Editing Winston Churchill (section)

===President of the Board of Trade: 1908–1910===
[[File:Winston Churchill (1874-1965) with fiancée Clementine Hozier (1885-1977) shortly before their marriage in 1908.jpg|thumb|upright=.9|Churchill and his fiancée [[Clementine Hozier]] shortly before their marriage in 1908]]
With Campbell-Bannerman terminally ill, Asquith became prime minister in April 1908. He appointed Churchill as [[President of the Board of Trade]].{{sfnm|1a1=Rhodes James|1y=1970|1p=33|2a1=Gilbert|2y=1991|2p=194|3a1=Jenkins|3y=2001|3p=129}} Aged 33, Churchill was the youngest [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] member since 1866.{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|p=129}} Newly appointed Cabinet ministers were legally obliged to seek re-election at a by-election. On 24 April, Churchill lost the [[1908 Manchester North West by-election|Manchester North West by-election]] to the Conservative candidate by 429 votes.{{sfnm|1a1=Gilbert|1y=1991|1pp=194–195|2a1=Jenkins|2y=2001|2p=130}} On 9 May, the Liberals stood him in the safe seat of [[Dundee (UK Parliament constituency)|Dundee]], where he [[1908 Dundee by-election|won comfortably]].{{sfnm|1a1=Gilbert|1y=1991|1p=195|2a1=Jenkins|2y=2001|2pp=130–131}}

Churchill proposed marriage to [[Clementine Hozier]]; they were married on 12 September 1908 at [[St Margaret's, Westminster]] and honeymooned in [[Baveno]], Venice, and [[Veveří Castle]] in [[Moravia]].{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|pp=198–200}}{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|pp=139–142}} They lived at 33 [[Eccleston Square]], London, and their first daughter, [[Diana Churchill|Diana]], was born in 1909.{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|pp=204–205}}{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|p=203}} The success of their marriage was important to Churchill's career as Clementine's unbroken affection provided him with a secure and happy background.<ref name="HGN"/>

One of Churchill's first tasks as a minister was to arbitrate in an industrial dispute among ship-workers and employers, on the [[River Tyne]].{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|p=195}} He afterwards established a Standing Court of Arbitration to deal with industrial disputes,{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|p=199}} establishing a reputation as a conciliator.{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|p=200}} He worked with Lloyd George to champion [[Liberal welfare reforms|social reform]].{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|p=143}} He promoted what he called a "network of State intervention and regulation" akin to that in Germany.{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|pp=193–194}}

Continuing Lloyd George's work,<ref name="HGN"/> Churchill introduced the [[Coal Mines Regulation Act 1908|Mines Eight Hours Bill]], which prohibited miners from working more than an [[eight-hour day]].{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|p=196}} In 1909, he introduced the [[Trade Boards Bill]], creating Trade Boards which could prosecute exploitative employers. Passing with a large majority, it established the principle of a [[minimum wage]] and the right to have meal breaks.{{sfnm|1a1=Gilbert|1y=1991|1pp=203–204|2a1=Jenkins|2y=2001|2p=150}} In May 1909, he proposed the [[Labour Exchanges Act 1909|Labour Exchanges Bill]] to establish over 200 Labour Exchanges through which the unemployed would be assisted in finding employment.{{sfnm|1a1=Gilbert|1y=1991|1p=204|2a1=Jenkins|2y=2001|2pp=150–151}} He promoted the idea of an unemployment insurance scheme, which would be part-funded by the state.{{sfnm|1a1=Gilbert|1y=1991|1p=201|2a1=Jenkins|2y=2001|2p=151}}

To ensure funding for their reforms, Lloyd George and Churchill denounced [[Reginald McKenna]]'s policy of naval expansion,{{sfnm|1a1=Jenkins|1y=2001|1pp=154–157|2a1=Toye|2y=2007|2pp=54–55}} refusing to believe war with Germany was inevitable.{{sfnm|1a1=Gilbert|1y=1991|1pp=198–199|2a1=Jenkins|2y=2001|2pp=154–155}} As Chancellor, Lloyd George presented his "[[People's Budget]]" on 29 April 1909, calling it a war budget to eliminate poverty. With Churchill as his closest ally,<ref name="HGN"/> Lloyd George proposed unprecedented taxes on the rich to fund Liberal welfare programmes.{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|pp=157–159}} The budget was vetoed by the Conservative [[Peerage of Great Britain|peers]] who dominated the [[House of Lords]].{{sfnm|1a1=Gilbert|1y=1991|1pp=205, 210|2a1=Jenkins|2y=2001|2p=164}} His social reforms under threat, Churchill became president of the [[Budget League]],<ref name="HGN"/> and warned that upper-class obstruction could anger working-class Britons and lead to class war.{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|p=206}} The government called the [[January 1910 general election]], which resulted in a Liberal victory; Churchill retained his seat at Dundee.{{sfnm|1a1=Gilbert|1y=1991|1p=211|2a1=Jenkins|2y=2001|2p=167}} He proposed abolition of the House of Lords in a cabinet memo, suggesting it be succeeded by a [[unicameral]] system, or smaller second chamber that lacked an in-built advantage for the Conservatives.{{sfn|Jenkins|2001|pp=167–168}} In April, the Lords relented and the People's Budget passed.{{sfn|Gilbert|1991|pp=216–217}} Churchill continued to campaign against the House of Lords and assisted passage of the [[Parliament Act 1911]] which reduced and restricted its powers.<ref name="HGN"/>