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James Cleverly – 2022 Speech to Conservative Party Conference

The speech made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, in Birmingham on 4 October 2022.

Thank you Conference.

It’s great be back together,

As a party.

As a family.

Big thank you to Jake Berry our chairman

Organising conference is a mammoth task.

And a big thank you our party staff, our volunteers,

And you, the members.

I loved being party chairman,

working with you all, with Ben my co-chairman,

And working alongside Boris.

And if I remember rightly we did alright.

an 80-seat majority –

A great team of new MPs from all over our great country –

And Boris’s leadership:

…Delivered Brexit…

…Got us through the Covid…

…And he led the world in support for Ukraine.

It’s a legacy that we should be proud of.

And I was proud to serve under him.

It’s a legacy that Liz Truss will build on.

I’ve seen her take bold action as Foreign Secretary:

…her steadfast support for Ukraine and standing up to Russia…

…her passionate defence of our Union…

…her determination to promote democracy and freedom around the world.

As Prime Minister she is also being bold.

…helping with energy bills…

…ensuring you can see your doctor promptly…

Reducing the taxes paid by ordinary, hardworking people across the country.

I backed her from the start:

And I know I made the right choice.

I’m the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Wow, that still sounds strange!

It is an honour to be the face and voice of our country overseas.

I’m the UK’s sales guy.

I’m pretty good at sales, it was how I paid my bills.

But I know that the greatest salesperson that the UK ever had was her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Our greatest diplomat

Our greatest advocate

Our greatest champion

Elizabeth the Great.

I’ve had the honour of meeting King Charles,

and I know he will work tirelessly and to continue her work…

and be our new chief ambassador.

During the funeral week of her late Majesty

I was reminded of the standing that our country has in the world.

When I travel on behalf of our country,

I am lucky enough to see the UK as others see us.

And I can tell you the view of here, from over there is really, really good.

It’s not a terribly fashionable thing…

To be proud of your country…

But I am –

So sue me!!!

My mother chose to make this country her home.

She was a young woman from Sierra Leone who adored this country then,

Just as I adore this country now.

In fact,

I am from immigrant stock on both sides of my family:

My mum came here from West Africa in 1966

And my dad’s family came here from Normandy in 1066.

There will always be people that talk our country down…

Belittle our achievements…

Underestimate our standing…

Those self-loathing keyboard warriors…

Who hate our country’s every success…

And pray for bad news.

Those people who aren’t happy until they’re unhappy:

They want to stand on the side-lines,

Never contributing,

Only moaning and bleating.

But that isn’t us;

That isn’t this party;

That isn’t this government;

That isn’t this country.

We aren’t commentators watching the match,

And saying “Ohhhhh I wouldn’t have done that”.

We are players on the pitch…

Making a difference…

Promoting our values…

Competing on the world stage for what we believe is right.

And we believe in freedom.

We believe in the rule of law.

We believe that an aggressor cannot invade its neighbour with impunity.

This is why we stand shoulder to shoulder with those brave Ukrainians defending their homeland.

And Britain has the strategic endurance to see this through to their victory.

Back in February this year, at the United Nations I said that if Putin was foolish enough to attempt to invade Ukraine,

The Ukrainians would defend their country ferociously.

And they have done just that.

Their bravery and passion has been amplified by the arms and training that we, the UK, have supplied.

We will support them until this war is won.

We will support them until their sovereignty is restored.

We will support them until the last Russian tank is dragged away by a Ukrainian tractor.

We need to have the strategic endurance to see this through to the end.

Because, if we don’t…

we send a message to every potential aggressor that our resolve is fragile.

We cannot, must not, will not send that message to the world.

And if you happen to be listening to this speech, Mr Putin, Mr Lavrov:

Let me be clear:

We will never recognise the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, or Crimea.

They are Ukraine.

And when Ukraine has won this war,

– And it will –

then we will support them as they rebuild their homes, their economy, and their society.

We will work with our friends and allies around the world to hold the perpetrators to account.

To punish those who use rape as a weapon of war;

To punish those who knowingly target civilian infrastructure;

To punish those who murder women and children

We do not do this alone.

We are a member of many international groups:

The commonwealth, NATO, UN Security Council, AUKAS, the G7, the G20.

We intend to build more alliances, friendships and partnerships around the globe.

It’s why we have ambassadors, high commissioners, and diplomats in hundreds of locations.

It’s why I and my fantastic team of ministers travel the world.

Trust me, it isn’t to stock up on those giant Toblerones.

When there is war, our work on the international stage is visible and obvious:

Building coalitions of condemnation at the UN for example,

Coordinating sanctions against those who facilitate the war,

Working to ensure the exports of food and fertiliser from the Black Sea ports.

But much of what the FCDO does is less visible,

But no less important

I have just returned from a series of meetings in East and South East Asia.

I paid my respects at the funeral of Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe.

Then I went to the Republic of Korea;

And then to Singapore;

In each country I met with senior ministers;

met a number of international business people…

I set out the details of our Indo-Pacific tilt.

It’s a part of the world which is growing fast.

