Jeremy
Hunt MP, Foreign Secretary, speaking today at Conservative Party Conference at
The ICC, Birmingham, said:

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against delivery)

Good
afternoon conference and again welcome to Birmingham. 

For
the last six years you’ve heard me speak as Health Secretary, one of the more
demanding jobs in Cabinet.  

However you
decided not to let me off the hook by giving me the small matter of Brexit as
Foreign Secretary where I support Dom Raab. 

Of
course in the NHS we would have banned all this talk of cakes, cherries
and eating them as contributory factors to obesity… 

It’s
Brexit I want to talk about today. 

…how
we can make it work, how we will make it work – not on a wing and a prayer but
whatever the outcome of the negotiations.  

…and
what we need to do now to make that happen. 

But
first let me tell you about my first few moments as Foreign Secretary. 

The
truth is nothing quite prepares you. 

I
walked up the Grand Staircase in the Foreign Office and looked at the pictures
of my distinguished predecessors gazing down from the wall. One
of the recent ones seemed to have forgotten to comb his blond
hair. 

At
the time I’d just become the longest serving Health Secretary. I looked up the
shortest serving Foreign Secretary who was not actually John Major but Earl
Temple who in 1783 was there for just four days. 

Now
in my first four days I met Angela Merkel, who gave me a wry smile and said
‘congratulations… if that’s the right word.’ 

I
had a manly handshake with President Trump. 

But
I soon realised that meeting world leaders abroad is peanuts compared
to the diplomacy needed at home when you call your Chinese wife Japanese. 

I’m
very lucky to have a brilliant ministerial team so let me introduce the
band. 

The
wise and wily Sir Alan Duncan. The sane and sage Alastair Burt. The diplomatic
and energetic Mark Field.  Our principled
defender of human rights Tariq Ahmad; our passionate advocate for Africa
Harriett Baldwin and my brilliant PPS’s James Cartlidge and Vicky Ford.   

Every
one of them stands up for British values and British people all over the
world. 

And
one of those British people is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.  

Along
with other British citizens, Nazanin has been languishing for no reason in an
Iranian jail for over 2 years – agonisingly separated from her 4
year old daughter Gabriella and husband Richard.  

I
too have a 4 year old daughter and I can’t imagine what
they are going through. 

So let
me repeat today to the Iranian government what I told their Foreign Minister
last week: like Nazanin, you too have precious families. So whatever other
disagreements we may have, for the sake of our common humanity it’s time to let
her and the others come home.  

Those
predecessors with their portraits on my wall helped shape our country over
three centuries. 

But
this century will be shaped by something much bigger than the decisions made by
any foreign secretary. 

It
will be shaped by a decision made by the British people – on 23 June
2016. 

It’s
easy for others to misunderstand the Brexit vote. 

It
was a decision to leave the European Union.  

But
it was not a decision to pull up the drawbridge. Or recreate the empire. Or
change our fundamental character as a gentle, generous and outward-looking
people. 

In
August I visited a number of EU countries, including Latvia. 

I
laid a wreath at the Latvian Freedom Monument. 

I realised that
30 years ago that country was under Soviet occupation. 

Now,
in a remarkable transformation, Latvia is a modern democracy, part of both NATO
and the EU. 

And
no European country did more to bring about that transformation than
Britain. 

That
wasn’t us being un-European or anti-communitaire. 

And
nor will Brexit be either.  

Our
friends in Europe need to understand that 52% of the country aren’t rabid
populists trying to build Fortress Britain. 

We
fought for peace on our continent so none of us will ever turn our back on
history.  

But
nor, and I want to address our European friends directly now, should you. 

At
the moment you seem to think the way to keep the club together is to punish a
member who leaves. 

Not
just with economic disruption. But even by breaking up the United Kingdom with
a border down the Irish Sea. 

What
happened to the confidence and ideals of the European dream? The EU was set up
to protect freedom. It was the Soviet Union that stopped people leaving. 

The
lesson from history is clear: if you turn the EU club into a prison, the desire
to get out won’t diminish it will grow… 

…and we
won’t be the only prisoner that will want to escape… 

If
you reject the hand of friendship offered by our Prime Minister… 

…you
turn your back on the partnership that has given Europe more security, more
freedom and more opportunities than ever in history. 

…and
a setback for the EU will become a wholly avoidable tragedy for Europe.  

We
understand the EU wants to protect itself. But if the only way to deal with the
UK leaving is to try to force its  break
up, as someone much more distinguished than me once said, the answer is
‘No No No.’ 

Punishing
Britain for Brexit is dealing with the symptoms of the problem and not the
cause, which is the failure of political elites across Europe – including
people like me in Britain – to deal with people’s concerns about
migration. 

That
is the heart of the problem – and if you’re worried about the EU’s future that
is also the solution. 

And
let me say one more thing about these talks.  

Never
mistake British politeness for British weakness. 

Because
if you put a country like Britain in a corner, we don’t crumble. We fight.  

So
as your friends of many years we say simply this: Brexit is not about whether
you succeed or we succeed.  Europe prospers
when we both succeed and it’s time to change your approach. 

Staying
the course when the going gets tough. Any student of history knows that’s more
or less a definition of being British.  

But
you do need to know where the course is set. 

What
kind of country we want to be with our new-found independence. 

In
my office there’s a bust of Churchill. 

Just
think for a moment about the international order that he created.  

More
democracies, more peace, more trade and more prosperity than ever before in
history. 

Let
me give you an example.  

When
I was born in 1966, half of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty –
that’s less than a dollar a day. Now it’s not half it’s just 9% of the people
in the world. 

But
that international order that’s been so successful is starting to fray.  

Free
trade losing its lustre. Democracy in retreat. Globalisation a dirty
word. 

At
the same time countries like Russia walk across the borders of Ukraine and
Georgia as if they didn’t exist. Whilst their puppets in Syria use chemical
weapons to poison defenceless children.  

Now
we could, of course, leave it to others to deal with these global issues.  

We
have plenty of challenges of our own at home – so we could be forgiven for
pulling back. 

But
that’s not our way. 

Because
Britain didn’t just dream up the democratic world order. We shed blood with our
friends and allies to build it. And we will always feel a special
responsibility to defend it. 

And
what we learned the hard way is that you can only do that based on a position
of strength. 

We
learned it exactly 80 years ago today with an anniversary we would probably
rather forget. 

Because
80 years ago today was when Neville Chamberlain returned from Munich with his
infamous piece of white paper. 

A
well-meaning man trying his best – but getting it badly wrong. No Conservative
in this hall would ever repeat that mistake. 

Nor
in fairness would any Labour Prime Minister we’ve had, one of whom actually set
up NATO in 1949. 

But
there is someone who would make that mistake. 

Because
today’s Labour Party is not the party of Attlee and Bevin, two men whose
patriotism earned the life-long respect of Winston Churchill.  

Today’s
Labour party is run by the very extremists they spent their lives
fighting. 

According
to Jeremy Corbyn NATO was not set up to keep us safe but ‘to provoke a cold
war.’ 

Because
Russia shares his anti-western world-view, he couldn’t even bring himself to
condemn them for the first ever chemical weapons attack on British soil in
Salisbury this year. 

The
people who did this are not comrades. They’re killers.  

And
if you won’t stand up to bullies abroad, if you won’t even stand up to bullies
inside the Labour party…then don’t ever claim you stand up for ordinary people
and you’ll keep us safe because you won’t. 

One
person of course did stand up to Russian bullies. 

Our
Prime Minister Theresa May. 

Thanks
to her leadership, 153 Russian diplomats were expelled from 28 countries,
inflicting massive damage on their spy networks – and we’re now going to close
the net on the GRU. 

Because
under the Conservatives Britain has a simple message for the Kremlin.  

If
you try to intimidate this country, if you use chemical weapons, if you don’t
play by the international rules, the price will always be too high. 

Last
week in New York I had dinner with perhaps the world’s most experienced
diplomat, Dr Henry Kissinger.  

Dr
Kissinger told me he was asked to write an article supporting ‘remain’ in the
referendum campaign – but he refused.  

He
said America and the world needed an independent British voice and without
Brexit he worried there wouldn’t be one. 

But
an independent voice must be a confident voice. 

Not
blind optimism but deep confidence rooted in the history of our nation.  

That
means not overestimating our strengths. But not underestimating them
either. 

We
may have less than 1% of the world’s population. 

But
we have the world’s fifth biggest economy.  

The
third most generous development budget. 

The
second biggest military in NATO. 

Three
of the world’s top 10 universities. 

More
Nobel prizes than anywhere in Europe. 

The
world’s financial centre. 

And
the world’s language. 

But
the real reason for our success goes beyond any of these or anything tangible.  

