Stafford Cripps Biography and Timeline

Unity Campaign

Works with Tribune supporters backing Cripps's attempt to build an anti-fascist United Front.

Role range: 1937-1939

Purge

Expelled from the Labour Party after he disaffiliates the Socialist League

Siege of Tobruk

Sent by Churchill to persuade Auchinleck to capture Cyrenaica but Cripps fails

Role range: 1939-1945 – 1942-1942

Resignation of Stafford Cripps

Resigns as Leader of the House

Role range: 1940-1945

Minister of Aircraft Production

Appointed Minister of Aircraft Production

Role range: 1940-1945

Leader of House of Commons

Appointed Leader of the House of Commons

Role range: 1940-1945 – 1942-1942

Chancellor of the Exchequer

Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer

Role range: 1945-1951 – 1945-1950

Distribution of Industry Act

Distribution of Industry Act 1945 supports development areas and directs industrial reconstruction after the war

Role range: 1945-1951 – 1945-1947

Minister of Economics

Appointed Minister of Economic Affairs

Role range: 1945-1951

Finance Act

Finance Act 1948 sets taxation and economic measures during austerity

Role range: 1945-1951 – 1947-1950

Sterling Devaluation

Cripps announces devaluation of sterling from 4.03 to 2.80 United States dollars.

Role range: 1947-1950

Sterling Devaluation

Britain devalues sterling from 4.03 to 2.80 dollars while remaining inside the Bretton Woods fixed-rate system anchored to the dollar's official gold value.

Role range: 1947-1950

NHS Charges Power

Secures power to introduce charges, though implementation is delayed.

Role range: 1947-1950

Finance Act

Finance Act 1949 sets taxation and revenue measures after devaluation pressures

Role range: 1945-1951 – 1947-1950

Resignation of Stafford Cripps

Resigns as Chancellor of the Exchequer due to ill health

Role range: 1945-1951 – 1945-1950