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Tag: Speeches

  • 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.

  • Shaun Bailey – 2019 Speech to Conservative Party Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by Shaun Bailey, the Conservative candidate to be Mayor of London, at the Conservative Party conference on 1 October 2019.

    Thank you, conference.

    Last year, I introduced myself as your next Mayor of London and shared my story with you all.

    Well for the last twelve months I have been meeting thousands of other Londoners, working out how I can make their lives better.

    And what I’ve found is simple. Londoners don’t want to spend their days thinking about the Mayor of London.

    Londoners want to get to work on time, for a reasonable price.

    Londoners want more houses so they can have a corner of the city they call home.

    Londoners want to breath freely in clean air.

    Most of all, Londoners want to be able to make the most of their city in safety.

    Londoners are busy, optimistic, energetic, ambitious.

    It is the Mayor’s job to make sure that London never gets in the way of Londoners.

    Conference, I could stand here and talk to you for hours about how Sadiq Khan is neglecting to do that job.

    Since I last stood in front of you last year, more than 100 people have been murdered in our Capital city.

    4k people have been stabbed, 20k people have been sexually assaulted, 70k homes have been burgled.

    In the last few weeks there have been stabbings in Camden, Wandsworth, Croydon, Harrow, Fulham.

    Just two days ago there was a stabbing in Ladbroke Grove, where I grew up.

    These are real people; real families being torn apart. Every victim is a Londoner who has been failed by their Mayor.

    As the Police and Crime Commissioner, the Mayor of London should spend his days working to keep Londoners safe.

    But Sadiq Khan spends his time building ‘Brand Khan’ – hosting beach parties, bidding for Labour leadership and plastering his own face all over our city.

    And even though the clue is in the job description – Police and Crime Commissioner- with Sadiq Khan, it is always somebody else’s fault.

    He’s blamed the Government, he’s blamed parents and he’s blamed teachers for the rise in crime.

    Meanwhile violent crime is destroying lives and it is plaguing London.

    London is the greatest city on earth – and Londoners deserve better.

    And we have had better. Does anyone remember the last Mayor of London? Our Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

    Conference, let’s just remind ourselves about what was achieved the last time London had a Conservative Mayor:

    The murder rate – cut by half

    Overall crime – cut by 20%

    And 11,000 knives were taken off the streets

    On his first day in Number 10, the Prime Minister committed to recruiting 20,000 more police officers.

    Our Party gets delivery and safety in a way that the Labour Party simply doesn’t.

    And Boris showed everyone what could be achieved – making Labour failings even clearer.

    And with a Conservative Mayor, who loves and understands our great city, we could achieve so much.

    Many of you already know my story.

    And those that don’t, you already know it too – it’s a very London story.

    I grew up on an estate in the shadow of Grenfell – not far from the stabbing last week.

    Welfare was a lifeline. Work was a life-changer.

    I was a youth worker for 20 years – helping young people grab the opportunities our city offers.

    And now I have my own family. I have a house. I’m an elected representative. I’m your mayoral candidate.

    Everyday, I’m thankful for being born in a city that has allowed me to build the life I wanted to live.

    And I know what can be achieved when the barriers are removed and crime is under control.

    If our young people are protected from gangs, they can avoid crime.

    If our young people can find work, then they have a path out of the hood.

    If we support families, then our communities struggle less.

    You see conference, what London really needs is a full-time Mayor, someone focused on making the city a safer place to live.

    Whose ambition is not to improve their own public image, but to lift up millions of people in London and show them that they have another choice.

    Because I know that my first duty as Mayor would be to keep Londoners safe.

    If we have safe streets, we have safe schools.

    If we have safe streets, businesses can invest.

    If we have safe streets, communities feel secure.

    London needs better transport, cleaner air and far more homes for people to live in.

    But if the streets aren’t safe, our Capital simply cannot thrive.

    And I have a plan to make our streets safe.

    To fund a record number of police in London using the money that already exists in City Hall.

