Churchills attitudes towards empire was the main reason why he was out of office 1929-40. How far do you agree?

Churchill's views and attitudes of India clashed with those of the government and his own party. Churchill's behaviour to the reforms into India led to a serious of problems with Baldwin and the Conservative leadership. Churchill became more horrified when Gandhi had attended the Round Table Conference in 1935. The conference was a leaders gathering to discuss the status of India. Gandhi had wanted India to be a Dominion Empire. This had irritated Churchill because India having Dominion status would mean that British power in her empire was decreasing. Churchill wanted Britain to have a firm control of India due to being influence by past military work in India and the era he was born; he was born in the 19th century, which international status and reputation was seen extremely important. Churchill views of wanting India to stay as 'the jewel in the crown' had contrasted with the government because he was the figurehead of a very determined opposition to change in India. Furthermore, highlighting that Churchill views and attitudes to empire had caused him to be out of office due to being out of touch with mainstream politics, which was at the time in favour of Indian independence.

Churchill prediction of German expansion as a threat to peace in Europe was a minor cause of him being out of office in 1929-40. In 1934, parliament had ignored Churchill accusations about the German threat because at that time appeasement was more favoured than a rearmament programme. The First World War had a dramatic effect on the British public and they did not desire entering another total war. Churchill had urged the government and the British public to prepare for war because Germany was exceeding limits set in the Treaty of Versailles. The Germans were increasing their aircraft and their soldiers; Hitler had more than 100,000 men in the German army, which he was making it clear to the world. Churchill's priority of defence was seen outdated by a lot of people whilst Chamberlain's negotiations of appeasement was praised. Many Britons viewed German expansion as necessary because of the harsh treatment of ToV. Baldwin had unsuccessfully lost an election in 1933 to a Labour candidate about the German threat and rearmament. This is vital to show there is a gap between Churchill's views of rearmament and the government idea of appeasement. It wasn't until Chamberlain and his concept of appeasement that restores the Conservative status in parliament. However, it can be argued that it was his vocal opposition to Hitler’s new Nazi dictatorship in Germany, and his calls for British rearmament, that gradually brought him back to public notice. Initially it was a message that few wanted to hear, but after the Munich Crisis of 1938 and the German occupation of Czechoslovakia there was a growing consensus that he was right.

Churchill resistance to the 1936 abdication of King Edward VIII had a minor affect him being out of office. Churchill publicly gave his support to the King and he had also begged the King not to act hastily and abdicate. Churchill supporting the king with his usual passion and became so ostracised for doing that he suffered. He was humiliated in the House of Commons. This had crushed his hope of returning to power and influence were shattered. If it wasn’t for the war, Churchill would never have the chance to return to parliament and held office.