamberlain's leadership became widespread in the spring of 1940 after Germany successfully invaded Norway. In response, the House of Commons held the Norway Debate from 7 to 9 May. At the end of the second day, the Labour opposition forced a division which was in effect a motion of no confidence in Chamberlain. The government's majority of 213 was reduced to 81, still a victory but nevertheless a shattering blow for Chamberlain.
On Thursday, 9 May, Chamberlain attempted to form a National Coalition Government. In talks at Downing Street with Viscount Halifax and Churchill, he indicated that he was quite ready to resign if that was necessary for Labour to enter such a government. Labour's leader Clement Attlee and his deputy Arthur Greenwood then joined the meeting, and when asked, they indicated that they must first consult their party's National Executive Committee (then in Bournemouth to prepare for the annual conference), but it was unlikely they could serve in a government led by Chamberlain; they probably would be able to serve under some other Conservative.
After Attlee and Greenwood left, Chamberlain asked whom he should recommend to the King as his successor. The version of events given by Churchill is that Chamberlain's preference for Halifax was obvious (Churchill implies that the spat between Churchill and the Labour benches the previous night had something to do with that); there was a long silence which Halifax eventually broke by saying he did not believe he could lead the government effectively as a member of the House of Lords instead of the House of Commons. Churchill's version gets the date wrong, and he fails to mention the presence of David Margesson, the government Chief Whip.
Halifax's account omits the dramatic pause and gives an additional reason: "PM said I was the man mentioned as most acceptable. I said it would be hopeless position. If I was not in charge of the war (operations) and if I didn't lead in the House, I should be a cypher. I thought Winston was a better choice. Winston did not demur."[1] According to Halifax, Margesson then confirmed that the House of Commons had been veering to Churchill.
In a letter to Churchill written that night,[2] Bob Boothby asserted that parliamentary opinion was hardening against Halifax, claiming in a postscript that according to Liberal MP Clement Davies, "Attlee & Greenwood are unable to distinguish between the PM & Halifax and are not prepared to serve under the latter". Davies (who thought Chamberlain should go, and be replaced by Churchill) had lunched with Attlee and Greenwood (and argued his case) shortly before they saw Chamberlain.[3] Labour's Hugh Dalton, however, noted in his diary entry for 9 May that he had spoken with Attlee, who "agrees with my preference for Halifax over Churchill, but we both think either would be tolerable".[4]
On the morning of Friday, 10 May, Germany invaded the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Chamberlain initially felt that a change of government at such a time would be inappropriate, but upon being given confirmation that Labour would not serve under him, he announced to the war cabinet his intention to resign.[5] Scarcely more than three days after he had opened the debate, Chamberlain went to Buckingham Palace to resign as Prime Minister. Despite resigning as PM, however, he continued to be the leader of the Conservative Party. He explained to the King why Halifax, whom the King thought the obvious candidate, did not want to become Prime Minister. The King then sent for Churchill and asked him to form a new government; according to Churchill, there was no stipulation that it must be a coalition government.
At 21:00 on 10 May, Chamberlain announced the change of Prime Minister over the BBC. Churchill's first act as Prime Minister was to ask Attlee and Greenwood to come and see him at Admiralty House. Next, he wrote to Chamberlain to thank him for his promised support. He then began to construct his coalition cabinet with the assistance of Attlee and Greenwood. Their conference went on into the early hours of Saturday and they reached a broad agreement on the composition of the new war cabinet, subject to Labour Party confirmation. Attlee and Greenwood were confident of securing this on Saturday after Churchill promised that more than a third of government positions would be offered to Labour members, including some of the key posts.
On Saturday, 11 May, the Labour Party agreed to join a national government under Churchill's leadership and he was able to confirm his war cabinet. In his biography of Churchill, Roy Jenkins described the Churchill cabinet as one "for winning", while the former Chamberlain cabinet was one "for losing". Labour leader Clement Attlee relinquished his official role as Leader of the Opposition to become Lord Privy Seal (until 19 February 1942 when he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister). Arthur Greenwood, Labour's deputy leader, was appointed a minister without portfolio.