And through trade agreements, cooperation agreements, and our ASEAN dialogue partner status,

We are shrinking the distance between us.

I spoke about the opportunities that at available to us all.

And, of course, I spoke about the role that China plays in the region and globally.

I made our position clear:

That China could and should take a different path;

That it should adhere to the rules and norms of the international community;

And it should stop persecuting its people at home and stop sanctioning my friends and colleagues in parliament.

And while I was on the other side of the world,

FCDO ministers were in the USA, in European capitals, in Africa,

And a number of my ministers are overseas as I speak.

Because we have to invest in our international relationships.

Patient, but effective diplomacy:

We invest time,

We invest energy,

And yes, we invest money.

Because that’s how we generate influence on the world stage

And that’s how we drive improvements in the lives of people overseas,

And how we improve the lives of people here in the UK.

The development money that we spend,

Our overseas development assistance or “ODA”:

It helps women and children brutalised by conflict,

It helps prevent starvation,

We use our expertise in financial services through British Investment Partnerships to amplify the money that we provide to part-fund projects that generate green energy,

And increase trade…

And stimulate economic growth in some of the least developed countries.

We don’t just stand idly by and watch problems happen:

We step in to improve things,

Not passive, but active.

It is the right thing to do, it helps people that need our help.

And it also helps us at home.

Because safe, secure and prosperous countries don’t generate refugees or hundreds of thousands of economic migrants;

Safe, secure and prosperous countries don’t export terrorism;

Safe, secure and prosperous countries are good trade partners for us;

So obviously we want to see more safe, secure and prosperous countries.

That is the active role that our ODA plays.

But just because we look to build peace and prosperity in distant places,

we mustn’t forget the need to build prosperity closer to home.

A good diplomatic and economic relationship with the EU and its member states is good for us all:

we’ve worked closely on sanctions against Russians who have enabled the war in Ukraine.

I want to see more cooperation across the channel and across the Irish Sea,

And addressing the current problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol is key to that.

I want to ensure that we restore the integrity of the UK internal market,

I want to protect North/South trade,

and restore the balance of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, which has been disrupted by the protocol.

I want to see all the communities in Northern Ireland represented again in the Stormont executive,

So that devolved government is re-established.

I will work hard to get that.

Last week I spoke to the EU’s lead negotiator Vice President Maroš Šefčovič.

We agreed on our desire to reach a solution that works for all parts of the UK, especially the people of Northern Ireland;

We have the Northern Ireland Protocol bill working its way through parliament.

In the meantime, we continue to pursue a negotiated settlement which respects the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom and our single market,

and supports the institutions of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.

As you can see my great ministers Vicky Ford, Jesse Norman, Leo Doherty, Zac Goldsmith, Tariq Ahmad, and Gillian Keegan and I have plenty to keep us busy.

But it is a job worth doing.

Promoting global Britain on the world stage

And I speak for the ministers and the civil servants and diplomats in the FCDO when I say:

It is an honour to represent the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

It is a great country

A country I am proud of

A country I love

Thank you.

04/10/2022
Fiona Shackleton – 2022 Tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth II (Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia)

The tribute made by Fiona Sara Shackleton, Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia, in the House of Lords on 10 September 2022.

My Lords, having read and listened to the many and various tributes to our beloved Queen and her exemplary life and selfless service to this country, the Commonwealth and the realms, it is impossible to do her justice. I should like, with humility, to pay a small tribute to her private family life. As any working parent knows, striking the work/life balance is almost impossible, but despite performing the most demanding job in the whole world for seven decades as a working mother, a working grandmother and a working great-grandmother, she juggled until the day she died. I am in no doubt that her family and the line of succession was of paramount importance to her.

I should like to share three vignettes of her humanity. This is the first. My brothers, three years younger than me, attended the same gym class as Prince Andrew and, as a consequence, were invited to Buckingham Palace to his birthday parties. On returning home, my mother, cross-examining the boys, said, “What was Andrew’s mummy like?”, to which one of them responded, “Mummy, she was just like any other mummy”, and then, referring to her brooch, “but she wears a much bigger badge.”

Secondly, sitting next to one of her nephews at a dinner, he told me that during his parents’ separation and divorce, the Queen and her family had been like a port in a storm when life had been very difficult for them. This sentiment was echoed by many of her grandchildren, who, over the Jubilee, spoke movingly of her extreme kindness to them.

Thirdly and lastly, I had the privilege on two occasions to meet the Queen on my own, save for the presence of a private secretary. The meetings concerned family matters, and I was left in absolutely no doubt that she loved and cared passionately about all concerned. She was totally fair and non-judgmental, and did all in her power to ameliorate and solve the very difficult problems they were suffering from. She was loyal to her family to the end, and I can think of no better way of showing our immense gratitude to her than supporting her children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at this sad time and in future.

She passed the baton on, and for her, there was no question of changing any rules mid-term. To make sense of her sacrifices and her passing, and to reward her unstinting service to all of us, we can do no better than to wholeheartedly support our monarch, His Majesty King Charles III, and his family, as she would have wished and prayed for.

