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Tag: 2019

  • Nicky Morgan – 2019 Statement on Online Harms

    Below is the text of the statement made by Nicky Morgan, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 16 October 2019.

    Protecting children is at the heart of our online harms agenda, and is key to wider Government priorities. Going online can be beneficial for children, who use the internet for connecting with peers, to access educational resources and for entertainment. However, the Government are concerned about the prevalence of adult content online, which is easily accessible to children, and believe it is vital that children are protected from accessing inappropriate, harmful content.

    The Government published the Online Harms White Paper in April this year. It proposed the establishment of a duty of care on companies to improve online ​safety, overseen by an independent regulator with strong enforcement powers to deal with non-compliance. Since the White Paper’s publication, the Government’s proposals have continued to develop at pace. The Government announced as part of the Queen’s Speech that we will publish draft legislation for pre-legislative scrutiny. It is important that our policy aims and our overall policy on protecting children from online harms are developed coherently in view of these developments with the aim of bringing forward the most comprehensive approach possible to protecting children.

    The Government have concluded that this objective of coherence will be best achieved through our wider online harms proposals and, as a consequence, will not be commencing part 3 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 concerning age verification for online pornography. The Digital Economy Act objectives will therefore be delivered through our proposed online harms regulatory regime. This course of action will give the regulator discretion on the most effective means for companies to meet their duty of care. As currently drafted, the Digital Economy Act does not cover social media platforms.

    The Government’s commitment to protecting children online is unwavering. Adult content is too easily accessed online and more needs to be done to protect children from harm. We want to deliver the most comprehensive approach to keeping children safe online and recognised in the Online Harms White Paper the role that technology can play in keeping all users, particularly children, safe. We are committed to the UK becoming a world-leader in the development of online safety technology and to ensure companies of all sizes have access to, and adopt, innovative solutions to improve the safety of their users. This includes age verification tools and we expect them to continue to play a key role in protecting children online.

    We will continue to engage with Members of Parliament on the provisions of the online harms regime to ensure the most comprehensive online harms proposals which deliver on the objectives of the Digital Economy Act.

  • Oliver Dowden – 2019 Statement on the Office of Veterans’ Affairs

    Below is the text of the statement made by Oliver Dowden, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, in the House of Commons on 16 October 2019.

    I would like to update the House on the work of the new Office for Veterans’ Affairs, which was announced by the Prime Minister in July.

    As the Minister attending Cabinet with responsibility for veterans, I have been appointed to oversee the Office with the Minister for Defence People and Veterans.

    Veterans have offered to make the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our country, so the Government have a moral duty to them and their loved ones to provide the best possible support after they leave service.

    Our ambition is for the UK to be the best place in the world to be a veteran and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs will be a champion for our ex-servicemen and women at the centre of Government. It will promote the outstanding contribution veterans are already making to our economy and society and ensure no individual who needs help is left behind after they leave service.

    As part of the recent spending round, £5 million of Government funding was secured to staff and resource the new Office.

    Colonel (Retired) David Richmond CBE has now been appointed as the Head of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs and has started work in the Cabinet Office this week. David Richmond was the most senior officer injured in combat in Afghanistan and subsequently became the Director of Recovery at Help for Heroes.

    One of the Office’s first tasks will be to produce a detailed work programme informed by the responses to the Government consultation on the strategy for our veterans. David Richmond and his team will be engaging widely with veterans, charities, the Devolved Administrations, local authorities and Parliamentarians so that the work of the Office reflects the needs of veterans and their families, with a particular focus on:

    Pulling together all functions of Government, and better collaboration with charity sector provision, in order to ensure this Nation’s life-long duty to those who have served.

    Ensuring that every single veteran and their family knows where to turn to access support if required.

    Helping to generate a ‘single view of the veteran’ by making better use of data to understand veterans’ needs and where gaps in provision exist.

    Improving the perception of veterans and showcasing the brilliant contribution they make after leaving service.

  • Conor Burns – 2019 Statement on No-deal Brexit Schedule of Tariffs

    Below is the text of the statement made by Conor Burns, the Minister of State at the Department for International Trade, in the House of Commons on 7 October 2019.

    I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question.

    On 13 March, the Government announced that they would implement a temporary tariff regime in the event of a no-deal Brexit. This regime would apply equally to all imports that are not subject to alternative trade arrangements and would apply for up to—I stress, up to—12 months while a full public consultation takes place to inform long-term tariff arrangements. The Government would prefer to leave with a deal and will continue to work energetically and with determination to get that better deal. This will require the European Union to show the same spirit of compromise that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is demonstrating in his engagement with our European friends and allies.

    As the UK leaves the EU, the Government are stepping up their preparations to get the UK ready to trade if there is no deal. The temporary tariff regime will maintain open trade on the majority of UK imports, helping to support consumers, business supply chains and sensitive sectors of the UK economy. Due regard has been given to the five principles set out in the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018: the interests of consumers in the UK; the interests of producers in the UK; the desire to maintain and promote external trade of the UK; the desire to maintain and promote productivity in the UK; and the extent to which these goods are subject to competition. It reaffirms our commitment to become a free-trading nation. It realises the benefits of an independent trade policy to support increased trade and investment with partners new and old around the world and increased choice for British shoppers.

    At the same time, Her Majesty’s Government recognise the importance of retaining some tariffs. Tariffs would therefore apply on just over 10% of imports, supporting sectors facing unfair global competition, mitigating otherwise significant adjustment costs for the agricultural sector, supporting the strategically important automotive sector and maintaining our commitments to developing countries. Preferential access to the UK market is important for our developing country partners, and tariffs are being retained on a set of goods, including bananas, raw sugar cane and certain kinds of fish, to demonstrate the Government’s ongoing commitment to countries in the developing world. During the article 50 extension, the Government have remained responsive to the concerns of business and have reviewed the tariffs that would come into effect if the UK left the EU without a deal.

    To answer the hon. Member for Nottingham East (Mr Leslie), the Government will publish the final tariffs shortly. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on any amendments being considered prior to that announcement. As he will understand from his former guise as shadow Chancellor, to do so would be irresponsible. The Government will ensure that Parliament is informed as soon as is practically possible once a final decision has been made.

  • Andrew Murrison – 2019 Statement on Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

    Below is the text of the statement made by Andrew Murrison, the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, in the House of Commons on 7 October 2019.

    May I start by congratulating the hon. Member for Hampstead and Kilburn (Tulip Siddiq) on her urgent question and thanking her for the passion and persistence she has brought to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s case? Her constituent can be sure that she and her family have been well served by the hon. Lady as a constituency MP.

    In recent weeks, we have seen further cases of unwarranted detention of foreign nationals in Iran. These cases are completely devastating for the individuals concerned and deeply and profoundly upsetting for their families. We are of course delighted to hear that Jolie King, a British-Australian national, has been released from detention in Iran. That is good news, but it invites us to think about others who are detained in Tehran.