There was no de facto Leader of the Opposition from 11 May 1940 until Attlee resumed the role on 23 May 1945. The Labour Party appointed an acting Leader of the Opposition whose job, although he was in effect a member of the national government, was to ensure the continued functionality of the House of Commons. Due process in the Commons requires someone, even a member of the government, to fill the role even if there is no actual opposition.[6] The first acting leader was Hastings Lees-Smith, the MP for Keighley, who died in office on 18 December 1941. He was briefly succeeded by Frederick Pethick-Lawrence and then by Arthur Greenwood, who had left the war cabinet, from 22 February 1942 until 23 May 1945.
The main problem for Churchill as he became Prime Minister was that he was not the leader of the majority Conservative Party and, needing its support, was obliged to include Chamberlain in the war cabinet, but this was not to Labour's liking. Initially, Churchill proposed to appoint Chamberlain as both Leader of the House of Commons and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Attlee objected and Churchill decided to appoint Chamberlain as Lord President of the Council. The fifth member of the war cabinet was Halifax, who retained his position as Foreign Secretary. Instead of Chamberlain, Sir Kingsley Wood became Chancellor but, until 3 October 1940, he was not a member of the war cabinet.
Churchill appointed himself as Leader of the House of Commons (it was normal procedure until 1942 for a prime minister in the Commons to lead the House) and created for himself the new role of Minister of Defence, so that he would be permanent chair of the Cabinet Defence Committee (CDC), Operations, which included the three service ministers, the three Chiefs of Staff (CoS) and other ministers, especially Attlee, and experts as and when required.[7] The CDC was established by Churchill as soon as he took office. It was the key organisation through which the government prosecuted the war, especially in 1940 and 1941. From 1942, as the tide of war began to turn in favour of the Allies, the importance of the CDC was reduced and its meetings became fewer as its work was increasingly delegated or raised at conferences.
Anthony Eden became Secretary of State for War (until December 1940); Labour's A. V. Alexander succeeded Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty; and the Liberal Party leader, Sir Archibald Sinclair, became Secretary of State for Air. The CoS at this time were Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, the First Sea Lord; Air Marshal Sir Cyril Newall, the Chief of the Air Staff; and Field Marshal Sir Edmund Ironside, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS). (On 27 May, Ironside was replaced at Churchill's request by his deputy Field Marshal Sir John Dill, and Ironside became Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces.) The CoS continued to hold their own Chiefs of Staff Committee (CSC) meetings. The CDC enabled Churchill to have direct contact with them so that strategic concerns could be addressed with due regard to civil matters and foreign affairs.
In addition, for the ministry's whole term, both the war cabinet and the CDC were regularly attended by Sir Edward Bridges, the Cabinet Secretary; General Sir Hastings Ismay, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence; and Major General Sir Leslie Hollis, Secretary to the Chiefs of Staff Committee. Bridges was rarely absent from war cabinet sessions. He was appointed by Chamberlain – as a senior civil servant, he was not a political appointee – in August 1938 and remained in situ until 1946. Churchill later described Bridges as "an extremely competent and tireless worker". Ismay's role, technically, was Secretary of the CSC but he was in fact Churchill's chief staff officer and military adviser throughout the war. Hollis was Secretary to the CoS Committee, also for the duration, and he additionally served as senior assistant secretary to Bridges in the war cabinet office.
By Monday, 13 May, most of the senior government posts were filled. That day was Whit Monday, normally a bank holiday but cancelled by the incoming government. A specially convened sitting of the House of Commons was held and Churchill spoke for the first time as Prime Minister:[8]
He explained that a war cabinet of five members had been formed to represent the unity of the nation with all three main party leaders agreeing to serve either in the war cabinet or in high executive office. Churchill was hoping to complete all ministerial appointments by the end of the 14th. He announced an adjournment of Commons business until the 21st and apologised for making only a short address for the present. Even so, his speech has become one of his most famous because he concluded with his statement of intent:[9]
In reply, Hastings Lees-Smith as acting Leader of the Opposition announced that Labour would vote for the motion to assure the country of a unified political front.[10] After several other members had spoken, including David Lloyd George and Stafford Cripps, the House divided on the question: "That this House welcomes the formation of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious conclusion". 381 members voted "aye" in favour of the motion and, apart from the two tellers for the "noes", the wartime coalition was endorsed unanimously.[11]
Meanwhile, the Labour Party's conference had gone ahead as planned. On the 13th, Attlee spoke to confirm that the party was now in coalition with the Conservatives and Liberals as a national government. He told the conference that: "We are trying to form a government that should rally all the nation and set forth the energies of the people". He added that he had "not the slightest doubt about our victory".