    To take a zero-tolerance approach to tackling crime.

    To call for mandatory sentences for those who carry knives and acid on the first offence.

    And I will introduce Operation London Ceasefire, a programme to de-escalate tensions on the streets by providing opportunities to London’s young people.

    Conference, we need a ‘get real’ approach. That’s what I am offering.

    As part of the ‘get real approach’:

    I will launch Homes for London – a City Hall backed developer with a singular goal: to build the homes that Londoners need.

    I will electrify London’s entire bus fleet – the equivalent of taking a million cars of the roads.

    As a start, I’ll build five youth zones across London – to help our young people get the support and learn the skills they need to succeed.

    But the first step has got to be to solve London’s crime emergency.

    So I pledge to you today that I will fight every minute of every day for the next eight months for a safer London.

    And when we win in London.

    When we win in London.

    I will work tirelessly – so you don’t need to spend any of your time thinking about the Mayor of London.

    I will make sure that our city always works for us. Keeps us moving. Keeps us secure. Keeps us safe.

    So that Londoners can concentrate on seizing the opportunities that London offers.

    Conference, please stand with me.

    Thank you.

  • Robert Buckland – 2019 Speech to Conservative Party Conference

    Below is the text of the speech made by Robert  Buckland, the Lord Chancellor, on 1 October 2019.

    Good afternoon Conference.

    I’m sorry I can’t be with you in Manchester for this session.

    One of my duties as Lord Chancellor is to attend the Opening of the Legal Year at Westminster Abbey, so that’s what I have been doing today.

    The Opening of the Legal Year is a great occasion.

    A celebration of the Rule of Law.

    Ever since Magna Carta, over 800 years ago, the Rule of Law has been the cornerstone of our Constitution.

    And our independent, impartial judiciary is renowned throughout the world.

    ***

    One of the key components of the Rule of Law is openness and transparency.

    I’ve spent a lifetime working in criminal justice.

    Firstly as a barrister, part-time judge, and then in politics as Solicitor General, Prisons Minister and now in Cabinet.

    As a sentencing judge, I have had to make hard choices: sending people to prison is never easy, but often, it is absolutely necessary.

    But time and again, over many decades, I have talked to victims of crime who feel let down by the system.

    Victims who just don’t see that openness and transparency.

    Victims who experience a system that sees rapists getting sentenced to nine years in prison but later automatically released after half that time.

    Don’t get me wrong – some form of earlier release has its place in the criminal justice system.

    It can be used to incentivise good behaviour.

    But this is not the system we have, Conference.

    There used to be a tougher system.

    But in 2005, Labour replaced it with automatic release at the half-way point.

    It didn’t matter to Labour if prisoners pose a risk to the public.

    It didn’t matter to Labour if prisoners misbehaved in prison.

    It didn’t matter to Labour if criminals didn’t show remorse.

    This is madness.

    ***

    The Conservatives are going to fix it.

    We’re going to restore faith in the sentencing system.

    Because we Conservatives believe release should be earned.

    We have, of course, made great strides in criminal justice in the past nine years of Conservative Government.

    But there is more to be done.

    And that’s why, for the most serious violent and sexual offenders, I’m announcing this Conservative Government will abolish automatic early release at the halfway point.

    These criminals will be required to serve two-thirds of their sentence behind bars.

    Because keeping the most dangerous violent and sexual offenders in prison for longer means they won’t be out on the streets with the opportunity to commit crime.

    We owe it to victims to make this change.

    And just as it is right that criminals face proper punishment, it is also right that we do our best to support them to go straight.

    We need to be tough, but we also need to be humane.

    Punishment and rehabilitation are not opposites.

    We have to do both.

    Conservatives believe in offering a second chance to those who are ready to change.

    Prisons simply cannot be giant academies of crime.

    So we will do more to improve rehabilitation in prison, and support our probation services in their vital work to supervise and resettle former prisoners.

    And we will ask employers to play their part too.

