Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin
At the time of the Abdication Crisis, Stanley Baldwin was a popular three term Conservative Prime Minister. This was the last major test of Stanley Baldwin's premiership. Baldwin, along with many senior politicians and MP's were unhappy that King Edward VIII intervened in affairs of state and were worried that he was turning the nation against the Government.
But it was Edward's willingness to marry Wallis Simpson,a twice divorced American that saw Baldwin's worst fears come true. Baldwin with the rest of the Royal Family tried to stop Edward from marrying Wallis Simpson as it was against the Church of England that a man could marry a twice divorced woman and that the people of the British Empire would not accept an American Queen. Edward was given time to make a decision but the news was broken in the British Newspapers on the 2nd December, months after other nations received the news.
Winston Churchill, Oswald Mosley, Lord Beaverbrook and Lord Rothermere all declared their support for the King's right to marry whichever woman he wished to. Churchill and Beaverbrook also tried to form a King's Party which would support the King, but around 40 MP's would join. But majority of the Government sided with Baldwin, based on religious opinions.
Baldwin didn't want the King to abdicate but it was believed that the whole Government would resign if he didn't listen to the cabinet and no other party would form government.
When Baldwin and the cabinet rejected a morganatic marriage, Edward decided to abdicate. Baldwin addressed the House of Commons on the 10th December with the news of Edward's abdication. Edward abdicated on the 11th December and left Britain for exile. He married Wallis in France in 1937 and Edward was succeeded by George VI.
Baldwin was praised for tact and praise during the time of political and constitutional crisis. Baldwin was rewarded with general approval and a restored popularity with the British people. Shortly after the Coronation of George VI, Baldwin announced he was going to resign the premiership. His last act as Prime Minister was to give MP's a salary rise from £400 a year to £600 and to give the Opposition Leader a Salary. Shortly after Baldwin was created Earl Baldwin of Bewdley and Viscount Corvedale, of Corvedale in County Shropshire and was created a Knight of the Garter.
But it was Edward's willingness to marry Wallis Simpson,a twice divorced American that saw Baldwin's worst fears come true. Baldwin with the rest of the Royal Family tried to stop Edward from marrying Wallis Simpson as it was against the Church of England that a man could marry a twice divorced woman and that the people of the British Empire would not accept an American Queen. Edward was given time to make a decision but the news was broken in the British Newspapers on the 2nd December, months after other nations received the news.
Winston Churchill, Oswald Mosley, Lord Beaverbrook and Lord Rothermere all declared their support for the King's right to marry whichever woman he wished to. Churchill and Beaverbrook also tried to form a King's Party which would support the King, but around 40 MP's would join. But majority of the Government sided with Baldwin, based on religious opinions.
Baldwin didn't want the King to abdicate but it was believed that the whole Government would resign if he didn't listen to the cabinet and no other party would form government.
When Baldwin and the cabinet rejected a morganatic marriage, Edward decided to abdicate. Baldwin addressed the House of Commons on the 10th December with the news of Edward's abdication. Edward abdicated on the 11th December and left Britain for exile. He married Wallis in France in 1937 and Edward was succeeded by George VI.
Baldwin was praised for tact and praise during the time of political and constitutional crisis. Baldwin was rewarded with general approval and a restored popularity with the British people. Shortly after the Coronation of George VI, Baldwin announced he was going to resign the premiership. His last act as Prime Minister was to give MP's a salary rise from £400 a year to £600 and to give the Opposition Leader a Salary. Shortly after Baldwin was created Earl Baldwin of Bewdley and Viscount Corvedale, of Corvedale in County Shropshire and was created a Knight of the Garter.