Category: Speeches

Sadiq Khan – 2022 Statement on London Underground Strikes

The statement made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 19 August 2022.

I am extremely frustrated by the strike action today on London Underground. This will have a serious impact on London’s businesses and commuters, at a time when we’re working to get more passengers back on to the network and boost the capital’s economic recovery.

TfL have done everything they can to avoid this disruption going ahead and I’ve urged the unions to call off this action and to work with TfL to lobby the Government for a long-term funding deal that is fair to Londoners and our heroic transport workers.

I encourage Londoners to listen to TfL’s latest travel advice and avoid travelling on the Underground, and only travel if essential on the rest of the network.

20/08/2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Londoners and Exam Results

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 18 August 2022.

I would like to congratulate all Londoners receiving their A-Level, T-Level and BTEC results today. Students have faced unprecedented challenges on their educational journeys over the past two years, and I admire and applaud the dedication, resilience and hard work that they and their teachers have demonstrated. If you haven’t received the results you hoped for, please be reassured that there are many potential paths ahead, so I urge you to speak with your teachers, parents, carers or guardians about your options.

20/08/2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Keeping Young Londoners Away from Gangs

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 17 August 2022.

I know that one-to-one support can make a huge difference in a young person’s life and mean the difference between them fulfilling their potential or being lured into the trap of violence and criminality.

I’m proud that our London Gang Exit programme is making a real difference and has already helped hundreds of young people leave or significantly reduce their involvement in criminal gangs. That’s why I am investing even more in this programme to help tackle violence and support young Londoners at risk of exploitation as they turn their lives around.

But gang violence still accounts for too much of the most serious violence in London and I am concerned about a potential increase in violence this summer as the cost of living crisis deepens and threatens to reverse the progress we have made in tackling violent crime. Violence, like poverty, is not inevitable and the Government must now do much more to show it shares my commitment to building a fairer, safer London for all.

20/08/2022
Sadiq Khan – 2022 Comments on Londoners Facing Fuel Poverty

The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 17 August 2022.

Many Londoners don’t know how they are going to keep warm this winter. Some don’t know how they will feed their children. This is a crisis and the Government needs to get serious. That is why I am calling on Ministers to convene Cobra, act on calls to stop energy bills from rising and for the introduction of an emergency Lifeline Tariff to ensure the most vulnerable Londoners are able to access basic energy use this winter. I am determined to deliver net zero in a way that helps Londoners manage these costs increases but I can’t do it alone.

“We’re now suffering the consequences of a decade of Government inaction on energy efficiency. The Government must match my pace and ambition and support plans like my own that would save lives this winter.

20/08/2022
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (19/08/2022) – 177 days

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 19 August 2022.

Ukrainians!

All Europeans!

For 177 days already, the report on the events in Ukraine is important for the entire continent.

Ukrainian diplomats, our partners, representatives of the UN and the IAEA are working out the specific details of the mission to be sent to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. With this mission, the restoration of full security at the ZNPP and in Enerhodar can begin. And I am grateful to everyone who joined this work and initiative.

If Russian blackmail with radiation continues, this summer may go down in the history of various European countries as one of the most tragic of all time. Because not a single instruction at any nuclear power plant in the world envisages a procedure in case a terrorist state turns a nuclear power plant into a target.

Of course, today it is worth paying attention to another aspect of Russian blackmail in the field of energy. Gas supplies to Germany via the first Nord Stream are again being restricted and absurd statements are being made again that it is allegedly possible to compensate for something via Nord Stream 2. These “streams” are needed by Russia exclusively to supply problems to Europe, not to help someone there with gas. Now it is absolutely obvious.

The longer the terrorist state remains on the European and world energy market, the longer it will not be stable. And the sooner everyone in Europe prepares their energy systems to exist without any supply of energy carriers from Russia, the sooner they will be able to calmly go through any winter.

Today there was a very important visit to Ukraine by Eurocities representatives led by the mayor of Florence. This Association unites the mayors of more than 150 European cities, as well as representatives of dozens of other partner cities.

We will cooperate with them directly – Ukrainian cities and communities with European cities and communities.

The key issue is, of course, the rebuilding of our cities. The relevant memorandum was signed today. But not only this will be the subject of our important cooperation.

The modern development of any country is primarily the development of cities, the creation of new opportunities and institutions in cities, the exchange of experience between cities and urban institutions. And therefore, these are new jobs, greater social capital and higher level of security for people.

