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Category: Speeches

  • Jeremy Hunt – 2019 Statement on Montenegro

    Below is the text of the statement made by Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, on 9 May 2019.

    The failed coup attempt against Montenegro in 2016 was one of the most outrageous examples of Russia’s attempts to undermine European democracy. The GRU’s brazen attempt to interfere with Montenegro’s national elections and undermine Montenegro’s application to join NATO is yet another example of destabilising and aggressive Russian behaviour over the last decade.

    The guilty verdicts announced today against the 2 Russian intelligence officers responsible for plotting this coup were the conclusion of Montenegrin legal proceedings of unprecedented transparency. In the face of such overwhelming evidence, Russia’s claims that the 2 men were researching an article about the Russian military in the region during the First World War were proven to be absurd.

    Russia is a great country and central to European civilisation. Moscow must desist from any attacks that undermine the territorial integrity and democratic processes of its neighbours or other sovereign states. The UK calls on Russia to choose a different path – to uphold the security of Europe, respect the rules based international system that keeps our societies safe, and to work together with us to fulfil our common responsibilities as permanent members of the UN Security Council.

  • John Swinney – 2019 Speech to SNP Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by John Swinney at the SNP conference held in Edinburgh on 27 April 2019.

    The events of the last six months at Westminster have proven beyond any reasonable doubt; the United Kingdom political system has failed – and it has failed Scotland utterly.

    Week after week of an internal battle within the Tory Party has been played out in front of us all where – for the U.K. Government – the survival of the Tory Party has been more important than protecting the jobs, livelihoods and opportunities of the people of our country.

    Scotland’s vote to Remain in the EU has been ignored.

    The overwhelming majority demand of the Scottish Parliament for a different course has been rejected.

    The reasoned compromises suggested by the Scottish Government have been cast aside.

    The powers of the Scottish Parliament have been threatened by the U.K. power grab.

    Conference, as the Tory Party tried to save itself, the warm reassuring words of the 2014 No campaign about Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom counted for absolutely nothing.

    And people wonder why the First Minister has asked every one of our fellow citizens to think again about what kind of country we want to live in.

    This week the First Minister set out the steps our country needs to consider, to address the Brexit crisis. Just as she has done throughout the Brexit saga, Nicola Sturgeon spoke first, foremost and always in the national interest of Scotland.

    If the Brexit fiasco has told us anything, it has demonstrated we need to have a better dialogue about how we change our country. A discussion that includes everyone. A reasoned debate about the choices we face. A discussion that confronts the challenges ahead but lifts the hopes and the aspirations of our people.

    We all believe that Scotland’s future will be assured with independence. Our task now is to listen to views that are not ours, to find common ground and to put in place a message of hope and reassurance to our people. That is the opportunity the First Minister has created for us and we should seize that opportunity with both hands.

    And the first opportunity we have is in the debate that is about to come. The Growth Commission led by Andrew Wilson has spent time, and taken care, to explore some of the real, challenging, unavoidable issues that we face in the independence debate.

    They have given their thinking to us and Members around the country have engaged in a truly democratic, participative process.

    And the debate comes here – where it should – to the floor of our Party Conference for our delegates to decide.

    That is honest, open, respectful debate in action.

    That is the way it should always be and this Party can be rightly proud of it.

    While Westminster has been paralysed by Brexit, while the Tories have inflicted their damaging civil war on the rest of us, we have been building the new Scotland.

    We have delivered record health funding.

    We have a record number of Scots going to university and record numbers from the poorest backgrounds getting a place too.

    We have some of the highest levels of inward investment in the UK and the lowest unemployment on record.

    I’ll say that again…the lowest unemployment on record.

    That’s not just the SNP getting on with our day job.

    That’s the SNP making sure thousands of Scots have a day job to get on with in the first place.

    In just the last few months, while Westminster imploded, we have enacted world leading measures to protect the victims of domestic violence.

    We have established an Advanced Payment Scheme for the elderly and terminally ill victims of childhood abuse.

    We have committed to funding the tuition of EU students starting their studies in Scotland in 2020 just as any good, progressive European nation should do.

    And we have rolled out the new Best Start Grants and we are establishing a Scottish National Investment Bank.

    Friends, I could go on and on… and I will.

    More teachers.

    More nurses.

    Lower crime.

    And for the majority… lower taxes.

    Friends, many of these things are policies the old parties always said were impossible.

    You cannot ask the better off to pay more so that the less well-off can pay less. That’s what they said… but we did it anyway.

    Fairer taxation paying for fairer public services. Not impossible with the SNP.

    But then we are the party that does the impossible.

    You will never win a Holyrood election they said. We did that. Three times.

    You’ll never win in the Labour heartlands. We’ve done that too. And there are no Labour heartlands now.

    Then of course, they now say you cannot have another independence referendum and won’t win it if you do.

    My message is simple… we’ll soon see about that!

    We have secured all of these amazing achievements because our actions focus on the needs of our people, first, last and always.

    And along with all of this good work for our people, in a Parliament where the Government does not have a majority, Derek Mackay has secured the agreement – with the support of the Greens – to the Scottish Government Budget for this coming year.

    And Conference don’t underestimate the scale of the challenge in getting that Budget through.

    The Liberals came off the fence and made a decisive intervention. They decided to take absolutely no part in the process.

    The Labour Party were up for a deal according to Alex Rowley, but not up for a deal according to Richard Leonard. So the Labour Party in Scotland – coherent and united in the usual fashion.

    And the Tories. Well, the Tories were the real hypocrites of the process.

    They demanded that we cut taxes for the rich, strip £500 million from the public finances, and then called week by week for increased spending on an eye watering number of projects.

    Combined with the farce that is Brexit, with a one trick pony message that has run out of puff and an inability to convince anyone they are a serious Opposition let alone an alternative government, is it any wonder the Tory Party is now back in third place in Scottish politics.

    Twelve years into Government, the SNP continues to lead in the polls and we continue to lead the change that Scotland requires.

    Our agenda on education is designed to transform the lives of young people in Scotland by closing the poverty related attainment gap once and for all.

    Every step of the way in the lives of our children and young people, your SNP Government is taking the action to transform lives.

    The Baby Box, now in its second year with over 80,000 boxes issued, the take-up rate has reached 96% – that’s solid investment to give every child the best start in life.

    Early learning and childcare is now being doubled with our 2, 3 and 4 year old children having access to quality support to start their lives in an environment of play for learning.