    Equating the cases of foreign nationals in detention in Iran and cases of British-Iranian dual nationals is unlikely to be helpful, as Iran perceives the two to be quite distinct, and it is Iran with which we have to deal. We want to do everything we can to resolve Nazanin’s case. We also want to see the resolution of the cases of other British-Iranians detained in Iran. The trouble is that the Iranian authorities do not recognise dual nationality; they consider Nazanin simply to be an Iranian national. Consequently, they do not grant us consular access; nor do they give us sight of legal process or changes, despite all of our efforts.

    The House will be fully aware of the lengthy chronology of representations made at ministerial level on this issue. On 11 September, the Foreign Secretary again raised his serious concerns with the Iranian ambassador to London about Iran’s practice of detaining foreign and dual nationals. The Prime Minister raised his concerns with President Rouhani on 24 September, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did the same with Foreign Minister Zarif on 17 September. My colleague Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon hosted an event at the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September to bring attention to these incredibly important issues, as I did in Tehran earlier this year. I can assure the House that our efforts to raise the plight of those detained with the Iranian authorities at ministerial and ambassadorial level will continue.

    It is a matter of deep regret that a country such as Iran, with such a rich and proud history, is failing to uphold its basic international obligations. That this sophisticated and cultured country is arresting individuals on unclear charges, failing to afford them due process and, in some cases, committing acts of torture and mistreatment on not only dual nationals, but its own citizens is deeply disappointing, to put it mildly. Dealing specifically with dual nationals, we are absolutely clear that Iran’s behaviour is beyond unacceptable. The treatment of our dual nationals, including Nazanin, is unlawful ​and unacceptable, and it must end. Be in no doubt: this matter remains a top priority for the UK Government. We will continue to lobby at all levels for Nazanin’s unconditional release, so that she can return to her patient, long-suffering family in the UK.

  • Simon Clarke – 2019 Speech at Charging Investment Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by Simon Clarke, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, on 7 October 2019.

    It’s wonderful to be here in such august surrounds.

    And it feels fitting that this house of historic international accord is the stage for another – and another of immense importance to us all.

    Net-zero emissions

    In November of last year, I was one of 50 Tory MPs who wrote to the Prime Minister and urged her to set a target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

    We felt then as we do now – that that we could decarbonise through science, not economic sacrifice…

    …That our method would not be hair-shirted self-denial, but innovation and investment driven by the right incentives.

    Our past should give us confidence.

    This country’s ingenuity has kept the UK at the forefront of science and engineering for hundreds of years.

    And, provided we keep our ambitions high, we will lead the world for hundreds more.

    And the goal of net zero emissions will inspire us all to great heights of achievement.

    Entrepreneurs will see opportunities in new industries, and create jobs all around the UK.

    And the new technologies they create will clean the air we breathe, and cut the bills in our homes.

    In June this year, the government became the first major economy in the world to adopt the Net Zero 2050 target, which is fantastic news.

    I was made a minister a month later and – while this is possibly slightly less momentous – I can assure you all I will do everything I can to make sure the government keeps its promise.

    Why we’re here today

    The danger, as ever, with targets that lie 30 years in the future is that they are pushed to the bottom of the pile by the concerns of today.

    The trick, then, is to make constant, incremental progress – and celebrate it when it happens.

    To make sure that we keep chipping away at our long-term ambitions.

    That’s why today is so important.

    CIIF

    The Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund is in many ways emblematic of our approach to Net Zero.

    Our philosophy isn’t that government can solve everything.

    Of course, we have an important role to play – but we have to do it in partnership with the energy and expertise of the private sector.

    Our approach is therefore to set up the right incentives and conditions, and then allow a powerful green market to flourish.

    In this case, we wanted to encourage more people to buy and use electric vehicles, or EVs, which are far less polluting than traditional cars.

    We set up grants for cars, taxis, vans and motorcycles.

    But we realised that people looking at buying EVs were wary of getting marooned, without any battery in their car left and miles away from home or the nearest charging point.

    And handouts wouldn’t cut it – we needed to unleash the power of the market.

    So, with Zouk Capital, we set up the Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund as a catalyst, with government money matching any private capital that comes in to maximise impact.

    And we were delighted that Masdar chose to invest £35 million in the fund – which the government topped up to £70 million – for the installation of 3,000 rapid chargers across the country.

    This more than doubles the UK’s number of rapid chargers, producing a dense network of stopping points where family cars can be charged in 20 minutes flat – the time it takes for a sandwich and a coffee on the way to the seaside.

    And, further, it shows Masdar’s continued participation in the UK’s clean energy commitments.

    Masdar has invested more than £3 billion in the UK in the past ten years, predominantly in offshore wind.

    It’s a pleasure to welcome Mohamed Al Ramahi here today for the signing ceremony and to talk more about how we can work together.

    I hope you continue to discuss with my colleagues at the DIT to find strategic partnerships that work for both our countries.

    Together, we’re showing that change is possible. And providing leadership to governments and private companies around the world that by working together, we can effect real change.

    Thank you.

  • Chris Skidmore – 2019 Speech at Tech UK Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by Chris Skidmore, the Universities and Science Minister, at the Tech UK Conference held on 8 October 2019.

    It’s a pleasure to be back in Manchester today, at Tech UK’s first flagship conference on skills and opportunities. And it’s a real honour to be addressing you as representatives of companies and technologies that, today, are defining the world we will live in tomorrow.

    As the Prime Minister said himself just last month in a speech to the UN, no one can ignore the gathering force of technology that is reshaping the future of each and every one of us.

    Every day, developments in digital technologies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible. And, together, your companies and innovations are stretching the limits of what humanity can achieve, and what the UK can achieve as a nation.

    The Prime Minister has rightly acknowledged the UK as “one of the world’s tech leaders”. And the facts speak for themselves:

    The tech sector in the UK contributes over 7% of UK (GVA). And, last year alone, Venture Capital funds invested £6.3 billion in UK tech. That’s more than in any other European country.

    UK investment in AI has also grown almost 6-fold in the 4 years between 2014 and 2018.

    All of this adds up to more jobs and more fast-growing companies.

    Our tech sector is going from strength to strength in front of our very eyes, growing at 50% faster than the rest of the UK economy.

    And as it grows, it transforms more and more lives in ways we never thought possible in the past.

    Thanks to great British technologies, many of us got here on a modern day version of Stephenson’s rocket, we are browsing the web on a browser first invented by Tim Berners-Lee, we’ll dry our hands on a Dyson hand dryer, and we might get tonight’s dinner delivered by a Deliveroo rider.

    However, advancements like this don’t simply happen overnight. They don’t just pop up out of thin air like magic.

    Instead, they are nurtured and cultivated through weeks, months, years and often decades of hard work, perseverance and dedication.

    What’s more, the path to success is not always clear. I’m sure most you in this room today have overcome obstacles and setbacks.

    But you persevered. And you found ways to succeed.