On the Ukrainian side, the subject of relations with the Association of European Cities will be our Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. I want to assure that every city of our state will benefit from this. We are interested in sustainable development throughout the territory of Ukraine – and it will be so. Without any exceptions.

And today I want to address separately the residents of all our cities of Ukraine, which are subjected to constant brutal shelling by Russia. Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, all the cities of Donbas, the Dnipropetrovsk region, the Zaporizhzhia region… All those who experience this constant horror of the destruction of life and the destruction of everything that gives life normality. We will not leave any of these strikes unanswered. We will establish the identity of every occupier who gives orders and executes these strikes at cities. And we will bring them all to justice in one way or another. No murderer will hide.

And we will certainly restore everything that the terrorists try to leave in ruins. The word “ruins” will never be a word about Ukraine, will never be a word about our cities. Russia will definitely not succeed in this.

Eternal glory to all who bring our victory closer!

Eternal glory to all who fight for our beautiful, strong Ukraine, for our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

20/08/2022
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (18/08/2022) – 176 days

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 18 August 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Today we are in Lviv, the Potocki Palace, now. At the end of this very busy day, here’s my report on events, meetings, negotiations and decisions.

We have been here since the morning. And once again I want to thank the city of Lviv, all Lviv residents for the attention, comfort and emotional support felt throughout the day.

First of all, I paid a visit to our defenders – those who are being treated after injuries in the hospital. Very brave guys, strong. I thanked the doctors who are doing everything to restore the health of our warriors as soon as possible.

I was very happy to see the boys and girls studying at the Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Forces Academy. It was extremely pleasant to hear that more and more people want to become officers of the Ukrainian army. The competition for one place in the academy is of such a scale that used to be only in civilian universities before. And this really gives a reason to be proud not just of the patriotism of our youth, but of the fact that people believe in Ukraine, in our Armed Forces, in our victory. I presented awards to the best warriors.

During a special ceremony on the Field of Mars of the Lychakiv Cemetery, we honored the memory of all those who gave their lives for Ukraine and for the independence of our country in this brutal war.

There is no other alternative – we must return everything of ours and guarantee security for all future generations of Ukraine.

I held talks with UN Secretary-General Guterres and President of Türkiye Erdoğan.

Most of the points discussed are already in the news. I want to say a few main things now.

First. There are no objective obstacles to prevent the IAEA mission from reaching the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Today, Mr. Guterres and I discussed the parameters of this mission and the fact that it can get to the plant very quickly and quite safely in a legal way through the free territory of our state. And just like that.

The one who organized nuclear blackmail certainly cannot be the “transporter” of any such missions. Russia must immediately and unconditionally allow IAEA representatives to the plant and also immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from the territory of the plant. The world has the power to ensure this.

If it does not ensure this, we can simply throw the entire body of international documents on nuclear and radiation safety into the trash. Russia is destroying this international order.

The second extremely important point of the negotiations is Ukrainian prisoners of war held by the Russian Federation.

I called on Mr. Secretary-General to use all the capabilities of the UN to ensure Russia’s compliance with all norms of international law regarding prisoners of war. And we discussed sending a fact-finding mission to Olenivka. The full truth about this Russian terrorist attack must and will be established.

Of course, we talked about the grain export initiative. The result is there – and not only for Ukraine, but also for the world, as it is felt that the severity of the global food crisis is decreasing.

Therefore, there is a great need for more security, a greater volume of exports, more ships that can deliver Ukrainian food from our ports.

I held very substantive negotiations on many topics today with President of Türkiye Erdoğan. I am grateful to him for his unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state. We discussed defense, economic and energy cooperation.

I am grateful to Türkiye for its willingness to take under patronage the reconstruction of Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region. This is a mission for a truly powerful country. Today, the first step was taken – an agreement on infrastructure was signed.

I called on both Mr. President and Mr. Secretary-General to voice the strictest possible position regarding Russia’s planned pseudo-referendums in the occupied territory. Any pseudo-referendum will be a slap in the face of the international community.

And I want to mention one more thing today.

It was an extremely hard night in Kharkiv – more than ten people died. Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia were again shelled. The Russian army is spending enormous resources to capture at least one more kilometer in Donbas. Russian officials reiterate threats to Odesa and other cities of Ukraine. We see what is happening at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. We see what happened in Olenivka.