    ***

    Conference, only the Conservatives can be trusted on law and order.

    You may not have heard of Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Justice Secretary, Richard Burgon, and you can be forgiven for that.

    He’s not known for his brilliant ideas about criminal justice.

    Rather, he’s better known for saying “Zionism is the enemy of peace”.

    Then he denied using these vile, anti-Semitic words.

    Then video emerged.

    Then he admitted he actually did say it.

    Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell were two of only three MPs to vote against sending people caught carrying a knife a second time to prison.

    The fact is, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour is loose with the truth, soft on prisoners and weak on sentencing.

    Soft on crime and soft on the causes of crime.

    We cannot let that happen.

    We must keep the public safe.

    That’s why, with one of his first acts, the Prime Minister announced we will recruit twenty thousand new police officers.

    More bobbies on the beat means more arrests, more victims getting justice.

    And an investment of two-and-a-half billion pounds to deliver ten thousand new prison places.

    More and better prisons to support our brilliant prison officers, the unsung heroes who day in, day out face huge risks in their workplace.

    To help them, we have announced one hundred million pounds for new security measures, such as the scanners at Her Majesty’s Prison Leeds, checking people as they go in and out of prisons.

    These scanners show us the ways drugs are smuggled in are often creative.

    When we visited HMP Leeds, the Prime Minister wondered what exactly the small plastic container coming up on the body scanner was – I think we all had something of a Kinder Surprise.

    The PM then wondered aloud how the small capsule had got to where it was.

    Now, there’s always that moment with a new boss when you’re not quite sure what you can and can’t say.

    I did think about explaining, but I knew in my gut it was a bad idea.

    Much as the prisoner did!

    ***

    More seriously, Conference, prison is a hugely important tool to tackle crime but it is not the only one.

    We must make use of smart technologies to prevent offenders from becoming re-offenders.

    Because prison only works if it reduces reoffending.

    We want former prisoners to be fully-productive members of society, but they must abide by the law at all times when they are back on our streets.

    Many criminals who carry out anti-social behaviour have problems with alcohol.

    Get a grip on this, and we can massively reduce crime.

    When he was Mayor of London, the Prime Minister piloted putting sobriety tags on offenders.

    If criminals drink alcohol, they are instantly detected, brought in front of a Judge and may be sent to prison.

    The pilot was a huge success with over 90% compliance.

    So, we’re going to take that idea and establish it nationally.

    I am pleased to announce, Conference, that from next year, sobriety tags will be used across the country to monitor criminals and reduce re-offending.

    ***

    Conference, in London today I’ve been taking part in a ceremony almost as ancient as our criminal justice system itself.

    I know we must restore public faith in sentencing.

    We must be clear only criminals who earn their liberty should have it.

    We must keep Britain safe for everyone who lives here.

    Thank you.

  • Ian Blackford – 2019 Speech Following Prime Minister’s Update

    Below is the text of the speech made by Ian Blackford, the Leader of the SNP at Westminster, in the House of Commons on 25 September 2019.

    thank the Prime Minister for an advance copy of his statement. When I read the first paragraph, it talked about the Supreme Court verdict. It was not the Supreme Court verdict; it was the judgment of the Supreme Court. Perhaps the Prime Minister might start to show some respect for the judiciary. We are here today because the Prime Minister was utterly humiliated by the Supreme Court, by a count of 11 to zero. Members might have thought, in that diatribe that we had, that we would have some humility and that we might have been able to acknowledge that what we have had is the unlawful shutting-down of Parliament. Mr Speaker, sorry is indeed the hardest word for the Prime Minister.

    It was said by a former Prime Minister that where law ends, tyranny begins. It pains me to say it, but the fact that the Prime Minister is still standing here today shows that he does in fact believe he is above the law. Well, he is not. Thank heavens for the action that was brought in the courts in Scotland and England, and I pay tribute to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh South West (Joanna Cherry). Thank goodness the courts have done their job and made sure that parliamentarians are back where they should be, in this House, holding the Government to account.

