Priti
Patel, Secretary of State for International Development, speaking today at Conservative
Party Conference in Manchester said:
(Check
against delivery)
“Conference,
good afternoon.
Britain
has always been a bold and confident nation.
We
are unafraid to stand up for what we believe in.
In
our history, we’ve helped to end the slave trade, defeat dictators, and
champion democracy around the world.
And
today, we are leading the fight to end poverty, eradicate disease and help
refugees survive brutal conflicts.
Influence
is about knowing what you believe in.
Having
the confidence to project British values internationally.
Looking
outwards not inwards and utilising our unique history and our position as a
force for good.
Using
British values to shape a better world and create hope and optimism for the
future.
When
people across the globe see UK aid supplies arriving in their village or
refugee camp – proudly marked with the Union flag – they know that Britain is
on their side.
Our
heroic Armed Forces forces and aid experts are serving around the world, from
Nigeria, to Afghanistan, to South Sudan and the hurricane relief efforts across
the Caribbean.
They
are providing a badge of hope to millions, shaping a better and safer world.
Each
and every one of them deserves our thanks.
We
all know that money spent by Ministers and civil servants does not belong to
them.
It
belongs to you – the very taxpayers who have worked hard for it.
As
Margaret Thatcher once said: “Pennies do not come from heaven. They have to be
earned here on earth.”
The
public are right to be angry when they hear stories about wasted aid.
They
naturally think that their Government is throwing away their hard-earned cash.
That
is why under my leadership, my priority is to make sure that aid delivers value
for money.
My
Ministers have scrutinised every aspect of DFID’s spending
I
have removed programmes which did not stand up to scrutiny.
Where
partnerships weren’t working, I have ended them.
Where
legitimate concerns have been raised over poor spending, I have taken action.
And
where other Government Departments need to improve their aid spending, I am
challenging them to raise their game and be accountable to UK taxpayers.
I
am delivering close to £500 million pounds of savings.
And
I have been ruthless in closing programmes that did not meet the standards I
have set.
I
am expanding the use of Payment by Results.
That
means performance based funding.
If
they don’t deliver, we won’t pay.
I
am taking back control of our spending and decision-making.
Making
sure we use British values to bring hope and optimism to millions across the
world.
I
would like to thank the Ministers who are supporting this improvement: Michael
Bates, Rory Stewart and Alistair Burt.
I
also want to pay tribute to James Wharton, my former Africa Minister, who until
the General Election, helped to drive essential change across DFID.
He
was an outstanding Minister, and I know that he’ll be back in frontline
politics again.
When
it comes to getting value for money, the job is not yet done.
Today,
I am announcing the conclusion of a comprehensive review of DFID’s
relationships with suppliers.
I
am setting out tough reforms that will encourage the private sector to work
with DFID and end the appalling practice of fat cats profiteering from the aid
budget.
I
am introducing a tough Code of Conduct, with legally enforceable sanctions for
non-compliance, to root out unethical behaviour.
I‘m
taking the toughest approach in Whitehall to crack down on contract costs.
I‘m
cutting red tape and simplifying the bidding process to help small British firms
win with DFID and create jobs up and down the UK.
On
my watch I will end the crony-market where a handful of suppliers, would win
contract after contract, which blocked innovation and competition.
I
will always put the interests of taxpayers and the world’s poor ahead of
consultants and middle-men.
I
am leading global efforts to reform the way the whole world does development
and aid.
Two
weeks ago I announced a new regime of performance-related funding for the
United Nations and its agencies.
From
next year 30% of our funding will be conditional on improved results and
reform.
But
that’s not all.
For
years the United Nations has ignored the shocking scandal of sexual abuse and
the exploitation of children.
This
must end.
I
have told them that all future funding is subject to them implementing the
highest standards of child protection; investigating all allegations; and
securing prosecutions of those responsible for these crimes.
If
they don’t make the grade, believe me, they won’t get the aid.
I
will continue to challenge the aid system to ensure that the international
rules remain relevant to our changing world.
As
Hurricane Irma graphically demonstrated, they need to be flexible, so aid gets
to the right place at the right time.
That
equally applies to our British citizens in our British territories.
In
today’s world of new threats and extremist ideologies – and I’m not just
talking about Mr Corbyn – we must be bold and unapologetic in standing up for
our values.
Conservatives
do not talk Britain down.
We
are the party that raises horizons, transforms lives and secures a better
future.
We
know that trade, investment and free markets provide the route out of poverty.
