Political positions of Winston Churchill

In 20th century politics, Winston Churchill (1874–1965) was one of the world's most influential and significant figures. He was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, when he led the country to victory in the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955. Apart from two years between 1922 and 1924, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1900 to 1964. Ideologically an economic liberal and imperialist, he was for most of his career a member of the Conservative Party, and its leader from 1940 to 1955. He was a member of the Liberal Party from 1904 to 1924.

Fundamentally, Churchill was an anti-socialist and a believer of individual liberty and the free market. However, he was also a supporter of trade unionism, which he saw as the "antithesis" of socialism. He has been described as exhibiting a paternalist attitude for the less fortunate in society. He was also a staunch monarchist and a supporter of the British Empire. He opposed the dissolution of the Empire through the granting of self-government to its subjects, including dominion status for India. He opposed the partition of Ireland and supported Britain's membership of a United Europe, which would also include a unified European Army.