The All‐Party Parliamentary Action Group, September to November 1939

Abstract

The All‐Party Parliamentary Action Group was formed immediately after the outbreak of war in September 1939 by a cross‐party group of backbench and independent MPs. It met regularly thereafter and later played a role in the events of May 1940 that led to the resignation of Neville Chamberlain. Previous accounts have only been aware of the copies of its founding circular and minutes of its first meeting that were sent to Lloyd George and are in his archive. However, further records exist in the papers of the group's original convenor, Eleanor Rathbone MP, including lists of members, the minutes of all the meetings up to 21 November 1939, and a signed attendance sheet for 6 February 1940. This note uses these papers to examine the activities of the group in its first three months and to publish a list of the MPs who attended its meetings.