    Pupil Equity Funding – sending £120 million directly from the Scottish Government to schools – has fuelled the empowerment of the teaching profession and helped young people overcome the burden of poverty.

    An expansion of Modern Apprenticeships – along with Foundation and Graduate Apprenticeships – has created a broader range of opportunities for young people to make the right choices about their future.

    Our Universities and Colleges are benefiting from over £1.5 billion of investment to deliver their vital contribution to higher and further education.

    And what difference have our interventions been making?

    Let’s look at level 5 qualifications – that used to be the old credit level standard grade but of course the system has changed since then.

    When we took office, 71% of pupils got a level 5 qualification or better.

    That figure is now 86%.

    At level 6 or better – that’s Highers – when we took office, just 41% achieved the qualification.

    Last year that figure reached 62.2%.

    Despite all this achievement by our young people, all the unionist parties can do is run Scotland’s education system down. We’re proud of what our young people achieve.

    We set ourselves two tasks for school education.

    Raise standards for all and close the attainment gap.

    Well here’s the progress report.

    Attainment overall is up. Last year, for the first time ever, more than 30% of pupils got at least five passes at Higher or better – up from 22.2% in 2009/10.

    And the poverty related attainment gap is narrowing.

    The gap between those from the most and least deprived areas achieving a Higher or better has reduced for the 8th successive year and is now at a record low.

    Standards up.

    The attainment gap closing.

    That’s the SNP record on education.

    Friends, in one way the success of our schools is seen best in what happens after school.

    Do pupils get that job, that place in college or university, or that apprenticeship they want?

    Do they get on in life?

    Overall, this year, a record 94.4% of pupils were in work, training or study within three months of leaving school.

    And, the gap between those from the most and least deprived communities has halved – halved – since 2009/10.

    Your SNP Government is delivering new opportunities for the young people of our nation.

    The unionists may not like it but it is what we will go on doing day and daily until the job is done.

    Running through all of our policy interventions is a determination to Get it Right for Every Child.

    The GIRFEC agenda has encouraged our public services to take a preventative approach, to support early intervention that will improve the life chances of children.

    One of the key elements in that process is how we support families.

    Working with Scotland’s dynamic charity and the third sectors we can help children grow up healthy, happy and safe.

    And to do so, I am today announcing a new fund of up to £16 million running over three years to partner with charities and the third sector.

    Whether it is schemes aimed at supporting children who are also carers or projects that focus on adult learning, we want to break the intergenerational cycles that blight too many lives.

    Across a wide range of challenges from early learning to child protection and Adverse Childhood Experiences, early intervention is key.

    Your SNP government will always do all we can to get it right for every child.

    Conference, the last three years since the Brexit Referendum have made one thing very clear to the people of Scotland. The voice of our country has been ignored by the Westminster Government.

    The call for us to ‘lead not leave’ the United Kingdom has been exposed as the worthless, empty commitment we knew it to be in 2014.

    So the question that people in Scotland have to face is what are we going to do about it?

    Will we be passive as our country is ignored and economic damage is inflicted upon us?

    Or – at the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Scottish Parliament – are we going to set our own agenda.

    That is the choice our country faces.

    For us, our role is to do what the National Party is good at.

    It is to engage.

    It is to listen carefully to our people.

    It is to persuade and to convince.

    And above all else, it is to provide the people of Scotland with an ambitious vision – brimming with hope – of what our country can be.

    Let us use the unique opportunity that we have to persuade our country that her future is best independent. And do everything we possibly can to make that happen.

  • Ian Blackford – 2019 Speech to SNP Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by Ian Blackford, the SNP Leader in the House of Commons, at the SNP Conference held in Edinburgh on 28 April 2019.

    Good morning Conference, it’s fantastic to be here at home with you in our vibrant capital Edinburgh.

    Friends, make no mistake – these are no ordinary times and this is no ordinary conference.

    We are here to make history.

    We are here to begin our campaign to make Scotland an independent, prosperous country in the European Union.

    Politics in London is consumed by the Tory Brexit.

    Parties in Westminster are distracted and divided by infighting between the Remainers and the Brexiteers.

    But not us – not the Scottish National Party.

    We are united, focused and determined.

    We know that Scotland deserves better than the shambles of Westminster. Britain is broken and Scotland is ignored by Westminster. This cannot go on.

    Our message here today must be simple. It must be about what we know is the truth. That the future of our nation will only be enhanced when we break free of the dangerous, nasty and failing politics of Westminster.

    For three years now the Tory Party – and the Labour Party – have focused on themselves.

    Battling internally on the issue of Brexit – and with no focus on delivering for the people of Scotland.

    We now have a UK Government that has effectively ceased to function with the UK poised over a cliff-edge.

    A cliff-edge that will destroy jobs and make people poorer.

    Conference, Theresa May is in office but she is not in power.

    Within months we could face Boris Johnson becoming Prime Minister.

    A real nightmare scenario.

    Brexit has been forced on us by law-breakers who don’t give a damn about ordinary working people.

    It has to be stopped.

    We cannot, and we will not, allow Scotland to follow Theresa May or Boris Johnson off the cliff-edge.

    The Tories have ignored the will of the Scottish people.

    They have ignored the decisions of our sovereign Scottish Parliament.

    And time and time again, they have blatantly ignored the efforts for compromise from the Scottish Government.

    We need to remind the Tories that they have lost every general election in Scotland since the 1950s.

    The Tories are out of touch with the people of Scotland.

    Conference, the Prime Minister has no mandate from Scotland.

    On Tuesday 12th March 2019, the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly voted on a historic joint motion rejecting the Prime Minister’s deal and rejecting no deal.

    And let me remind Theresa May and those Scottish Tories propping up her benches, on June 2016, an overwhelming majority, 62% of Scots voted remain.

    Scotland’s voice must be heard and it must be respected. Scotland will not be dragged out of the EU against our will.

    It will be the right of the people of Scotland to determined our future not the Prime Minister.

    The Tories and Labour need to wake up to reality. They face terminal decline in Scotland if they continue to ignore our wishes and interests.

    The YouGov poll for the Times should be a reality check. The SNP has secured a massive 23-point lead at Westminster – with the Tories and Labour falling way behind.

    Brexit has created the context of change – significant change where the choice before us is between Brexit and Scotland as an independent European nation. It is for all of us to decide our future.