    Summoning ingenuity and imagination. Originality and determination. Cleverness and creativity.

    It is, ultimately, these very human values that allow technologies to emerge and flourish.

    And it is, therefore, people – people like you – that have made every single one of our tech successes in this country possible.

    People who have dedicated their entire lives to pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge and human capabilities.

    I am keenly aware that our tech sector won’t go on thriving if we don’t concentrate on people.

    On putting people and skills at the centre of our innovation system. On ensuring that our regulatory system is as modern as the technologies that it supports. And on ensuring that the whole of the UK benefits from our growing technology sector.

    So, let’s take keeping the brightest and best people in the sector first. How do we do it?

    Well, we need to recognise and address the challenges researchers and innovators face on a day-to-day basis.

    Developing a people-first research strategy is just one part of this.

    Last month, I was pleased to support the launch of the revised Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. This encourages signatories from across higher education and innovation to work together on the challenges facing researchers in the world today.

    A world where research positions are shorter and more precarious than they used to be.

    A world, which relies on the continuous transfer of talented people between academia and industry.

    And a world where individuals may find themselves balancing heavy workloads with poor mental health and wellbeing.

    It is on all of us to ensure we are supporting people across the entire innovation and tech sector to be the best they can be. From researchers, academics and innovators, to technicians, postgraduates and post-docs.

    All of these people together are integral to the overall strength and prowess of UK tech.

    Embracing diversity in the sector is crucial to getting this right.

    As some of you may know, today is Ada Lovelace Day – an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology engineering and maths.

    And In a world where half the population are women, it isn’t right that the UK tech sector is still seen by many as a man’s world, despite recent improvements in the number of women entering STEM careers.

    On this, it’s great to see the work you’re already doing with the Tech Talent Charter, which is supported by government and aims to deliver greater inclusion and diversity in UK tech workforce – one that better reflects the make-up of the wider population. Over 400 organisations – from international tech giants right through to start-ups – have already signed the Charter, including the organiser’s of today’s event, TechUK.

    This government is determined to address the gender imbalance in tech careers, in particular by improving girls’ take-up of maths, computing and physics at all stages of the education system from primary school through to university.

    Initiatives like the ‘Women in Innovation’ programme from Innovate UK are also helping to get more women with excellent ideas innovating in UK businesses and boosting the economy.

    We’re keen that more people from currently under-represented groups, including those with disabilities and those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, realise a career in tech can be for them as much as anyone else.

    That’s why schemes like the ‘Bristol and Bath Creative R&D Partnership’ are key to supporting businesses to find new ways to engage the audiences of the future and develop a diverse new talent base. Their aim is to make creative technology innovation available to the widest possible cross-section of talent.

    And that takes me on nicely to talk about how the sector can make the most of this and ensure it has the skills it needs.

    Investing in high-level technical skills for the whole country is paramount.

    I’m proud that this government is pumping millions into improving the UK’s STEM skills-base.

    Included in this is the £20 million invested by the Department for Education in the Institute for Coding. This was set up in 2017 specifically to address the high demand for skilled IT and digital specialists, and to better equip graduates with industry requirements.

    I’m delighted that the Institute for Coding consortium, led by the University of Bath, has now grown to include 37 higher education institutions and over one hundred employers. And it’s a pleasure to see 22,000 students having started on Institute for Coding courses in September.

    What’s more, it’s great to see the Institute for Coding continuing to make links to other government initiatives – not least the new Institutes of Technology we’re opening, with the express intention to provide students with university-level technical qualifications and a clear route to technical employment.

    Just last week the Secretary of State for Education announced we will make available up to an extra £120 million so we can have an Institute of Technology in every part of the country, and provide different regional economies with the unique mix of digital skills they t need to flourish.

    Here in Manchester, for example, government has invested £3 million in a pilot ‘Fast Track Digital Workforce Fund’, lead by GMCA. This brings together employers and training providers to find the digital skills solutions that meet their needs – while also helping local people move into better jobs.

    This will mean everybody, in every part of our great nation, will get the chance to gain the high-level digital skills both they and your businesses need.

    And we’re not just talking about young people here. About those who are taking A-Levels or indeed the new T-Levels, who want to progress to technical education.

    We’re also talking about adult learners. Those people who, later in life, want to access the further technical training they need.

    This latter point is something that is going to become ever more important as technology develops and the world of work as we know it changes.

    In the digital age, education is going to become a lifelong endeavour, not just something you do until you’re 18 or 21. But something individuals may want to revisit as our lives and circumstances change.

    Education in the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution is not just about providing young people with skills. It’s about providing everyone with opportunities to re-skill and up-skill, at whatever age and whatever level they need it.

    That’s why we’ve put in place now a commitment to introduce a national entitlement to adult basic digital skills training from 2020. Adults without the digital skills needed for life and work will have the opportunity to study new qualifications free of charge, so that nobody gets left behind as the world around us inevitably moves on.

    Education in the digital age is ultimately about enabling society to adapt to new technologies and developments, and make the most of the opportunities they bring. AI is just one case in point.

    This government has already invested heavily in AI – most notably through the new Alan Turning AI Fellowships aimed at attracting and retaining the very top tech talent. And we will soon be launching the call to recruit the next cohort of fellows.

    This month will also see the first PhD students starting at our new AI Centres for Doctoral Training.

    A total of £100 million has been allocated for additional doctoral training focused on AI – providing training for around 1,000 additional PhD studentships in AI over the next 9 years. This will ensure that we have the AI experts we need working both in ground-breaking research and in innovative tech businesses across the country.

    But, if we’re serious about meeting our target to invest at least 2.4% of GDP in R&D by 2027 then we can’t just rely on home-grown talent alone.

    Creating a climate based on the free movement of talent is obviously going to be key to generating the numbers and diversity the sector needs.

    It probably hasn’t escaped your notice that, later this month, we are set to leave the European Union.

    I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Brexit may well mean that we are leaving the EU, but it certainly does not mean that we are leaving our European friends and partners behind.

    I’m going to be speaking on this very issue in more detail at a speech to the British Academy in London tomorrow, but for the purposes of this event, today, it is worth emphasising this government’s intention to remain open and international as we commit to getting Brexit done.

    The International Research and Innovation Strategy I launched earlier this year best evidences our commitment to global engagement in the science and tech sectors.

    And the International Education Strategy, launched the same month, sets out our ambition to increase the number of international higher education students studying in the UK by over 30% to 600,000 by 2030.

    This will undoubtedly increase the talent pool that will furnish our business and industries with the people, knowledge and ideas they require.

    And thanks to the hard work of my successor-come-predecessor, Jo Johnson, the introduction of the Graduate Route, or 2-year post-study work visa, will hopefully incentivise much of this talent to stay on our shores, work in our companies, and set up their own businesses.

    As a government, we know we must do everything we can to make the UK the most attractive place to come and start a tech business, to undertake new research directions, and to test and develop new technologies.

