Winston Churchill's inspiring wartime speeches in Parliament

 A glance at some of Churchill's most memorable appearances at the dispatch box provide that extra inspiration.

Here are some examples of the wartime PM's speeches to Parliament, shared by the Commons' Hansard team:

'Strong horses'

When Churchill gave this speech in the Commons, he was yet to become prime minister.

But during a debate on Britain's disastrous campaign in Norway - leading to Neville Chamberlain's ousting from No 10 - Churchill spoke optimistically of the Navy being strengthened by Norway's merchant fleet.

Two days later, he would become PM and form his coalition government.

"Let me say that I am not advocating controversy... On the contrary, I say, let pre-war feuds die; let personal quarrels be forgotten, and let us keep our hatreds for the common enemy.

"Let party interest be ignored, let all our energies be harnessed, let the whole ability and forces of the nation be hurled into the struggle, and let all the strong horses be pulling on the collar."

House of Commons - 8 May 1940

Blood, toil, tears and sweat

After becoming prime minister, Churchill was facing calls from some to make peace with Hitler, as the loss of so many men in World War I was still a recent memory.

But in his first speech in the Commons as the country's new leader, he made it clear the only option for his government was to "wage war".

"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.

"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'."

House of Commons - 13 May 1940

'Finest hour'

As the war raged on, Churchill used speeches to try and lift the spirits of the public, even when having to detail horrific scenarios in the war.

"Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war.

"If we can stand up to him all Europe may be free, and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands; but if we fail then the whole world, including the United States, and all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new dark age made more sinister, and perhaps more prolonged, by the lights of a perverted science.

"Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty and so bear ourselves that if the British Commonwealth and Empire lasts for a thousand years men will still say, 'this was their finest hour'."

House of Commons - 18 June 1940

'We shall fight on the beaches'

This is perhaps Churchill's most famous speech, used in television and film programmes reflecting on the PM's life for decades to come.

It was not an address given live to the nation, but to the Commons, with only MPs and staff able to hear its debut.

However, there is no doubt it will be remembered as one of the most powerful political oratories of all time.

"The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength.

"Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous states have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.

"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the new world, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."

House of Commons - 4 June 1940

His Speeches: How Churchill Did It

https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/speeches-about-winston-churchill/his-speeches-how-churchill-did-it/

This love of money is the curse of American, and for the sake of it men will sell honor and honesty, till we don't know whom to trust. The money-getter who pleads his love of work has a lame defense, for love of work at money-getting is a lower taste than love of money. *Love* and *money* are often talked about together, placed as opposites. Since long before the Beatles first sang, " Can't buy me *love* " people have been saying that *money* cannot purchase either love or happiness.

 *Power of Money* 

Former England Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill, once said: "I took a taxi one day to the BBC offices for an interview

When I arrived, I asked the driver to wait for me for forty minutes until I got back, but the driver apologized and said, _"I can't, because I have to go home to listen to Winston Churchill's speech"._ 

I was amazed and delighted with the man's desire to listen to my speech! So I took out 20 pounds which was  huge money at the time  and gave it to the taxi driver without telling him who I was. When the driver collected the money, he said: " _I'll wait for hours until you come back sir! And let Churchill go to hell._ "

.......+......

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, was the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955.

Born: November 30, 1874. Died: January 24, 1965.

 *Dollar Exchange Rate from 1940* 

From 1940, and through the war, although no longer on the Gold Standard, the £/$ rate had been pegged by the British government at $4.03, and in at the end of the war a world conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, decided on a variation of the Gold Standard.

Britain adopted this new system in December, 1945, maintaining the pound at $4.03 ... at which point the Americans sowed the seeds for one of Britain's biggest financial crises. Details here : http://miketodd.net/encyc/dollhist-graph.htm

You can see how principles have been modified in favour of money; nations sold for money; votes sold for money ;  honour sold for money; families split for money; friends separated for money; people killed for money; and ourselves being made slaves for money.