04/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Written ministerial statement on the Priority School Building Programme [May 2012]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 24 May 2012.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has today made a statement in relation to school funding and the Priority School Building Programme.

In tackling the challenges we face on school building I have been determined to use the capital funding at my disposal to best effect, seeking value for money and efficiency from every pound spent. Sebastian James’ review of capital recommended a complete overhaul of the system for allocating capital investment so that we can focus on the repair and refurbishment of schools in the greatest need alongside meeting the pressure for new, good school places.

Over the past two years we have allocated £2.7 billion to local authorities to support the provision of new school places and £2.8 billion for the maintenance of the school estate to meet the needs of maintained schools and academies. Over the spending review period, total capital investment will be over £17 billion.

In addition, last year I invited bids to a new programme from schools in need of urgent repair. 587 schools applied for the programme on the basis of their condition need. Today I can confirm that 261 schools will be rebuilt, or have their condition needs met through the Priority School Building programme (PSBP) and a copy of the list has been placed in the House Libraries. Officials have today written to all schools who applied for the programme to confirm whether their application has been successful. Work will begin immediately and the first schools will be open in 2014.

I recognise that many of the schools that applied to the PSBP and have been unsuccessful will also have significant condition needs. Some of those will have their needs addressed through the other funding we have made available for maintenance. Where that is not the case, I will use the information from the national programme of surveys we are currently conducting to ensure that, subject to funds available in the next spending review period, those schools which need renovation will have their needs addressed as quickly as possible. By next autumn we will have details about the condition of every school in the country. Information on the condition of all schools was last collated centrally in 2005.

I know that many schools will be disappointed not to be included in the programme. We have had to take difficult decisions in order to target spending on those schools that are in the worst condition. In order to ensure that the process was robust and fair, a qualified surveyor has visited every school for which an eligible application was received to verify the condition of the buildings. This was necessary to make sure the schools being taken forward are those with the greatest overall condition need.

The condition need of some schools is so severe that urgent action is necessary. I have decided to make a limited amount of capital grant available to address the needs of the highest priority schools in the programme. 42 schools – those in the very worst condition and all special schools included within the programme – will be taken forward straight away using capital grant. It is right that the condition needs of special schools – where some of our most vulnerable children are educated – are met as quickly as possible.

This limited capital funding has become available by taking a more disciplined approach to managing my department’s capital budgets. Savings have been made by driving down the cost of new schools, shortening procurement times and challenging contractors to look for savings in all areas. These savings mean that more schools will benefit from the programme.

The PSBP will build on the progress we have already made in delivering a more efficient, faster, less bureaucratic approach to building schools. We are determined to reduce the wasteful processes of the past. That is why we have developed new baseline designs which will speed up the process and increase efficiencies and we are reducing the regulations and guidance governing school premises. This will encourage lower-cost build processes to be designed-in from the start.

I have previously expressed my strong support for the government’s agenda on reforming the PFI model and we are working closely with the Treasury to ensure the PSBP is aligned with this model in providing cost effective and more transparent delivery of services. Schools will have greater flexibility with soft facilities management services, such as cleaning, catering, security and some grounds maintenance being managed and controlled by schools themselves.

In addition to targeting spending on those schools which are in the worst condition, my priority in spending capital has been increasing the number of new school places in order to correct previous failures to meet that need. Since announcing the PSBP last July, the government has allocated £1.1 billion in additional funding to address the need for new school places.

04/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Every pupil needs a good mathematics education [May 2012]
The press release issued by the Department for Education on 22 May 2012.

The report highlights a dramatic increase in the take-up of A level and further mathematics, and shows that the youngest children are doing better. GCSE and A-level results continue to rise as a result of the sustained efforts of teachers and students.

But the report finds 3 key areas in primary and secondary mathematics in schools in England, which need to be improved:
- firstly, not enough is being done to help pupils catch up who fall behind early; the 10% who do not reach the expected standard at age 7 doubles to 20% by age 11, and nearly doubles again by age 16
- secondly, inspection evidence shows that pupils in lower ability sets and younger pupils received the weakest teaching; inspectors regularly saw outstanding and satisfactory teaching, and sometimes inadequate too, within an individual school
- thirdly, lots of the brightest pupils do not fulfil their potential when they get to secondary school; 37,000 of the highest attaining primary school pupils got no better than a grade C at GCSE in mathematics last year; schools which routinely enter students early for GCSE mathematics are hindering their ability to reach the highest grades
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw said:

I want all children to have the best education they can and mathematics is a fundamental part of that. It is essential for everyday life and understanding of our world. Too many pupils do not fulfil their potential, including many of the most able, and those who get off to a poor mathematical start or fall behind in their learning never catch up.

We know it can be done. Over half of the schools visited in the survey were judged to be good or outstanding in mathematics, although even in these schools some inconsistencies in the quality of teaching need to be tackled.

We must all play our part to ensure that all pupils receive the best possible mathematics education. Ofsted will support schools to learn from the best, those with the best teaching and assessment and a well organised, mathematically rich, engaging curriculum.