    A Scotland locked indefinitely into Brexit Britain or a Scotland free to decide its own future.

    Conference – we have a choice to make.

    Enough is enough.

    The choice is no longer about how to mitigate Brexit it is about how we stop it. And how Scotland gets out of it.

    The lifeline thrown to Westminster by the EU to stop a no deal Brexit has been crucial to protect our economy and our interests. But the clock is once again ticking down.

    Our position is clear.

    SNP MPs will fight to stop Brexit.

    Scotland has been completely ignored throughout the Brexit process. Westminster is dragging us down the path to economic disaster. The people of Scotland deserve the choice of a better future than Brexit Britain.

    A choice of Scotland a destination in Europe – or being sidelined within an inward looking UK.

    Let’s be clear – continued Westminster rule is the biggest threat to Scotland’s economy and long-term prosperity. The biggest threat to jobs, incomes and living standards. The biggest threat to our NHS, our public services, our society.

    Scotland did not vote to leave the EU, and we must not be dragged out against our will. So I can confirm today that the SNP will not vote for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill when it comes to Westminster.

    We will not, not ever, support this damaging blindfold Brexit deal. Theresa May has failed to protect our economy, our communities and all of our futures. The Prime Minister is frozen in a failure of her own making. Humiliated and hamstrung by the extreme-right Brexiteers in her own Party. Theresa May your time is up.

    And I call on Jeremy Corbyn to join with us in the SNP, and rule out any support for the Withdrawal Bill, which would lead Scotland and the rest of the UK into total economic chaos. The coalition of the opposition need now to come together and do what the people elected us to do – oppose this Tory Government.

    Conference, the Tories don’t care what happens to the economy or to citizen’s livelihoods.

    Their obsession with leaving Europe is driven by an ideological desire to return to the days of the Empire.

    Well I hope the Tories are listening – because those days are over.

    And while they dream of a mythical past, citizens today are struggling to make ends meet, forced to queue at food banks to feed their children. Immigrants have the doors closed in their face. While women who have been victims of rape are forced to prove their child is a victim of such a horrific crime in order to access Universal Credit.

    What a disgrace.

    Conference the UK Government has created a cruel and callous system that punishes people instead of helping them prosper. We will not be dragged down into the gutter with them.

    Our ambition for our people is to grow a fairer, inclusive, welcoming and prosperous country filled to the brim with talent and opportunity.

    Friends, that is our vision for our nation.

    Brexit threatens all of that. It threatens to make our economy smaller, our people poorer and country weaker.

    That’s why we need to send a clear message that we will not accept a Brexit process that silences Scotland, treats our Parliament and Government with contempt and fails to represent the interests of people in Scotland.

    That is why we need to take the opportunity of the European elections to prove that Scotland wants something different from all this chaos – a seat and a voice at Europe’s top table.

    These elections are Scotland’s opportunity to be heard. An opportunity to show to ourselves and the wider world that Scotland wants something better.

    We want to be a decision maker working constructively and on an equal basis with our European partners.

    Voters can send a message that Scotland will no longer be silenced.

    Conference, it is important that we thank Ian Hudghton for his outstanding service for our movement.

    And I pledge today that the Westminster group will be getting out on the streets over the coming weeks so we deliver the biggest number of SNP representatives to Brussels yet.

    Conference – over the past few months in Westminster, the SNP has worked very hard to build a consensus to stop Brexit.

    With our sister party Plaid Cyrmu, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats – we have tried to force the case to put the decision back to the people.

    A second referendum would give citizens across the UK the option to take back control.

    Let’s face facts – Nigel Farage and his cronies lied to the people.

    They put £350m on the back of a bus for the NHS – yet it never materialised.

    The leave campaign was characterised by scaremongering and lies.

    And yet while we in the SNP have successfully gained cross party support to force the need for a second referendum into the heart of Parliament, Jeremy Corbyn has failed to show any courage.

    The truth is this – it is the SNP that is the real opposition to the Tories.

    Jeremy Corbyn can’t control his own party never mind take on the Tories.

    Hamstrung like the Prime Minister – Jeremy Corbyn has cowardly failed to fight in the corner of the people who want a final say.

    Jeremy – if you’re watching – do us all a favour and get off the fence!

    Do the right thing.

    If Labour’s talks with the Prime Minister are to have any purpose then Jeremy Corbyn must press for a second EU referendum in the cross-party talks.

    Failure to do so will be an unforgivable act of cowardice.

    Conference, meanwhile your SNP MPs are getting on with the day job.

    The SNP Westminster group proudly championed the 3 million campaign for scrapping the £65 registration fee charged to EU nationals – a policy the UKG got rid of thanks to SNP pressure.

    Ronnie Cowan’s tireless work on fixed odds betting terminals was finally met by the UK government who conceded and are reducing stakes from this month.

    Deidre Brock has been a consistent champion for Scottish farmers and fisherman. Deidre successfully exposed the fact that the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal would repeat history and sell out the Scottish fishing industry.

    Stuart C McDonald has led the way in opposing the hostile environment embodied by the Tory Government’s Immigration bill. He has been a powerful voice in advocating the truth that freedom of movement is good for Scotland.

    Kirsty Blackman and Alison Thewliss are taking on those who seek to duck tax and cripple our economy. They truly have been outstanding in carving the way for a fairer economy that works for all.

    SNP MPs Stephen Gethins, Joanna Cherry and Peter Grant have taken on the Tories at every turn as they seek to inflict the worst possible hardship on Scotland through Brexit. They have been a formidable team – stopping at nothing to defend the rights and will of the Scottish people.

    And delegates, we all know – one of the most precious times in our lives is the arrival of a new baby. We should all be so proud of the work from our friend and colleague David Linden on paternity rights reform, so that in any time of need, UK law does not stop fathers being there for their families.

    Conference – I could go on. Your team of SNP MPs have been consistent, determined and courageous. While MPs in the Tory and Labour Party are fighting internal ego battles, the SNP MP team is focused only on fighting for you – for Scotland.

    And now our biggest fight is to come and friends we are up for it.

    The Brexit experience has exposed the clear weaknesses in the current devolution settlement.

    What was long in the decay is now broken.

    Brexit has created the context of change – significant change where the choice before us is between Brexit and Scotland as an independent European nation.

    It is for all of us to decide.

