Leopold Charles Maurice Stennett Amery, also known as L. S. Amery, was a British Conservative politician and journalist. During his career, he was known for his interest in military preparedness, British India and the British Empire and for his opposition to appeasement. After his retirement and death, he was perhaps best known for the remarks he made in the House of Commons on 7 May 1940 during the Norway Debate.
Imperial War Cabinet, 22 Mar 1917 Leo Amery is standing, top row, first on the left
Amery in 1917
Plaque celebrating Leo Amery in the church of St John the Baptist in Lustleigh, Devon
The Norway Debate, sometimes called the Narvik Debate, was a momentous debate in the British House of Commons from 7 to 9 May 1940, during the Second World War. The official title of the debate, as held in the Hansard parliamentary archive, is Conduct of the War. The debate was initiated by an adjournment motion enabling the Commons to freely discuss the progress of the Norwegian campaign. The debate quickly brought to a head widespread dissatisfaction with the conduct of the war by Neville Chamberlain's government.
The British–German naval battles at Narvik on 10 and 13 April.
Neville Chamberlain
Clement Attlee, Leader of the Opposition.
Sir Archibald Sinclair