    That means having a dynamic, fit-for-purpose regulatory environment – an environment that enables new technologies to develop faster, to be tested at pace, and implemented and adopted in new and exciting ways.

    This isn’t just about removing the hurdles created by out-of-date rules and regulations. It’s about creating new standards and frameworks that provide confidence to investors and customers.

    I saw a great example of this when I visited the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington the other week. The important work they are doing with electric engines, with their hydrogen fuel cell testing rig, is all about taking this new technology and measuring its response to different qualities of hydrogen supply – stress-testing it, finding its limits, and developing new performance benchmarks and new standards.

    These will become the benchmarks and standards that others will build on, providing confidence to wider industry partners and investors, and in turn speeding up adoption of that all-important green technology.

    This is modern, smart regulation in action – regulation that can lift technology up, not squash it down.

    There are numerous similar examples of where our regulatory environment needs to adapt and where the old rules just don’t make sense – for instance in personalised medicine, autonomous vehicles and, of course, AI.

    This isn’t about creating the Wild West in tech.

    I firmly believe that standards and regulation, when done well, can allow new technologies to flourish. And these are the lessons that we will learn as we implement further regulatory reforms, building on our white paper on regulation in the fourth industrial revolution, which I welcomed earlier this year.

    This innovation is something that we are also seeing in the fintech sector – a sector that has grown considerably over the last few years, where smart and modern regulation has combined with investment and new technology to create a boom in new financial products and services in the UK.

    We have embraced this technology much faster than other nations, It is a shock to go to the US and still sign for a card purchase, for example. And when I went to the bank recently to complete my house purchase, it really felt like going back in time.

    It doesn’t have to be this way. And it’s not this way in many sectors and areas.

    But, while parts of London and the South East are now completely cash-less, this can’t be said of the whole country – and that brings me on to my last point.

    It cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that our Research and Innovation sector is incredibly concentrated in London and the South East. Per-capita spending on Research & Development in the North East is way under half that in London.

    The Golden Triangle is of course an incredible strength of ours – a magnet for foreign investment and talent, and a true national asset. But it is not enough to have this activity continue to be so concentrated.

    If we are to become an innovation nation, then we must learn from this, ensuring that the whole of the UK benefits from our tech revolution.

    This means ensuring that our most innovative SMEs can scale up and access seed funding as well as large grants, enter the market, and even shape new markets.

    And this is not just about investment. It is about ensuring that we create the kinds of spaces that tech firms want to be in, with the partners that they need to work with, and with the planning rules that allow for this. Not just in the Golden Triangle, but also developing and redeveloping new and existing spaces – in universities, cities and towns, bringing spill-over benefits and opportunities to communities right across the UK.

    I want us to build on the work we’ve done with University Enterprise Zones, which I launched last month, and to build on our amazing network of incubators, accelerators, catalysts and catapults – spreading the benefits right across the UK. To create a truly business-friendly environment. To join together research, development, and innovation. And to create a new unity of purpose.

    I also recognise that the UK doesn’t operate in isolation. And there is a real opportunity to learn from the best of what works abroad, from the Engine at MIT, to Station F in Paris. But I don’t just want one Station F – I’d love to see a whole alphabet of Stations, right across the UK, leaving no part of the UK behind.

    For as long as I’m Universities and Science Minister, I want to help the UK to find a new gear, to put the UK tech sector in the fast line, and to grow an incredible tech ecosystem that can accelerate into the future.

    I – like many of you – want to see a world where the UK is an innovation powerhouse. A powerhouse where the most talented people are not only free to come to, but actively want to come to.

    A powerhouse where people from all walks of life can take their inspiration and ideas forward.

    A powerhouse where ideas are nurtured and transformed into booming new businesses.

    And a powerhouse which gives us a platform on the global stage, and an edge in a rapidly developing world.

    As your Universities and Science Minister, I can assure you I am committed to building this powerhouse in the way I’ve just described. And I look forward to working with you to ensure the UK tech sector has the people and talent it needs for an ever digital future.

    Thank you.

  • Liz Truss – 2019 Speech to the World Trade Organisation

    Liz Truss

    Below is the text of the speech made by Liz Truss, the Secretary of State for International Trade, at the International Chamber of Commerce Global Dialogue on Trade Reform on 9 October 2019.

    Britain & free trade

    We know that free trade, facilitated by the rules based multilateral trading system, is an engine of global growth and prosperity.

    When the UK leaves the EU later this month, we will have a golden opportunity to determine our own trade policy for the first time in almost half a century and retake our seat at the WTO as a fully independent, sovereign nation.

    And we will use our new-found freedom to champion free, fair, rules-based international trade with the WTO at its centre.

    Because there is no greater ally of the WTO than the United Kingdom.

    From the repeal of the corn laws in 1846, to hosting the world’s first industrial revolution, to being one of the original signatories of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, signed here in Geneva in 1947, the UK has long been a champion of free trade and trade liberalisation.

    For those of you worried about where we might have been for 45 years, let me reassure you Britain is back.

    Some may be content to live in a world of rising trade tensions and tit-for-tat tariffs, a world in which, for example, the good people of America are deprived of the chance to sample excellent Scotch whisky.

    But this is not a world that I want to see, and when we take our independent seat around the WTO table, I can assure you we will be unapologetic in fighting the forces of protectionism, in favour of genuinely free trade.

    Reforming and modernising the WTO

    Since its inception, the WTO has been the ultimate heavyweight freedom fighter for a multilateral approach to trade liberalisation and a more prosperous world.

    But though successful in many bouts, the WTO now needs to prepare for the new battles of the modern globalised world.

    I would like to see reform of the dispute settlement system, and I was encouraged that at both of the major G20 and G7 summits this year, world leaders committed to addressing this issue.

    President Trump has said he wants the WTO to modernise, and I agree. We must work together to resolve the Appellate Body impasse and we fully support the Walker process aimed at finding solutions that all members can be happy with.

    In particular, we should look to ensure that time limits are met for Appellate Body adjudication on appeals to avoid future unauthorised overrunning of cases.

    And clarification must be made that the Appellate Body’s role in jurisdiction should be constrained to issues of law, and not drift into reviewing issues of fact.

    There is also an urgent need to strengthen the rules on industrial subsidies, state-owned enterprises and forced technology transfer. Addressing these issues will not only level the playing field for the vast majority of member states, it will help tackle the underlying tensions which threaten the survival of our global trading norms.

    And as the world’s second largest services exporter, and Europe’s preeminent destination for tech investment, it will come as no surprise that the UK is particularly interested in the WTO’s work in services and digital trade.

    We believe it is high time to reform digital trade rules so that they are fit for the 21st century, reducing restrictions to market access to support e-commerce and ensure the free flow of data across borders.

    We also want to see progress in the fisheries subsidies negotiation, tackling the causes of illegal fisheries, over-fishing and overcapacity.