    A Scotland locked indefinitely into Brexit Britain or a Scotland free to decide its own future.

    As our First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon set out, the decision on Scotland’s future must be available within the lifetime of this Parliament, in line with our Government’s mandate.

    Friends at the end of this process – Scotland must have the right to decide.

    Now is the time for us, for our movement to prepare that path.

    To persuade the people of Scotland of our vision.

    Nicola has done an incredible job of keeping us on a steady ship. While Westminster is out of control – in Scotland – the SNP is firmly in control. Getting on with the day job, delivering more and more for our citizens every day.

    Friends, we live in a country that we can all be proud of.

    We have a Government that we have pride in.

    A record of standing up for Scotland, our ethos of sustaining access to higher and further education based on ability, not based on an ability to pay.

    And that includes EU students starting courses in 2020/21.

    A record of world leading climate change legislation.

    A proud record of delivering transformation on LGBTI rights.

    Conference, Scotland is leading on the global stage on so many issues – but we are still constrained by the limitations of devolution.

    We have come so far in the past 20 years since devolution – now is time to finish that journey.

    We have the courage, the belief and the dedication to turn the tide for Scotland.

    We have led the journey and the destination is in now in sight.

    Our First Minister has set out our course, we now must put all of our shoulders to the wheel, to stand up for Scotland, to build a better Scotland and to do that together.

    The time is coming. Let’s get ready. Let’s do this.

  • Jeremy Wright – 2019 Speech at Impact19 Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by Jeremy Wright, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on 9 May 2019.

    Thank you very much and good afternoon.

    This is a very important event to help us explore how business, government and civil society can work together to solve the major challenges faced by our society.

    The fact that we have several Government ministers here, along with William Vereker, the Prime Minister’s Business Envoy, I hope demonstrates the attention and the significance we are giving this subject all across Government.

    As society changes, enabled by the rise of new technologies, the nature of business must change too.

    Businesses are increasingly recognising that they have a contract with society and that to maintain and renew this contract, they must play a part in addressing the major social issues that we all face.

    The idea of social responsibility as a bolt-on option for businesses is long gone.

    We are seeing so many businesses that have a social purpose at their heart.

    But there is scope to do more and get greater numbers of businesses on board.

    And that’s what I wanted to talk about today. How we can channel this momentum and support the scores of businesses that want to live up to the changing expectations of our society.

    Forming partnerships

    First, I would like to talk about partnerships.

    This event is all about partnerships. Because there are some challenges that can’t be solved by Government, by civil society, or by business alone.

    If we are to succeed in creating a truly inclusive economy, we need to combine all of our strengths and create a new model for solving these problems.

    Using the convening power of Government, the dynamism of business and the knowledge and expertise of our civil society.

    And that is what we have aimed to inspire through the Inclusive Economy Partnership.

    This aims to find new ways of working together on societal issues, and to give businesses the right support and the right conditions to make big interventions.

    In its first year, it focused its work on three areas: transition to work for young people, mental health and financial inclusion.

    The IEP ran a Partnership Accelerator, based on these themes, offering financial support for projects that aim to tackle these issues, and brokering partnerships between social innovators and big businesses and civil society organisations.

    My colleague, the Secretary of State for Business will discuss the work of the Accelerator in more detail later today, but early indications have been extremely positive.

    As Oliver said, around 100 partnerships have been confirmed as a result of the programme, with an estimated 50,000 people benefiting as a result. And there is considerable potential to scale these partnerships up even further.

    Looking beyond the Accelerator, highlights of the Inclusive Economy Partnership have included the Launch of Fair4All Finance, which will use funds from dormant assets to support solutions to provide affordable credit to those who need it most.

    And the creation of a new West Midlands taskforce to reduce youth unemployment, inspired by IEP’s transition-to-work pilot in the region.

    This is crucially important work.

    And it has been heartening to me to see so many of the Inclusive Economy Partnership’s projects emerging from our world-leading technology sector.

    Digital businesses

    Our technology and civil society sectors are, at their core, all about shaking up established conventions and solving problems.

    You can see that in the rising number of tech for social good organisations, with the sector growing exponentially in recent years.

    In the Civil Society Strategy, we committed as a Government to exploring what more could be achieved through partnerships between the technology and social sectors.

    And there are many social issues where I see a role for tech firms.

    Not just through meeting their responsibilities around protecting users from harm, like cyberbullying and extremist content.

    But also through striving to make a positive impact on the world we live in.

    One example is financial inclusion and the ‘Open Banking 4 Good’ scheme. Nationwide worked with the Inclusive Economy Partnership to launch a three million pound Challenge Prize for solutions that use open banking technology.

    And then there’s the issue of loneliness, one of the greatest public health challenges of our time.

    Up to a fifth of all UK adults feel lonely most or all of the time. And there is evidence showing loneliness can be as bad for our health as obesity or smoking.

    In January I announced that we are investing a million pounds to drive social tech innovation in civil society, to help develop solutions to tackle loneliness and bring communities together.

    This Tech for Good Challenge Prize will set inspiring targets to focus the efforts of industry, civil society and government.

    Successful participants will be rewarded with a cash incentive and ongoing business support. And we are working hard to create the best possible environment for these businesses to succeed, through innovation friendly regulation, access to capital and ensuring stronger digital skills at every level.

    A few months ago we announced the beneficiaries of our new Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund.

    That 400,000 pound fund focuses on tackling digital exclusion amongst groups that are most excluded from the digital revolution and slowest to adopt basic digital skills.

    This long-term investment is crucial if we are to develop strong foundations for this inclusive economy.

    And create businesses that can make the most of the technological changes ahead, whilst maintaining a strong social purpose.

    Businesses as employers

    And I am pleased that we are seeing more and more employers rising to this challenge.

    Society increasingly expects all businesses to make a positive impact, whether it is within their own business, throughout their supply chain or within the communities they operate in.

    And one way of doing this is through providing opportunities to those who might not otherwise be able to get through the door.

    You cannot have an inclusive economy without an inclusive workforce. A greater diversity of background, and thought, means more perspectives and, as a result, a better quality of decision making.

    So it is good news that so many firms have been looking to see how they can employ under-represented groups and provide alternative entry level routes into their industries.

    Earlier today, I spoke at a conference for the publishing industry, where I commended the Spectator magazine for their commitment to inclusivity.

    They no longer ask for prospective interns to submit CVs, opening the doors to those whose educational background may have previously discouraged them from applying.

