Chris
Grayling, Transport Secretary, speaking today at Conservative Party Conference
in Manchester said:
(Check
against delivery)
“Ladies
and Gentlemen.
I
want to start with a very simple message. Thank you.
I
spent the election campaign travelling the country and meeting many of you on
the campaign trail. Sometimes it was to knock on doors. Sometimes to look at
railway stations and by passes. In Birmingham, Andy Street and I even learned
how to drive a tram.
I
know how hard you worked. I know how disappointing it was that your hard work
didn’t always deliver the results we hoped for. And I know that our Party would
be nothing without all of you, and your commitment to the values that we hold
so dear. So thank you.
But
we are in government and we have a big job to do together. Not
just in delivering Brexit. Not just in putting record investment into our
transport in every part of the country. But because our opponents are the
most left-wing opposition this country has ever seen.
The
militant tendency has really taken over Labour. The damage they could do to
this country if they were to form a government would be unthinkable.
We
have to make sure it can never happen.
And
this afternoon’s session is about a key part of how we can make sure it doesn’t
happen.
Theresa
May talked last year about building a country that works for everyone. She was
right, and we should be united behind her as she and our team seek to build
that country.
And
talking of teams. I have a pretty good one in transport
John
Hayes
Martin
Callanan
Jesse
Norman
Paul
Maynard
Our
two whips;
Andrew
Stephenson
Liz
Sugg
And
our two great PPS’s, James Heappey and Scott Mann.
Now
before I talk about the difference we are making, I just want to say a few
words about this morning’s sad news about Monarch Airlines.
When
a big change like this happens, it’s really tough for all those involved –
passengers and crew alike – and my heart goes out to all of them.
As
soon as it became apparent that the airline was struggling we acted
quickly. We are today mounting the biggest civilian repatriation exercise
this country has seen in peacetime and we will bringing back 100,000 people who
are stranded overseas.
And
we’ve spoken to all the other airlines and asked them to do what they can to
make sure people affected can rebook their trips elsewhere as quickly as
possible.
But
let nobody think this is a sign of general problems in our aviation sector.
Monarch has been a victim of the success of other airlines, like Easyjet and
Jet 2. This summer most of our airports carried more passengers than ever
before.
And
they did so because of the success of our economy. We have a great record to
build on. You may remember that back in 2010 I was the Employment Minister.
With the legacy of Labour, every month I waited with trepidation to see the
unemployment figures arrive from the statisticians.
Seven
years later things are very different.
Thanks
to our work in government, we have the lowest level of unemployment since the
1970s, we have the highest ever number of people in work, and we have
opportunity spreading across our society.
I
am proud of that record.
There
are many parts of our vision for Britain continuing that progress. The work
that Justine is doing to strengthen our schools and vocational education. The
work that Greg is doing to support the development of a more diverse, high tech
economy.
But
I have the exciting job. My bit is about the things that join all of that
together.
The
roads.
The
railways.
The
ports
The
airports.
Even
planning for Space Ports so that in future we can launch satellites from right
here on British soil.
And
building on the work my colleagues have done since 2010 reversing a decade of
decline under Labour.
Now
I bumped into a relic of that Labour failure in the corridor the other day…
… John Prescott. Remember him….
And
do you know what he had the nerve to ask me. When are we getting our new trains
in Hull?
To
be fair to him, under 9 Labour ministers and 13 years, he never got a new
train.
Well
John, I have good news for you, they are being built right now.
In
fact between now and 2020 we will be replacing or refurbishing every single
train in the north of England.
The
biggest modernisation programme for rail in the north since the steam age.
More
trains. Longer trains. More seats. Free wi-fi. The things passengers say they
want.
It
didn’t happen under Labour.
It is happening
under Conservatives.
And,
John just in case both your jags aren’t working, it is not just Hull that is
getting new trains.
Wales
and the Southwest have brand new intercity trains starting later this month.
And
there are more to come – in East Anglia and the East Coast Mainline – and in
the West Midlands and the South.
It’s
a big contrast to when John Prescott and his colleagues were in power.