    As an island nation of seafarers and fishermen, the UK has a strong interest in this area. Indeed, one of the key arguments made for leaving the EU was to reinvigorate our fishing industries– and we want to see fair and effective rules in force.

    We also intend to work with all WTO Members to foster greater transparency in our global system, as part of our commitment to free and fair cross-border trade.

    We would like to see more progress on domestic regulation in services, investment facilitation, supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and especially on advancing e-commerce.

    And we intend to engage meaningfully with our partners in each of these areas prior to the next WTO Ministerial Conference in Kazakhstan in June 2020.

    Delivering on our aims

    So there is much to do – and in the UK, the WTO has a steadfast friend. Britain can be relied upon to be a strong voice in all these discussions: both here in Geneva and through our global networks.

    We will be leveraging our strong bilateral relationships with other major world powers and we will be using our leading roles in international fora to drive the change we want to see.

    For instance, tomorrow in London, I will be making the case that the Commonwealth can be a powerful voice in supporting the rules-based international system.

    The Commonwealth’s 53 member states comprise 2.4 billion people with a shared heritage, shared values and a shared desire to drive prosperity. I believe this historic organisation represents a real opportunity to remake the case for free trade within the multilateral system that we all depend on.

    Working together

    It is up to all of us not to pull our punches, and fight the siren calls of protectionism with all our might.

    But Governments can’t do it alone. That’s why the work of the International Chamber of Commerce is vital in championing this cause.

    Whether it’s setting rules for buyers and sellers around the world; providing leadership on the biggest global issues like climate change and sustainability; or your important role as the leading arbitration institution, the ICC is on the front line in the world’s trading battles.

    It will take time, energy and determination, but by working together, I am confident we can deliver a knockout blow to the forces of protectionism and usher in a new golden era of free trade. In all these fights ahead, Britain is in your corner.

  • Sajid Javid – 2019 Speech to Conservative Party Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by Sajid Javid, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on 30 September 2019.

    Thank you for that welcome…

    And can I welcome my mum.

    You saw her in that video and she is here with us today for her first conference. Twenty years ago, Mum thought it was a big deal when she watched the first Asians move into Coronation Street, here in Manchester. Well, now she’s watched as the first Asians move into Downing Street. Once again, we’re living above the shop… And I’m so happy to make her proud.

    It might be my mum’s first Tory conference…

    … but I’ve now been coming for thirty years.

    Every year, we talk about what is at stake for our country.

    But never in my lifetime has there been a political moment like this.

    We will be remembered for how we respond.

    And we will do our duty. Responsibly, firmly, and democratically. That starts with getting Brexit done. We are leaving the European Union. It’s not a matter of if – it’s a matter of days. 31 days – deal, or no deal.

    We understand that preparing to leave without a deal is not only the responsible thing to do but also the best way of leaving with a deal.

    In all my years negotiating multibillion pound international deals…

    … I never once walked into a room without being able to walk away.

    That’s why on my first day as Chancellor

    I gave a speech to the Treasury…

    … about making No Deal preparations my top priority.

    A few days later I doubled funding for it…

    … taking our Brexit spending to a total of £4 billion this year.

    And to give organisations and Devolved Administrations extra certainty for the year ahead, in the event of No Deal I have now agreed to guarantee all £4.3 billion of EU-directed funding that they would have been expecting. That doesn’t mean that a No Deal would be without significant challenges. I know that some businesses and households are concerned about what a No Deal outcome might mean for them. I recognise that.

    And I understand that the uncertainty around Brexit is challenging.

    But our step-change in preparations has made a Deal outcome more likely…

    …and a No Deal outcome more manageable.

    Every department now has the resources available to prepare for No Deal.

    That means more Border Force staff…

    Better transport infrastructure at our ports…

    More support for business readiness.

    I’ve tasked the Treasury with preparing a comprehensive economic response to support the economy. Working closely with the Bank of England we’re ready to draw on the full armoury of economic policy if needed. And the Bank has already revised its assessments because of the actions we’ve taken.

    Deal or No Deal: We will be ready.

    All that is important –

    but Brexit is not just something to manage or mitigate.

    We understand this is ultimately a question of trust in democracy.

    A strong economy can only be built on the foundation of a successful democracy.

    And by definition, democracy isn’t just for when it suits you.

    Like the Lib Dems – who called for a referendum for years.

    Then sort of changed their mind.

    Then said they’d respect the result.

    Then sort of didn’t.

    Then called for a second vote.

    Then changed their mind again and now want to somehow pretend the whole thing never happened.

    Going back on our promises to the British people isn’t “liberal”.

    And it certainly isn’t democratic.

    And then there’s the Labour Party.

    They’re so split down the middle that even their leader and their Shadow Chancellor don’t agree on whether they support Brexit. So they’ll hold another referendum with two options: perhaps, and maybe. What a leader. A man for the many Brexit positions, not the few.

    What they don’t seem to understand is that millions of people voted in good faith over three years ago.

    The biggest democratic exercise in our country’s history.

    And they always forget one group of those voters:

    The millions who voted not to leave the EU but now completely respect the result and want us to get Brexit done.

    Yes, there are splits of opinion, and strong views on all sides.

    I passionately believe that we need to heal the divisions in our society.

    But the way to do that isn’t to carry on arguing about Brexit forever and ever.

    It is to finally deliver on the original decision…

    … and move the whole country forward.

    People talk a lot about the risks of Brexit.

    Some understandable, some not.

    But the truth is this:

    and it isn’t acknowledged as often as it should be… The most reckless course of all would be to not deliver Brexit at all. If we fail to deliver on the instruction of the British people we are in danger of tearing the very fabric of our democracy. A fabric that has been carefully woven together over centuries.

    And if we do that,

    I fear we may not be able to stitch it up again.

    If people are going to have faith in the ballot box…

    … we absolutely have to follow through on that vote.

    No more second-guessing

    No best of three.

    One vote.

    One mandate.

    One nation, moving forwards together.

    As we get Brexit done and leave the EU…

    … it’s the right time to ask ourselves some big questions:

    Who are we as a country?

    How do we see ourselves in the years ahead?

    How will we shape our economy for the future?

    Last week we saw Labour’s answers to those questions.

    Jeremy Corbyn sees this as an opportunity to bring in nationalisation, protectionism and state control. Let’s be in no doubt about the biggest threat to the UK economy. Whenever I speak to businesses and international investors, the number one concern they always raise is not the form of our exit from the EU.

    The real “project” to be fearful about is the agenda of the Labour Party.

    If they had their way, whole sectors of the economy would be renationalised.

    People’s taxes would rise to the crippling levels of the past.

    People’s jobs would be put at risk with sectoral pay bargaining.

    The return of trade union militancy would once again hold the government to ransom…

    …wasting hundreds of billions of pounds…

    …and hitting families and businesses around the country.

    The British Chambers of Commerce said last week that Labour’s plans will:

    “send an icy chill up the spines of business-owners and investors”.