Ofsted will produce support materials to help schools identify and remedy weaknesses in mathematics. It will raise ambition for the mathematics education of all pupils by placing greater emphasis in school inspection on:
- how effectively schools tackle inconsistency in the quality of mathematics teaching
- how well teaching fosters understanding
- pupils’ skills in solving problems
- challenging extensive use of early and repeated entry to GCSE examinations
The report recommends that the Department for Education should raise national mathematical ambition and take action to improve pupils’ mathematical knowledge and understanding. They should raise ambition for more-able pupils, in particular expecting those pupils who attained Level 5 at Key Stage 2 to gain A* or A grades at GCSE.

They should ensure end-of-key-stage assessments and GCSE and AS/A-level examinations require pupils to solve both familiar and unfamiliar problems and demonstrate fluency and accuracy in recalling and using essential knowledge and mathematical methods.

Welcoming the report, which contains good practice examples of mathematics teaching, National Numeracy’s chief executive, Mike Ellicock, said:

We believe every child can become a numerate adult – with skilful teaching in school and encouragement at home. This impressive report draws attention to the vital importance of numeracy and we hope its findings will be acted upon. It is essential that we all recognise the need for better support for those who struggle to catch up – at school and post-school.

Professor Celia Hoyles, Director of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) said:

A deep understanding of mathematics and of subject-specific pedagogy is crucial for teachers of mathematics. The NCETM welcomes the recommendations Ofsted has made, and looks forward to helping to embed them as part of the professional development of all mathematics teachers.

Carol Vorderman MBE, Chair of the committee reporting last August to the Secretary of State for Education with the influential report A world class mathematics education for all our young people, said:

This report is most welcome as it highlights many of the issues, which our taskforce found consistently create an unequal playing field at all levels in school. Ofsted recognises that the teaching of mathematics and the training of teachers both need to improve. Primary initial teacher training has not addressed the lack of mathematical ability in graduates training to be teachers, almost all of whom gave up maths at GCSE level. My sadness is to see how marked the difference in achievement and education is for those students on free school meals. As a “free school meals kid” at a comprehensive myself it was only because of my superb maths teacher that I was able to get to Cambridge. It is time for change.

Neil Carberry, CBI Director of Employment and Skills, said:

Basic maths is essential for everyday life, as well as a key skill required in the workplace. That’s why it’s so troubling over a third of pupils did not gain grade C in GCSE maths in 2011. Employers want all staff to be numerate, which means being able to confidently handle numbers, work out percentages and make estimates. We strongly support the Ofsted recommendation to encourage more young people to continue maths education post-16.
04/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Thousands more neighbourhood criminals to be GPS tracked in expansion of tagging project [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 4 October 2022.

The Justice Secretary, Brandon Lewis MP, has today (Tuesday 4 October) announced that more thieves, burglars and robbers will be fitted with GPS electronic tags when they leave prison, helping cut crime and keep the public safe.

Under this expansion of this Government’s Acquisitive Crime GPS tagging project, 2,000 more criminals will have their whereabouts monitored on leaving custody – another important step forward in the use of technology to drive down re-offending rates and protect our communities.

Under the current system, only criminals with sentences of a year or more can be monitored via electronic tags on release under the scheme. The changes announced today will see offenders with sentences of 90 days or more eligible to be tagged – dramatically cutting the existing sentence threshold by nine months.

Tags for criminals who carry out theft, burglary, and robbery offences – known as acquisitive crimes – were introduced last year. They work by tracking the physical movements of offenders so police can find out if any tagged offenders were in the vicinity of a crime.

The technology also allows probation staff to keep a much closer eye on the whereabouts of offenders under their supervision – meaning they are better able to prevent ex-criminals from falling back into a life of crime.

The expansion, part of this Government’s unprecedented £183 million investment in expanding the use of electronic monitoring technology, means the UK is continuing to lead the world in using tagging to fight crime and keep people safe.

The Justice Secretary has also (today) confirmed his plans to create more oversight of where transgender prisoners are housed and consider options to ensure risk assessments are robust as possible.

The government has been clear on the issue of single sex spaces – whether it be in our prisons, our schools, or our hospitals. That is why we will act to better protect single sex spaces within our prisons and protect women from harm.

04/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Time for Iraq’s political leaders to resolve the current impasse and begin delivering for the Iraqi people [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 October 2022.

Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council meeting on Iraq.

Thank you Mr. President, and let me start by commending the tireless efforts of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq and of the Special Representative in difficult circumstances.

We’d like to make four points today.

First, the UK offers our deepest condolences for the deaths and casualties caused by the violence in the International Zone in Baghdad on the 29th and 30th of August. As the Special Representative said, the country stood on the brink of chaos. We cannot allow violence to destabilise the political process.

We urge Iraq’s leaders to work together urgently in the coming weeks to find a peaceful, inclusive solution to the political crisis. The political impasse has gone on too long. This will enable Iraq to address and tackle the considerable challenges faced by its people, from ensuring the country’s long term security, to tackling climate change, delivering urgent economic reform, and reconstructing the areas of the country liberated from the control of Da’esh.