It’s
because of a few simple ideas that started here, on this small island, and went
on to conquer every corner of the planet. 

One
of those simple British ideas was free trade, a stroke of genius that was
written into life by Adam Smith in Glasgow and exported across the seas by the
Royal Navy.  

Another
British idea was the fragile and beautiful insight that power should pass from
leader to leader not by force, but peacefully through a franchise expressing
the will of the people.  

The
long journey to parliamentary democracy that started with Magna Carta.  

One
of the best-preserved copies of Magna Carta is in the cathedral in Salisbury.  

Somehow
I don’t think that’s why Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, those two famous
tourists, went there on 3 March. Which is a shame because if they had they
could have taught their boss in the Kremlin a lesson or two about the dangers
of absolute power. 

Another
British idea came from John Stuart Mill who said “Genius can only breathe
in an atmosphere of freedom.” 

Look
how we British have used that freedom. 

To
unlock the secrets of gravity and evolution; 

To
discover penicillin, decode DNA and pioneer the internet.  

To
invent the NHS, which I was so privileged to steward. 

And
why does all this matter? Because it means in a time of change we can rightly
feel confidence about the future of our country. 

Confidence. 

And
confidence in our party too. 

Because
in challenging times it’s nearly always our party, the Conservative Party, the
British people turn to. 

Not
always, in fairness, because they like us. But because they trust us to do the
right thing. 

One
of the things they’re trusting us to do is to get Brexit right. 

All
trade agreements involve compromise. Both sides limit their freedom of
manoeuvre so both benefit from removing barriers. 

But
important though trade deals are, our future depends far more on other things,
not least our ambition and hunger to succeed. 

Which
is why I come back to confidence.  

Now
is the time to unite our country behind a big and bold vision of what our new
independence can mean. 

Putting
our energy into debating what can happen not arguing about what did
happen. 

And
remembering as the party of wealth creation that for every job affected by a
new trade deal, 10 jobs will be determined by new technology. 

Because
only Conservatives understand that our success will be determined not by our
bureaucrats but by our businesses. 

Whether
we have a British Google, a British Amazon, a British BMW… 

Whether
we have not just HS2 up here to Birmingham and beyond but HS3 and
HS4… 

Whether
on our phones we have not just 3G or 4G but 5G or 6G… 

…in
short whether the party of aspiration can build a country of ambition  

…and
that means a post-Brexit world where we look to no one but ourselves for our
success… 

…we
turn a simple legal change into a catalyst for transformational change. 

And
we unite. 

But
we can only unite the country if we are united ourselves. 

In
parliament. In the government. And in the cabinet.  

And
if we are to unite the country, we must deliver not just a true Brexit for the
52% – but also a generous Brexit for the 48%. They are patriots too.  

So
however fierce the debate, however high the passions, never forget that
disunity and division won’t give us a better Brexit but the wrong Brexit, a
Corbyn Brexit or perhaps no Brexit at all. 

So
let’s argue our corners this week in Birmingham. 

But
let’s not carry on the fight after the moment we needed to come together. 

Remember
in our Great British history the right thing has often happened – but it never
happens by accident. 

It
happens when brave people take smart decisions… 

…when
our talents come together… 

…and
when we draw on the strengths of our past to chart a route to the future. 

The
essence of Conservatism.  

So
let’s find the common purpose and sense of destiny we need in this great
endeavour. 

As
a party. As a people. And as a nation. 

Let’s
bring others together as we come together ourselves. 

And
once again show the doubters, show the sceptics, show the world the true
potential of  this remarkable nation. Thank
you. 

Liz Truss MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, speaking today at Conservative Party Conference at The ICC, Birmingham, said:

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“It’s great to be here and a privilege to follow such esteemed colleagues.

Of course, Conference is something I look forward to every year.

It’s a platform for Conservatives to make the big arguments about our country’s future.

To fight the big fight on the Great Playing Field of ideas…

Or in my case, to talk about Cheese.

Now, I had prepared a long speech about the trends in British cheddar exports.

But I’m afraid you’ll all have to miss out.

Because this year, I’ve been told that there’s not to be any Cheese Chat.

Conference, that’s not just annoying…

That is a disgrace.

So instead, I’ll talk about the Treasury, my relationship with Philip Hammond and the important work we are doing to prepare Britain for the opportunities ahead.

As Chief Secretary, I’m charged with keeping a tight grip onthe public finances.

Since 2010, we’ve had a balanced approach to the public finances, investing in front line services including –

• Giving public sector workers a fair pay deal
• Funding the NHS
• Backing our nation’s defence with extra money for Trident.

We’ve also tackled waste and brought the deficit down,

Meaning that this year debt will fall as a share of national income.

And that’s incredibly important work.

Because Government money is our money.

Labour think they can spend as much of our money as they like.

But we know out-of-control spending means high debt, a weaker economy, fewer jobs and higher taxes on families and businesses.

Just like we saw last time, it’s the poorest who are hit hardest when the music stops.

So at next year’s Spending Review, the Chancellor and I will be assess how well we’re spending money, and how we can deliver the best possible public services.

Being Chief Secretary is thrilling work, but it can be hazardous.

I’m constantly dealing with Secretaries of State and their requests for more money.

It does mean you get a reputation for being ‘Bad Cop’.

And Ministers don’t always walk away happy.

For example, after recently denying a request from one particular Secretary of State.

…I woke up the next day to find a tarantula in my bed.

And what I’ve learned from that experience is… never mess with David Mundell.

Just to be clear… that was a joke.

I must admit, I was told by Treasury advisers not to make any jokes. They haven’t always gone so well….

But as anyone who knows me will tell you.

…I don’t like Government telling me what to do.

As well as the important day-to-day business, Philip’s Treasury team is fighting to protect the values that make this country great.

…and fighting for the hearts and minds of the next generation.

Because we have to challenge the idea that young people are a bunch of Corbynistas.

The young people I’ve met in this job aren’t heading for communes…

They are entrepreneurs, disruptors and change-makers.

They want smart and efficient Government, which has a role but doesn’t get in the way.

They’re compassionate and care about the public good, but are also fiercely entrepreneurial and independent.

They’re exactly the sort of people Labour are talking about when they call business the ‘enemy’.

It’s our duty to challenge Labour’s warped ideology that says personal ambition is evil, and success must have come through abuse of the system.

…that instead, the economy should be run by a committee of Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and Diane Abbot – the people who have never run anything in their lives.

Free enterprise is not about allowing big corporations to flout the rules.

It’s the opposite of that.

It’s about the power of competition to deliver lower prices and better services for consumers.

It’s about the power of people to transform their own lives, and change our country for the better.

Those are the freedoms we are fighting for.

And if there’s one unsung Conservative hero – who’s kept our economy on track the last few years – it’s Philip Hammond.

The boy from Essex with the punk hair and leather jacket has become the steady hand on the tiller of the economy.

We know him as ‘no-frills Phil’.

He’s the no-nonsense Chancellor:

Championing young entrepreneurs and supporting new technologies like 5G to make our economy fit for the future…

… Ensuring we spend money in a smart way that delivers results.

… Preparing Britain for the future outside the EU.

… And keeping the burden of tax under control.

We have cut income tax by over £1,000 for the typical basic rate taxpayer…

…Philip has lifted infrastructure investment to the highest in 40 years…

…he helped craft ground-breaking T-levels so young people get the technical education they need…

…he worked with the Prime Minister on our modern industrial strategy to boost the economy and create high-paid jobs.

And most important of all, in a time of extraordinary change, he has provided the integrity and stability the country needs to succeed.

He’s a man of principle with a deep sense of patriotism and optimism about our future.

A man I’m proud to call boss.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Chancellor Philip Hammond.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact the Press Office on 020 7984 8121.

Theresa
May, the Prime Minister, speaking today at Conservative Party Conference at The
ICC, Birmingham, said:

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“Thank
you very much for that warm welcome.

You’ll
have to excuse me if I cough during this speech; I’ve been up all night
supergluing the backdrop.

There
are some things about last year’s conference I have tried to forget.

But
I will always remember the warmth I felt from everyone in the hall.

You
supported me all the way – thank you.

NO LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE

This
year marks a century since the end of the First World War.

Just
a few hundred yards from this conference centre stands a Hall of Memory, built
to honour the sacrifice of men and women from this city in that terrible
conflict.

Inscribed
within it are some familiar words:

‘AT
THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN, AND IN THE MORNING, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.’

We
do remember them.

We
remember the young men who left their homes to fight and die in the mud and
horror of the trenches.

We
remember the sailors who shovelled coal into hellfire furnaces in the bowels of
battleships.

We
remember the selflessness of a remarkable generation, whose legacy is the
freedom we enjoy today.

