The 1930's were a turbulent time for politics around the world, democratic leaderships were under major strain following the Wall Street crash and the ensuing depression, by 1940 only the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland and Switzerland were countries not ruled by dictators within Europe and the Balkans. Admittedly the aggression of the Axis powers had brought about the downfall of six democracies between 1938 and 1940 but the fact still remains that political fairness and democratic elections were all but destroyed in mainland Europe during this era.

From the 24th of August 1931 until after the Second World War Britain was ruled by a coalition government. This government was formed initially as a temporary measure to allay the potential collapse of the British economy in the wake of Wall Street. As coalitions around Europe fell under the control of dictators the National Government was a surprisingly successful alliance. There were potentially major threats within Britain to the stability of this administration but resounding public support and several shrewd policies led to this being one of the most effective governments for many years.

The British Union of Fascists began in 1932; by 1934 the movement had amassed a membership of more than 50,000. The fact that so many fascist supporters were allowed within the long standing democracy of Britain, especially considering that Mosley had links with and had visited Benito Mussolini, gives doubt to the ability of the National government and the stability of the system. Lord Rothermere, the wealthy owner of the traditionally right-wing newspaper, The Daily Mail, also leant his support to the fascist movement thus giving the extremists a small amount of credibility.

But for all their support Mosleys 'Blackshirts' were never any more than a small minority who had gained their support from extraordinary economic circumstances and had very little significance after the National government managed to calm the sliding depression. Had the situation worsened then the BUF may have grown but as has happened with every extremist right-wing group around the world a violent, ruthless and racist face of the movement showed at the parties rally at Olympia and growing links with the Nazi party lost the faction any integrity it may once have had.

To stop the economic slide the government was forced to introduce L70 million worth of cuts to unemployment benefits, this action gave fuel to the growing left-wing extremism but there was not enough popular support for these groups to damage the system. A decision that caused more strife to the stability of the administration was the cutting of the Army and Navies pay, this caused a potentially riotous, extremely tense situation when sailors at Invergordon in Scotland mutinied, thanks to swift intervention by the government a full-scale mutiny was closely avoided but this isolated incident shows that the system was very close at times to failing.

The Communist party did not pose a threat to the political hierarchy in Britain nor was there ever a chance of revolution because the National government never gave enough cause for dissent and cynicism. The Communists, like the British Fascists, were all but destroyed in the public eye by links with Hitlers Germany when in August 1939 Russia signed a peace pact with the Nazis.

But after 1935 when the policies of the National government were showing positive results in stemming the depression the NUWM became less important, the fact that the group had grown to such a size has been cited as a failing of the National government but the movement never really threatened the political stability, indeed they possib

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Invergordon Scotland, Daily Mail, Wall Street, Churchill Attlee, Book Club, George Lansbury, Mosley Conservatives, Britain Communists, National Government, Balkans Admittedly, national government, political system, nazi party, labour party, wall street, street crash, wall street crash, popular support, system held, extraordinary economic circumstances, union fascists, coalition government, opposition national government, british union fascists, political system held,
Approximate Word count = 1695
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)