Andrea
Leadsom, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy,
speaking today at Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, said:
(Check against delivery)
“That’s what people are saying
right across this country and as Business Secretary I can assure you that’s
what businesses are saying too – they need certainty, and for that to happen
Parliament has to stop messing around.
We know there’s no crystal ball
in politics, but no one could have foreseen how parliament would end up so
determined to overturn the referendum.
So when Boris became Prime
Minister it was such a relief to see so clearly his personal commitment to
getting us out of the EU. He has the personality and pizzazz to get Brexit over
the line, doesn’t he!
And to support his efforts, my
urgent priority in this new job has been getting business ready for Brexit.
I’ve been touring the four UK
nations to talk to different businesses about their own Brexit preparations and
how government can help. Of course there are plenty of challenges, but the
efforts of so many over the last three years means we are well prepared for
leaving the EU.
But what’s really fascinating
about being the lead minister for our business and energy sectors is the chance
to take advantage of the superb future that lies ahead for our great country.
We’re standing on the cusp of a
new industrial revolution, and for the first time since the first industrial
revolution, the UK is positioned to lead in extraordinary new ways.
So I want to talk about my three
top priorities – things I want the UK to be famous for. And with Kwasi Kwarteng,
Chris Skidmore, Kelly Tollhurst, Nadhim Zahawi and Ian Duncan we’ve a superb
Ministerial team as diverse and talented as the United Kingdom we are working
for.
Our first priority is to lead the
world in tackling climate change.
Since 1990 we’ve reduced our
carbon emissions by 42% – while growing our economy by nearly three quarters.
So we’ve shown that decarbonising
can also create jobs and prosperity – we already have 400,000 jobs in the low
carbon sector but this could reach 2 million by 2030.
We’re working out the path to
achieving net zero emissions by 2050. We can do it, and we will help the
world to do it.
Contrast that to Labour who last
week announced net zero by 2030! Total tosh!
A perfect example of Labour
promising something they can’t deliver and don’t understand.
Unusually, I find myself agreeing
with the GMB Union, who’s spokesman said, this ‘threatens whole communities,
threatens whole jobs… This means that within a decade people’s petrol cars
being confiscated. This will mean families can only take one flight every five
years. Net zero carbon emissions by 2030 is utterly unachievable.’ Well
said that man!
Turning to our second priority –
to transform the productive capability of our economy.
All my life I’ve been impressed
by the huge range of talented UK scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs, whose
work will transform lives, let alone our economy.
And in the Business department
we’ve set out what we call our ‘grand challenges’. Each will change lives for
the better.
For example our life sciences
grand challenge has just kicked off the world’s biggest DNA research project
that will help to prevent and even cure diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s and
dementia.
Our space grand challenge will
help grow our commercial satellite industry as well as develop the astonishing
prospect of space flight that could one day offer a four hour trip to Australia
via the stars. Once he retires, I plan to recommend it to the Speaker of the
Commons.
Our automation grand challenge
will see the way we travel change profoundly in years to come with your parcels
delivered by drones and your car driving itself. Imagine not having to ask your
kids to pick you up after a good night out.
And our third priority, something
I care passionately about. And that is to make the UK the best place in
the world to work or to start a business. We have always been the Party of business
When I was growing up, my Mum and
StepDad had a furniture shop, and I remember their six day working week.
I also remember the appalling
impact on the economy of a Labour government back in the 1970s. When the super
tax on the self employed was 98%.
Those memories shaped my
politics, but it was Margaret Thatcher’s vision of a shareholding democracy and
her introduction of the right to buy that shaped my personal ambition -and that
is to help everybody to build a secure life for themselves and their families.
So I want to see a better
environment for business, less red tape and lower taxes to incentivise them;
But at the same time I want to
make sure those who work for them get a decent wage, a fair contract and when
they face life’s challenges such as parenthood, illness or caring
responsibilities, a modern working environment allows them the flexibility to
balance work and life.
Contrast to Labour – if they’re
not nationalising you, they’re stealing part of your business, and if you’re
the worker they pretend to be on your side but their attack on our thriving
economy will mean job losses, lower investment and less opportunities.
So if Labour ever pluck up the
courage to face the voters, then we should all make the case for the
Conservative Government this country needs. So when you’re asked: what will the
Conservatives do for me?
You can tell them –
It is a Conservative Government
that will lead the world in tackling climate change;
It is a Conservative Government
helping you live longer, with better health and greater opportunity;
It is a Conservative Government
that will make the UK the best place in the world to be trained, work or start
a business;
And it is the Conservatives and
Boris Johnson who will get Brexit done, secure our future prosperity and make
sure Jeremy Corbyn never gets the keys to No 10.”
ENDS
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