    The ruling of the Supreme Court has made it absolutely crystal clear: the actions of this Government and this Prime Minister led to the unlawful prorogation of Parliament. Delivering the verdict, Lady Hale stated that prorogation was null and void. Have you no shame, Prime Minister? The Court concluded that the decision was unlawful because it had

    “the effect of frustrating or preventing, without reasonable justification, the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions”.

    The Prime Minister talks about us running off to the courts. Well, we got the courts to do what he failed to do, which was to respect parliamentary sovereignty. The Court talked of

    “frustrating or preventing, without reasonable justification, the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions”

    How devastating for a Prime Minister to have such a judgment. Where law ends, tyranny begins. Yet, the Prime Minister said he did not agree with the courts. He only agrees with his cronies in No. 10—his Brexit-obsessed fan club. He cannot pick and choose when it comes to the law; he must obey the law. That is not leadership; he quite simply is not fit for office.

    I hear the Prime Minister talking about a surrender Act. How despicable that, when he refers to Members of this House who are doing their duty to protect our constituents, he uses language such as “surrender”. That language is not suitable for the Prime Minister of any country.

    The Prime Minister’s position is no longer tenable. His failure to resign is an embarrassment. People have had enough of this shambles. We have reached a difficult and dangerous point—[Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order. The right hon. Gentleman leads the third party in this House. He has a right to be heard. He will continue his contribution and he will be heard, however long it takes. If the message has to be repeated again and again and again ad infinitum, so be it. He will be heard—end of subject.

    Ian Blackford

    I am much obliged, Mr Speaker.​

    We have reached a difficult and dangerous point, not just in relation to the Brexit crisis, but for the constitutional future of these islands and, indeed, the future of our democracy. We have a Prime Minister standing here in a Parliament that he sought to silence. People across these countries will be reading today about how the Prime Minister fought the law, but the law won. The Prime Minister, the Head of Government, is responsible for the law and responsible for governance. What an example he is to the public! Let me be clear to the Prime Minister that he should resign, but if he fails to do so, yes, the Opposition must unite to trigger a vote of no confidence to bring this chaotic Government down. By triggering a vote of no confidence, we will ensure that the Benn Act is honoured to take no deal off the table by allowing the Opposition to install an interim leader to take back control and to protect our economy from the cliff edge. The Scottish National party fully supports stopping no deal—it is our priority.

    Let me be clear to Members on these Benches: we are not powerless. Doing nothing is not an option. This is the time for leadership. Once we have removed the Prime Minister and removed the threat of no deal, the people must have their say, through a general election, as quickly as possible. We must unstick this mess and we must trust the people to make their choice. We cannot trust this Prime Minister; his time must be up. His days of lying, cheating and undermining the rule of law must be numbered—[Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order, order! Just for the avoidance of doubt, I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will not state in this House that the Prime Minister has lied in the House. He must not do so—[Interruption.] Order, order! That is the procedural position. He did not say that, but he did refer to lying. I know that he cannot be referring to it in the context of the exchanges in this House. A nod of the head to confirm that my interpretation is correct will suffice and he can then proceed with the rest of his questioning.

    Ian Blackford indicated assent.

    Mr Speaker

    I am sure that I am correct in my surmise.

    Ian Blackford

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.

    I have one question for the Prime Minister for now. Do the right thing, and do it now. Prime Minister, end this dictatorship. Will you now resign?

  • Jeremy Corbyn – 2019 Speech Following Prime Minister’s Update

    Below is the text of the speech made by Jeremy Corbyn, the Leader of the Opposition, in the House of Commons on 25 September 2019.

