It may seem like an obvious question but elections were held throughout the rest of the English speaking world; Canada, the U.S., New Zealand and Australia. Why didn't the British do the same?
Edit: Many are pointing out the 1945 election was technically during the war as the Japanese were yet to surrender. I'm aware, what I'm asking specifically is why the election was consistently delayed in contrast to many other Allied nations and if there was any resistance to not having an election earlier.
Britain did hold elections during WWII. In 1945 they held an election that resulted in Clement Attlee being elected Prime Minister, replacing Churchill. There were also numerous elections to fill in empty seats in parliament during the war.
In Britain each sitting of parliament can last for 5 years at most before an election needs to take place. Parliament can be dissolved and elections called for earlier then every 5 years, but 5 years is the max. Parliament extended this 5 year limit during the war however.
I've had a look at the debates in Hansard (they are online, Google works better than the site's own search system look up the ",Prolongation of Parliament Bill" for 1940-44 inclusive).
The first Prolongation Act wasn't controversial. There was a national coalition and the country was under direct attack. Essentially the only question an election could solve was whether or not to surrender. The bills did become a little more controversial after 1942 as the Commons's mandate became thinner but it was still strongly supported.
It wasn't just general elections that were suspended. Local elections were stopped too and the main parties agreed not to contest bye elections. Effectively British democracy was put on hold under a Prime Minister who had not received a popular mandate.
Actually the United Kingdom did hold an election during the war, on July 5th 1945. A common question on AskHistorians asks why Churchill lost that election despite having led the country for most of the war.
Until 2011, and unlike the US, the UK did not have a mandated period between elections. Prior to 2011 the term of Parliament was set at five years, but this period could be extended in times of national crisis. The prime minister could also call for early elections if they felt that the political mood of the country was favorable. Parliament itself could also pass a vote of no confidence in the government, thereby forcing an election.
Parliament's term was extended during both world wars.