With the UK elections nearly upon us, we take a look back at some of the Prime Ministers that have graced the halls of the House of Commons over the years, what their greatest political achievements were and how this has impacted directly on Ireland.

From the wartime leader Churchill to what is considered by many to be the greatest prime minster ever, Clement Attlee, the careers of these great Prime Ministers changed the course of political history in the UK.

The third Prime Minister in our series is the eccentric, hilarious, intelligent and quite brilliant Winston Churchill.

Who was he?

Churchill was born Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, son of the famous Randolph Churchill, on the 30 November 1874 at Blenheim Palace. He was born into an aristocratic family, the Marlboroughs, an extension of the Spencers. Although his father didn't initially believe it, Churchill was born to be a politician. His father was a prominent Conservative politician, his mother the daughter of an American financier. 

The young Churchill didn't exactly excel at school and his father had him placed in army classes as he didn't believe his son was intended for the life of an academic or a politican. Little did he know that he was raising a great wartime leader.

While studying to be an army officer, his father Randolph died, an event that had a profound effect on Churchill. Some noted he became convinced he had to make his mark early. He travelled to Cuba and Sudan with his regiment and eventually found himself in the middle of the Boer War where he became a hero after a daring escape.

With his new found popularity, he got himself elected for Oldham in 1900. In 1908, he married Clement Hozier who he declared as the only woman he would ever love.

"The day will come when they speak of Randolph as the father of Winston"

Despite the fact that he was literally born into the Conservative party and stood for election under their banner in 1900, Churchill found himself at odds with some of the party policies. In 1904, he surprised the house by crossing the floor and taking a seat on the Liberal benches. He became the youngest cabinet minister in over forty years and was a key member of Lloyd George's government.

Before the war, he was appointed to First Lord of the Admiralty and oversaw important campaigns at the beginning of 1914. However, significant naval losses and the disatrous battle at Gallipoli where he attempted to force Turkey out of the war meant he had to resign in disgrace.

By 1924, Churchill made a return to the Conservatives. However, he continued to make some unpopular decisions. For a start, he returned the sterling to the gold standard and wouldn't advocate for greater home rule for India. In fact, he was not at all taken by Gandhi. The return to a gold standard proved disastrous for the economy and Churchill found himself out of favour and in what many described as the "political wilderness" until the beginning of the war.

"You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour and you will have war."

Neville Chamberlain returned to England in 1938 with a document following talks with Germany which he believed to ensure "peace in our time". The Munich Agreement permitted Nazi Germany's annexation of portions of Czechoslovakia. However, Churchill was not as confident as Chamberlain. In fact, he was quite the opposite and he continued to warn of the rise of the Nazis. When Britain declared war after Germany invaded Poland, Churchill was again nominated as First Lord of the Admiralty.

In 1940, he took over as Prime Minister after Neville Chamberlain resigned. This was where Churchill's stubborn nature and steadfast belief in the Empire stood to him. He never believed in surrender and made this clear in one of his most famous speeches, We will fight them on the beaches. His belief in the Empire inspired its citizens and troops; Churchill proved to be just the wartime leader they needed.

Although the war hadn't exactly been going to plan, the bombing of Pearl Harbour changed everything. With the United States now involved, the Allied forces began to inflict some major damage to Hitler's troops. In 1944, they organised D-Day, where 150,000 troops landed on French shores in order to take on the Nazi forces. They were successful and it spelled the beginning of the end for Germany. Finally, in 1945, a crippled German army surrendered.

However, the end of the war proved to be the undoing of the Conservatives. Britain was weary from war politics and Labour was returned to Government in the next General Election with a great hope for change. Churchill was again returned in 1951 but was reportedly crushed by the loss following his inspiring turn as leader.

"We have always found the Irish a bit odd. They refuse to be English."

Even though he was a great supporter of the Empire, Winston Churchill was extremely fond of Ireland. However, he is most associated with using brutal means to keep Ireland in place; he was instrumental in setting up the infamous Black and Tans during the War of Independence. A book by Nigel Knight called Churchill: The Greatest Briton Unmasked declared he even supported air power to keep the troubled state in check within the United Kingdom. He also refused to call off the Black and Tans even though their barbaric violent methods were creating more difficulties for the Empire than solving any issues.

Other reports declared that Churchill was supportive of Home Rule for Ireland as early as 1912 and he was instrumental in the Treaty negotiations of 1921 which created the Irish Free State. He was also an admirer of Michael Collins, the man who was the brain behind the War of Independence in Ireland and managed to evade British capture for years, despite a huge price on his head. Churchill declared that he was "fearless".

He was apparently also very much in favour of a united Ireland and recognised the vital role Irish troops played during both wars. 

Impact on politics

Churchill effectively retired from politics in 1955. His health began to deteriorate. Although he remained a member of parliament up to 1964, he never again spoke in the Commons. Battling depression, his relationship with his children was troubled, particularly with his son Randolph. His daughter Sarah became an alcoholic while his other daughter Diana took her own life. Churchill remained at home and worked less but suffered a series of strokes. On the 24 of January 1965, at the age of 90, he passed away.

His death left a huge void on the political landscape of Britain in the 1960s. Churchill was a larger than life character, a man who most certainly earned his state funeral. His lack of university career never deterred him from educating himself, he read ferociously, was incredibly witty and his speeches are among the most quoted of any political leader.

Churchill was not without his flaws. His bad economic decisions on occasion, faults in his war policy and some controversial comments about people and their religion certainly didn't win him any favour but Churchill was the war time hero that the United Kingdom needed.

"In all our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this." These were the words that Churchill uttered on the 8th of May, 1945. It's impossible to fathom how much of an impact the British stand against Nazi Germany had on history. Britain stood islanded in their steadfast belief that Hitler would not make it any further through Europe. Through his inspiring speeches and war policy, Churchill must have saved millions of lives. His flaws can be forgiven.

Best Speech - We Shall Fight on the Beaches, Speech delivered during the war to parliament, June 4, 1940.

"I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation. The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."

You can listen to the full speech here.