ABSTRACT
During the opening months of the Second World War the Labour Party, out of office and without direct responsibility for its conduct, played the part of co-operative critic of the Neville Chamberlain Government. The Labour Party had no hesitations about entering the Winston Churchill Coalition Government; but there were conditions, both explicit and implied. Churchill had been for some time seriously ill, and had taken but little part in the Labour Party’s affairs since his resignation from the leadership in 1935. At the 1941 Labour Party Conference the Electoral Truce was allowed to pass unchallenged; but by 1942 the issue had again become “live”. Richard Acland himself, after defeat in the General Election, and a number of his leading supporters presently joined the Labour Party; and though the movement continued it ceased to have any real significance after the Labour election victory of 1945.