I
think of Hubert Grant – my father’s cousin in whose honour he was named.

Hubert
fought and died at Passchendaele at the age of just 19.

Last
year, at the service to mark the centenary of that battle, I took a moment to
find his name on the Menin Gate, alongside thousands of his comrades.

We
will remember them.

But
the builders of that Hall of Memory also wanted us to do something else.

Alongside
a commitment to remember, they inscribed a command that still calls to us
today:

‘SEE
TO IT THAT THEY SHALL NOT HAVE SUFFERED AND DIED IN VAIN.’

Those
words express a determination that transformed our country.

A
determination that the men who returned from the quagmires of Passchendaele to
their families, here in Birmingham and across the land, should have homes fit
for heroes.

That
the women who made munitions, kept the buses and trains running, served as
firefighters and police officers, should have a voice in our democracy.

That
a country which stood together in solidarity, with people of every class
sharing the danger, should become a fairer place.

A
generation later, another victory built on shared sacrifice renewed that
determination.

Twice
in a century, Britain came together to beat the odds and build a better future.

A
stronger democracy in the Mother of Parliaments – where every person, no matter
their gender, no matter their class, has an equal voice.

A
fairer economy in the home of the free market – where enterprise creates wealth
to fund great public services.

A
more secure future in the post-war world – where former enemies become friends
and the trans-Atlantic alliance makes our world a safer place.

We
must recapture that spirit of common purpose.

Because
the lesson of that remarkable generation is clear: if we come together, there
is no limit to what we can achieve.

Our
future is in our hands.

SOMETHING WRONG WITH POLITICS

And
that is why we are all in this hall today.

It
is the reason we chose to get involved in politics in the first place.

We
believe that by standing up to be counted, by working together, we can change
our communities and our country for the better.

It’s
not always glamorous.

I’ve
seen the trailers for ‘Bodyguard’ and let me tell you – it wasn’t like that in
my day.

Real
politics involves a lot of hard graft.

Knocking
on doors in all weathers.

Delivering
bundles of leaflets.

We
do it because we believe in its potential to transform lives.  

We
understood when we got involved that sometimes it’s adversarial.

But
in the last few years something’s changed for the worse.

I
feel it. I am sure you do too.

Rigorous
debate between political opponents is becoming more like a confrontation
between enemies.

People
who put themselves forward to serve are becoming targets.

Not
just them, their families as well.

We
all saw the sickening pictures of a far-left extremist shouting abuse at Jacob
Rees-Mogg’s children

And
it’s not only Conservatives who are facing abuse.

The
first black woman ever to be elected to the House of Commons receives more
racist and misogynist messages today than when she first stood over 30 years
ago.

You
do not have to agree with a word Diane Abbott says to believe passionately in
her right to say it, free from threats and abuse.

Some
people have lost sight of the fact that political differences are not
everything.

I
have served in local and national government, in office and in opposition.

I
know that no party has a monopoly on good ideas.

That
getting things done requires working together – within parties and beyond them.

When
our politics becomes polarised, and compromise becomes a dirty word, that
becomes harder.

And
good people are put off public service.

It
doesn’t have to be this way.

Our
Party has more elected representatives than any other.

We
have in our hands the power to set a standard of decency that will be an
example for others to follow.

John
McCain, who spoke at this conference 12 years ago, put it like this:

‘We
argue and compete and sometimes even vilify each other in our raucous public
debates. But we have always had so much more in common with each other than in
disagreement.’

That
was Jo Cox’s message too.

It
is a truth that the British people instinctively understand.

Because
they are not ideologues.

They
know we all have a common stake in this country and that the only path to a
better future is one that we walk down together.

So,
let’s rise above the abuse.

Let’s
make a positive case for our values that will cut through the bitterness and
bile that is poisoning our politics.

Let’s
say it loud and clear: Conservatives will always stand up for a politics that
unites us rather than divides us.

THE JEREMY CORBYN PARTY

That
used to be Labour’s position too.

But
when I look at its leadership today, I worry it’s no longer the case.

We
all remember what the Labour Party used to be.

We
passionately disagreed with many of their policies.

Every
Labour Government left unemployment higher than they found it.

Every
Labour Government ran out of other people’s money to spend.

Every
Labour Government left the economy in a mess.

But
at least they had some basic qualities that everyone could respect.

They
were proud of our institutions.

They
were proud of our armed forces.

They
were proud of Britain.

Today,
when I look across at the opposition benches, I can still see that Labour
Party.

The
heirs of Hugh Gaitskell and Barbara Castle, Dennis Healy and John Smith.

But
not on the front bench.

Instead
their faces stare blankly out from the rows behind, while another party
occupies prime position: the Jeremy Corbyn Party.

The
Jeremy Corbyn Party rejects the common values that once bridged our political
divide.

Compare
Jeremy Corbyn’s behaviour to that of his predecessors.

Would
Neil Kinnock, who stood-up to the hard-left, have stood by while his own MPs
faced deselection, and needed police protection at their Party conference?

Would
Jim Callaghan, who served in the Royal Navy, have asked the Russian government
to confirm the findings of our own intelligence agencies?

Would
Clement Attlee, Churchill’s trusted deputy during the Second World War, have
told British Jews they didn’t know the meaning of antisemitism?

What
has befallen Labour is a national tragedy.

What
has it come to when Jewish families today seriously discuss where they should
go if Jeremy Corbyn becomes Prime Minister?

When
a leading Labour MP says his party is ‘institutionally racist’?

When
the Leader of the Labour Party is happy to appear on Iranian state TV, but attacks
our free media here in Britain?

That
is what Jeremy Corbyn has done to the Labour Party.

It
is our duty, in this Conservative Party, to make sure he can never do it to our
country.

PARTY FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY

To
do that we need to be a Party for the whole country.

Because
today millions of people, who have never supported our Party in the past, are
appalled by what Jeremy Corbyn has done to Labour.

They
want to support a party that is decent, moderate, and patriotic.

One
that puts the national interest first.

Delivers
on the issues they care about.

And
is comfortable with modern Britain in all its diversity.

We
must show everyone in this country that we are that Party.

A
Party that conserves the best of our inheritance, but is not afraid of change.

A
party of patriotism, but not nationalism.

A
party that believes in business, but is not afraid to hold businesses to
account.

A
party that believes in the good that government can do, but knows government
will never have all the answers.  

A party that believes your success in life
should not be defined by who you love, your faith, the colour of your skin, who
your parents were, or where you were raised – but by your talent and your hard
work.

Above
all a party of Unionism, not just of four proud nations, but of all our people.

A
party not for the few, not even for the many, but for everyone who is willing
to work hard and do their best.

SECURITY. FREEDOM. OPPORTUNITY.

And
we must be a party that is not in thrall to ideology, but motivated instead by
enduring principles.

For
me they can be summed-up in three words: Security. Freedom. Opportunity.

Security
for the nation with strong defences against threats from abroad, and protection
against threats at home.

Security
for communities, upheld by the brave men and women of our police forces.

Security
for individuals and families, provided by a good job, a home of your own, and
dignity in old age.

And
security is the bedrock of freedom.

Freedom
of thought, freedom of expression, freedom of action.

The
freedom to make decisions for yourself, rather than have them made for you by
government.

The
freedom that our grandparents and great grandparents fought for against
tyranny.

The
freedom that swept across Eastern Europe when the Soviet Union collapsed, and
nations were reborn in sovereignty and independence.

The
freedom that is still denied to many in our world today.

But
with freedom should always come responsibility.

To
obey the law, even when you disagree with it.

To
conserve our environment, for the next generation.

And
most especially for those in public life – the responsibility to weigh the
impact our words and actions have on other people.

And
if we are secure and we are free, then opportunity is opened-up.

The
opportunity to take your future in your hands. To dream, and strive, and
achieve a better life.

To
know that if your dad arrived on a plane from Pakistan, you can become Home
Secretary.

That
if you spent time in care, you can be in the Cabinet.

That
if your grandparents came to our shores as part of the Windrush generation you
could be the next Mayor of London.

That
if you are pregnant with your first child and engaged to your girlfriend, you
could be the next First Minister of Scotland.

We,
the Conservative Party, are the party of opportunity.

LONG-TERM PLAN FOR THE NHS

No
institution embodies our principles as Conservatives more profoundly or more
personally than our National Health Service.

It
gives every man, woman and child the absolute security of knowing that whenever
you are sick, care will be there.

What
greater freedom than to live your life never having to worry about whether you
can afford the treatment you need?

What
greater opportunity for a country to make the most of all its talents?  

The
NHS is a service that is there for everyone; free at the point of use; with
care based always on clinical need, never the ability to pay.

These
principles are in our country’s DNA.

And
Conservatives will always uphold them.

