 Three years later, Sir John became Chancellor of the Exchequer and the couple moved to 11 Downing Street.In the years just before the Second World War, Lady Simon criticised the Nazi regime and was sympathetic to Zionism.In April 1940, despite being crippled by severe osteoarthritis, she hosted a conference at 11 Downing Street, where she emphasised the importance of preparing the people of the Empire for home rule and opposing racial discrimination.