Apart from a handful of junior appointments such as royal household positions, Churchill completed the construction of his government by the end of his first week in office. Only two women were appointed to government positions – Florence Horsbrugh, who had previously been a Conservative backbench MP, became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health on 15 May; and Labour's Ellen Wilkinson, the most left-wing member of Churchill's ministry, became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions on the 17th.
See main article: War cabinet crisis, May 1940. The war situation in Europe became increasingly critical for the Allies as the Wehrmacht overran northern France and the Low Countries through May, culminating in the siege of Dunkirk and the desperate need to evacuate the British Expeditionary Force by Operation Dynamo. In the war cabinet, Churchill faced a serious challenge by Halifax to his direction of the war. Halifax wanted to sue for peace by asking Benito Mussolini to broker a treaty between the British government and Hitler. Churchill wanted to continue the war. Attlee and Greenwood supported Churchill while Chamberlain, still the leader of the majority Conservative Parliamentary Party, remained neutral for several days until finally aligning himself with Churchill's resolve to fight on.
In October 1944, Churchill had proposed to the Commons that the current Parliament, which had begun in 1935, should be extended by a further year. He correctly anticipated the defeat of Germany in the spring of 1945 but he did not expect the end of the Far East war until 1946. He therefore recommended that the end of the European war should be "a pointer (to) fix the date of the (next) General Election".
Attlee, along with Eden, Horsbrugh, and Wilkinson, attended the San Francisco Conference and had returned to London by 18 May 1945 (ten days after V-E Day) when he met Churchill to discuss the future of the coalition. Attlee, in agreement with Churchill, wanted it to continue until after the Japanese surrender but he discovered that others in the Labour Party, especially Morrison and Bevin, wanted an election in October after Parliament ended. On 20 May, Attlee attended his party conference and found that opinion was against him so he informed Churchill that Labour must leave the coalition.
On 23 May, Labour left the coalition to begin their general election campaign. Churchill resigned as prime minister but the King asked him to form a new government, known as the Churchill caretaker ministry, until the election was held in July. Churchill agreed and his new ministry, essentially a Conservative one, held office for the next two months until it was replaced by Attlee's Labour government after their election victory.
A total of sixteen ministers held war cabinet membership at various times in Churchill's ministry. There were five at the outset of whom two, Churchill and Attlee, served throughout the ministry's entire term. Bevin, Morrison and Wood were appointed to the war cabinet while retaining offices that had originally been outer cabinet portfolios. Anderson and Eden were promoted to the war cabinet from other offices after their predecessors, Chamberlain and Halifax, had left the government; similarly, Casey was brought in after Lyttelton switched portfolio and Moyne was appointed to replace Casey. Beaverbrook, Lyttelton and Woolton were brought in to fill new offices that were created to address current priorities. Greenwood was an original member with no portfolio and was not replaced when he assumed the acting leadership of the Opposition. Cripps was brought in as an extra member to reduce the workloads of Churchill and Attlee.