Indeed,
Conservatives have looked after our NHS for most of its life.

And
this year we gave the NHS a seventieth birthday present to be proud of: the
biggest cash boost in its history.

An
extra £394 million every single week.

And
in return, the NHS will produce a new long-term plan to make sure every penny
makes a difference on the front line.

So,
next time you hear someone say that the Tories don’t care about the NHS, tell
them about that extra funding.

Tell
them about the Conservative MPs who work in the NHS in their spare time.

Tell
them about the Tory Prime Minister who can only do her job thanks to the
wonderful staff of her local NHS trust, who help her manage diabetes.

Tell
them about our Housing Secretary, James Brokenshire.

Last
year James officially opened the new Guy’s Cancer Centre at Queen Mary’s
Hospital in his constituency.

A
few months later he was a patient.

The
outstanding NHS care he received helped him recover, and now he is back serving
in the Cabinet.

Cancer
can strike any of us at any time.

A
few years ago, my goddaughter was diagnosed with cancer.

She
underwent treatment and it seemed to be working.

But
then the cancer came back.

Last
summer, she sent me a text to tell me that she was hoping to see another
Christmas.

But
she didn’t make it.

Half
of us will be diagnosed with cancer. All of us know someone who has been.

Survival
rates are increasing, but we are lagging behind other countries.

So
today I can announce a new Cancer Strategy, funded through our 70th birthday
investment, will form a central part of our long-term plan for the NHS.

The
key to boosting your chance of surviving cancer is early diagnosis.

Five-year
survival rates for bowel cancer are over 90% if caught early, but less than 10%
if diagnosed late.

Through
our Cancer Strategy, we will increase the early detection rate from one-in-two
today, to-three-in four by 2028.

We
will do it by lowering the age at which we screen for bowel cancer from 60 to
50.

By
investing in the very latest scanners.

And
by building more Rapid Diagnostic Centres – one stop-shops that help people get
treatment quicker.

This
will be a step-change in how we diagnose cancer.

It
will mean that by 2028, 55,000 more people will be alive five years after their
diagnosis compared to today.

Every
life saved means precious extra years with friends and family.

Every
life saved means a parent, a partner, a child, a god mother spared the pain of
losing a loved one before their time.

PUTTING THE NATIONAL INTEREST FIRST

Our
NHS saves countless lives every day.

That
is never more true than when our national security is threatened.

Those
are the times when I feel most keenly the responsibilities of my office.

When
I have to ask our brave servicemen and women to put themselves in harm’s way.

To
protect our citizens.

To
support our allies, as we would expect them to support us.

To
uphold the international rules on which our security depends.

Like
when the Syrian regime attacked Douma with chemical weapons, killing innocent
men, women and children.

We
joined with our friends to send a message that the use of chemical weapons will
never be tolerated.  

I
took the decision to send RAF jets to strike against Assad’s chemical weapons
facilities.

As
Prime Minister, I had to make the call, and then be held to account for it.

The
same was true when Russia launched a chemical attack on the streets of the
United Kingdom.

I
took the decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats who were undeclared
intelligence officers.

Our
allies joined with us in degrading Russia’s intelligence network.

In
Parliament I received almost universal support – from the SNP to the Liberal
Democrats and the Labour backbenches.  

There
was just one dissenting voice – Jeremy Corbyn.

Dismissing
the findings of our security services.

Suggesting
that the country responsible for the attack should double-check the findings of
our chemical weapons scientists.

Refusing
to lay the blame squarely where it belonged.

Just
imagine if he were Prime Minister.

He
says Britain should disarm herself in the hope others follow suit.

I
say no – we must keep our defences strong to keep our country safe.

He
says a strong NATO simply provokes Russia.

I
say no – it is the guarantor of our freedom and security.

He
poses as a humanitarian. But he says that military action to save lives is only
justified with the approval of the Security Council – effectively giving Russia
a veto.

I
say no – we cannot outsource our conscience to the Kremlin.

HONOURING THE REFERENDUM

Leadership
is doing what you believe to be right and having the courage and determination
to see it through.

That
is the approach I have taken on Brexit.

We
have had disagreements in this Party about Britain’s membership of the EU for a
long time.  

So,
it is no surprise that we have had a range of different views expressed this
week.

But
my job as Prime Minister is to do what I believe to be in the national
interest.

And
that means two things.

First,
honouring the result of the referendum.

MPs
asked the British people to take this decision.

We
put our faith in their judgement.

They
have put their faith in us to deliver.

I
will not let them down.

And
secondly, to seek a good trading and security relationship with our neighbours
after we have left.

They
are our close friends and allies, and we should ensure it stays that way.

That’s
what I said at Lancaster House.

It’s
what we promised in our manifesto.

And
it’s what I’ve worked day and night for the last two years to achieve.

No-one
wants a good deal more than me.

But
that has never meant getting a deal at any cost.

Britain
isn’t afraid to leave with no deal if we have to.

But
we need to be honest about it.

Leaving
without a deal – introducing tariffs and costly checks at the border – would be
a bad outcome for the UK and the EU.

It
would be tough at first, but the resilience and ingenuity of the British people
would see us through.

Some
people ask me to rule out no deal.

But
if I did that I would weaken our negotiating position and have to agree to whatever
the EU offers.

And
at the moment that would mean accepting one of two things.

Either
a deal that keeps us in the EU in all but name, keeps free movement, keeps vast
annual payments and stops us signing trade deals with other countries.

Or
a deal that carves off Northern Ireland, a part of this country, effectively
leaving it in the EU’s Custom’s Union.

So,
let us send a clear message from this hall today: we will never accept either
of those choices.

We
will not betray the result of the referendum.

And
we will never break up our country.

I
have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same.

OUR PROPOSAL

In
a negotiation, if you can’t accept what the other side proposes, you present an
alternative.

That
is what we have done.

Our
proposal is for a free trade deal that provides for frictionless trade in
goods.

It
would protect hundreds of thousands of jobs in the just-in-time supply chains
our manufacturing firms rely on.

Businesses
wouldn’t face costly checks when they export to the EU, so they can invest with
confidence.

And
it would protect our precious Union – the seamless border in Northern Ireland,
a bedrock of peace and stability, would see no change whatsoever.

No
simple free trade agreement could achieve that, not even one that makes use of
the very latest technology.

Our
proposal would be good for our rural communities, getting us out of the Common
Agricultural Policy.

It
would be good for our coastal communities.

We
would be out of the Common Fisheries Policy, an independent coastal state once
again.

And
with the UK’s biggest fishing fleets based in Scotland, let me say this to
Nicola Sturgeon.

You
claim to stand up for Scotland, but you want to lock Scottish fishermen into
the CFP forever.

That’s
not ‘Stronger for Scotland’, it’s a betrayal of Scotland.

Our
proposal would mean we could renew our role in the world, strike new trade
deals with other countries.

With
control of our money, we can spend more on our NHS.

With
control of our laws, we can bring decision-making closer to the people and
returning powers to Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

And
with control of our borders, we can do something that no British government has
been able to do in decades – restore full and complete control of who comes
into this country to the democratically elected representatives of the British
people.

And
this is what we will do with the immigration powers we take back.

The
free movement of people will end, once and for all.

In
its place we will introduce a new system.

It
will be based on what skills you have to offer, not which country you come
from.

Throughout
our history, migrants have made a huge contribution to our country – and they
will continue to in the future.

Those
with the skills we need, who want to come here and work hard, will find a
welcome.

But
we will be able to reduce the numbers, as we promised.

And
by ending free movement we will give British business an incentive to train our
own young people and to invest in technology that will improve their
productivity.

So
this is our proposal. Taking back control of our borders, laws and money.

Good
for jobs, good for the Union.

It
delivers on the referendum.

It
keeps faith with the British people.

It
is in the national interest.

TIME TO COME TOGETHER

Even
if we do not all agree on every part of this proposal, we need to come
together.

Because
it’s time we faced up to what is at risk.

We
have a Labour Party that, if they were in Government, would accept any deal the
EU chose to offer, regardless of how bad it is for the UK.

But
who also say they’ll oppose any deal I choose to bring back, regardless of how
good it is for the UK.

They
are not acting in the national interest, but their own political interest.

And
there are plenty of prominent people in British politics – in Parliament and
out of it – who want to stop Brexit in its tracks.

Their
latest plan is to hold a second referendum.

They
call it a ‘People’s Vote’.

But
we had the people’s vote. The people voted to leave.

A
second referendum would be a “politicians’ vote”: politicians telling people
they got it wrong the first time and should try again.

Think
for a moment what it would do to faith in our democracy if – having asked the
people of this country to take this decision – politicians tried to overturn
it.

Those
of us who do respect the result – whichever side of the question we stood on
two years ago – need to come together now.