And
as we look to support prosperity in developing countries and growth in the UK,
Brexit is the opportunity to secure our place in the world.
Britain
can reassert itself as a global beacon for free trade, enterprise and free
markets.
Earlier
this year I launched DFID’s first-ever Economic Development Strategy and set out
a vision for how the private sector can boost jobs, growth and development.
My
objective is clear.
I’m
not here to endlessly hand out money.
I
will help people and countries stand on their own two feet.
Like
Mary in Ethiopia who now works full-time in the new industrial zone in Hawassa.
Thanks
to DFID, she can now provide for her family.
Also
millions of girls around the world are now able to go to school.
And
the job of everyone working in development must be to end aid dependency.
We
are offering a hand-up, not a hand-out.
That’s
why I’m working with colleagues across Government to promote economic
development.
In
Nigeria, we are working to create real jobs and tackle the scourge of modern
day slavery.
Our
trade Department is creating new trading links in some of the poorest countries
in the world.
I
want the countries who receive aid today be our trading partners of tomorrow.
We
made a clear commitment on aid in our manifesto.
We
will honour it.
The
money I’ve saved from closing programmes, is going on projects such as the
fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases.
We
will deliver over a billion treatments to fight cruel, avoidable infections
such as trachoma, Guinea-worm and river blindness.
Britain
is leading the way on clearing landmines globally.
And
I am placing a new international emphasis on improving the lives of people with
disability.
That’s
not all.
Across
this country there are thousands of small charities led by inspirational
people, doing amazing work around the world.
But
for years, they have found it impossible to access UK aid, because the aid
budget supported big international charities.
That
is why I’m opening up the aid budget to the Best of British charities up and
down the country.
Using
British values and expertise to shape a better world.
This
Conservative Government is leading the way in eradicating polio from the face
of the earth, forever.
And
I want to pay tribute to the thousands of Rotarians across the world – and in this audience – who have led the
fight against polio.
Earlier
this year, the world faced the terrifying prospect of four famines.
We
succeeded in getting the rest of the world to pull their weight.
It
was Global Britain that raised the alarm and pushed the international community
to step up and deliver a life-saving response.
That
saved millions of lives, and I will continue to challenge others to do more.
Compare
that with Labour’s approach to the world.
Last
week, at their conference, Mr Corbyn failed to condemn North Korea for abusing
human rights and flouting international rules by launching missiles.
He
failed to condemn Venezuela – where the regime he has held up as a beacon for
others to follow, is viciously stamping out all opposition.
He
failed to condemn the terror his friends in Hamas have unleashed upon the
Israeli people.
And
not once did he confront or condemn his supporters who have launched a wave of
anti-Semitism, bullying, and abuse against anyone who does not subscribe to
their extremist views.
And
as he stood in Brighton, of all places, he once again failed to apologise for
standing side-by-side with the IRA terrorists who brutally murdered and maimed.
Disgraceful.
Our
approach is different from Labour’s, because our values are different from
Labour’s.
They
believe that wealth is created by governments and bureaucracies.
We
believe that wealth is created by people and enterprise.
I
believe in people, markets and freedom.
This
is what will genuinely serve the interests of the many and not the few.
The
Labour Party, despite what they say, does not stand for the many.
It
stands for the vested interests and narrow dogma of the few.
Exploiting
the hopes and fears of young people, only to go on and lie to them.
Celebrating
the state-sponsored theft of the property held by private citizens.
And
when it comes to international relations, they have just one principle.
To
turn a blind eye and refuse to speak out as their socialist friends and
comrades unleash violence and repression against people and communities.
Shame
on them, shame on the Labour Party and shame on their vile brand of socialism.
It
is our responsibility to stop them from getting anywhere near the door of
Number 10.
They
are not fit to represent Britain or the British people.
That
is why what you do is so important.
From
me, from all of my colleagues in Cabinet and Parliament, I want to say a huge
thank you.
Because
it’s your hard work and campaigning that made all the difference.
You
delivered us the highest Conservative vote for many years – some 13.6 million
people who backed us at the ballot box.
So,
we know what we need to do.
We
must set out the positive case for Conservative values across all areas of
policy.
Explain
why our ideas will create the society that we all want to see and live in.
Not
just for us, for our children and for their children.
One
which is open, tolerant and extends opportunity for all.
British
Conservative values are my values.
And
I will use them to shape a better country and a better world for all.
Thank
you.”
ENDS
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