Clement Attlee (1883-1967), Prime Minister

Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee

Sitter in 43 portraits
Statesman. In 1922 Attlee was elected Labour MP for Limehouse, and in 1935 he became leader of the Labour Party. He served in the coalition government in 1940-5. In the 1945 election, Labour held its first overall majority in the House of Commons. Atlee's government laid the foundations of the Welfare State and nationalised the Bank of England, transport, communications, coal, gas and electricity, and the iron and steel industries. He stepped down when Labour lost the 1955 election and was succeeded as leader by Hugh Gaitskell.