You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” I hope that any of my friends and colleagues, or former colleagues, who are affected by the political reconstruction, will make allowance, all allowance, for any lack of ceremony with which it has been necessary to act. In this crisis I hope I may be pardoned if I do not address the House at any length today. Friend below the Gangway, have to be made here at home. To form an Administration of this scale and complexity is a serious undertaking in itself, but it must be remembered that we are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history, that we are in action at many other points in Norway and in Holland, that we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean, that the air battle is continuous and that many preparations, such as have been indicated by my hon. I now invite the House, by the Motion which stands in my name, to record its approval of the steps taken and to declare its confidence in the new Government. The business to be considered during that week will be notified to Members at the earliest opportunity. At the end of the proceedings today, the Adjournment of the House will be proposed until Tuesday, 21st May, with, of course, provision for earlier meeting, if need be.

Speaker agreed, and took the necessary steps, in accordance with the powers conferred upon him by the Resolution of the House. I considered it in the public interest to suggest that the House should be summoned to meet today. Join us for the 41st International Churchill Conference. The appointment of the other Ministers usually takes a little longer, but I trust that, when Parliament meets again, this part of my task will be completed, and that the administration will be complete in all respects. I hope to complete the appointment of the principal Ministers during to-morrow. A number of other positions, key positions, were filled yesterday, and I am submitting a further list to His Majesty to-night. It was necessary that this should be done in one single day, on account of the extreme urgency and rigour of events. The three Fighting Services have been filled. The three party Leaders have agreed to serve, either in the War Cabinet or in high executive office. A War Cabinet has been formed of five Members, representing, with the Opposition Liberals, the unity of the nation. I have completed the most important part of this task. It is the evident wish and will of Parliament and the nation that this should be conceived on the broadest possible basis and that it should include all parties, both those who supported the late Government and also the parties of the Opposition. On Friday evening last I received His Majesty’s commission to form a new Administration. That this House welcomes the formation of a Government representing the united and inflexible resolve of the nation to prosecute the war with Germany to a victorious conclusion.

They trust me, and I can give them nothing but disaster for quite a long time.” For the first time, the people had hope but Churchill commented to General Ismay: “Poor people, poor people.

They still really wanted Neville Chamberlain.

The response of Labour was heart-warming the Conservative reaction was lukewarm. When he met his Cabinet on May 13 he told them that “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” He repeated that phrase later in the day when he asked the House of Commons for a vote of confidence in his new all-party government. On May 10, 1940, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister. First Speech as Prime Minister to House of Commons

Winston churchhill