    And we have had over 300 signatories to the Tech Talent Charter, which gives organisations tangible actions and principles to adopt to help them change their hiring practices.

    And I know there are many more examples, including some in this room.

    For example, the Inclusive Economy Partnership is backing a growing movement of businesses focused on the mental health of their employees, as well as looking for opportunities to tackle this issue among their customers and the wider community.

    It supported the development of the Government’s voluntary reporting guidelines, launched in November last year.

    And one of the many success stories from our Accelerator has been the “This Is Me” programme, aimed at creating inclusive workplaces through creating more open conversations about mental health.

    They have formed a partnership with Landsec, the UK’s largest commercial property development and investment company.

    Landsec is helping this programme to launch in two new cities and they have also introduced the programme through their supply chain.

    This is a real example of the inclusive economy in action. It’s good for society as a whole while providing benefits for the companies that show leadership in this area.

    And increasingly people want to work for firms that share their values and that are making a positive impact on the communities they live in.

    So please think about what you can do, through the IEP and beyond. It is good for business, recruitment and retention, but it can make a lasting difference to future generations.

    Conclusion

    As a Government we want to showcase to the world that we can be a leader in delivering inclusive growth.

    But if we are to succeed and build a truly national movement, we need to build partnerships. That is what today is all about.

    We need your help and look forward to working with you.

    Thank you for coming today and I hope that you have an inspiring and enjoyable day.

  • Mark Field – 2019 Statement on Iran Nuclear Deal

    Below is the text of the statement made by Mark Field, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific, in the House of Commons on 8 May 2019.

    The UK notes with great concern the statement made by Iran today concerning its commitments under the joint comprehensive plan of action. We are analysing the detail of it and are in close contact with the other parties to the deal. Today’s announcement from Tehran is, I have to say to the House, an unwelcome step. We urge Iran not to take further escalatory steps, and to stand by its commitments. We are not at this stage talking about re-imposing sanctions, but one has to remember that they were lifted in exchange for the nuclear restrictions as part of the JCPOA. Should Iran cease meeting its nuclear commitments, there would of course be consequences, but so long as Iran keeps to its commitments then so too will the United Kingdom. It is critical that we maintain an open dialogue with Iran, and we intend to do so: for example, the Foreign Office’s political director is visiting Tehran this week to discuss this and a range of bilateral issues. I myself hope to visit Iran in the coming months.

    We recall our own firm commitments under the deal, including to lift sanctions for the benefit of the Iranian people. The lifting of nuclear-related sanctions is, of course, an essential part of the JCPOA. It aims to have a positive impact not only on trade and economic relations with Iran but, most importantly, on the lives of the many ordinary Iranian people who have had such a tough time over recent decades. We deeply regret the re-imposition of sanctions by the United States following its withdrawal from the JCPOA.

    Along with the remaining participants of the JCPOA—Germany, France, Russia and China—we are committed to working on sanctions relief for Iran, together with third countries that are interested in supporting the JCPOA. We are determined to pursue efforts with European and other partners to enable the continuation of legitimate trade with Iran. The UK and our European partners met Iranian officials in Brussels only yesterday to discuss the next steps needed to operationalise the special purpose vehicle, INSTEX—instrument in support of trade exchanges—which aims to facilitate legitimate trade with Iran.

    Even at this stage, we encourage all countries, including Russia and China as JCPOA participants, to make their very best efforts to pursue the sanctions relief that the agreement allows for through concrete steps. We take this opportunity to call on all parties that are not party to the JCPOA to refrain from taking any actions that would impede the ability of the remaining parties to fully perform their commitments.

    Finally, it is important to remember that the UK remains very clear-eyed about Iran’s destabilising activity in other parts of the middle east—including its ballistic missile programme, which must now be addressed. However, we see that that can best be done through the JCPOA remaining in place.

  • Karen Bradley – 2019 Statement on Security Arrangements in Northern Ireland

    Below is the text of the statement made by Karen Bradley, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in the House of Commons on 7 May 2019.

    This is a summary of the main findings from the report by His Honour Brian Barker QC, the Independent Reviewer of National Security Arrangements in Northern Ireland, covering the period from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018. His Honour Brian Barker concludes:

    Throughout the reporting period I have been briefed periodically on the state of threat in Northern Ireland. I received presentations from PSNI and MI5 on the ​practical effect of their co-operation and mutual reliance. My visits to PSNI establishments and to MI5 left an impression of deep commitment and professionalism, further demonstrated by their openness and willingness to respond to all aspects of my enquiries. Strong cross-border links continue with An Garda Siochana.

    The context in which national security activities are performed in Northern Ireland remains challenging and members of the security forces continue to require vigilance in relation to their personal security. Dissident republicans continue to express political conviction to justify violence and law breaking, while loyalist paramilitaries maintain control in areas by self-justified intimidation and administration of violence. As in recent years there have been successes and considerable effort devoted to containing and disrupting dissident groups. Nevertheless, planning and targeting continues and attacks occur.

    The number of security related incidents for this reporting period are broadly similar to my previous report; in 2017 shooting incidents rose from 49 to 58, whilst the number of security related deaths decreased from 6 to 2. There were 30 bombing incidents, and casualties from paramilitary style assaults (excluding fatalities) increased from 65 to 74; casualties from paramilitary style shootings (excluding fatalities) also increased from 20 to 27. The number of persons arrested and charged under s.41 of the Terrorism Act decreased from 18 to 13.

    This period I have focused on Covert Human Intelligence Sources [CHIS]. There is excellent co-operation between MI5 and PSNI on CHIS operations, including frequent meetings between PSNI and MI5 at a senior level to discuss CHIS policy and operations. In accordance with the St. Andrews principles, PSNI manage the majority of national security CHIS. There is a systematic review procedure for CHIS.

    The political situation is difficult and complex and throughout this reporting period Northern Ireland was without a functioning Executive and Assembly, despite a number of attempts at negotiations between parties; concern about the effect of the political situation was a recurring theme in many of my stakeholder engagements.

    I met a range of stakeholders in this reporting period, including the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB), the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI), the Attorney General (AG) and the Committee on Administration of Justice (CAJ). NIPB highlighted the effect of not being able to fully operate, due to the lack of a functioning Executive or Assembly, and raised concerns that crucial decisions, such as an inability to retain their independent Human Rights Advisor, could lead to a diminution of trust in their work.