Passengers
had to put up with trains that dated back to the 1970s.
Labour
cancelled and delayed as many road projects as they opened in thirteen years in
Government.
They
ran away from big decisions on investment.
And
last week in Brighton they had the nerve to claim that we aren’t investing in
the future.
Well
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s taken Conservatives to start to build a modern
transport system.
That’s
why we are spending more on our infrastructure than any Government in decades.
Schemes
that are already transforming the prospects for businesses and travellers.
Many
of them within a few miles of where we are standing now.
The
new Heysham link road, opening up the economy of North Lancashire, thanks to
the hard work of David Morris and Eric Ollerenshaw.
The
long awaited link road between the M56 and the M6 and upgrades to motorways
across the north.
The
first ever rail link between Manchester’s two main rail stations, Piccadilly
and Victoria.
The
missing links that are finally linking Newcastle and London by motorway.
The
first electric railway between Liverpool and Manchester.
And
while we are on the subject of electrification, we have already electrified
nearly four times more miles of railway within the North West,
yes within the North West, than Labour did across the entire
country in thirteen years in Government.
That
programme will carry on. Using electrification where it makes a difference to
passengers. Using digital technology where it makes a difference to passengers.
Always focused first and foremost on what does actually make a difference for
passengers
That’s
why when I was in Manchester and Leeds two weeks ago, I announced that I want
the Transpennine railway to be Britain’s first major inter-city main line
digital railway.
New
technology that will help create a more reliable railway, increase capacity and
create better journeys for passengers.
And
our investment programme in the North will continue. Today I can announce our
plan to deliver £100 million for local road schemes across the North of
England.
This
Investment will help to reduce traffic congestion in the North West the North
East, Yorkshire and the Humber. The details of individual schemes will be
announced in due course.
But
it’s not just about investing in the North.
We’re
finally moving ahead with dualling the A303 to the South West.
We’re
upgrading the A14 to provide better links from East Anglia to the Midlands.
We’re
modernising commuter railways in Birmingham and Bristol and providing funding
for the Welsh to do the same in Cardiff.
We’ve
started work on a new Thames Crossing between Essex and Kent.
And
today I want to set out for you another big part of our plans.
Our
railways haven’t made nearly enough progress in using new technology for rail
tickets. Last year I said to you that we needed to get rid of the paper ticket
on our trains.
Since
then we’ve been working on plans to achieve that.
So
today I am setting out details of our £80 million programme to bring smart
ticketing….. using mobile phones, barcodes and smartcards across almost all of
the rail network by the end of next year.
It’s
what passengers want. And we will deliver it.
But
it’s not just about what Government does.
We
need the private sector to use its skills to unleash the potential of the north
And
to support the development of the Northern Powerhouse.
That’s
why Liverpool’s new deep water port is so important.
It’s
a gateway to the Northern Powerhouse.
So
are the ports on the East Coast.
In
a post-Brexit world we need those links around the world, to deliver the trade
opportunities that will help us secure the prosperous future this country
deserves.
Links
like Manchester Airport.
A
few weeks ago I had the privilege of being part of the launch of its new
terminal project.
A
billion pound private investment in the success of the Northern Powerhouse.
Manchester
Airport is a crucial hub for this country.
That’s
why we are spending 165 million pounds on the new relief road for the airport.
To help build on that private sector investment.
And
this is the bit that Jeremy Corbyn and his Momentum socialists will never
understand. We need a strong private sector, working in partnership with
national and local government in the Northern Powerhouse.
If
you treat business as the enemy, and tax it until the pips squeak, it will
simply go elsewhere
And
so will the jobs.
And
the investment. And the opportunities for our next generation.
Just
look at how hostile they are to the private sector.
In
my area, they are always attacking the train companies.
After
all what has rail privatisation ever done for us? Not a lot really…..
Except
for all those new and replacement trains here in the North.
Except
for all the new trains in East Anglia, across the South, in the West Midlands.
Except
for reversing the years of decline under British Rail and doubling the number
of people using our railways.
Except
for opening new services and routes for passengers, like the new line from
London to Oxford.