Second, the UK condemns in the strongest terms Iran’s indiscriminate missile attack on Kurdish towns on the 28th of September, which led to the loss of innocent lives and damaged civilian infrastructure. These attacks are a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and are wholly unacceptable. They demonstrate a repeated pattern of destabilising activity in the region by Iran. We stand with the Kurdistan Regional Government in condemning these attacks and continue to support the security of Iraq, including the Kurdistan region.

Third, we need to manage carefully the humanitarian risks. We welcome the efforts by the FAO and the WFP to support food production and sustainable resource management. We urge regional neighbours to engage with the government of Iraq on water shortages. The UK is also working with UNDP to support the government of Iraq in dealing with the worst effects of climate change, including providing support on the governance of water resources.

Finally, we welcome the Special Representative’s update on missing Kuwaiti and third country nationals and missing Kuwaiti property. We note the progress made on the identification of burial sites, including in Najaf, and we urge continued progress on this file.

Mr President, the fundamental point is this: As the Special Representative has said, Iraq’s political leaders must step up their efforts to resolve the current impasse and begin delivering for the Iraqi people. And as a Council, we must be united in encouraging progress on this.

Thank you.

04/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : Landmark agreements strengthen UK-Poland defence relations [October 2022]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 4 October 2022.
Defence Ministers sign agreement to work closely on Air Defence Complex Weapons

UK confirms long-term support for Poland’s rapid air defence modernisation programme following the first delivery of Narew

Nations agreed to collaborate on Poland’s procurement of three Arrowhead-140 frigates

At the Zamość Military Base in Poland today, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak signed an Air Defence Complex Weapons Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This enables the UK and Poland to cooperate in the development and manufacture of current and future complex weapons, further strengthening the relationship built through the Defence and Security Cooperation Treaty (2017) and deepening the interoperability of our Armed Forces.

The Ministers also signed the Arrowhead-140 Statement of Intent which provides a framework for the UK Government and The Government of Poland to collaborate on the procurement and operation of three Arrowhead-140 frigates. The Polish Frigates will be a variant of the Arrowhead-140.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

I’m delighted to be in Zamosc today with my friend and close defence partner Marius Balszczak.

We have had a close defence alliance with Poland for over 150 years and as we face the threat from Russia, we need the equipment and the capabilities to safeguard our people and preserve European stability.

Our new agreements demonstrate that commitment and the UK’s support for Poland’s defence modernisation plans.

Today’s signing took place alongside a ceremony marking the first delivery of air defence equipment, Narew, to Poland produced in partnership with MBDA UK and Polish industry.

The complex weapons MOU provides UK support for Poland’s Short-Range Air Defence programme Narew, a key component of Poland’s rapid air defence modernisation programme, enabling further co-operation agreements in the future.

Through the MOU, the two nations will strengthen industry and government links, and support Poland in establishing sovereign capabilities for missile manufacture, providing a framework for industrial cooperation and co-development.

Managing Director of MBDA UK Chris Allam said:

To deliver Small Narew to Poland in such an extremely short timeframe is a remarkable achievement, and we’re proud that this has been accomplished through our very close partnership with Polish Grupa Zbrojeniowa and thanks to strong support from the UK government.

Today’s agreements launch the next step in Polish-UK missile co-operation and underpins the PGZ-MBDA technology transfer proposal on Narew, while also supporting Pilica+, Miecznik, Tank Destroyer, and other vital projects.

The two ministers also agreed a new working group, which will explore the potential for the UK and Polish Armed Forces to cooperate on the development of a Future Common Missile. Though requirements for the missile are still in development, it is envisioned to be a medium-to-long range, surface launched missile that can be used in both Land and Maritime environments and will be a development of the CAMM family of missiles.

Following the signing, the Defence Secretary met UK personnel deployed in Southern Poland operating Sky Sabre Air Defence systems and Challenger 2 Tanks.

During his trip to Poland, the Defence Secretary also attended the Warsaw Security Forum where he took part in the future of the Transatlantic Alliance panel discussion.
04/10/2022
PRESS RELEASE : North Korea Intermediate-range ballistic missile launch – Minister for Asia statement [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 October 2022.

Lord Zac Goldsmith, Minister for Asia said:

The UK condemns North Korea’s launch of an Intermediate-range ballistic missile on 3 October and calls on the regime to immediately stop all activity that violates UN Security Council Resolutions.

This is the first ballistic missile since 2017 that has been launched over Japan and demonstrates North Korea’s reckless actions. The UK stands alongside our allies and partners as we confront the growing threat North Korea poses to regional and international security. Once again North Korea shows no regard for its international obligations.

We urge the DPRK regime to put the well-being of its own people ahead of the illegal pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

04/10/2022
Anne-Marie Trevelyan – 2022 Speech to Conservative Party Conference

The speech made by Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Secretary of State for International Trade, in Birmingham on 4 October 2022.

Conference, thank you.