If
we don’t – if we all go off in different directions in pursuit of our own
visions of the perfect Brexit – we risk ending up with no Brexit at all.

And
there’s another reason why we need to come together.

We
are entering the toughest phase of the negotiations.

You
saw in Salzburg that I am standing up for Britain.

What
we are proposing is very challenging for the EU.

But
if we stick together and hold our nerve I know we can get a deal that delivers
for Britain.

A BREXIT THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE

And
ultimately that’s what it’s all about.

The
people we serve are not interested in debates about the theory of Brexit –
their livelihoods depend on making a success of it in practice.

A
Brexit that might make Britain stronger fifty years from now is no good to you
if it makes your life harder today.

If
you work in a factory in Pendle, you need a Brexit that keeps trade
friction-free and supply-chains flowing.

If
you are a fisherman in Peterhead, you need a Brexit that delivers full control
of our waters.

If
you run an exporting business in Penarth, you need a Brexit that will open up
new global markets.

If
you live in Pettigo on the Irish border, you need a Brexit that keeps it
frictionless and communities connected.

These
things matter to you – so they matter to me.

You
are the people we are all here to serve.

And
together we will build a brighter future for the whole United Kingdom.

A MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY

I
passionately believe that our best days lie ahead of us and that our future is
full of promise.

We
have fundamental strengths as a country.

English
is the global language.

We
can trade with Shanghai over morning coffee and San Francisco at tea time.

Our
courts are incorruptible.

Our
universities, world-leading.

Our
soft power, unrivalled.

A
driving force in the Commonwealth.

A
permanent member of the UN Security Council.

And
soon we will retake our own seat at the World Trade Organisation.

Britain
will be a champion for free trade right across the globe – and I want to thank
our fantastic trade envoys for leading that work.

But
our greatest strength of all is the talent and diversity of our people.

We
have produced more Nobel Prize winners than any country apart from America.

We
are home to amazing innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs.

Our
wonderful public servants are the best in the world.

The
compassion of our NHS staff, the dedication of our teachers, the bravery of our
police, and the matchless courage of our armed forces.

Don’t
let anyone tell you we don’t have what it takes: we have everything we need to
succeed.

And
in 2022 we will put the best of British creativity and innovation, culture and
heritage on show in a year-long festival of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland.  

Wherever
I travel, I find a renewed interest in Britain.

Let
me give you one example.

Last
month I became the first British Prime Minister to visit Kenya in 30 years.

This
is a Commonwealth partner, a nation of over 50 million people, on a continent
that will be an engine-room of economic growth in the years ahead.

Their
message to me was clear: our businesses want to trade with you.

Our
young people want to study with you.

Our
scientists and artists want to collaborate with you.

Yet
I was the first Prime Minister to visit since Margaret Thatcher.

There
is a whole world out there. Let’s lift our horizons to meet it.

THE POWER OF FREE MARKETS

The
UK has always been an outward-looking trading nation.

And
as Conservatives, we believe in the power of a well-regulated free market – the
greatest agent of collective human progress ever devised.

In
the last 30 years, extreme poverty has been cut in half.

Global
life expectancy has increased by nearly 20 years.

Child
mortality has halved.

But
the free market hasn’t just saved lives, it has improved them: the internet,
smartphones, cheap air travel, electric cars, even flat-pack furniture.

We
should defend free markets, because it is ordinary working people who benefit.

Closed
markets and command economies were not overthrown by powerful elites, but by
ordinary people.

By
the shipyard workers of Gdańsk, who led the
resistance in Poland.

By
people of all backgrounds who took part in the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.

By
the people of East Berlin, who tore down that wall.

These
were the many, not the few.

And
when the many have the freedom to choose, they choose freedom.

I
saw it last month in South Africa.

I
was speaking to some inspiring young people, full of fire and hope for their
futures.

Some
told me they wanted to be doctors, others lawyers.

I
think some might even have been inspired to become professional dancers.

Perhaps
not.

But
one young woman said something else.

She
told me her ambition was to start a business, so she could create jobs in her
local community.

The
people in this hall who have started their own businesses will know how
thrilling it is to take a risk and start something new.

But
offering someone a job – creating opportunity for other people – is one of the
most socially-responsible things you can do.

It
is an act of public service as noble as any other.

To
everyone who has done it – we are all in your debt.

So,
we in this party, we in this hall, we say thank you.

And
to all businesses – large and small – you may have heard that there is a
four-letter word to describe what we Conservatives want to do to you.

It
has a single syllable. It is of Anglo-Saxon derivation. It ends in the letter
‘K’.

Back
business.

Back
them to create jobs and build prosperity.

Back
them to drive innovation and improve lives.

Back
them with the lowest Corporation Tax in the G20.

Britain,
under my Conservative Government, is open for business.

TEN YEARS ON

We
support free markets because we know their strengths.

But
we also know their limits.

The
defining event for a new generation of voters was not the fall of the Berlin
Wall, but the collapse of the banks.

It
was the biggest market failure in our lifetimes.  

A
recession in which almost three quarters of a million jobs were lost.

Sound
businesses forced to close because they could not access credit.

People
queuing to withdraw their money from Northern Rock.

Thanks
to Labour, the country was not prepared.

The
government ended up borrowing £1 for every £4 it spent.

It
fell to our party to clear up the mess.  

Eight
years on, how have we done?

Our
economy is growing.

The
deficit down by four-fifths.

Unemployment
at its lowest since the 1970s.

Youth
unemployment at a record low.

Households
where nobody works down by almost a million.

We
should not forget what’s behind those numbers.

The
parent who swaps a benefit cheque for a regular wage.

The
youngster leaving school and never having to sign on.

The
children growing up with an example of hard work.

Hope
and dignity for millions of people in our country.

We
should be proud of our record.

But
our pride in those achievements should not blind us to the challenges that
remain.

The
after-effects of the crash are still being felt – in four important ways.

Some
markets are still not working in the interests of ordinary people.

Employment
is up, but too many people haven’t had a decent pay rise.

The
deficit is down, but achieving that has been painful.

And
our economy is growing, but some communities have been left behind.

This
is why some people still feel that our economy isn’t working for them.

Our
mission as Conservatives must be to show them that we can build an economy that
does.

LABOUR’S FALSE HOPE

In
Liverpool last week, all Labour offered were bogus solutions that would make
things worse.

Ideas
that might seem attractive at first glance, but which would hurt the very
people they claim to help.

Their
flagship announcement was a case in point.

It
would mean the government effectively confiscating a tenth of every company
with more than 250 employees.

Workers
wouldn’t become shareholders – and much of the income generated would end up
with the government.

They
dress it up as employee ownership, but it’s a giant stealth tax on enterprise.

It
would slash the share prices of British businesses, hitting anyone with a
private pension.

And
it would make the UK an unattractive place to invest, driving away business,
destroying jobs.

The
same is true of their nationalisation policy.

They
want our railways and utilities to be owned entirely by the Government.

But
when you nationalise something, people pay for it twice – once when they use
the service, and again every month through their taxes.

And
investment in them goes down, because when governments are setting budgets,
they will always choose schools and hospitals over reservoirs and railways, so
people get a worse service.  

Even
some in the Labour Party admit their programme of nationalisation, and their
endless expensive promises, would cost £1 trillion.

You
heard me right – one thousand billion pounds.

That
is not government money but your money.

Because
Labour would have to pay for it by raising taxes higher and higher.  

Of
course, everyone should pay their fair share.

But
when you raise taxes too high, businesses cannot afford to invest.

They
cannot afford to take on new employees.

Eventually,
they cannot afford to operate here at all.

They
move abroad, create jobs in other countries, pay taxes somewhere else, and
leave us poorer.

They
would also have to increase borrowing again.

We
already spend more each year on debt interest than we do on our schools.

After
all the sacrifices we have made, they would take us back to square one.

These
ideas won’t help people who are struggling, they will hurt them.

Hurt
workers, whose jobs would go as businesses left Britain.

Hurt
pensioners, whose savings would be devalued.

And
hurt young people, whose future Labour would mortgage.

FIXING BROKEN MARKETS

However
bad the Labour approach is, we must do more than criticise it.

We
need to show what this Conservative government is doing to address people’s
concerns.

First,
we need to make markets work in the interests of ordinary people again.

That’s
why we toughened up our corporate governance rules.

We
are giving workers a stronger voice in the boardroom.

We
have changed the rules on bonuses, so bosses are rewarded for long-term
performance, not short-term profit.

It’s
why, with the gig economy changing how people work, we are changing our
employment rules, so new technology cannot undermine workers’ rights.

It’s
why we introduced the energy price cap.

Announced
at last year’s conference, and in place for this winter.