    And it’s no wonder.

    We have a Shadow Chancellor who says businesses are “the real enemy”…

    … and openly admits he wants to overthrow capitalism.

    Given how much damage they’d do every single day they’re in office…

    I’m glad they say they would only be working four days a week.

    You know, when I arrived at the Treasury…

    … I did have a letter on my desk waiting for me…

    … but it didn’t say there was no money left.

    That’s because we took the difficult decisions needed to get the deficit down by four-fifths.

    We have now taken back control of our financial destiny just as we take back control of our laws and borders. It’s easy to forget how bad things were when we first came in. Labour lost control of our public finances – as they always do. And this was when they still believed in the basics of capitalism.

    Our country borrowed £150 billion in their last year in office the highest level in our peacetime history. And it fell to the Conservatives once again to wipe up Labour’s mess. And I’d like to pay tribute to both my immediate predecessors for their role in that. We may disagree on our approach on Brexit but as Conservatives we can be very proud of what they helped us to achieve.

    Labour left behind a bankrupt Britain – and we’ve fixed it.

    They don’t like to hear it.

    But when the opposition stop hiding from that election…

    … I promise you, it won’t be like last time.

    We won’t shy away from talking about our hard-earned record on the economy.

    And we won’t shy away from telling everyone…

    … about the threat their divisive…

    … backwards…

    … bankrupt…

    …immoral, incompetent, ideological experiments…

    will pose to everyone’s way of life.

    They try to claim the only alternative is a race to the bottom.

    Letting everyone fend for themselves.

    That’s not our conservatism.

    I’m not sure it’s anyone’s.

    We are forging ahead with our positive, One Nation vision for our country’s future.

    We believe in levelling up, skilling-up, and opening up.

    Embracing talent from around the world. And as we look towards a future outside the EU I’m very optimistic we can build on our extraordinary economic strengths and reshape the British economy to seize the opportunities that this new chapter has to offer. We’ll be able to pursue a genuinely independent trade policy. We’ll be able to replace inefficient EU programmes with better, home-grown alternatives. And from retail to green tech, we’ll have the opportunity to design smarter, more flexible regulation. To help us do that, I will launch a Brexit Red Tape Challenge to help identify EU regulations that we can improve or remove.

    Liberating our entrepreneurs, small businesses and consumers….

    … from the burden of over-bearing bureaucracy, wherever we see it.

    Doing what a good pro-business government does.

    After the decade of recovery from the last Labour government…

    … we are now bringing in a decade of renewal.

    With this government’s new leadership…

    …we have the opportunity to hit fast-forward on that renewal.

    It is an opportunity the Prime Minister and I are seizing.

    We are not just neighbours, or even sometimes dog-sitters.

    We are partners.

    We share the same determination on Brexit…

    … the same vision of One Nation conservatism…

    … and we both spend the same amount of time brushing our hair.

    Our vision is based on the people’s priorities, and on Conservative principles.

    Conservatives understand that a dynamic free market…

    … is the only way to fund world-class public services.

    For me, like so many others around the country…

    …public services were my lifelines.

    The teachers who made my career possible.

    The police officers who kept us safe when the street I grew up on became a centre for drug dealers.

    The NHS that cared for my dad in his final days.

    These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet – they are the beating heart of our country. That’s why public services are at the heart of this government’s agenda. Earlier this month, I announced our spending plans for Britain’s first year outside the EU. A New Economic Plan for a new era.

    Thanks to the hard work of the British people…

    … and our responsible economic management…

    … we are able to invest an extra £13.4 billion in our public services.

    This Spending Round will make a real difference in people’s lives.

    That includes recruiting 20,000 new police officers…

    …restoring our rightful reputation as the party of law and order.

    Increased funding for every school in the country…

    … and a renaissance for further education.

    Continuing our record investment in the NHS…

    … and making a large down-payment on social care.

    These are the people’s priorities.

    These are our priorities. And it’s our Conservative government that is delivering on them. Brexit was a wake-up call that we need to be better connected both across our country, and beyond our shores.

    One of the things I remember most from my international career is the energy in the air you can feel in places like Southeast Asia.

    The quick turnaround between vision to implementation – from new towns to new airports. It echoes our industrial revolution of the Victorian era which laid the foundations for over a century – from the railway network to the electric telegraph. That’s the spirit we need to rekindle in Britain.

    But the truth is, successive governments failed to invest enough for the long-term. We’ve started to put that right, but we can do more – a lot more. This government is going to build Britain’s future, and bring in a new infrastructure revolution.

    Infrastructure is the foundation of everything. It’s the new road that connects local communities. The bus you need to get to school. And the broadband that helps your small business trade around the world. The full benefits of our infrastructure revolution may not be felt for some time. But the work must start here and now.

    So today I can announce the first wave of this revolution…

    … the good kind of revolution.

    Our roads are the arteries of our country.

    We will soon launch the new Roads Investment Strategy…

    … with £29 billion committed for strategic and local roads over the next five years.

    And today we are getting the shovels out early on several important road projects…

    … including upgrading the nearby M60 Simister Island…

    … dualling the A66 Transpennine,

    and starting work on the A428 between Cambridge and Milton Keynes.

    Now buses they haven’t been given the attention they deserve from politicians but they are still the backbone of our public transport in most of the country.

    Well, not only do you have a Chancellor with a well-known family connection to buses but a PM who likes to paint them! At the Spending Round we allocated £220 million to buses alone. This will form part of a National Bus Strategy next year.

    Rolling out new ‘superbus’ networks…

    … expanding our fleet of low emission buses…

    … and delivering better value for money for passengers.

    And last but not least: connecting us to the modern, global digital economy with gigabit broadband.

    We have rolled out superfast broadband but we have fallen behind many European countries on the next generation of technology. And as we catch-up I don’t want any part of our country to fall behind others.

    So I can announce we are committing £5billion to support full-fibre rollout to the hardest to reach 20% of the country. All of these measures will level up areas of our country that feel left out. There are three principles that will underpin our approach to them.

    First, we will be smart and responsible in the way we invest for the long-term. We can do this by taking advantage of incredibly low interest rates and borrowing-to-build, not borrowing-to-waste like the Labour years.

    Second, we will have a bias towards anything that brings our country together.

    For a start that means protecting our United Kingdom. And I’d like to pay tribute to Ruth Davidson, for all she did to prevent a socialist-separatist alliance from running, from ruining – our country. Thank you Ruth.

    Bringing our country together also means rebalancing our economy… That’s why the first big policy decision of this government was to support the development of Northern Powerhouse Rail. And we know it’s no good just decreeing from on high what local areas need. Too many people already feel power is distant to them – be it in Brussels or Westminster.

    So I can announce today we will bring forward a White Paper on further devolution in England.

    Giving more local areas more local powers…

    … to drive investments in the infrastructure and services they know they need.

    We already have four brilliant Conservative metro mayors…

    Let’s get one in Manchester too!

