The 1945 general election was the first in Britain for a decade (the one planned for 1939 had been called off because of the outbreak of war). Coming so soon after VE Day, and while the war in the Pacific was still going on, most people expected an easy win for Winston Churchill and the Conservatives. Three days after the election, but before the votes had been counted, the News of the World reported: "Mr Churchill has secured his working majority". But it was not to be. It was a Labour landslid