This table lists cabinet level ministries and offices during the Churchill administration. Most of these were portfolios in the "outer cabinet" and outside the war cabinet, although some were temporarily included in the war cabinet, as indicated by bold highlighting of the ministers concerned. Focus here is upon the ministerial offices. Some ministries, such as Foreign Secretary, were in the war cabinet throughout the entire administration whereas others like Lord Privy Seal, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Home Secretary were sometimes in the war cabinet and sometimes not, depending on priorities at the time. A number of ministries were created by Churchill in response to wartime needs. Some of the ministers retained offices that they held in former administrations and their notes include the date of their original appointment. For new appointments to existing offices, their predecessor's name is given.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Took office | Left office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury | Conservative | 10 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Deputy Prime Minister | Labour | 19 February 1942 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Minister of Defence | Conservative | 10 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Lord Chancellor | Liberal National | 12 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Lord President of the Council | Conservative | 10 May 1940 | 29 September 1940 | ||
| National | 3 October 1940 | 24 September 1943 | |||
| Labour | 24 September 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Lord Privy Seal | Labour | 11 May 1940 | 15 February 1942 | ||
| Ind. Labour | 19 February 1942 | 22 November 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 22 November 1942 | 24 September 1943 | |||
| Conservative | 24 September 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister without portfolio | Labour | 11 May 1940 | 22 February 1942 | ||
| Foreign Secretary | Conservative | 10 May 1940 | 22 December 1940 | ||
| Conservative | 22 December 1940 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | Conservative | 12 May 1940 | 21 September 1943 | ||
| National | 24 September 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Home Secretary and Minister for Home Security | National | 12 May 1940 | 3 October 1940 | ||
| Labour | 2 October 1940 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of Labour and National Service | Labour | 13 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Secretary of State for War | Conservative | 11 May 1940 | 22 December 1940 | ||
| Conservative | 22 December 1940 | 22 February 1942 | |||
| National | 22 February 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Secretary of State for Air | Liberal | 11 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| First Lord of the Admiralty | Labour | 11 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Leader of the House of Commons | Conservative | 10 May 1940 | 19 February 1942 | ||
| Ind. Labour | 19 February 1942 | 22 November 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 22 November 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Leader of the House of Lords | Conservative | 10 May 1940 | 3 October 1940 | ||
| Conservative | 3 October 1940 | 22 December 1940 | |||
| Conservative | 22 December 1940 | 4 February 1941 | |||
| Conservative | 8 February 1941 | 21 February 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 21 February 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of Aircraft Production | Conservative | 2 August 1940 | 30 April 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 1 May 1941 | 22 February 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 22 February 1942 | 22 November 1942 | |||
| Ind. Labour | 22 November 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Labour | |||||
| Minister of State | Conservative | 1 May 1941 | 29 June 1941 | ||
| Minister of Supply | Labour | 12 May 1940 | 2 October 1940 | ||
| National | 3 October 1940 | 29 June 1941 | |||
| Conservative | 29 June 1941 | 4 February 1942 | |||
| National | 4 February 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of (War) Production | Conservative | 4 February 1942 | 19 February 1942 | ||
| Conservative | 12 March 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of Reconstruction | National | 11 November 1943 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Minister-Resident for the Middle East | Conservative | 29 June 1941 | 12 March 1942 | ||
| National | 12 March 1942 | 14 January 1944 | |||
| Conservative | 14 January 1944 | 6 November 1944 | |||
| Conservative | 21 November 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs | Conservative | 14 May 1940 | 3 October 1940 | ||
| Conservative | 3 October 1940 | 15 February 1942 | |||
| Labour | 15 February 1942 | 24 September 1943 | |||
| Conservative | 24 September 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of Information | Conservative | 12 May 1940 | 20 July 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 20 July 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of Health | National Labour | 13 May 1940 | 8 February 1941 | ||
| Liberal National | 8 February 1941 | 11 November 1943 | |||
| Conservative | 11 November 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of Food | Conservative | 13 May 1940 | 11 November 1943 | ||
| Conservative | 11 November 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries | Conservative | 14 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Minister of Economic Warfare | Labour | 15 May 1940 | 22 February 1942 | ||
| Conservative | 22 February 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | Independent | 14 May 1940 | 20 July 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 20 July 1941 | 11 November 1943 | |||
| Liberal National | 11 November 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Attorney General | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Lord Advocate | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 5 June 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 5 June 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Solicitor General | Labour | 15 May 1940 | 4 March 1942 | ||
| Conservative | 4 March 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Solicitor General for Scotland | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Conservative | 5 June 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Paymaster General | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 3 October 1940 | ||