    I thank the Prime Minister for giving me an advance copy of his statement. Unfortunately, it was like his illegal shutting down of Parliament—“null” and

    “of no effect and should be quashed”,

    in the words of the Supreme Court. This was 10 minutes of bluster from a dangerous Prime Minister who thinks he is above the law, but in truth he is not fit for the office he holds. I am glad to see so many colleagues back here doing what they were elected to do: holding the Government to account for their failings. Whether it is their attempt to shut down democracy, their sham Brexit negotiations, their chaotic and inadequate no-deal preparations, the allegations of corruption, their failure on climate change or their failure to step in to save Thomas Cook, this Government are failing the people of Britain, and the people of Britain know it—[Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order. I said that the Prime Minister should not be shouted down. The same goes for the Leader of the Opposition. Let me say to people bellowing from a sedentary position: stop it—you will exhaust your vocal cords, you will get nowhere, it will not work, and these proceedings will continue for as long as is necessary for the Chair to be satisfied that proper scrutiny has taken place. It is as simple and incontrovertible as that.

    Jeremy Corbyn

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.

    Yesterday’s Supreme Court verdict represents an extraordinary and, I believe, precarious moment in this country’s history. The highest court in this land has found that the Prime Minister broke the law when he ​tried to shut down our democratic accountability at a crucial moment in our public life. The judges concluded that there was no reason,

    “let alone a good reason”,

    for the Prime Minister to have shut down Parliament. After yesterday’s ruling, the Prime Minister should have done the honourable thing and resigned, yet here he is—forced back to this House to rightfully face the scrutiny he tried to avoid—with no shred of remorse or humility and, of course, no substance whatsoever.

    Let us see if he will answer some questions. Does the Prime Minister agree with his Attorney General that the Government “got it wrong”, or with the Leader of the House that the Supreme Court committed a “constitutional coup”? This is a vital question about whether the Government respect the judiciary or not.

    The Attorney General was categorical that the Government would comply with the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019. Can the Prime Minister confirm that?

    I pay tribute to those MPs from all parties across the House, to the Lords and to those in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly who have not only fought so hard to stop a disastrous no deal, but continued to take the case against Prorogation through the courts. The Government have failed to silence our democracy.

    During the period of unlawful Prorogation, the Government were forced to release their Yellowhammer no-deal analysis and plans. No wonder the Prime Minister has been so eager to avoid scrutiny and hide the dangers of his Brexit plan. The release of those documents leads to many questions that the Government must answer now that our Parliament is back in operation.

    I would like to start by asking the Prime Minister why the Government in August described leaked Yellowhammer documents as out of date. When the documents were later produced in September, they were word for word the same. It is clear that they have tried to hide from the people the truth—the real truth—of a no-deal Brexit and the fact that their policy would heap misery on the people of this country.

    Let us take a look at the analysis: chaos at Britain’s ports, with months of disruption; people going short of fuel and fresh foods—[Interruption.] It is your paper, you wrote it and you tried to hide it. [Interruption.] I beg your pardon, Mr Speaker—I do not hold you responsible for writing the document. There would be disruption of people’s vital medical supplies, rises in energy prices for every household in the country, and a hard border for the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

    Most damning of all is the passage that simply says:

    “Low income groups will be disproportionately affected”.

    There we have it, Mr Speaker: a simple warning, a simple truth, that a Tory Government are continuing to follow a policy they know will hit the poorest people in our country the hardest. They simply do not care.

    The damning document we have seen is only six pages long. It is only right that this House should expect more transparency from the Government.

    The Government say that they are doing all they can to get a deal before 31 October, but the truth is that the Prime Minister has put hardly any effort into negotiations. Any progress looks, at the most generous, to be minimal. Only yesterday, the European Union’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said that there was

    “no reason today for optimism”.​

    Why does the Prime Minister believe Mr Barnier has that view? This House is still yet to hear any detail of any deal the Government seek to negotiate. We are told the Government have distributed papers to Brussels outlining proposals for a change to the backstop. Will the Prime Minister publish these papers and allow them to be debated in this House of Parliament? For this Government to have any credibility with our people, they need to show they have an actual plan.

