Britain loses its Jewel

• A new Labour government was elected in 1945

• It wanted to grant independence to India as soon as possible.

• Promises had been made during WW2 to India in return for loyalty fighting Japan

• Gandhi’s ‘passive resistance’ was embarrassing the British Raj

• Labour appointed Mountbatten as High Commissioner in order to deliver promise of Independence.

• Originally set for 1948 - he moved timetable forward to August 1947.