How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
On Friday evening last I received His Majesty's commission to form a new Administration […]A War Cabinet has been formed of five Members, representing, with the Opposition Liberals, the unity of the nation. (2, 5)
Here's a nice summation of the political change that has just occurred in the British government. It's pretty straight-the-point: new Prime Minister, new cabinet, new mission.
Quote #2
It was necessary that this should be done in one single day, on account of the extreme urgency and rigor of events. A number of other positions, key positions, were filled yesterday, and I am submitting a further list to His Majesty to-night. (8-9)
Churchill knows all this change could be pretty jarring for the government, so he takes pains to describe exactly what was happening.
Quote #3
Sir, 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 have to be made here at home. (17)
Here's the justification for these sudden changes: war is imminent and Great Britain isn't ready. Yet.
Quote #4
You ask, what is our policy? I will 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 […] That is our policy. (23-25)
This was definitely not the policy under Neville Chamberlain and his predecessors. Chamberlain did declare war on Germany, but was stood by when the Nazis started invading other countries. Huge change in policy here.
Quote #5
[…] without victory, there is no survival. Let that be realized; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. (27-28)
Churchill lays out the catastrophic consequences of a German victory. He's kind of saying, "hey, you might be freaked out by the sudden changes in government now, but think about what'll happen if a fascist dictator takes over the world. Now that's the change you should be worried about."