    And third, we will take a dynamic, market-driven approach to driving down our carbon emissions.

    Not only are we the first large economy to commit to Net Zero by 2050.

    Last week at the UN General Assembly…

    … our Prime Minister committed to doubling Britain’s funding

    for global environmental and climate change programmes.

    They are the approaches we will take in building Britain’s future.

    And with so much at stake for our country right now…

    … I’m impatient to get on with it.

    We have achieved so much in just ten weeks.

    And I’d like to thank our brilliant ministerial team in the Treasury… Rishi Sunak, Jesse Norman, John Glen, Simon Clarke. And our parliamentary team… Rachel Maclean, Lee Rowley and Mike Freer.

    The final Conservative principle I want to talk about today is this. We believe in a society where everyone knows that if they work hard, and play by the rules then they will have every opportunity to succeed. They are our values. It’s our mission to help people to get a job, get a home, get ahead.

    But we do have to acknowledge that not everyone in every part of the country feels that they have all the opportunities they should have. Not all parents feel that their children will have it better than they did.

    We need to do more to level the playing field between regions and generations and give all young people the best start in life. Last year I announced the Youth Endowment Fund helping at-risk young people get off the conveyor belt to crime. And I can announce today a new Youth Investment Fund.

    This ambitious £500 million programme will roll out youth centres and services right across our country helping millions more young people get on the conveyor belt to a better life and career. Of course, one of the biggest concerns for the next generation is being able to buy a home.

    To claim their stake in our society.

    We’re on track to increase housing supply to its highest level since 1970.

    But I know from my time as Housing Secretary that we need to do so much more…

    …and the accelerated planning proposals Robert has announced today are just the start. Getting ahead. Getting a home. The best way to achieve both those things is getting a good job.

    On our watch… 1,000 extra people have gone into work every day since 2010.

    And this applies to all corners of our country…

    … with most of the new jobs being created outside London and the South East.

    150,000 more people are in employment in Greater Manchester alone…

    … whenever I meet my counterparts in Europe, they ask me how we are doing it.

    Real wages and household incomes are rising…

    … putting more money in people’s pockets.

    And with full employment and strong public finances…

    … we are now in a position to see what more we can do to help workers…

    … and reduce the cost of living.

    In 2016, we introduced the National Living Wage…

    Giving Britain’s workers the biggest pay rise in two decades.

    In April, we increased the rate again…

    …making 1.8 million workers better off…

    Putting the number of low paid workers at its lowest level in four decades.

    Today, I’m delighted to announce that we will take this much further.

    Over the next five years, we will make the UK the first [major economy in the world] to end low pay altogether.

    To do that, I am setting a new target for the National Living Wage:

    Raising it to match two-thirds of median earnings.

    That means, on current forecasts, this ambitious plan will bring the National Living Wage up to £10.50.

    Giving four million people a well-earned pay rise.

    And to help the next generation of go-getters to get ahead…

    … we will reward the hard work of all millennials too…

    By bringing down the age threshold for the National Living Wage…

    …to cover all workers over the age of 21.

    The hard work of the British people really is paying off.

    It’s clear it’s the Conservatives who are the real party of labour.

    We are the workers’ party.

    Delivering Brexit.

    Boosting public services.

    Backing enterprise and hard work and bringing our country together by levelling up across the nation and across generations.

    That’s the direction we are setting for our country.

    That’s what will be on offer at the next election:

    A decade of renewal, or a decade of reversal.

    We in this room are today’s representatives of the most successful party in the Western world. An institution that has helped to build Britain for over two centuries. And now in 2019, we have a duty to see the country through the challenges ahead.

    We are the only party that can get Brexit done.

    We are the only party that can call ourselves democrats.

    And we are the only party that will truly deliver for workers.

    We are the Conservative and Unionist Party – and we will unite this country.

    We are a responsible, one nation party that focuses on what we have in common, not what divides us.

    We believe in building on the best of the past.

    Not just putting up with modern Britain, but embracing it.

    Saying loud and clear that we love our country.

    We are a welcoming, tolerant and fair society.

    The most successful multiracial democracy in the world.

    We are an open, global, trading nation.

    One of the most prosperous in the world.

    And we are a compassionate, caring, country.

    Not just for those close to home, but also for some of the poorest in the world.

    That’s who we are.

    That’s what this party stands for.

    And that’s what we are delivering for our country.

  • Nicky Morgan – 2019 Speech to Conservative Party Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by Nicky Morgan, the Secretary of State Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on 30 September 2019 at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.

    Conference, good afternoon. It is wonderful to be here with you today.

    And wonderful to be able to tell you about the work we are doing in Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

    For some, this may seem a dizzying array of issues –

    – from broadband to the arts,

    – heritage to youth services

    – but it is all brought together by one simple word: place.

    ‘Place’ means reminding ourselves that we are all part of a wider community and that our sense of belonging needs to be central to making policy and enhancing the lives of those we serve – something I think we can all agree is now more important than ever.

    As we grasp the opportunities available to us when we leave the EU on October the 31st, I believe that art and culture will have ever more vital roles to play in Britain’s future.

    Tech

    We are (and always have been) a creative and imaginative nation, we are a nation of unique museums that capture our vibrant heritage and new businesses that show us an exciting high tech future.

    Conference, in the first seven months of this year alone – the UK tech sector attracted 5.5 billion pounds of investment.

    That is more in the first half of this year than for the whole of 2018. This – in the words of some Westminster watchers – despite Brexit.

    Leaving the EU means we can expand our relationships around the world. It’s not by coincidence that more than half of the investment I have just cited came from America and Asia.

    Conference, Corbyn and McDonnell would put all of this progress at risk with plans to tax our tech sector. By taking taxes to their highest ever level in peacetime Labour would simply drive business and investment from this country.

    This would not only stifle our creativity but impact the companies that come here – threatening our tech sector’s unique position on the world stage.

    Almost 40% of the billion dollar tech start-ups in Europe are from the UK. With London forging ahead of both Paris and Berlin.

    But, this success is not just clustered in our capital, other cities are also contributing to our country’s great success in this area; with both Oxford and Cambridge, combined, having more than Paris.

    Broadband

    I want the UK to be the best place in the world to start and grow a business.

    But Conference, the truth is, you can’t start and grow a business if you can’t connect to the Internet. That is the reality facing people in communities across our United Kingdom today, because of poor broadband services.

    The Prime Minister has great ambition and optimism for our country – and I share that.

    We will dramatically speed up the rollout of fast, reliable and secure broadband and get gigabit speeds right across the UK – much faster than our previous target.

    And you only need to remember the situation we inherited in 2010 when we came in to clean up Labour’s mess.

    It wasn’t just the economy Labour had driven into the ground, we inherited a situation from Labour whereby millions were left with appallingly low levels of broadband access and only half of all UK premises having access to superfast broadband.

    Now, we have turned the situation around – 96% of UK premises have access to superfast broadband– but there is much more that we can and will do.