We can and should think only about how to win. To win on the battlefield, on the political front, in the information confrontation, in the economic plane, everywhere…

Let’s believe in ourselves, help each other, protect the interests of Ukraine and know that there will be peace.

He who fights and fights wisely wins.

Eternal glory to all our warriors! Eternal memory to all those whose lives were taken away by the occupiers.

Glory to Ukraine!

20/08/2022
Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (17/08/2022) – 175 days

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 17 August 2022.

Dear Ukrainians!

Diplomacy in the interests of our country is very active these days. First of all, today a ceremony of presenting credentials to the new ambassadors of foreign countries who arrived to work in our capital was held in the Sophia of Kyiv. The work of embassies in full capacity, the presence of ambassadors in Kyiv is one of the important indicators of the strength of our state, the Ukrainian ability to fight and win. Already 55 diplomatic missions have resumed their work. And today, the new ambassadors of Belgium, Spain, Kyrgyzstan and Romania presented their credentials.

Secondly, UN Secretary General António Guterres has already arrived in Ukraine. We will work to get the necessary results for Ukraine.

Thirdly, Ukrainian diplomats, our nuclear scientists and the IAEA are in constant touch, now they are working on sending the IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Only absolute transparency and controlled situation at and around the ZNPP can guarantee a gradual return to normal nuclear safety for the Ukrainian state, for the international community, and for the IAEA.

The Russian army must withdraw from the territory of the nuclear power plant and all neighboring areas, and take away its military equipment from the plant. This must happen without any conditions and as soon as possible. Ukraine is ready to ensure proper control of the IAEA, and the relevant mission can be sent to the Zaporizhzhia plant in a legal way, very fast and as efficiently as possible.

Today, I made a very important address to the university communities, journalists and political circles of Chile and Latin America in general. This is not an easy direction of foreign policy – we are doing many things there now practically from scratch. We are working not only at the political level, but also establishing relations directly with the societies of the countries of this region. I called on Chileans and all freedom-loving people in Latin America to spread the truth about Russia’s war against our country and to support the sanctions policy aimed at making the terrorist state pay the highest possible price for terror.

In the evening, I signed new decrees on awarding our soldiers. 230 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were given state awards, 43 of them posthumously. Also, 24 employees of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine were awarded state awards.

All our soldiers – our army, our intelligence, border guards, the National Guard, the SBU and everyone involved in defending our state and people are doing everything possible to fight Russian terrorists and push them out of Ukrainian land.

The Avdiyivka area, Bakhmut area, Kharkiv region, and some other regions are the regions where the most difficult fighting is going on right now. I am grateful to everyone who withstands this pressure, who defends positions and helps our soldiers. In Zaporizhzhia region, in some areas of the south of the country, the occupiers are trying to improve their situation, but strategically it is hopeless for them. Ukrainian soldiers will destroy the potential of the occupiers step by step, and the day will come when the enemy will die in Zaporizhzhia, in the south, in the east of the country, and in Crimea. The invaders will die like dew on the sun, and our defense is and will be this sun.

Eternal glory to all who defend Ukraine!

Eternal gratitude to all those who focused on helping our people in a true Ukrainian unity!

Glory to Ukraine!

20/08/2022
Iain Duncan Smith – 2003 Speech to Conservative Party Conference [Quiet Man is Here to Stay]

The speech made by Iain Duncan Smith, the then Leader of the Opposition, at the Conservative Party conference on 9 October 2003.

Two years ago, I stood for the leadership of this Party.

We’d just lost a second general election.

We’d seen a good man resign and we’d gone through a lengthy leadership contest.

Labour were 20 points ahead in the polls.

Let’s face it: we were being written off.

I knew that unless we could define what we stood for…

Unless we could find policies that would benefit everyone in our country…

No one would even listen to us.

Well, today, I have delivered.

I stand before you with the most radical policy agenda of any party aspiring to Government since 1979.

They said we couldn’t win the elections in May…

And we did.

We are the largest and fastest growing party of local government…

We’ve the largest and fastest growing political youth organisation in the country.

My mission is to take the Conservative Party back to government…

I won’t allow anything or anyone to get in my way.

We must destroy this double-dealing…

deceitful…

incompetent…

shallow…

inefficient…

ineffective…

corrupt…

mendacious…

fraudulent…

shameful…

lying government…

once and for all.

I say to everyone here today:

You either want my mission…

Or you want Tony Blair.

There is no third way.

To those who doubt and to those who deliberate, I say this:

Don’t work for Tony Blair…

Get on board…

Or get out of our way.