It’s wonderful to be back here with so many of you in Birmingham this year.

Speaking to you today from the heart of the West Midlands – it serves as a powerful reminder that this region was the crucible from which much of the modern world was built.

As the Mayor, Andy Street, is tireless in saying as he promotes this wonderful region.

The infrastructure that powered that growth can still be seen today, and we are giving it a new 21st century boost.

Less than a mile away from here, I visited Curzon Street – one of the first train stations built in the UK. It has facilitated passengers and freight for over a hundred years.

Designed by Robert Stephenson – one of Newcastle’s finest exports, providing designs and inspiration for constructions around the world – it took 20,000 workers nearly five years to build.

Today, 27,000 workers have spades in the ground, with so many of them working to reopen and transform stations. These will serve at the heart of our newest high-speed railway delivering additional capacity for the network, drawing in huge investment into the region – and of course, helping the whole country and our economy to grow.

From land to sea, the UK also has a historic leadership in underwriting prosperity and trade.

Shipping continues to drive the global economy today, just as it has done for millennia.

Our seas are by far the most important arteries for global trade, carrying over 95% of all goods.

But while our maritime industry normally conducts its business beyond the public gaze, recent events have thrust global supply chains into the spotlight-and in particular, the importance of resilient and secure shipping routes.

At Transport, we are charged with ensuring the security of all networks that move goods, people and information around the world, and that underpin our way of life and our economy.

We have seen Putin weaponise food by trying to crush the economic and humanitarian criticality of Ukraine’s agricultural economy.

In blockading those Ukrainian ports, Putin has prevented the export of global grain supplies.
Our maxim is to ensure the UK is and remains the most secure and reliable nation to trade with globally.

Because at a time when Russian aggression is disrupting established trade routes,

it has never been more important for the international community to come together and protect global shipping.

So, we will work with all our partners to ensure maritime trade and travel continues to operate safely, securely and sustainably, right around the world.

Now Conference, there is an elephant in the room today.

We cannot ignore that nine out of ten train services were at a standstill last Saturday – with further strikes planned tomorrow and this coming Saturday.

While our priority, our overwhelming objective, is to grow our economy and tackle the rising cost of living, we also have to deal with rolling strike action.

Strikes disrupt everyday life for everyone and slow down our prospects for growth.

The more quickly we can resolve these disputes, the sooner all our efforts can be spent on getting our economy motoring at full speed.

Despite soaring international energy prices, the war in Ukraine and the continued global impact of COVID, we are taking the necessary action to help families and businesses.

We can only do this through growth and having the infrastructure that makes this possible.

We want to transform the rail industry to make it sustainable for the next 100 years.

The very last thing our country needs right now is more damaging industrial disputes.

My message to the trade union membership is simple: please take your seats at the negotiating table and let’s find a landing zone which we can all work with.

Punishing passengers and inflicting damage on our economy by striking is not the answer.

As a former Trade Secretary, I know something about making deals.

And I can tell you, there is a deal to be done between the unions and our train operators. It’s a deal that will require compromise. So I want to see positive proposals to bridge the differences.

As part of these, I am asking industry to launch consultations on reforming our ticket office provision across the country.

The way we buy everything from groceries to holidays has transformed over the last decade. Online shopping is increasingly the norm, and all our favourite retail stores are using the latest self-service tech, making the in-store experience quicker and smoother, with fewer queues and more convenience.

We’re seeing the same trend on the railways with a huge increase in online ticket sales – today, only 12% of transactions take place at ticket offices. We need to be looking at ways to move with the trend and support our customers in the most effective way possible.

There will be some stations where the ticket office will be important to the running of the station. In other areas rail employees may be better in front of the glass helping passengers in other ways.

This is not about cutting jobs – this is about putting the passenger at the heart of the Railway.

We all want the same outcome – to modernise the railway so that customers can choose rail as their preferred travel method with confidence and with ease.

I hope Union leaders together with employers will work with us to deliver the much-needed changes and resolution, so that together we can grow the economy for everyone.

Conference –

Just as coal power and steam propulsion powered a global revolution in growth and development – which transformed everything from medicines to transport and brought prosperity across the world – we are at the tipping point of another revolution that has the potential to transform.

The way that all our modes of transport are powered is changing at pace.

Hydrogen fuels. Net Zero Emission Vehicles. Sustainable Aviation Fuels. Green shipping corridors.

Those markets that change first, and have the potential to grow fastest, will go the furthest. We want UK Business to lead the way on this new clean growth revolution.

That’s why we are investing record amounts in our roads, in our railways and future green transport solutions, to provide the conditions that will make sure business can grow on the back of clean transport.

Building the vital connections that will open up access to jobs, education and housing across the whole of the United Kingdom.

This Government is unashamedly going for growth.

Growth is key to delivering jobs, higher wages and more money to invest in world class public services.

A key part of achieving that growth is keeping our promises and delivering for the people.

Speaking as the Member of Parliament who has campaigned for dualling the A1 – a road improvement first promised in 1992 – and was elected on that promise, delivering on our promises is firmly on my mind.