    PONI outlined the challenge of balancing a large volume of troubles-era complaints against a limit to the resources available to investigate.

    The Committee on Administration of Justice (CAJ) raised concerns about the effect of the lack of an NI Executive and the potential impact of EU Exit. They reported that their relationship with PSNI was good and improving. CAJ proposed a framework where the operational boundaries of MI5 and PSNI responsibilities relating to NIRT, paramilitarism and extreme right activity was published. CAJ believe this would have an international benefit and would give accountability and public acceptability.​

    A meeting with the Attorney General (AG), John Larkin QC, was productive. Within the scope of his remit, the AG explained his hope for improvement to certain elements of the criminal justice system, such as more informative defence statements and better monitoring of entrapment accusations and subsequent requests for disclosure.

    Overall, I continue to be impressed with the standards and commitment of the senior members of MI5 and the PSNI and understand the frustration all stakeholders experience due to the lack of a functioning Executive.​
    I have measured performance in this reporting period against the five key principles identified in relation to national security in Annex E to the St Andrews agreement of October 2006. My conclusions are set out in the attachment table.

    Attachments can be viewed online at: http://www.parilament. uk/business/publications/wntten-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-05-07/HCWS1538/

  • Andrea Leadsom – 2019 Statement on Restoration of the Palace of Westminster

    Andrea Leadsom

    Below is the text of the statement made by Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, on 7 May 2019.

    Today, the Government publishes its response to the Joint Committee’s report on the draft Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill.

    The Joint Committee published its report on 21 March 2019. This report followed careful consideration by the Committee, taking evidence from a range of interested experts and stakeholders. The report set out a series of helpful recommendations on the content of the Bill and on wider issues related to Restoration and Renewal, including matters for the Shadow Sponsor Body to consider.

    The Joint Committee was appointed by the House of Commons on 26 November 2018 and the House of Lords on 29 November 2018. It scrutinised the draft Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill (“the Bill”) by considering written and oral evidence from a range of contributors, including the Leader of the House of Commons, the right hon. Andrea Leadsom MP and the Leader of the House of Lords, the right hon. Baroness Evans of Bowes Park.

    The Government welcomes the Committee’s report and considered “an evidence-based approach” the Chair and members of the Committee have taken in scrutinising the Bill. The support of the Committee and its endorsement of the overarching aim of the draft Bill is very important in progressing this important and pressing work. The Government are committed to establish in statute the necessary governance arrangements to oversee the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster, and in doing so, ensuring it provides value for money for the taxpayer.

    The Government are committed to introducing the Bill as soon as possible. We recognise that this is a significant and urgent task given the current state of disrepair of the Palace. The recent incidents in the Palace of Westminster, including masonry falling from the building have further highlighted the urgency of the works to restore and renew the Palace of Westminster. The tragic fire at Notre Dame has also served as a reminder of the risks to this historic and iconic building.

  • James Brokenshire – 2019 Statement on Rough Sleeping

    Below is the text of the statement made by James Brokenshire, the Secretary of State of Housing, Communities and Local Government, on 7 May 2019.

    Early adopters of the Rapid Rehousing Pathway

    In December, I announced the locations of the first 11 Somewhere Safe to Stay hubs, one of four elements that make up the Rapid Rehousing Pathway which were announced in the £100 million Rough Sleeping strategy last August. I am pleased to say that all 11 hubs are now operational. Furthermore, I can confirm that all 42 early adopters of the pathway, announced in February, are working hard to get staff in place and several are already delivering services. These 53 early adopters are focused on making sure that those who sleep rough, or are at risk of sleeping rough, are rapidly getting the support they need to move away from the street and sustain secure accommodation.

    Rapid Rehousing Pathway new funding

    I have now announced the allocations of up to £25.6 million of the second round of Rapid Rehousing Pathway funding. For 108 areas of the country this funding will provide:

    20 additional Somewhere Safe to Stay hubs, to rapidly assess the needs of people who are sleeping rough and those who are at risk of sleeping rough and support them to get the right help quickly. This will bring the total number of hubs to 31,16 more than the minimum that we committed to in the 2018 Rough Sleeping strategy.

    Up to £6.8 million of funding for 61 areas for supported lettings, offering flexible support funding to help people with a history of rough sleeping to sustain their tenancies in homes made newly available across the housing sector.

    At least 130 navigators who will develop relationships with and help over 2,500 people who sleep rough to access appropriate local services, get off the streets and into settled accommodation.

    Up to £3.5 million to establish or support 30 local lettings agencies to source, identify, or provide homes and advice for rough sleepers or those at risk.

    A full list of the areas funded is available at: https://www. gov.uk/government/publications/rapid-rehousing-pathway-2019-to-2020-funding-allocations.

    With this funding, local areas will be able to connect people with the right support and sustainable housing to move them swiftly away from the street and facilitate their recovery. This important work is part of delivering on the commitments outlined in the Rough Sleeping strategy and is crucial in bringing us a step closer towards ending rough sleeping.

  • Kelly Tolhurst – 2019 Statement on the Companies Register

    Below is the text of the speech made by Kelly Tolhurst, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in the House of Commons on 7 May 2019.

    One of the key foundations of our modern industrial strategy is delivering a strong, transparent and attractive business environment in the UK. The strength of the UK’s business environment is founded on our fair and open regulatory frameworks. The companies register is the base on which that strength is built.

    While the overwhelming majority of UK corporates operate wholly legitimately, concerns have been expressed about the misuse of UK corporate entities, the filing of false information on the companies register held at Companies House and the use of innocent people’s information on the register to commit fraud and other acts of harm.

    In the last three years there have been almost 10,000 complaints to Companies House from people concerned about their personal details, with worries including fraud and misuse of personal details topping the list.

    We are therefore seeking views on a series of reforms to limit the risks of misuse. These include measures to: provide greater certainty over the identity of those shown as owning, running or controlling companies, including identity verification; improve the accuracy and usability of data on the register; protect personal information; ensure compliance and take action against offenders; and deter abuse of UK-registered corporate entities. We are committed to minimising burdens on law abiding businesses, especially the smallest. The consultation will therefore look at the best way to minimise burdens on businesses.

    These reforms build on our global reputation as a trusted and welcoming place to do business and a leading exponent of greater corporate transparency.