For we have got work to do.

And to the Prime Minister I say this:

The quiet man is here to stay and he’s turning up the volume.

Government never there when you need it, always there when you don’t

The Conservative Party has always stood for hard-working, law-abiding people.

And we stand for them again today.

On their side against the most dishonest and incompetent government of modern times.

A government that’s never there when people need it…

But always there when they don’t.

Think about everyday life…

You struggle to get to work because the traffic’s jammed.

Where did all that extra petrol tax go?

More and more of your day is spent dealing with government’s petty regulations.

They waste your time… they wear you down.

You work longer, too – to make up for the extra tax you’re now paying.

You get home late – to find your daughter’s been bullied at school.

You know it’s not the teachers’ fault.

The Government won’t let them exclude the bullies.

They’re the same gang that stole your son’s mobile last week.

The police don’t have enough officers to catch the culprits.

So, they offer a crime number instead… as if that’s good enough.

And then Gran’s on the phone.

Her operation’s been cancelled again.

It seems the doctor says he must give priority to other patients to meet Tony Blair’s targets.

Gran doesn’t count.

Government – always there when you don’t need it:

With its extra taxes and bureaucracy.

Never there when you do.

Never there in the fight against crime…

Never there to give you and your family the schools and hospitals that you have paid for.

Blair must go

You don’t expect the earth.

Just a fair deal.

But in Labour’s Britain, Government is on people’s backs, but never on their side.

Tony Blair’s in your face when you don’t need hassle…

Out of the country when you need help.

Labour isn’t working… again.

People have seen through Labour.

And they’ve seen through Tony Blair, too.

He said he had no plans to increase taxes – then increased them sixty times.

He promised to be fair – but plundered the lifetime savings of people preparing for retirement.

He pledged to be tough on crime – but gun crime has doubled.

Do you remember he said he’d be whiter than white?

Or do you most remember Eccelestone?

Geoffrey Robinson?

Mandelson’s home loan?

Mittalgate?

The Hinduja affair?

Mandelson – again!

Scandal after scandal.

Scandals that revealed this government’s dark side.

But these were just a curtain-raiser for this Prime Minister’s blackest act.

This government used Dr David Kelly as a pawn in its battle with the BBC.

His death was first and foremost a tragedy for those who loved him.

But it shamed our country.

It shamed our whole political system.

Immediately after Dr Kelly’s death, Tony Blair said he’d had nothing to do with his public naming.

That was a lie.

Tony Blair chaired the meetings that made the fatal decisions.

He is responsible.

He should do the decent thing and he should resign.

But, of course, he won’t.

He won’t do the decent thing.

He never does.

He won’t even tell you the truth.

Six years after Tony Blair entered Downing Street – people no longer believe a word he says anymore.

And his promises of ‘jam tomorrow’ are least believed of all.

The day when we drive Mr Blair out of office cannot come soon enough and that day is fast approaching.

When you next feel a hand on your shoulder, Mr Blair…

It won’t be that hand of history…

It will be grip of the British people – dragging you from office.

Tough on tax, tough on the causes of tax

Being a taxpayer has become the hardest job in Britain.

At the heart of the Conservative Party’s fair deal will be a fair deal for taxpayers.

Across the world, our competitors are cutting taxes because tax cuts create jobs, wealth and growth.

But in Britain the tax burden is rising.

And it’s rising fast.

Mr Blair promised the British people that he had “no plans to increase taxes at all”.

No plans?

Tax on mortgages…

Tax on pensions…

Tax on house buying…

Tax on petrol…

Tax on marriage…

Tax on self-employment…

Tax on cars…

Tax on health insurance…

A 70% increase in council tax.

An £8bn National Insurance hike…a tax on jobs.

Mr Blair has taken money from people struggling to make ends meet and poured it into schemes that will never work.

Labour’s waste of taxpayers’ money is a crime.

A crime that hurts pensioners and low-paid workers most of all.

For some families Labour’s tax rises mean no holiday this year.

The children’s clothes must last even longer.

Millions have to work extra hours to make ends meet.

Labour has raised taxes but not improved Britain’s public services.

The Conservative mission is to reform public services and to be a lower tax government than Labour.

We’ll be tough on tax and tough on the causes of tax!

The greatest cause of increasing tax is increasing waste.

70% of taxpayers think Labour wastes their money.

And they’re 100% right.