| Independent | 20 July 1941 | 4 March 1942 | |||
| Labour | 4 March 1942 | 30 December 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 30 December 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Postmaster-General | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 7 February 1943 | ||
| Conservative | 7 February 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| President of the Board of Education | Conservative | 14 May 1940 | 20 July 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 20 July 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| President of the Board of Trade | National | 12 May 1940 | 3 October 1940 | ||
| Conservative | 3 October 1940 | 29 June 1941 | |||
| National | 29 June 1941 | 4 February 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 4 February 1942 | 22 February 1942 | |||
| Labour | 22 February 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Secretary of State for India and Burma | Conservative | 13 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Secretary of State for Scotland | Liberal National | 14 May 1940 | 8 February 1941 | ||
| Labour | 8 February 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Secretary of State for the Colonies | Conservative | 12 May 1940 | 4 February 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 8 February 1941 | 22 February 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 22 February 1942 | 22 November 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 22 November 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of Civil Aviation | Conservative | 8 October 1944 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Minister of (War) Transport | National | 14 May 1940 | 3 October 1940 | ||
| Conservative | 3 October 1940 | 1 May 1941 | |||
| Conservative | 1 May 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of Shipping | Conservative | 14 May 1940 | 1 May 1941 | ||
| Minister of Pensions | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Minister of Social/National Insurance | Labour | 8 October 1944 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Minister of Fuel and Power | Liberal | 3 June 1942 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Minister of Town and Country Planning | Conservative | 7 February 1943 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Minister-Resident for North-West Africa | Conservative | 30 December 1942 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Minister-Resident for West Africa | Conservative | 8 June 1942 | 8 October 1944 | ||
| Conservative | 21 November 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister without portfolio | Labour | 30 December 1942 | 8 October 1944 | ||
| Minister of Works | Conservative | 18 May 1940 | 3 October 1940 | ||
| National | 3 October 1940 | 22 February 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 22 February 1942 | 21 November 1944 | |||
| Conservative | 21 November 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Government Chief Whip) | Conservative | 17 May 1940 | 22 December 1940 | ||
| Labour | 17 May 1940 | 12 March 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 14 January 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Labour | 12 March 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
This table lists the junior offices (often ministerial level 3) that held the title of Financial Secretary and/or Parliamentary Secretary. None of these officials were ever in the war cabinet. Their offices have rarely, if ever, been recognised as cabinet-level, although some of the office holders here did, at need, occasionally attend cabinet meetings. Some of the appointees retained offices that they held in former administrations and these are marked in situ with the date of their original appointment.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Took office | Left office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Secretary to the Admiralty | Labour | 4 February 1942 | 25 September 1943 | ||
| Conservative | 25 September 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 7 February 1943 | ||
| Conservative | 7 February 1943 | 29 October 1944 | |||
| Conservative | 29 October 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Financial Secretary to the War Office | Conservative | 17 May 1940 | 20 July 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 20 July 1941 | 7 February 1943 | |||
| Labour | 7 February 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Lords Commissioners of the Treasury | Conservative | 12 May 1940 | 13 March 1942 | ||
| Conservative | 12 May 1940 | 26 June 1940 | |||
| Liberal National | 12 May 1940 | 18 May 1940 | |||
| Conservative | 12 May 1940 | 13 March 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 12 May 1940 | 14 January 1941 | |||
| Labour | 18 May 1940 | 8 February 1941 | |||
| Conservative | 26 June 1940 | 25 September 1943 | |||
| Conservative | 8 February 1941 | 23 February 1942 | |||
| Labour | 1 March 1941 | 2 October 1944 | |||
| Conservative | 23 February 1942 | 3 July 1944 | |||
| Conservative | 13 March 1942 | 6 December 1944 | |||
| Conservative | 13 March 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Liberal National | 25 September 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Conservative | 3 July 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Labour | 2 October 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Conservative | 6 December 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Minister of State at the Foreign Office | Conservative | 25 September 1943 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty | Conservative | 17 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary for India and Burma | Conservative | 17 May 1940 | 1 January 1943 | ||
| Conservative | 1 January 1943 | 31 October 1944 | |||
| Labour | 31 October 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary for the Home Department | Liberal National | 15 May 1940 | 3 June 1942 | ||
| Labour | 8 October 1940 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education | Labour | 15 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade | Liberal | 15 May 1940 | 8 February 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 8 February 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 8 February 1941 | ||
| Labour | 15 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Conservative | 8 February 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 1 May 1941 | ||
