National Government
2nd National Government of the United Kingdom
1931–1935
Ramsey MacDonald
Date formed	27 October 1931 (1931-10-27)
Date dissolved	7 June 1935 (1935-06-07)
People and organisations
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	Ramsay MacDonald
Prime Minister's history	1929–1935
Deputy Prime Minister	Stanley Baldwin[note 1]
Total no. of members	107 appointments
Member parties	Conservative Party Liberal Party (1931–1932)[1] National Labour Liberal National Party
Status in legislature	Supermajority (coalition) 554 / 615 (90%)
Opposition party	Labour Party
Opposition leaders	Arthur Henderson (1931) George Lansbury (1931–1935) in the House of Commons Lord Parmoor (1931) Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (1931–1935) in the House of Lords
History
Election(s)	1931 general election
Legislature term(s)	36th UK Parliament
Predecessor	First National Government
Successor	Third National Government

The National Government of 1931–1935 was formed by Ramsay MacDonald following his reappointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom by King George V after the general election in October 1931.

As a National Government it contained members of the Conservative Party, Liberals, Liberal Nationals and National Labour, as well as a number of individuals who belonged to no political party. The Liberal Nationals had previously not held office in MacDonald's previous National Government, though two junior ministers appointed as Liberals had defected to them. Their relationship with the main Liberal Party had been unclear but following the election, the Liberal Nationals officially repudiated the official Liberal Party whip.

During the course of the Ministry the ministers from the Liberal Party, led by Sir Herbert Samuel, resigned over the adoption of a protectionist policy caused by the government negotiating the Ottawa Accords in 1932. The other Liberal faction in the Ministry, the Liberal National Party, had accepted the Conservative policy of protectionism before the National government had been formed so its ministers continued in office.

In June 1935, MacDonald resigned and was replaced as Prime Minister by Stanley Baldwin.

Cabinet

Ramsay MacDonald was the serving prime minister since 1929

List of ministers

Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.

Notes

References

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