This Labour Government will never give taxpayers value for money.

But Conservatives will.

In local government, Conservatives already deliver better services for less tax.

As Michael Howard said yesterday in his excellent speech, Conservatives believe in low taxes.

We will always be a lower tax government than Labour.

And yes…

We plan to cut taxes.

We are fortunate to have Michael leading our Treasury team.

Michael, I understand that relations are not so rosy in the red corner.

I’ve heard that the only colour Carole Caplin won’t allow in Number Ten is brown.

Gordon Brown is the biggest tax raiser in British history.

But Charlie Kennedy wants to raise them even further…

…except on wines and spirits, of course.

The Lib Dems want a local income tax… a regional income tax… and a new 50% tax band.

They pretend to be reasonable but they’re not.

They don’t want to give convicted paedophiles, rapists and murderers tougher sentences… they want to give them the right to vote.

It’s madness.

Utter madness.

In fact, I’ve just heard that the Lib Dems are being investigated by trading standards.

On all ballot papers they’ll have to have a asterisk after their party name:

Warning: contains nuts.

We all in this hall know that the Liberal Democrats are no joke.

Their campaign book instructed them to “be wicked, stir endlessly, act shamelessly”…

And that’s exactly what they do.

They promise things they know they’ll never have to deliver.

They are not a fit party for government and we are going after them.

Fair deal policies

Conservatives are the only real alternative to Labour.

Only we will properly reform public services.

Only we will give choice to parents and patients.

Let me be clear what I mean by choice.

Choice in public services means peace of mind.

It means you won’t be stuck with second-rate services.

It means there’ll be an alternative school or hospital if you need it.

Under Labour only the wealthy can buy choice.

Conservatives will give every parent and every patient that choice.

No child left behind in a failing school –

…because our Better Schools Passport will give every parent the power to get their child into the right school.

The Patient’s Passport will give every patient the right to the treatment they need anywhere in the NHS – and if they have to go outside the NHS we’ll help them.

Students won’t leave university saddled with a £30,000 debt…

We’ll scrap Labour’s tuition fees and we’ll stop top-up fees, too.

Violent crime and disorder have rocketed under this Government…

And the asylum system is a disaster – spiralling out of control.

While Tony Blair travels the world, the world is travelling here.

As Oliver Letwin has pledged, under the Conservatives there’ll be 80,000 fewer asylum seekers – and 40,000 more police officers.

That’s twelve more police forces the size of the Lancashire Constabulary.

Labour wants to end the right to buy.

John “three homes” Prescott wants to take the right-to-buy away from other people.

Well – we’re not afraid to fight you on that one, John.

And I tell you this –

…this time the punch is coming from the right!

Conservatives will always support the right of people to own their homes.

And we’ll extend the right-to-buy to one million housing association tenants.

And we’ll use the proceeds to end the outrage of children having to grow up in temporary accommodation.

The right to buy is back.

All of Labour’s policies take power away from people.

Labour always say – ‘trust us’.

Conservatives will be different:

We’ll trust you…

With these and other policies I am ready to fight this Labour Government.

Policies that will make lives better.

Policies that are Conservative through and through.

Policies that will win votes.

A fair deal for pensioners

Our Party is sometimes accused of being an old Party.

I think, by the way, it’s meant as an insult!

Well, when I became an MP, my father told me: always respect pensioners.

And remember, these are the people who put us here.

Who gave us the freedom to be who we are.

They deserve decency and respect.

They’re not getting it.

Gordon Brown has forced an extra million pensioners onto the means-test.

Two out of every three pensioners are now on social security.

For many people the means test has made it unprofitable to save for retirement.

More means-testing.

More tax.

Less savings.

What a mess.

So we will raise the basic state pension, in line with earnings…

…to ensure that future generations of pensioners never have to go begging for social security.

The abolition of the means test is supported by the savings industry.

It’s supported by millions of pensioners.

And it’s supported by me.

Most important of all, it’s the right thing to do.

Europe

Love of this country flows from one generation to the next.

But Labour wants Britain to be something that it’s not.

They are embarrassed by our island character.

Perhaps that’s why Mr Blair would risk Britain’s prosperity by scrapping the pound.

Every European government that has given its people a referendum on the euro has seen them reject it.

That’s why Tony Blair doesn’t have the guts to hold a referendum…

…he knows – what we all know – he would lose.

So we may have frightened him off holding a referendum on the euro for now.

But we are now faced with an even graver danger.