| Labour | 1 May 1941 | 4 March 1942 | |||
| Labour | 4 March 1942 | 11 November 1943 | |||
| Conservative | 11 November 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation | Conservative | 22 March 1945 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare | Liberal | 17 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 22 October 1940 | ||
| Liberal | 22 October 1940 | 3 June 1942 | |||
| Liberal National | 3 June 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Fuel and Power | Conservative | 3 June 1942 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Labour | 3 June 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information | National Labour | 17 May 1940 | 20 July 1941 | ||
| Labour | 20 July 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 4 February 1942 | ||
| Labour | 8 February 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Conservative | 4 February 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of National Insurance | Conservative | 22 March 1945 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions | Labour | 17 May 1940 | 8 October 1940 | ||
| Conservative | 8 October 1940 | 24 November 1940 | |||
| Labour | 8 February 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Production | Labour | 10 September 1942 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping | Independent | 15 May 1940 | 29 June 1941 | ||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 4 February 1942 | ||
| Conservative | 4 September 1940 | 22 February 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 4 February 1942 | 7 February 1943 | |||
| Conservative | 4 March 1942 | 22 March 1945 | |||
| Conservative | 7 February 1943 | 21 November 1944 | |||
| Labour | 21 November 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Liberal | 22 March 1945 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Town and Country Planning | Conservative | 30 December 1942 | 22 March 1945 | ||
| Labour | 22 March 1945 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport | Labour | 18 May 1940 | 1 May 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 1 May 1941 | 4 February 1942 | |||
| Independent | 29 June 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works | Labour | 19 November 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Conservative | 4 March 1942 | 30 December 1942 | |||
This table lists the junior offices (often ministerial level 3) whose titles signify an assistant, deputy or under-secretary function. It excludes financial and parliamentary secretaries who are in the table above. None of these officials were ever in the war cabinet. Their offices have rarely, if ever, been recognised as cabinet-level, although some of the office holders here did, at need, occasionally attend cabinet meetings. Some of the appointees retained offices that they held in former administrations and these are marked in situ with the date of their original appointment.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Took office | Left office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Postmaster-General | Conservative | 17 May 1940 | 1 March 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 1 March 1941 | 4 March 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 4 March 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Civil Lord of the Admiralty | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 4 March 1942 | ||
| Conservative | 4 March 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Deputy Minister-Resident for the Middle East | Conservative | 27 August 1942 | 28 January 1944 | ||
| Secretary for Mines | Labour | 15 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Secretary for Petroleum | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 3 June 1942 | ||
| Secretary for Overseas Trade | Liberal | 15 May 1940 | 1 March 1945 | ||
| Under-Secretary of State for Air | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 21 November 1944 | ||
| Liberal | 20 July 1941 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Conservative | 21 November 1944 | 27 March 1945 | |||
| Conservative | 12 April 1945 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs | Liberal National | 15 May 1940 | 4 March 1942 | ||
| Conservative | 4 March 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 20 July 1941 | ||
| Conservative | 20 July 1941 | 25 September 1943 | |||
| Labour | 25 September 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | Labour | 17 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Conservative | 8 February 1941 | 4 March 1942 | |||
| Conservative | 4 March 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies | Labour | 15 May 1940 | 4 February 1942 | ||
| Conservative | 4 February 1942 | 1 January 1943 | |||
| Conservative | 1 January 1943 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department | Conservative | 15 May 1940 | 31 October 1944 | ||
| Conservative | 31 October 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Under-Secretary of State for War | Conservative | 17 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Conservative | 17 May 1940 | 4 March 1942 | |||
| Labour | 4 March 1942 | 7 February 1943 | |||
This table lists the officers appointed to the royal household during the Churchill administration.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Took office | Left office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms | Labour | 31 May 1940 | 21 April 1944 | ||
| Conservative | 22 March 1945 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard | Conservative | 31 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | ||
| Comptroller of the Household | Labour | 17 May 1940 | 12 March 1942 | ||
| Labour | 12 March 1942 | 2 October 1944 | |||
| Labour | 2 October 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Lords-in-Waiting | Conservative | 10 May 1940 | 22 March 1945 | ||
| Liberal National | 31 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Liberal | 31 May 1940 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Conservative | 22 March 1945 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Treasurer of the Household | Conservative | 17 May 1940 | 4 March 1942 | ||
| Conservative | 12 March 1942 | 23 May 1945 | |||
| Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | Conservative | 17 May 1940 | 12 March 1942 | ||
| Conservative | 12 March 1942 | 13 July 1944 | |||
| Conservative | 13 July 1944 | 23 May 1945 | |||