The A1 is just one example.

The A303 is another. One of the main gateways to the South West, it acts as a bottleneck to growth. So we are committed to getting these road solutions delivered.

Delivery is the key.

Something my fantastic ministerial team are focussed on.

Kevin Foster – is taking on the challenge of modernising our Railway.

Katherine Fletcher – will deliver the Roads the Prime Minister has asked me to accelerate, which the Chancellor announced in his Growth Plan.

Baroness Vere – will work to decarbonise the aviation industry.

Lucy Frazer who will be working on the Future of Transport, making it fit for a modern world.

And our Parliamentary Private Secretaries Marco Longhi, Anthony Browne, and Damian Moore in the Whips Office are going to help us stay on track.

As a rural constituency MP, one of the most common issues that gets raised with me is the state of my local roads. Indeed – I became very popular overnight with many colleagues who have constituents raising similar issues with them.

That’s why we have set aside a pothole fund to repair 10 million potholes a year.

So motorway or local street, this is a government which will invest so that our country can grow. We are a team that is determined to get spades into the ground at pace.

Conference, we’ve got a lot to do – it’s time to Get Britain Moving.

Thank you.

04/10/2022
Therese Coffey – 2022 Speech to Conservative Party Conference

The speech made by Therese Coffey, the Deputy Prime Minister and Health & Social Care Secretary, in Birmingham on 4 October 2022.

Conference, I am delighted to be here in Birmingham for my first speech as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and as Deputy Prime Minister.

I was here just a couple of months ago for the Commonwealth Games,

And I was absolutely blown away,

by the Games themselves,

and also by how the city has been transformed since we were last here.

And that is thanks to Conservative Mayor, Andy Street.

Andy has shown,

That being ambitious for the people and communities he represents,

getting on with the job at hand,

and focusing on delivery,

is exactly what our voters want,

and why he was re-elected,

resoundingly.

Conference, as a Conservative government,

we believe in the Great British people,

and we are ambitious for our country.

Despite the severe challenges facing the global economy, in the wake of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and the aftershock of Covid,

Now is the time we must come together,

to tackle the issues that we have long faced.

And we will take decisive action

to get Britain moving again….

… from getting Britain building,

to channelling investment into local areas,

to helping families get on in life.

We will deliver, deliver, deliver…

Conference,

Our National Health Service has the admiration and gratitude of the British people, particularly for getting us through COVID.

The doctors, the nurses, the midwives, the paramedics, the chemists, the cleaners, and all the clinical and support staff,

As well as all the carers, working in care homes or our communities.

They regularly go the extra mile.

They are the pride of Britain.

The NHS is and always has been a national endeavour.

That was set out in 1944, when it was a Conservative politician, Sir Henry Willink, who put forward the proposals for “A National Health Service”.

That’s right, a Conservative MP,

from my home city of Liverpool,

who conceived the NHS,

– a good omen, I think!

And I continue to be proud of the many doctors, nurses, and dentists serving as Conservatives in Parliament,

far more than we see in the Labour Party.

And it is because of our Conservative Party’s commitment to the NHS,

…That we will be spending 173 billion pounds this year on health and social care, in England alone,

…up from 124 billion pounds when we entered office in 2010,

…and that’s accounting for inflation –

This has resulted in more doctors and nurses than ever before.

But, as Health Secretary, it’s my job to be honest, and level with you about the scale of challenge ahead of us.

And frankly,

I won’t be turning to Labour for solutions.

If you want to see the Labour Party running the NHS,

just look across the border into Wales,

where around 60,000 patients are still waiting for more than 2 years for treatment, higher than last year.

This isn’t the time for brickbats though.

It is precisely because healthcare matters so much

that we need to have honest discussion

and be prepared to hold the NHS to account

forging a partnership with them focused on delivery, not on dogma.

So, let’s be honest.

While most patients receiving care in our NHS have a good experience,

Too many do not…

…Whether it’s the 8am scramble to see a GP…

…Or the long waits to get tests or treatment…

Or the struggle to see an NHS dentist at all.

Much of this has been made worse by the pandemic.

And I must level with you,

Backlogs are expected to rise before they fall,

as more patients come forward for diagnosis and treatment.

But this isn’t just about Covid.

There is still too much variation in patient experience.

I saw that for myself this July when I went to A&E.

I waited nearly nine hours to see a doctor,

before being asked to return the next day for treatment.

Now I knew, from previous experience,

that would be too late,

so I took myself to a different hospital,

and was treated that same day.

That is the sort of variation we see across the NHS.

From two hospitals just a couple of miles apart, and it must change.

That is why my first job in the Department was creating Our Plan for Patients, which puts the needs of patients front and centre.
Our new Plan for Patients deliberately places an emphasis on primary care, the gateway to the NHS for most people.

It empowers doctors and nurses by reducing bureaucracy,

…which gets in the way of them doing their jobs.

And it seeks to improve performance across the country by unlocking data.

Now,

You may have heard ‘ABCD’ are my immediate priorities.

No, I wasn’t broadcasting my A Level results to the nation.