A threat to our very nationhood.

The euro would take away our power to decide our economic policy.

But the European constitution would take away our power to decide who governs Britain.

Think about it.

Our country: no longer able to control immigration.

No longer able to choose its allies.

No longer able to use British soldiers to defend our interests abroad.

Unelected Commissioners would have the final say in almost every government department – affecting every aspect of our daily lives.

Yesterday the Conservative Party launched a nationwide campaign.

In every constituency in Britain, Conservative associations will be collecting signatures for a petition to Parliament.

That petition will demand that the British people have the final say on the constitution…in a referendum.

Mr Blair: the powers you hold are not yours forever.

You hold them in trust.

In trust from the British people.

Powers not yours to give away.

If the Government does not give the British people a say on the new constitution – that will not be the last word on the matter.

Make no mistake.

I will fight with all my strength to defend the British people’s right to govern themselves.

And I put the government on notice.

Michael Ancram and I will lead the campaign across the nation to fight for a referendum.

We will fight at next year’s vital European elections.

We will fight in Parliament

We will fight at the general election.

And I promise you:

I will fight, fight and fight again to save the country that I love.

Europe and the world

Conservatives want to build a New Europe.

Not a single state with its own currency and constitution.

But a Europe of sovereign, enterprising nations.

A New Europe.

Focused on today’s problems; not the problems faced and overcome by Europe’s founders.

Fighting debt, disease and terrorism.

Environmental destruction and poverty.

In the post September 11th world global poverty is a challenge to our security.

The poor countries of today may become the rogue nations of tomorrow.

Everyone on earth has the God-given right to live in a free country – protected by the rule of law.

That’s one of the reasons why I supported the war in Iraq…

I know some say the war was wrong.

And I respect their opinion.

But I believe the world is better off today because Saddam Hussein is no longer running Iraq.

I’m not going to twist or turn with the prevailing wind.

I won’t play games with the defence of Britain.

We’ll leave that for the Liberal Democrats.

Conservatives will never undermine our armed forces.

We’ll always back them.

BlairWorld

For Mr Blair, politics is everywhere and everything.

So, during the next election don’t be surprised when Labour play dirty.

A Prime Minister that lies about his own record won’t hesitate to lie about us.

A government machine willing to smear the Paddington train crash survivors and Dr Kelly won’t think twice about smearing me.

A political party prepared to use the tragedy of September 11th to bury bad news will do everything it can to hide the scale of its own failure.

Did you see Tony Blair’s performance in Bournemouth last week?

Did you?

Did you hear that speech?

You know: I sometimes wonder if that guy lives in the same world as the rest of us.

You see, in BlairWorld things can only get better.

In BlairWorld crime is down.

In BlairWorld taxes are low.

In BlairWorld the trains run on time.

Last week he ended his speech with an air of omnipotence.

‘Let it be done’, he commanded.

You see, in BlairWorld Tony thinks he’s god.

But people don’t live in BlairWorld.

They live in the real world.

Bedeviled by the daily hurt and failures of your government, Mr Blair.

Last week in BlairWorld Tony boasted about winning against crime…

On the same day in the real world a brave woman in Nottingham was shot dead defending her daughter from robbers.

Last week in BlairWorld Tony claimed that the economy was strong…

On the same day, in the real world, 550 workers at Britain’s oldest commercial shipbuilders were made redundant.

Last week in BlairWorld Tony talked tough on asylum…

On the same day, in the real world, bogus asylum seekers escaped from one of his pathetic detention centers… when they should have been deported months ago.

Tony Blair’s alright for the telly but he’s all wrong for the country.

In the real world he’s failing Britain.

And everybody knows it.

Gordon Brown knows it.

He’s even started to smile.

The IDS card

I know what I believe.

I know what I value.

This card sets out my beliefs.

I believe in hard work…

In rewarding people who play by the rules…

In small government.

I believe in punishing criminals…

In trusting nurses, teachers, police officers…

I believe in a low tax economy.

I believe we all have a special duty of care for the most vulnerable people in our country – children, pensioners and the poor.

And, most of all, I believe in the sovereign right of the British people to govern themselves.

This card sets out my priorities for government…

The priorities of the great team I’m proud to lead.

Theresa, our Chairman, and the front bench teams in the Commons and the Lords…

Thank you all.

In our first term in Government, our policies will deliver a fair deal for everyone:

No-one held back and no-one left behind.

