A Motion of Censure of Churchill's government was brought in the House of Commons, and then overwhelmingly failed.
The motion was brought due to recent reversals in North Africa, although the recent setbacks in the newly started war with Japan played a part as well. Churchill specifically noted that he expected fortunes to reverse as British forces started receiving American arms.
Churchill had stated in response to the motion:
The will of the whole House should be made manifest upon important occasions. It is important that not only those who speak, but those who watch and listen and judge, should also count as a factor in world affairs. After all, we are still fighting for our lives, and for causes dearer than life itself. We have no right to assume that victory is certain; it will be certain only if we do not fail in our duty. Sober and constructive criticism, or criticism in Secret Session, has its high virtue; but the duty of the House of Commons is to sustain the Government or to change the Government. If it cannot change it, it should sustain it. There is no working middle course in wartime
Interestingly enough, things were already turning around, or at least not getting any worse. The Afrika Korps failed to take El Alamein for the second day in a row, with Briitsh forces mounting a counterattack that took 2,000 prisoners and 30 field guns.
The Tirpitz and Hipper, with escorts, left Trondheim to attack Allied convoy PQ17. Seventeen He115s attacked the convoy unsuccessfully.
PQ17 was being shadowed by submarines and flying boats.
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