Cripps Papers, 1931-1949

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Sir (Richard) Stafford Cripps (1889-1952), whose father was a Labour cabinet minister, was educated at Winchester College and University College, London. He was called to the Bar in 1914 and became the youngest King's Counsel in 1927. He joined the Labour Party in 1929 and was elected to the House of Commons in 1931. He was chairman of the Socialist League (1933-37) and an advocate of a united front with the Communist Party. After embarking on a world tour in 1940, he served as British ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1940-42. In 1942 Cripps was appointed Lord Privy Seal by Winston Churchill and later in the year became minister for aircraft production. In the Attlee Government he held the offices of President of the Board of Trade (1945-47) and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1947-50).

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