The national government, 1931-40 / Nick Smart.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smart, Nick, 1952-

Series:

British studies series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Great Britain--Politics and government--1910-1936.

Great Britain.

Politics and government.

Great Britain--Politics and government--1936-1945.

Physical Description:

vii, 279 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : St. Martin's Press, 1999.

Summary:

The regime which governed Britain from 1931-1940, the National government, is often regarded as monolithic, "Tory dominated, " and therefore boring. Actually it was none of these things. There were good reasons why, when it fell, nobody rushed to defend the old order, and while this book does not seek to do so, it does make the claim that the politics of the period are worthy of further exploration. The book seeks to explain the actions of politicians at the time by entering into the world they inhabited, giving fair and balanced treatment to a period of history that has largely been written off.

Contents:

1. The 1931 Settlement 9

The Government of Individuals 11

The 'National Appeal' 17

These Tiresome Liberals 23

The Greatest Landslide in British Democratic History 29

2. Coalition-Making 37

Agreeing to Differ 41

National Government? 55

3. The India Bill 63

Irwinism and the Simon Report 67

Revolt: Phase One 72

Revolt: Phase Two 79

The Passage of the Government of India Bill 88

4. The Middle Period: November 1933 - December 1935 90

The Status of the Opposition: Labour 92

The Status of the Opposition: Fascism 98

The Status of the Opposition: Lloyd George 104

Mussolini to the Rescue 113

The 1935 General Election 119

5. The Primacy of Foreign Policy 122

A Pattern Established 129

A Good Year for Dictators 133

Three Kings in a Year 140

6. Neville Chamberlain's National Government 148

Eden's Resignation: the First of the Few 154

Chamberlain Tightens his Grip 163

Out of this Nettle Danger 176

7. High Tide and After 184

Towards War 193

Dead in the Water? September 1939 - May 1940 205

The Norway Debate and the Downfall of Neville Chamberlain 216.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-269) and index.

ISBN:

0312223293

OCLC:

40698489