80 Years Since a Man from Putney Became Prime Minister

Fleur Anderson MP celebrates the legacy of Clement Attlee

Clement Attlee's grandson, The Earl Attlee, unveils a plaque at the site of his former home in Putney. Picture: Wandsworth Council

July 8, 2025

In one of the biggest shocks in election history, Clement Attlee was elected as Prime Minister 80 years ago this weekend (5 July 1945).

He defeated national hero Sir Winston Churchill as the Second World Ward continued in the east and went on to help found the NHS and the modern welfare state.

Attlee was born and raised in a now demolished house on Portinscale Road off West Hill and remains the only Prime Minister to have hailed from the area. Wandsworth Green Plaque now marks the site, which was unveiled by his grandson, The Earl Attlee.

Attlee led the Labour Party for 20 years and the country between 1945 and 1951.

Fleur Anderson MP hailed is legacy as the anniversary passed saying, “The world has changed immeasurably since the 1940s, but the values of those who founded the NHS can never be compromised. A Focus on Prevention Social justice was at the heart of the NHS when it was founded, but today the gap between rich and poor is widening - with too many people spending years in poor health. Labour will cut this gap in half and raise the healthiest generation of children in British history.”

She claims that technology being introduced into the NHS fulfils the promise of Nye Bevan, Attlee’s health minister, that the NHS would put a “megaphone in the mouth” of every patient.

She adds, “Despite all the changes we have seen since the 1940s, the community values of Attlee Government remain timeless. That is why we are bringing back the trusted family doctor and launching the Neighbourhood Health Service. With 200 new neighbourhood hubs, more services will be available locally, making it easier to access GPs with same-day appointments and reducing hospital waiting times.

“The Labour Government of today faces different challenges from those Attlee confronted in 1945. New problems, but the same priorities. The NHS was founded by a son of Putney, so it is no surprise that it continues to embody our core values of community, compassion, and care.
Just as Labour built a health service founded on compassion, this Labour government will revive it from 14 years of decline and make it fit for the future: publicly owned, publicly funded, and always there for everyone who needs it.

“We are moving from a system that only treats sickness to one that prevents illness, tackles the biggest killers, and ensures mental health is given equal priority. We are harnessing modern technology to deliver faster diagnosis, better treatment, and healthier lives.

“Above all, we will never allow an NHS to exist where only those with means can get timely care. Our principles of social justice and universal care will never be allowed to fade.”