Lloyd George immediately set about transforming the British war effort, taking firm control of both military and domestic policy.[19][20] In the first 235 days of its existence, the War Cabinet met 200 times.[5] Its creation marked the transition to a state of total war—the idea that every man, woman and child should play his or her part in the war effort. Moreover, it was decided that members of the government should be the men who controlled the war effort, primarily utilising the power they had been given under the Defence of the Realm Act.[5] For the first time, the government could react quickly, without endless bureaucracy to tie it down, and with up-to-date statistics on such matters as the state of the merchant navy and farm production.[5] The policy marked a distinct shift away from Asquith's initial policy of laissez-faire,[4] which had been characterised by Winston Churchill's declaration of "business as usual" in November 1914.[21] The success of Lloyd George's government can also be attributed to a general lack of desire for an election, and the practical absence of dissent that this brought about.[16]