Fundamental to my Conservatism is this double commitment.

A belief in aspiration and a belief in security for all.

Conservatives will always back the high achievers, the entrepreneurs…

Life’s gold-medallists.

From their endeavour all of society can progress.

Conservatives want individuals and families to fulfil their potential and we trust them to build a society that respects everyone.

I’m appalled at the waste of talent – the depth of untapped potential – within today’s Britain.

Talent and potential that the challenges of our time desperately need.

But which are suffocated by a government that steals the oxygen from other living institutions.

Only when government steps back will people and communities be free to build something better…

You see, I’m proud to be a Conservative.

Proud of our achievements…

Proud of our ambitions…

Proud of the Conservative way.

Because it works for all the British people.

Let me tell you why I’m in politics.

It’s certainly not for the newspapers headlines we get.

It’s for the people in the film we just saw – and the millions just like them.

Jim Doherty is one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever met.

He runs a family support group in Glasgow’s Gallowgate.

He told me:

“We have already lost so many of our children to drugs.

The battle we’re fighting now is to save our grandchildren.”

Jim looked me in the eye, and said:

‘Don’t promise the earth’.

‘Just give me something to hold on to’.

‘Just give me hope…’

‘We’ll do the rest.’

Jim, David, Janis, Frank, and Ita.

You have my word.

I won’t let you down.

Conservatives must win the next Election.

Not for ourselves…

…but for the hard-working, law-abiding people of Britain…

Government’s on their backs when they don’t need help…

…never on their side when they do.

Over the last few days, many of you have said to me:

“I bet your job’s tough”.

No….

Well, actually, yes, it is tough.

But it’s not as tough as seeing your children destroyed by drugs.

Not as tough as having a child with special needs and seeing their school closed.

Not as tough as watching the business you’ve built up by your own hard work, shut down by Labour’s taxes.

I’ve got to be tough for these people.

Listen.Listen.

You can hear, steady as a heartbeat, the hurt and anger of the people of this country.

This Labour government cannot hear them above the racket of its own spin and the rattle of its own demise.

But I’ve heard them.

I’ve heard their anger.

Anger about the children on your street, mugged on the way home from school.

Anger about your child, her hope destroyed by drugs.

Anger for your mother, in agony because her operation has been cancelled again.

Anger at the way your pension savings have been eaten away.

These are the people I am in politics for.

These are the people who brought me here.

These are the people who sustain me.

The most remarkable, determined, compassionate, and tolerant people on the face of the earth.

They are the British people

They are why I am here…

They are why you are here.

Everyone in Britain deserves a fair deal.

We must be on their side.

Our mission, our duty, is to bring them hope.

To fight for them.

To be strong for them.

To be here for them.

And, together, we must win for them.

20/08/2022
Iain Duncan Smith – 2003 Speech in Loughborough

The speech made by Iain Duncan Smith, the then Leader of the Opposition, in Loughborough on 23 October 2003.

I know that the reputation students have for staying out late and drinking too much is only rivalled by the reputation journalists have for doing the same – so it’s particularly good to see so many representatives of both groups here today.

This is an important event.

It’s our opportunity to introduce to you some of the key people who will be fighting next year’s local and European elections for the Conservative Party in this area.

And those elections are extremely important.

Local councils are increasingly spending more and more of people’s money and being asked to deliver more and more of their services. That’s why next year’s local elections will be fought on the key battlegrounds of value for money and service delivery.

In May this year, people across the country put their trust in the Conservative Party to deliver better standards of service for lower levels of tax.

They did so, because Conservative councils have a good record of doing so. On average, Conservative councils charge £81 less on Band D homes than Labour councils, and £99 less than Liberal Democrat councils.

Yet an analysis of performance figures provided by the Audit Commission shows that the standard of our service delivery far outstrips that of our political opponents.

This is why today we are the largest and fastest growing party of local government in Britain.

But next year’s elections are not just about the day-to-day issues of local government – they are also of crucial importance to the way Britain conducts its future relations with Europe.

I pay tribute particularly, to the work of your two local Conservative MEPs in this region – Chris Heaton-Harris and Roger Helmer, who is here today.

They have both worked extremely hard over the past four years to expose the fraud and maladministration at the heart of the European Commission.

And they have been prepared to stand up for the interests of the East Midlands by opposing Labour’s destructive plans for regional assemblies and by supporting local industry and commerce.