    The UK has one of the highest ratings for cracking down on anonymous companies, and the Government’s proposed measures build on the Britain’s world-leading anti-corruption activity. In 2016, the UK became the first country in the G20 to introduce a public register of company ownership, while new protections against identity fraud for company directors were introduced in 2018.

    These measures will boost the reputation of the UK’s business environment, ensuring reliability of the UK’s company register. Knowing that a company’s information is accurate and transparent is a fundamental part of a leading business environment—giving entrepreneurs and businesses the confidence they need to do business in the UK.

    I will place a copy of the consultation in the Libraries of both Houses.

  • Damian Hinds – 2019 Speech on School Accountability

    Below is the text of the speech made by Damian Hinds, the Secretary of State for Education, at the NAHT Conference in Telford on 3 May 2019.

    Thanks for welcoming me back. It’s terrific to be here, to feel so much ability crammed under one roof. Expertise. Experience. Passion.

    I see these qualities again and again when I visit schools up and down the country. Getting out and about and into classrooms is one of the best bits of my job – because I get to speak to so many teachers, leaders and children. I get a chance to see the fantastic teaching and learning that is your every day.

    This morning I made my 92nd school visit, and I have had the chance to meet hundreds of headteachers.

    And I find one common trait, time after time, in every school I visit and every leader I speak to. Ambition.

    Not a selfish, inward ambition – believe me, I’ve met a lot of politicians, so I know how to spot that! Rather, an outward ambition. An altruistic ambition. An ambition that everyone, no matter who they are, can reach their potential.

    Today, I want to tell you that your ambition is my ambition.

    World-class schools. Giving every child the best possible start in life. Led by brilliant, motivated teachers and leaders, who are empowered to do what they do best – to teach.

    To get there, we will have to continue to tackle the pressures that I know schools are facing. I have been open in acknowledging these. And I’m also committed to working with you to relieve them.

    Let me start with funding.

    I have heard you loud and clear on this. I know finances are challenging for many schools, that you have had to make, and do have to make hard decisions about resources.

    We are approaching a comprehensive Spending Review. There are always competing demands on public funds, but I will be setting out the case, the very strong case, for education. The case for investment in education is a special one, because so much else depends on what you do – so much for our economy and our society.

    There is one area of funding that I want to directly address now – the support that we give for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

    You and your staff provide high quality support to children with special educational needs and disabilities, every single day.

    This isn’t some distraction from teaching. This is teaching. Helping vulnerable children learn is at the centre of the moral purpose that brought you into the profession.

    I’ve visited some fantastic mainstream schools and colleges and of course special schools too, and I’ve seen this work for myself.

    Each time I have been struck by the dedication of the school and the staff working with these children, tailoring their approach to meet the needs of pupils with a diverse range of additional challenges. Whether this is flexible timetabling, one-to-one support or coaching – the commitment is unwavering and the ambition for these children uncompromised.

    So thank you, and in particular thank you to those SENCOs who provide so much valued expertise to other staff and families and to the headteachers who have created environments that enable these pupils to flourish.

    I know there are challenges – as your report last year made clear. And I know the challenges are increasing.

    The number of school-aged children with a statement or an Education, Health and Care plan rose by more than 13,000 between 2017 and 2018 and we’ve seen a steady increase in those children being educated outside of mainstream schools.

    And we know that more specialist provision is more expensive and that we have a capacity issue in the number of places at special school available.

    Supporting these children in mainstream schools where possible and where it is right for that child, is the right thing to do, as is increasing the amount of personalised support available in all settings to help them achieve great outcomes. But it is creating budgetary pressures.

    It is because of the pressures on Local Authorities’ High Needs budgets that last December I announced an extra £250 million of high needs funding. I also announced that we’ll invest just over £30 million to train more than 200 new educational psychologists a year, from next year, to help you and your teams access the right specialists. And we have allocated additional High Needs capital as well.

    That means that this year we have invested over £6 billion in education for children with complex SEND.

    But I’m under no illusion – this may not be enough. This is a growing, complex issue, and I want to work with you to solve it. Part of that is of course about funding. And it’s also about changing needs.

    When I’ve spoken to teachers recently, they’ve told me that it’s not just the volume of support that has gone up. It’s also that the needs that vulnerable young people have – and the support that they require – is changing. This too is increasing pressures.

    So I need your front-line expertise – to properly understand what is driving these pressures, where the funding system is working, and where it is not.

    That’s why today I’m announcing a call for evidence, to gather your views and make sure everyone can input. I know schools and teachers can’t do this alone, which is why I’m encouraging others who have a crucial role supporting these vulnerable children, including local authorities and health services, to join the conversation too.

    This evidence is important. We need a system that works for these young people. And we should be unequivocal – that our ambition for them is exactly the same as our ambition for every other child. That they achieve their full potential.

    Of course, funding challenges aren’t restricted to high needs. The right level of support for all schools, and for every pupil, is also vitally important. And here too, as well as securing the right overall settlement, I want to make sure that money is flowing through the system in the right way – that individual schools’ needs are being properly understood, and that we avoid creating perverse incentives.

    The national funding formula has taken a big step forward in addressing some anomalies in funding between different areas and we need to complete the job on this.

    But I also want to consider whether we can look more closely at how funding can accurately reflect the way costs operate in reality for individual schools. Of course some costs go up and down in direct proportion to pupil numbers, while others do not.

    If I’ve learned one thing it’s that when we talk to one another, when we collaborate, it’s then that we begin to see real progress in tackling the pressures schools face.

    One of the best examples of this I can think of, and one this profession can be very proud of is the Recruitment and Retention Strategy.

    This has been a huge endeavour and has involved teaching unions, leaders and teachers, all coming together to work out how we boost the profession and develop a more supportive culture in schools. I particularly want to thank NAHT for their constructive engagement on the strategy.

    We all want the teaching profession to be one that attracts the best people and offers them a satisfying, sustainable career.

    And yet too many teachers are leaving the profession. I know many of you will cover for gaps in your teams; that you have lost teachers, talented and valued members of the team.

    A key feature of the strategy is the new Early Career Framework, perhaps the most significant reform of the profession since teaching became a graduate-only profession.

    It will provide much more structured support for teachers at the start of their career, when they are most at risk of dropping out. By the time the new framework is fully in place we will fund additional support and training for new teachers up to at least £130 million every year.