    Why? Because as Conservatives, we believe every corner of the United Kingdom should have the opportunity to thrive. We will never give up on our rural communities.

    Arts

    As well as levelling up digital infrastructure right across the UK, I am determined to do the same for our cultural heritage across the country.

    Our culture should not be limited or clustered to our tourist cities. That is why I am determined that we focus on those left behind areas, supporting both local culture and creative infrastructure

    This all goes back to that word – place.

    Every part of the country has its own history and story to tell, which is at the heart of our shared national culture. These stories should be cherished for future generations for the great – great – grandchildren of those who were there.

    We all know the last few years have been fractious.

    Sometimes we have forgotten the amazing things that unite us, and I believe passionately our shared culture can help bring us together.

    Creative and cultural institutions are the greatest gathering places that give a community its life – they are the heart of place-making.

    Young people

    When we talk of building the infrastructure Britain needs – we must not forget the social infrastructure.

    No matter where you live or where you came from, everyone should have the same opportunities afforded to them. This is why we are Conservatives.

    If we wish to use all the great talent in our country it is vital that we offer opportunities and the chance to build character and resilience to all.

    Increased access to art, culture and sport, not just in school but also outside of the school day. This Government has ambitious plans to ensure that our future generations have the chance to nurture and grow their talents.

    Conclusion

    Conference – our national culture has always been a source of soft power, but today I have set out why it can also be used to drive economic prosperity in communities across the United Kingdom.

    We should never put a limit on our ambition for this country. We must support our vital cultural and artistic sectors, while harnessing new technology to enrich the lives of future generations.

    These values that I have spoken about today are Conservative values.

    A sense of belonging.

    A stake in society.

    Opportunity for all to unleash talent across the board.

    As Conservatives – we will always fight for these values, to unleash and harness the abilities of people in places across the country.

    Because that is how we will truly become One Nation.

  • Grant Shapps – 2019 Speech to Conservative Party Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on 30 September 2019.

    Conference, firstly, as Secretary of State for Transport it’s my duty to thank the Civil Aviation Authority, staff across Government, but in particular employees of Thomas Cook for helping to deliver the largest peacetime repatriation in this country’s history.

    They carried on, getting people home, even when their jobs were uncertain.

    I know communities have come together and that…

    With support from Government…

    Where jobs have been lost, people will rebuild.

    Nowhere more so then here in Manchester…

    A city that has come together in adversity so many times.

    So conference, please join me in thanking everyone involved, for working so hard…for bringing people home safely.

    —

    Conference…

    We are driving the modernisation of our country’s infrastructure….

    As is evident here in the North West.

    From improving the M60 here in Manchester…

    To tackling congestion and unlocking new homes in Preston.

    And in the North-East, I know how Ben Houchen is working hard to deliver a new Tees crossing.

    Across the country, our road building plan will reduce journey times, drive local growth and cut carbon emissions.

    We’re also improving local bus links …

    And today we’re setting out our £220 million package to improve services.

    When it comes to railways, Conference, I could try to impress you with the record amount we’re investing – that’s £48 billion, over 5 years.

    Whilst pushing ahead with Northern Powerhouse Rail.

    But, as a frustrated commuter myself, I know what passengers really want is for the trains to simply run on time…

    It’s why one of my first acts as in this job was to prioritise punctuality.

    Surprisingly, until last month, a train was considered on time if it was up to 5 or even 10 minutes late.

    I’ve challenged this. Now a train will be considered late if it is more than a minute behind schedule.

    And as the stats show, there’s a lot of work to do.

    In fact, as Transport Secretary, I’m now in the only job in Government where I routinely find myself apologising to others for them arriving late to my meetings.

    But conference, to achieve excellence we must be honest. The current railway is not working as we want.

    Since privatisation we’ve doubled passenger numbers, they’re travelling many more miles and there are record levels of investment…

    But as the 2018 timetable debacle showed, when things go wrong, it’s not obvious who’s in charge.

    That’s why rail expert Keith Williams is reviewing how we should organise the railways in the future.

    And I’m determined to ensure his reforms deliver for passengers.

    A better coordinated railway, pulling in the same direction, to get trains arriving on time…

    And when things do go wrong? We’ll know precisely whose job it is to fix it.

    Because in 2019, in the city once served by Stephenson’s Rocket, it’s frankly absurd we’re still working out how to run our trains.

    —

    But Conference, there’s no point being on time today, if we damage our tomorrow.

    As we improve our infrastructure, we must protect our planet.

    Now, some call for us to make sacrifices.

    To save the planet, they want you to stop travelling…

    To backtrack on economic growth…

    To live a little less.

    As Conservatives, we know the route to sustainable living is through stronger environmental protection, new technology and the market.

    Consider the acceleration in electric car use, for example.

    As I drove up to Manchester in my family’s electric car, I found it easier than ever to plug-in and charge up…

    That’s because there are now more charging locations than petrol stations.

    But we must go further to protect our environment and improve our competitive edge…

    As you may know, we’ve already committed to ending the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040.

    However, if we’re to become the world-leader in green technology, we must always be looking to expand our ambitions.

    I’d therefore like to see government look again at the 2040 target, and thoroughly explore the case for bringing this date forward.

    The Government’s advisory Committee on Climate Change has said 2035 is a date for which we should aim.

    We will need to test the arguments and work in partnership with industry to examine how to proceed.

    Just as we rejuvenated our automotive sector in the 1980s, we’re going to work with our pioneering car sector to help them sell the next generation of vehicles around the world.

    Providing high-skilled jobs, utilising British know-how and ending dependence of fossil fuels

    —

    And just as we strive as Conservatives to preserve what we cherish for the next generation…

    So we know it’s our duty to do right by those in our society, no matter what their circumstances.

    Since becoming Secretary of State I’ve taken steps to boost transport accessibility…

    We expanded the Blue Badge scheme to those with so-called ‘invisible’ conditions like autism, dementia, Parkinson’s and arthritis.

    And, we’ve introduced the 16 to 17 travel card, giving young people half price travel so they can get to college or part-time work…

    —

    As Conservatives, we know that the person best placed to make decisions about your life, is you.

    Yet we also recognise that there is a role for Government, both providing a safety net and expanding opportunity.

    From Disraeli’s education reform to Mrs Thatcher’s Right to Buy…

    Government can deliver.

    And in transport: those canals and railways that saw us incubate the world’s first Industrial Revolution…

    Built with private funds, but often requiring legislation.

    We know that there is a role for Government enabling the ingenuity that has spurred so much of the prosperity we enjoy.

    Conference, our mission is clear…

    To build and run world-class, greener and more accessible transport infrastructure.

    But, my friends, to do this we’ve just got to Get Brexit Done…

    So we can invest in our NHS… level-up education spending… and deliver 20,000 more police.

    So come on, let’s come together, let’s work together and together let’s deliver for our United Kingdom.

    Thank you.