They will also be part of this team that will be at the forefront of the Conservative campaign we have launched this week to give the people a say on the proposed European Constitution which is as unnecessary as it is unwanted.

We have a record of success on which to campaign next year.

But we also have new ideas and solutions in many policy areas that we will continue to promote.

We will show that it is once again the Conservative Party that is coming up with solutions to people’s problems.

And it is once again the Conservative Party that is committed to holding no one back while leaving no one behind.

John spoke earlier about the specific problems we want to address here today. Problems faced by young people who are under pressure to achieve their best but who get little help from their government to do so.

For students in Loughborough those problems can take two main forms.

For those who hope to go on to a successful sporting career, one of the key concerns is the pressure to use performance enhancing drugs to be able to train and compete better.

As Conservatives, we are proud of our record in supporting British sport. For example, we established the National Lottery that has helped to fund many great sporting initiatives around the country.

But today, the distribution of lottery funds is carried out by the same body that funds our doping control programme.

That programme is often inconsistent and the grounds for appeal are sometimes unclear.

It’s time to give a fair deal to Britain’s young athletes so that they know where they stand and so that we can keep our sport drug-free.

So today, we call on the Government to establish a new UK Independent Agency for Doping Control in Sport – an agency that is completely free of interference from government or from those who fund sporting projects.

This would strengthen the existing mechanisms for dealing with doping cases in a robust, consistent and fair way under a unified system to cover all Governing bodies of Sport.

We hope the Government will accept this proposal now, so that our young sportsmen and women can have confidence they will be treated fairly and that we can be confident that our sport is as free from drugs as possible.

There is, however, a further threat to our nation’s future potential that is not specific to this town or this area.

Labour’s plans to impose a huge tax on learning – a charge of £3,000 a year for the average student – will deter many of our brightest and best young people from going to university in the first place.

At the same time, their plans to socially engineer the selection process for universities are simply unfair and are unthinkable for our party – a party that believes in opportunity and achievement for all based on merit and hard-work.

While the Government ploughs on with its plans in defiance of every strand of opposition and with arrogant disregard for general public opinion, I am happy to restate our commitment on tuition fees once again here today:

We will abolish all Labour’s tuition fees.

We believe access to university should be based on merit and merit alone.

And we believe those young people who don’t want to go to university should have just as much opportunity in life as those who do.

That’s our fair deal for young people.

I’m delighted to be here today. To be able to visit this beautiful area, to be going to see the excellent facilities at Loughborough University and to be able to launch this excellent campaign team for next year’s elections.

And I’m pleased to be able to bring the Conservative message of a fair deal for everyone to the people of the East Midlands.

A fair deal for everyone is our ambition for this country. And we will continue to demonstrate how we will achieve that ambition by delivering practical solutions to the problems the people of Britain face today.

Solutions like those I’ve spoken about this morning.

A fair deal for everyone will be the message we campaign on through next year’s elections and on into the general election.

It’s what British People deserve.

It’s what we will deliver.

20/08/2022
Iain Duncan Smith – 2003 Statement Saying he has Support of Grass Roots

The statement made by Iain Duncan Smith, the then Leader of the Opposition, outside Conservative Central Office on 28 October 2003.

I am pleased that the Parliamentary party has responded to my call for a swift resolution. I welcome the fact that this matter will now be decided quickly, openly and in the clear light of day, and I look forward to addressing the 1922 Committee tomorrow to make the case for my continued leadership of this Party.

I believe that I have achieved a lot during the last two years. Following a second general election defeat and a divisive leadership contest, the Conservative Party was twenty points behind in the opinion polls. We are now equal with Labour in the polls, and we have become the largest party of local government.

But I do not seek a vote of confidence solely on my past record. I seek the approval of my colleagues for the campaign that is now beginning.

A vote of confidence in me will ensure we immediately start communicating to the British people the Conservative alternative to Labour. A vote of confidence in me can maintain the party unity on tax and Europe which we have achieved over the last two years – and ensure that we remain committed to the far-reaching set of policies in health, education, pensions, policing and asylum which we unveiled in Blackpool this month.

I regard it as my duty to warn my party that a change of leadership at this stage will be regarded with despair and contempt by many loyal supporters, and gravely imperil the party’s prospects at the next election.

I know I have the confidence of the grass roots – and I look forward to their original election of me, and their continued support, being validated by my Parliamentary colleagues. Then, united behind my leadership, we can begin the campaign to win the next election.

20/08/2022