    But of course the strategy isn’t just about new teachers – it also commits to supporting teachers throughout their careers. I want all those who are called to this vocation to enjoy the same kind of clear career pathways as other leading professionals, like doctors or lawyers.

    To do this we will offer more coherent pathways for all teachers, from reformed ITT content to the development of specialist NPQs that support those teachers who don’t necessarily want to go into leadership but who still want to develop, to specialise and to progress.

    There are other barriers to recruitment and retention. Last year I told you I had an urgent task – to look at how we can work together to address these barriers – and top of the list is workload.

    We know that teachers, and school leaders, work far longer hours than they should and this is one of the main reasons people give for leaving the profession or not moving into leadership roles.

    But we also know there is no silver bullet and that workload and the pressure you can sometimes feel can come from different sources – it can come from specific requirements generated within schools and from government. But it can also come indirectly from the accountability system.

    Primary school standardised testing in different forms is common around the world. Here in England, it can help inform parents, and it helps inform Ofsted.

    And clearly the progress that pupils make at secondary school, and the qualifications they achieve there, are really important to their futures.

    But I am clear that data alone do not and cannot give the full rounded picture of a school.

    I know that today the fear of the consequences of a single set of bad results can manifest itself in unintended consequences, excessive pressures on headteachers and leaders. Last year I promised we would consult with you on this and how we could make the system better.

    And today I am confirming that – after a very strong response to our recent consultation on identifying schools for support – that the ‘floor’ and ‘coasting’ standards will be dropped.

    This is in line with one of the key recommendations from NAHT’s commission on accountability. It means you don’t have to worry that one set of results could set off a number of unwelcome consequences.

    From September this year we will no longer publish these standards, nor use them for any purpose. Instead, we will use a single, transparent trigger for an offer of support – ‘Ofsted requires improvement’ – to make sure it is totally clear when leaders will be offered support.

    And while leaders of “RI” schools will always retain responsibility for their own improvement, we will be proactive in offering support to leadership teams who do want it.

    So, from next academic year, all “RI” schools not currently benefitting from this year’s package will be offered funded support from an expert leader to give them bespoke guidance.

    A more intensive package of assistance will be available for schools with two consecutive “requires improvement” judgements, to help them improve in a sustainable way. But again, I want to stress – it’s an offer, not an enforced intervention.

    I also want to consider what more we could do to address workload issues for school leaders in particular, and will continue to work with you in the coming months to understand the pressures you face on a daily basis, and come up with a plan to reduce these.

    Tackling workload is one of the ways we can build a supportive culture in schools and I know from our Workload Reduction Toolkit that headteachers and principals are already doing some fantastic, proactive work in this area – schools like Kensington Primary School in Newham, who have focused on the work-life balance of their staff as part of their whole school ethos and culture. We have published a video about their approach as part of the workload toolkit.

    The tools have been collectively downloaded more than 135,000 times since they first came out and I would urge any of you who have not yet had a look at it to do so.

    Last summer when we asked school leaders whether they had begun to take action on evaluating and reducing unnecessary staff workload, 96% said that they had, which is tremendous progress.

    I’ve already talked to you about some of the particular needs of children with SEND. Health and wellbeing is of course vital for all children. Schools have a particularly important role to play in this respect.

    I want all children to leave school prepared for life in a modern, diverse Britain. Part of the way to make sure they are is to learn about respect for each other and that no one is more important than anyone else, right from the earliest age. You’re never too young to learn compassion and kindness.

    We have just made the biggest change to health education in 20 years. From 2020 all primary schools will be required to teach children about relationships as well as health – secondary schools will have to teach sex education too – so that all children have the knowledge they need to be healthy and safe, and to manage their lives and relationships in a positive way. I want to thank the NAHT for all of their engagement on these reforms.

    I know many of us feel strongly about some of these issues and people hold different views, as they are absolutely entitled to do, but that does not mean we can shy away from them. It is all the more important to keep talking to one another to find a way forward.

    But, and I want to be perfectly clear about this, I back you to do your jobs, to make the right professional choices in the best interests of all your pupils and your teachers. And I expect you to be able to do this free from intimidation by others. I am pleased that my department is working with the NAHT to explore what some of the ongoing problems are and how we can solve them.

    And I welcome NAHT’s continued help as we put in place the right, sustained support for schools to build high-quality teaching of relationships and health education. We have allocated £6 million to that end this year, and future years will be considered as part of the spending review.

    Another area that continues to cause alarm is social media. I know this is something you will be debating over the weekend.

    For this generation growing up, technology and new media, including social media, change just about everything.

    The internet is a fantastic resource and an integral part of everyday life for many people. Living in a more connected world opens up fantastic opportunities, to share ideas and collaborate. It’s hard to imagine life without it.

    However, we know that the internet can also be used to intimidate and bully. This is not acceptable and can have serious consequences for victims of online abuse.

    The changes we’ve made to the RSE and health curriculum mean that as well as relationships education, young people will learn about safe and acceptable behaviour online and an awareness of how online actions can affect others, particularly how to protect themselves from possibly harmful content.

    This backs up what is already taught in the computing curriculum at all key stages, and covers e-safety and the different and escalating risks that can arise.

    We are also taking steps to put in place a new system of accountability and oversight for tech companies through the Online Harms White Paper.

    But while attention is mainly focused on protecting young people from possible online danger, they are by no means the only victims. The internet is not selective and I know that teachers and leaders can be vulnerable too.

    We will be updating our guidance for heads and school staff accordingly on how to protect themselves from cyberbullying and abuse and what to do if it does take place.

    Teachers and leaders should not be subjected to online abuse simply for doing their jobs and I’m 100% behind making sure the entire school workforce can go about their business free from fear or intimidation.

    The pressures that schools are facing – that you are facing – are real. Pressures that can erode and distract from the passionate pursuit of excellent teaching. And I am committed to making more progress to tackle these.

    But the past 12 months have taught me an important lesson.

    That we can summon concrete, positive change, if we work together. The Recruitment and Retention Strategy is showing this right now. We worked together to identify the problems – and to craft the solutions. And I want to recognise your important role in that and other work.

    So now, I want to bring together that same sense of collaboration and constructive challenge to other areas, including those we’ve touched on today.

    I am optimistic. I can’t help feeling more optimistic every time I visit another fantastic school.

    And I can’t help being reminded of what I said at the beginning of this speech. That your ambition is my ambition. And that together we can realise that ambition, for every young person.