It
will stop energy firms charging their most loyal customers unfair prices.  

Any
other companies charging their customers a ‘loyalty penalty’ should know: we
will take action.

Because
we put the interest of consumers first, we have also announced a fundamental
review into our railways.

Since
privatisation, investment in the network has gone up, safety has improved, and
more people are travelling by rail than ever before.

But
on some routes the service has not been good enough. We will fix that.

And
while we do so, we will bring in a new system of auto-compensation, so that
when your train is late you won’t have to waste more time getting your money
back.

Last
year I made it my personal mission to fix another broken market: housing.

We
cannot make the case for capitalism if ordinary working people have no chance
of owning capital.

To
put the dream of home ownership back within their reach, we scrapped stamp duty
for most first-time buyers – and over 120,000 households have already benefited.

We’ve
helped half a million people onto the housing ladder through other schemes like
Help to Buy.

And
this week we have announced that we will charge a higher rate of stamp duty on
those buying homes who do not live and pay taxes in the UK, to help level the
playing field for British buyers.

The
money raised will go towards tackling the scourge of rough sleeping.

But
the truth is that while these measures will help in the short term, we will
only fix this broken market by building more homes.

And
that is what we are doing.

More
new homes were added to our stock last year than in all but one of the last 30
years.

But
we need to do better still.

The
last time Britain was building enough homes – half a century ago – local
councils made a big contribution.

We’ve
opened-up the £9 billion Affordable Housing Programme to councils, to get them
building again.

And
at last year’s conference I announced an additional £2 billion for affordable
housing.

But
something is still holding many of them back.

There
is a government cap on how much they can borrow against their Housing Revenue
Account assets to fund new developments.

Solving
the housing crisis is the biggest domestic policy challenge of our generation.

It
doesn’t make sense to stop councils from playing their part in solving it.

So
today I can announce that we are scrapping that cap.

We
will help you get on the housing ladder.

And
we will build the homes this country needs.

COST OF LIVING

Our
next challenge is to help working people with the cost of living.

We
know how hard people work to make ends meet and provide for their families.

It
isn’t easy. It never has been.

And
the difference it makes to have a little bit of money left to put away at the
end of each month isn’t measured in pounds and pence.

It’s
the look on a daughter’s face when her mum says she can have the bike she wants
for her birthday.

It’s
the joy and precious memories that a week’s holiday with the family brings.

It’s
the peace of mind that comes with having some savings.

Many
people, in towns and cities across our country, cannot take these things for
granted.

They
are the people this party exists for.

They
are the people for whom this party must deliver.

It’s
for them that we cut income tax.

Introduced
a National Living Wage.

Extended
free childcare.

And
froze fuel duty every year.

Because
for millions of people, their car is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.

Some
have wondered if there would be a thaw in our policy this year.

Today
I can confirm, given the high oil price, the Chancellor will freeze fuel duty
once again in his budget later this month.

Money
in the pockets of hard-working people.

A
Conservative Government that is on their side.

END OF AUSTERITY

Third,
after a decade of austerity, people need to know that their hard work has paid
off.

Because
of that hard work, and the decisions taken by the Chancellor, our national debt
is starting to fall for the first time in a generation.  

This
is a historic achievement.

But
getting to this turning point wasn’t easy.

Public
sector workers had their wages frozen.

Local
services had to do more with less.

And
families felt the squeeze.

Fixing
our finances was necessary.

There
must be no return to the uncontrolled borrowing of the past.

No
undoing all the progress of the last eight years.

No
taking Britain back to square one.

But
the British people need to know that the end is in sight.

And
our message to them must be this: we get it.

We
are not just a party to clean up a mess, we are the party to steer a course to
a better future.

Sound
finances are essential, but they are not the limit of our ambition.

Because
you made sacrifices, there are better days ahead.

So,
when we’ve secured a good Brexit deal for Britain, at the Spending Review next
year we will set out our approach for the future.

Debt
as a share of the economy will continue to go down, support for public services
will go up.

Because,
a decade after the financial crash, people need to know that the austerity it
led to is over and that their hard work has paid off.

AN ECONOMY OF THE FUTURE

The
final challenge is about the future we want for our economy.

We
stand on the threshold of technological changes that will transform how we live
and work, travel and communicate.

This
has the potential to improve the lives of everyone in society, but only if we
take the right decisions now.

At
times of change in the past, the benefits have not been evenly spread.

Some
communities have been left behind. This time it must be different.

Because
we are all worse off when any part of us is held back.

That
means doing things differently.

Our
Modern Industrial Strategy is helping the whole country get ready for the
economic change that is coming.

We
are investing in infrastructure.

We
are doing more than anyone since the Victorians to upgrade our railways.

Our
road-building programme is the largest since the 1970s.

We
have taken the big decision to build a third runway at Heathrow.

We
are driving up research spending– so we can be the ideas factory of the future.

We
are investing in our workforce – helping people train and retrain.

In
our schools, we are keeping standards high.

And
where Labour want to roll-back reform, scrap academies and kill off free
schools, we will build more of them, because every child deserves a great start
in life.

Every
child, in every town and city, across the whole country.

So
that is our Conservative answer.

Fixing
markets not destroying them.

Helping
with the cost of living.

Ending
austerity.

An
economy of the future with nowhere left behind.

This
is how we will build a country that works for everyone.

I
made that my mission when I stood for the leadership.

It
was what I dedicated my government to on the steps of Downing Street.

And
it is the future this Party will deliver.

OUR FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS

Every
person in this hall has the power to shape that future.

This
is a moment of opportunity for our party.

To
champion decency in our politics.

To
be the moderate, patriotic government this country needs.

To
be a party not for the few, not even for the many, but for everyone who works
hard and plays by the rules.

And
it’s a moment of opportunity for our country.

To
honour the result of the referendum.

To
come together to make a success of the decision we took.

To
build the homes we need.

To
get the next generation on the housing ladder.

To
help people who are struggling to make ends meet.

To
invest in our vital public services.

To
renew our precious National Health Service.

To
lead the world in the technologies of the future.

To
ensure every family and every community shares the success.

To
tackle the burning injustices that hold people back.

We
stand at a pivotal moment in our history.

It
falls to our party to lead our country through it.

When
we come together there is no limit to what we can achieve.

Ours
is a great country.

Our
future is in our hands.

Together,
let’s seize it.

Together,
let’s build a better Britain.”

ENDS.

For further information, please contact the Press
Office on 020 7984 8121.

Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, speaking yesterday at Conservative Party Conference at The ICC, Birmingham, said:

“Good afternoon everyone and thank you James for that introduction. James said a good education can do amazing things, and I certainly agree with that sentiment.

“You know whenever I ask anyone to think back to their education, what really made a difference for them when they were at school, you know I have yet to come back – to get the answer back – “it was a smart board” or “a text book” or “an exam” or “a scheme of work”. The answer that comes back is always about a person. People talk about Miss Smith, Mr Jones, Mrs O’Neil. Because education is all about that person standing at the front of the class. Those inspiring individuals, those 450,000 teachers that we have out there, they deserve and they have our admiration, our respect and our thanks.

“And you know since 2010, those teachers have made some amazing things happen. Assisted by the reforms initiated by my predecessors, by Nicky Morgan, Justine Greening and of course Michael Gove.  We are back in the international top ten for primary reading. We have a reformed curriculum and examinations. We have thousands of schools that have been set free as academies. We’ve got 1.9 million more young people studying in good or outstanding schools. And the gap has been narrowed. The gap between the rich and the poor in attainment has narrowed at every stage and every phase from nursery school to university entry.

“Now, that is a record of which you can be proud. You should be proud. But you shouldn’t be satisfied. We should not be satisfied until we can say that we truly have a world class education for everyone. Wherever they come from, wherever they’re going and whatever route they’re taking through our education system. Until we have made sure that in every region and in every group of our society, opportunity is truly equal.

“And of course a world class education depends on our investment in the future. I say investment, because education spending isn’t just public spending. It is an investment. An investment in the future of those children going through our schools. Also an investment in the future of our country. And as you can see, we are strong investors in education when you look at us compared to other key comparator nations like the G7.

“We have also been investing heavily in the capacity of our system to ensure we have a good supply of good and outstanding places in our schools. In contrast to Labour, who cut 100,000 places in our school system in the years running up to 2010, by the end of this decade, we will have added a million school places to our system. And we think that when a school is a good school, when it’s giving a good education, and when it’s popular with parents, that school should be able to expand so that more young people can benefit from what’s on offer. That includes if it is a grammar school. And we also believe that there is and always has been a very important role in our system for faith schools and we will continue to invest in free schools that have brought such diversity and innovation to our system and I was proud to see another 53 free schools opening this term for the new academic year as well as the hundreds already open.

