What was great Britain's system of government during World War 2?

Answer 1

The government of the UK during WW2 underwent a few changes as a necessity, with the progress of the war and its demands on organising the war effort. At the outbreak of war, the then Prime Minister (Neville Chamberlain)led his Cabinet and a Conservative majority in the Commons. This after a period of National Governments which had attempted to bring a sense of national unity during the mid-to-late 1930s and operated as a form of coalition. Chamberlain had led the appeasers and had seen his promises of peace in our time dashed by Hitler's naked aggression so that on removal of Chamberlain in 1940, Churchill was invited to form a government. An outsider to the Conservatives and the government in the run up to the war, as major critic of appeasement, Churchill was a desperate choice to be Prime Minister, however, his capabilities to unite the political spectrum was a masterstroke for the British and ultimately Allied cause. The government formed by Churchill was made up of political figures from across the parties and with links to big business and the trades unions. This solidarity did not mean governing without parliament, in fact parliament debated and offered questions to the Prime Minister in the usual fashion throughout the war. Questions on the conduct of the war made for some difficulties for Churchill, but he maintained the support of the parliament throughout the difficult times. In 1945 a general election was called and Churchill was soundly defeated (before the war was actually over, Japan did not surrender until September that year, although victory in Europe had been won.) Labour swept Clement Attlee into power and the social revolution of establishing the Welfare State began on the back of victory over Fascism and the end of tyranny. Churchill made a political comeback in 1951 leading the Conservatives into office where they remained until 1964. A wartime consesus existed well into the the 1950s and only began to be eroded in the 1970s when Margaret Thatcher took over leadership of the Conservatives in 1975, and took office in 1979.

Answer 2

The same as it is now, a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
It was a constitutional Monarchy.

Answer 3

The United Kingdom has been a Parliamentary Monarchy for centuries.

Answer 4

There was a coalition government headed by Winston Churchill from May 1940 until July 1945

Answer 5

Constitutional Monarchy