Or
the Grand Central trains to Sunderland and Bradford.
Of
course in Jeremy Corbyn’s world we would be so much better going back to the
days of British Rail.
Those
“Glory days” when lines were closed and services axed.
When
passenger numbers slumped and investment in our railway equated to
bolting bus parts onto railway wheels.
Not
to mention the famously awful British Rail sandwiches.
And
how would they pay for renationalising the railways? By confiscating assets
from the private sector. How on earth do they think they will attract jobs to
Britain if they behave like the government of Venezuela?
For
all their talk, the Labour Party always leave the country
worse off than they found it – and it is ordinary people who
pay the price in fewer jobs, higher taxes, more debt and
ultimately worse public services.
They
don’t understand that it is businesses and workers that create the wealth to
pay for public services. Their plans are unaffordable and driven by ideology,
not the balanced approach the country needs.
Ladies
and Gentlemen. This country needs to move forwards, and not backwards.
And
that is what we are doing, under Theresa May’s leadership.
Taking
the big decisions that we need to secure all of our futures.
This
time last year I told you we had a big decision to take. That we needed to
finally move forward with the airport expansion that this country so
desperately needs.
I
was proud to be the Transport Secretary who announced that we intend to go
ahead and build a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Subject
to the necessary consultation work and securing the backing of Parliament, we
are aiming to give it the formal go ahead in the first half of next year
The
expansion of Heathrow will make a difference right across this country.
Here
in Manchester and North.
In
Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Across
the West and the South
Places
where new air links to Heathrow will open up new opportunities for enterprise
and jobs.
Of
course it’s not our only big infrastructure project. Nor will it be the last.
There’s…
Northern
Powerhouse Rail.
Crossrail
2
And
HS2, which will link them together.
Now
I know many of you have doubts about HS2.
Why
are we building this big and expensive project?
Why
are we creating such fast links between our Cities?
But
if I asked you how many of you want to see more space for commuters and to get
more lorries off the roads, I bet most of you would say yes please.
But
that’s what HS2 does. By moving the express trains off our existing mainlines,
it means more commuter trains, and thousands of extra seats in the rush hour.
Here
in Manchester.
In
Leeds.
In
Birmingham.
In
London.
And
more space for freight trains the rest of the time.
And
since I stood here a year ago, the construction work on this project for all of
our futures has already started.
All
of this provides a fantastic opportunity for the next generation.
Young
engineers who can be part of projects that will last a lifetime, and which they
can look back on with pride in later years.
This
coming year is the Year of the Engineer in Britain.
We
want to encourage that new generation to be part of this exciting vision.
This
morning, I met with some of those young apprentices who are part of our vision
for our 21stcentury. Young people who are already working to make
those new projects a reality.
In
our ports, on our railways, on our roads, in our aerospace and automotive
factories……
Ladies
and gentlemen, they are sitting in this audience. They are an inspiration to
our nation. I hope that what we are doing will help them build skills to
last a lifetime.
Let
me be clear, this Government will always put the interests of ordinary working
people first.
We
want to make our country a fairer place to live and work – where people get out
what they put in, and how far you go in life depends on your talent and hard
work, not where you came from. In particular that will mean a better future for
all those starting out in life, who fear it will be harder for them than
it was for their parents’ generation.
Ladies
and Gentlemen.
Jeremy
Corbyn and his union paymasters want none of this.
They
want to turn the clock back.
They
want to resist modernisation.
They
don’t care about passengers or consumers.
They
make promises they cannot hope to keep.
We
aren’t like that.
Ladies
and Gentlemen
Our
job is to make sure those young people have jobs.
To
make sure all of them have opportunities to make the most of their lives.
That
is what we are all about as a Government.
It
is what the Northern Powerhouse is all about.
And
our transport strategy will help make that a reality.
In
the coming years this country faces a stark choice.
A
political throwback to the days of penal taxes, nationalised industries,
socialist dogma, high unemployment and economic decline.
Or
an enterprise driven nation, building ties around the world, and seeking to
create opportunities for all.
That’s
what Conservatism is all about.
It
is a battle we have to win.”
ENDS
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