“I can see in the front row and – just give me a moment to introduce and to thank them – the brilliant DfE ministerial team, starting with Nick Gibb who has been there from the very start and has done so much to drive academic standards in our schools, and particularly the focus on early reading and phonics. Anne Milton with her infectious dedication to building up the skills base in our country, to apprenticeships and to colleges. Sam Gyimah, working alongside our excellent higher education sector and being such an effective voice for the student. Nadhim Zahawi, looking after early years and special needs and how we look after those children who are the most vulnerable in our society, those who are in care. And Lord Agnew, our minister in the Lords, who has brought his own expertise from a leading multi- academy trust to his role as Minister for the school system. We are also very lucky to be supported in Parliament by our team of David Morris, Jack Brereton, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, our Commons Whip Amanda Milling and James Younger in the Lords.

“Now, we are all spurred on by three key imperatives. The first is progress. Because we think and I know you think that it is self-evident that every generation should have better opportunities than the last. And you think that every year we need to raise our sights higher and we need to reach wider to make sure we unlock the talent and potential in every child in our country.

“Secondly, we know that on the education of this generation of children lies the future prospects and prosperity of our country. Because it’s productivity growth that allows people to be paid a little bit more each year and allows us to afford more for the excellent public services which we all value so much.

“Third, preparedness: being ready for whatever comes in an uncertain world. Part of this is about being ready to seize the opportunities that will come in global trade after we leave the European Union. But it is also about preparedness for the change that’s happening in the world as we speak. If you think about the technological advances that are happening at the moment. If you think about artificial intelligence, voice computing, the internet, advanced robotics. Any of these on their own could constitute a revolution. But right now they are happening all at the same time. And so we’ve got a pace of change that is truly unprecedented. Now, people sometimes talk about all this technological change in the world as a threat and something to be overcome and there are issues to deal with. But it is an opportunity for those who are ready, those who are equipped to take advantage of this change and we need to make sure that this country is one of the countries that seizes technology and makes it work for us, not one of the countries that technological change gets done to.

“So to deal with these challenges, to take the maximum advantage of these opportunities, now more than ever before, we need a focused and sustained plan for education and skills.

“That starts with academic standards. And the way that the knowledge economy has developed and with the emerging superpowers of the economies of the east, we can’t afford any let up on academic standards and we need to go further and we need to make sure we are putting enough emphasis on the subjects of future, for the global Britain of the future in this changed world. So we need to think about the languages of mankind and the languages of machines.

“We also need to make sure that all our young people leave our education system with the basic essential skills that they’re going to need with them in life whatever path they end up taking, whatever job they ends up doing. Central to that is English and Maths. We have made a lot of progress on English and Maths. But we need to go further. Today, I’m announcing 32 primary schools and 21 colleges which will act as centres of excellence to spread best practice respectively for early literacy teaching and the teaching of Maths aged 16 and above.

“We also know and any teacher will tell you that good teaching and learning relies on a calm classroom. Pupil behaviour is absolutely essential. And so I’m also announcing today a further £10 million to support the spreading of best practice and knowledge on behaviour management and classroom management so that can be very widely deployed.

“Now, I think we can say that there are genuinely large parts of our academic system which are truly word class. Many of our state schools, large parts of our university sector, are world class but there is another area which in years gone by has not had enough focus. I’m talking about technical and vocational education, which for decades has not had as much attention as it should. We have already made great strides forwards increasing the quality level of apprenticeships and with more people starting on higher level apprenticeships and even degree level apprenticeships.

“You will have heard the announcement yesterday that we’re going to accelerate the process of moving on to these higher standards, employer-set apprenticeships that young people benefit from so much.

“You have all heard of A Levels right? Tell me yes. You’ve all heard of A Levels but you may not yet have heard of T Levels? Who has heard of T Levels? Good, well those of you who haven’t yet, you will do soon, because within a couple of years we are bringing in this new qualification for 16 to 18 year olds called the T Level. It will be a direct alternative to A Levels, but focused on those key vocational subjects. Today I’m announcing a £38 million capital pot to make sure that the colleges teaching those first T Levels from 2020 can do so with really world class equipment and facilities.

“And you also know how important careers advice is and guidance for young people and the key role that is played by careers advisers in schools, and so we are also going to be doubling the number of trained careers leaders in schools so young people are aware about all those different routes. So they don’t think there is only one route they can take to success and they are aware of all the different career options available to them.

“We are also going to be reviewing the higher level qualifications, those at so-called level four and level five, that are the direct alternative to going to university for young people at 18, and we carry on our design work on the national retraining scheme, so that all throughout their lives people have the opportunity to upgrade and change their skills, so that lifelong learning stops being a phrase and starts being a reality.

“Now, qualifications are clearly an absolutely essential part of education. They are, if you like, the paper passports that you leave school or college or university with, and take with you into your career and into your life. But they are not the whole of the story, and I invite you now to think back to the kids you were at school, and see if you can remember one that left school with nothing or next to nothing, by way of GCSEs or possibly, in some cases, O levels, depending on our age. Someone who came away with almost nothing in qualifications, but they still went on and did something really quite amazing in life. Can anyone think of that person? I am going to suggest to you that quite often what makes the difference is something that we might call character. Something that you will never see on a certificate of education, but you know it when you see it. I mean things like determination and drive. I mean the tenacity to stick with the task at hand, and the ability to bounce back from the knocks that life inevitably brings. Now these character traits are closely connected with something I hear all the time about from employers. So-called workplace skills. Things like teamwork. Commitment. The ability to look at the customer in the eye, and want to make the sale. Character is also connected to general health and well-being, and we are much more aware of this area, and rightly so, in the education sector now than in decades gone by. That’s why I am pleased that we are going to be introducing mental health education into schools within the next couple of years.

“Now actually, I don’t think you can just walk into a class of 28 kids one day and say today, we are going to learn about character. Today we are going to do drive and determination. Of course you can’t, but these are things you pick up a lot from what happens at school, and in particular, I think, extracurricular activities play an important part. So I’m going to be working closely with Jeremy Wright on the new youth performance partnerships, and working with Gavin Williamson to make sure that more young people can get involved with the cadets. And for many young people, it is sport that really unlocks their talents and potential. In the last few years, we have been able to commit, to vote over £900 million to the primary sports premium. And now, working together with Tracy Crouch, the Sports Minister, we are going to be bringing in a new cross Government initiative for a school sports action plan, to make sure that sporting opportunities, and we will do this together with bodies like the RFU, with the Premier League, and with England netball, making sure that those opportunities are spread as widely as possible and that every child is able to benefit from what sports can bring.

“Ladies and gentlemen, like many of you, I have been coming to this conference for many years, and in all those years that I have been coming, as a YC, an activist, a Parliamentary candidate and more recently as an MP, I think around the corridors and conference centres like this, and around the fringe events, and the cafes and the bars, I think I have heard more conversations about education than I have about anything else, because we Conservatives know that education is the key to the future.

“It was the first One Nation Conservative, the original, Benjamin Disraeli who said, “Upon the education of the people of this country, the fate of this country depends.” Since then, it has been Conservatives who have most resolutely acted upon that. From Balfour to Butler, from Baker to Gove.

“But you know as we stand here today in 2018, we can’t take for granted what has been achieved since 2010. Because we learnt from Liverpool last week, that the Labour Party wants to put it all at risk. They want to undo our reforms and turn back the clock. I was thinking about what a parent would think as they heard the speech of the Shadow Education Secretary, when she said she wanted to take all publicly funded schools back into Council control, back into what she called the ‘mainstream public sector’ with what she called a ‘common rule book’. Well you know, for a parent whose child has been thriving at a free school or an academy, how they must have shuddered when they heard those words. But ladies and gentleman, we will stand up for those families, we will defend the right for those children to have an outstanding education, because while Labour go off on their ideological journeys, that child only has one chance at their education and they deserve the very best.

“So far from going backwards, ladies and gentleman, we need to move forwards with our reforms. We need to ensure that the vocational and the technical, are absolutely on a par with the academic. We need to make sure that we extend our reforms in all regions, in all parts of the country. That all parts of our society have equal opportunity, that everywhere we see raised expectations and raised aspirations, and when that happens, then we will be able to say, this is a world class education for everyone. Thank you.”

 

ENDS

For further information, please contact the Press Office on 020 7984 8121.

Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, speaking today at Conservative Party Conference at The ICC, Birmingham, said:

(Check against delivery)

“It’s a real privilege to be Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

I love the NHS, and I want to talk about what we’re going to do to make sure it’s always there for you and your family…

…in the way it’s always been there for mine.

Last year, my sister Emily had a near-fatal brain injury.

Her life was saved by the NHS at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

Last month, I had the chance to go, with her, back to Southmead and say thank you.