Nor was I reciting a new hip hop beat by Dr Dre.

Those four letters represent my commitment to focus – resolutely – on the issues that affect patients most:

Ambulances.

Backlogs.

Care.

Doctors and Dentists.

And with my excellent ministerial team,

Robert Jenrick,

Will Quince,

Neil O’Brien,

Nick Markham,

and our very own in-house ministerial medic, Dr Caroline Johnson,

Together, we WILL focus on the issues that affect patients most

To deliver their priorities.

AND be their champion.

Starting with ‘A’ for Ambulances.

Access to urgent treatment can be life-saving.

When people phone 999 because they think they or their loved one is having a heart attack or a stroke, they want to know help will come,

and will come soon.

Let’s be clear,

Average waiting times are too long,

So, we are increasing the number of 999 call handlers.

And we must also get ambulances back on the road from handovers at hospitals,

so we are placing a laser-like focus on our most challenged trusts, because as we saw last winter,

nearly half of all handover delays were at just 15 trusts.

We also know to be able to admit more patients,

we need to open up more space in hospitals.

So we are acting immediately to create more capacity,

the equivalent of 7,000 more beds, this winter.

But it’s not just capacity in our hospitals we need,

it’s also in our communities,

to help support people…

…who could be cared for more appropriately at home or in a care home, rather than being kept in hospital, unnecessarily.

That is why the ‘C’ for care is such an integral part of Our Plan.

And why we have invested a further 500 million pounds this winter,

so local councils and the local NHS,

can work together to tackle delayed discharges.

It isn’t all about emergency care though.

It is also about diagnosis and treatment.

And that is where we go back to ‘B’ for backlogs.

The waiting list for planned care, made worse by the pandemic, currently stands at about 7 million.

This includes people waiting for diagnosis, to know if they need any treatment at all.

While, in England, we have now virtually eliminated waits of over two years,

we are speeding up our plans to roll out community diagnostic centres, as well as new hospitals.

And we will maximise the use of the independent sector too, when patients are waiting too long for treatment.

Lastly, but key is ‘D’ – for doctors and for dentists.

Now, I think it is perfectly reasonable when people need to see a GP, they should expect to do so within a fortnight.

Of course, I would like to be more ambitious, and while I will not be prescriptive on how GPs interact with their patients,

I am clear Patients must be able to see their doctors promptly.

To help achieve these priorities,

I will publish a lot more information for patients,

so they can see how their local NHS is performing, including their GP practice, and on access to NHS care and treatment.

Another key element is personnel.

I have listened to why people say they are leaving the NHS,

or what is holding them back, from offering more services.

And I am responding.

I am empowering GPs to use their funding more flexibly for the recruitment of more support staff, and making significant changes to pension arrangements.

I am extending the emergency clinical register,

so that health professionals who have come out of retirement,

can continue to practise for a further two years.

I am opening up more prescription capability and services to pharmacists.

I am investing in IT for telephony and digital appointments.

And I am making it easier for clinicians registered outside England to be accredited, to get to work more quickly, treating patients.

It is, frankly, bonkers, that we have restrictions on the recognition of doctors, dentists, and nurses within the UK itself.

That is why I am laying regulations next week,

…which will allow the General Dental Council to get on with accrediting dentists to work right across our United Kingdom,

so we can have oases of oral care, rather than dental deserts.

This is all on top of our existing commitments,

to boost the health and care workforce,

including our manifesto pledge to recruit 50,000 more nurses by 2024.

Conference,

Whether you live in a city or a town,

in the countryside or on the coast,

this Conservative Government will always be on your side,

when you need care the most.

This is just the start of our ambitions for health and care.

Our Plan informs patients and empowers them to live healthier lives.

Because we know prevention is better than cure.

It is right we continue our longer-term health approach,

Strengthening mental wellbeing and resilience,

as well as the physical health of the nation,

because that is also good for the economic health of the nation.

We have a record number of people, in work, on the payroll, but there are many vacancies still to be filled.

We know work is good for you,

both physically and for mental wellbeing,

as well as putting more pounds in your pocket.

That is why I will strive to support

those not working now due to ill health,

to help them to start, stay, and succeed in work;

building on the Prime Minister’s pledge to have more mental health support in communities.

Because together, we can deliver a healthier, more productive society, all the stronger, to help grow our economy.

As the Prime Minister said on the steps of Downing Street,

she has three clear priorities:

growing the economy,

tackling energy security and costs for households and businesses;

and the NHS.

When I first went into the Department,

I asked what the biggest risk was this winter and what we could do to help?

I was told – help with energy bills,

so older people would not worry about the cost of turning on the heating,

and for health and care providers too.

The Prime Minister and the Chancellor listened.

They acted.

They have delivered.

And we need to act on growing the economy too.

We need a strong economy to have a strong NHS.

We need a resilient, sustainable economy,

to have a resilient, sustainable NHS.

And we need a compassionate, and considered, Conservative government,

to deliver, deliver, deliver.

And that, Conference,

is what we will do.

Thank you.

04/10/2022