They took us in from the helipad, where she’d been taken off the air ambulance …

… in through A&E where they’d stabilised her…

… and into the Intensive Care Unit.

And as we went in, standing there, directly opposite, was the consultant who’d looked after her.

Until that moment, she couldn’t remember anything about it.

But when she saw him, she knew exactly who he was and went over and gave him a great big hug.

It was an incredible moment.

And when she thanked him, his reply will always stick with me.

He said “It wasn’t just me, it was the whole team.”

And that sums up our NHS.

I love my sister, and the NHS saved her life.

So when I say I love the NHS, I really mean it.

But the truth is, they would have done this for anyone.

For my sister – for yours.

And what an honour it is to be in a position to be able to say thank you to the guy who saved your sister’s life.

So my heartfelt thanks is not just from one brother to one doctor, or from one family to one hospital.

No.

The NHS is there for us all.

And I want to say this,

From everyone in this nation,

To every person who works in the NHS:

We salute you.

We value you.

And from the bottom of our hearts:

Thank you.

I’m proud of the NHS for what it’s delivering today.

Cancer survival rates are at a record high.

Strokes are down by a third.

Deaths from heart failure down by a quarter.

And the NHS is doing more than ever.

39,000 more clinicians looking after patients than in 2010.

12,000 more nurses on our wards.

14,000 more doctors.

1 million more seen by cancer specialists each year.

2 million more operations.

3 million more treated in A&E.

And, the result of all this:

At every age and every stage of life, people are healthier than ever.

That’s what our NHS is delivering under this Conservative Government.

But anyone who knows the NHS…

… also knows there are serious pressures, because our population is ageing and we’re treating more people than ever before.

I know this.

It’s clear to anyone.

Social care is under pressure too.

I know the pressures.

And we’re going to address them.

Because I want us to make the NHS the best health service in the world.

And today I want to talk a bit about how.

First of all, it can’t be done without more money.

The Prime Minister has committed an extra £20 billion over the next five years.

£20 billion.

It’s the largest, longest financial settlement in the entire history of the NHS, and it’ll underpin the NHS for the long term.

And when people ask that we spell out our domestic agenda – you tell them this.

We’ve taken this decision.

We have made our choice.

We have responded to the public mood and the clear needs of the service…

…with boldness.

Let me say: this policy is not without cost.

I know that.

And I know it’s audacious.

But I profoundly believe it to be right, and I’m proud to serve a Prime Minister who believes it to be right too.

This money comes on stream next year.

But I want to help the NHS through this winter too.

I’ve already provided funding for hospitals to make upgrades to their buildings to deal with pressures this winter.

And I can announce that today I am making an extra £240 million available to pay for social care packages this winter to support our NHS.

We’ll use this money to get people who don’t need to be in hospital…

…but do need care…

… back home…

…back into their communities…

…so we can free up those vital hospital beds…

… and help people who really need it, get the hospital care they deserve.

But money alone isn’t enough.

We need to make sure that money’s well spent, by reforming the NHS and social care system too…

… to make sure it’s always there for you and your family.

So, along with the NHS themselves, we’re writing a long term plan to guarantee its future.

And I’m hugely grateful to my departmental team who are working together with me on these reforms:

Steve Barclay,

Caroline Dinenage,

Jackie Doyle-Price,

Steve Brine,

James O’Shaughnessy,

Wendy Morton,

Alex Chalk,

and Maggie Throup.

It’s great working as part of this team, pulling together.

And I tell you this, as a party, we’ve got to pull together.

Because we saw with Labour last week the frightening prospect for our country if we fail.

They’ve got nothing new and every time their programme’s been tried, it’s failed and brought misery on millions.

It’s our duty to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

One of the major reforms we need to see is bringing new technology across the health and care system.

And obviously I’ve been able to consult widely about this in the last few days…

… because CCHQ’s given everyone my phone number.

Of course introducing new technology can be bumpy.

But the potential benefits are huge.

But the NHS is still the biggest buyer of fax machines in the country…

…maybe even the world.

And this is putting even greater pressures on our NHS staff.

In some hospitals a nurse still goes round with a clip board to find out where beds are in use and where they’re empty.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

In Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where I was on a nightshift with Johnny Mercer last week…

… they’ve developed an in-house programme so everyone knows where the empty beds are all the time.

Patients get better treatment and it’s so much easier for staff.

So we’re going to sort out the technology in the NHS, because our NHS deserves better.

Of course, it’s not just about sorting the IT.

It’s about seizing the huge cutting edge opportunities.

Let’s take one example.

Today, it takes on average more than 5 years to diagnose rare diseases with endless tests and trial treatments.

But thanks to the 100,000 genome project, now, by combining your own gene sequence with machine learning on others, you can be diagnosed in days.

And what’s more, from just a swab of saliva, there’s the potential to design a drug specifically to treat your unique biological code.

In this city, the university hospital is growing replicas of people’s cancers in the lab to test individual drugs to see if they destroy the cancer before subjecting the patient to that drug.

It increases the chance of cure and it reduces the agony of unsuccessful treatments.

It’s unbelievable and it’s happening right here in Birmingham.

And I’m so proud that it’s thanks to a decision by David Cameron and this Conservative Government that this is happening at all.

I want to go further.

So I can announce today that we’re expanding our 100,000 genome project so one million whole genomes will now be sequenced…

… with a long term vision of 5 million…

… and I want to make it available to all.

And what this means in practice for you and your family is this.

From today, our brand new NHS Genomic Medicine Service will roll out access to genomic testing.

So for everyone with a rare cancer, and for all seriously ill children, it’ll be available on the NHS…

… so we’ll have tailor made treatments and tailor made drugs that are the best fit for a patient not a best guess.

We’re leading the world, and I’m incredibly excited about this technology because of its potential to change lives for the better.

It’s just one example. But it shows the kind of reform we need to make sure the NHS is the best health service in the world.

But new technology is not enough to make the health and social care system sustainable.

We need other reforms too.

We’ve got to reform the system…

…so we spend more time on prevention not cure…

…with more integration between health and social care…

…and more treatment closer to home.

What I mean by this, is that the era of moving all activity into fewer larger hospitals…

…and blindly, invariably, closing community hospitals…

…that era is over.

I want more services closer to the communities they serve.

And I want us to empower people to have more control over their own health too.

Whether it’s the rising risk of obesity, the scourge of gambling addiction, or the growing challenge of mental illness…

…these problems, and the increasing demands they put on our health service, can only truly be solved by prevention as much as cure.

We can’t go on treating them just as medical problems.

We need to look after people as people, not just as patients…

…and foster a culture less popping pills and Prozac…

…and more prevention and perspiration.

That includes acting on new evidence and interventions to support people with obesity and other conditions…

…whether it be through prescribing exercise, the arts, or nutritional advice…

…rather than yet more drugs and medical interventions.

Or in the language I prefer to use – it’s common sense.

We need reforms of social care too, to make it sustainable for the long term.

So people don’t have to fear the risk of losing everything…

… if for a reason outside their control they end up needing care when they’re old.

Reform of social care is long overdue…

… and we’ll publish a paper later this year setting out the progress we can make to give all people confidence and dignity in old age.

And of course, we can’t do any of these reforms without our GPs.

Our GPs are the bedrock of the NHS.

They’re everyone’s first port of call.

We need more of them, better supported, and better equipped.

Prevention of ill health is nothing without primary care.

So we back our nation’s GPs every step of the way.

Now, I believe that this need for reform…

…does not simply lie with the NHS or our social care system.

We too, as a party, must be driven by this imperative of reform.

We’ve always been at our best when we’ve been reforming…

… when we look to the future.

Who abolished slavery in the 19th century?

Who delivered equal votes for women in the 20th?

Who brought in equal marriage in the 21st?

Not the Whigs, or the Liberals, or the Labour party.

It was the Conservative party.

Throughout history we’ve shown we’re at our best when we’re in favour of the future…

… not fixated on the past.

But it’s more than that.

We can’t just be comfortable with Modern Britain.

We’ve got to be the champions of Modern Britain.

Pro jobs, pro business, pro prosperity…

… helping everyone who wants to achieve…

…to achieve their potential.

We can’t fear the future…

… we’ve got to embrace the future.

We embrace the future or we embrace defeat.

The Conservative party is the party that’s always understood the spirit of this great nation.

That spirit today calls for opportunity for all…

…without fear or favour.

Now more than ever…

… we’ve got to give it all we’ve got…

… because our opponents are not resting either.

So let us unite together.

Let us embrace our NHS…

… let us embrace reform…

… and with everything we have…

…let us serve this great nation we love.”

ENDS

For further information, please contact the Press Office on 020 7984 8121.