    The Prime Minister also has questions to answer about his conduct in public office and, in particular, about allegations that he failed to declare an interest in the allocation of public money to a close friend while he was Mayor of London. It was announced today that, in light of the Sunday Times report, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is reviewing the funds allocated. Did the Prime Minister initiate that review? Will he fully co-operate with the DCMS review and that of the London Assembly? Will he refer himself to the Cabinet Secretary for investigation? No Prime Minister is above the law.

    No one can trust the Prime Minister, not on Iran, not on Thomas Cook, not on climate change and not on Brexit. For the good of this country—[Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order. The Leader of the Opposition is entitled to be heard in this Parliament, and he will be heard. [Interruption.] Order. I do not mind how long it takes, these exchanges will take place in an orderly manner. Be in no doubt about that.

    Jeremy Corbyn

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.

    Quite simply, for the good of this country, the Prime Minister should go. He says he wants a general election. I want a general election. It is very simple: if he wants an election, get an extension and let us have an election.

  • Boris Johnson – 2019 Statement in the House of Commons

    Below is the text of the statement made by Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, in the House of Commons on 25 September 2019.

    The Prime Minister (Boris Johnson)

    Thank you, Mr Speaker. [Hon. Members: “Resign!” If they want a change of Government, let them have an election. [Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order. There will be ample opportunity for everybody who wants to question the Prime Minister, in conformity with usual practice, to do so, but the statement must and will be heard.

    The Prime Minister

    Thank you, Mr Speaker. With your permission, I shall make a statement on yesterday’s Supreme Court verdict and the way forward for this paralysed Parliament.

    Three years ago, more people voted to leave the European Union than had ever voted for any party or proposition in our history. Politicians of all parties promised the public that they would honour the result. Sadly, many have since done all they can to abandon those promises and to overturn that democratic vote. After three years of dither and delay that have left this country at risk of being locked forever in the orbit of the EU, this Government that I lead have been trying truly to get us out. Most people, including most supporters of the Labour party, regardless of how they voted three years ago, think the referendum must be respected. They want Brexit done, I want Brexit done, and people want us out on 31 October, with a new deal if possible, but without one if necessary.

    Some 64 days ago, I was told that Brussels would never reopen the withdrawal agreement; we are now discussing a reopened withdrawal agreement in the negotiations. I was told that Brussels would never consider alternatives to the backstop—the trap that keeps the UK effectively in the EU but with no say; we are now discussing those alternatives in the negotiations. I was told that Brussels would never consider arrangements that were not permanent; we are now discussing in the negotiations an arrangement that works on the principle of consent and is not permanent. I was told that there was no chance of a new deal, but we are discussing a new deal, in spite of the best efforts of the Labour party and this Parliament to wreck our negotiations by their attempts to take no deal off the table.

    The truth is that a majority of Opposition Members are opposed not to the so-called no deal; this Parliament does not want Brexit to happen at all. Many of those who voted for the surrender Act a few weeks ago said then that their intention was to stop a no-deal Brexit. They have said every day since that Parliament must vote against any deal at all. The people of this country can see very clearly what is going on. People at home know—[Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order. People are gesticulating wildly. I can scarcely hear the Prime Minister myself, and I wish to hear the statement, as other colleagues should also wish to do.​

    The Prime Minister

    The people of this country can see perfectly clearly what is going on. They know that Parliament does not want to honour its promises to respect the referendum. The people at home know that this Parliament will keep delaying, and it will keep sabotaging the negotiations, because Members do not want a deal.

    The truth is that Opposition Members are living in a fantasy world. They really imagine that somehow they are going to cancel—[Interruption.] This is what they want to do. They are going to cancel the first referendum and legislate for a second referendum, and Parliament will promise—this is what the hon. Lady opposite said—that this time it really, really will respect that vote. They think that the public will therefore vote to remain, and everybody will forget the last few years.

    I have to say, Mr Speaker, that that is an extraordinary delusion and a fantasy, a fantasy even greater than the communist fantasies peddled by the Leader of the Opposition. It will not happen. The public do not want another referendum. What they want, and what they demand, is that we honour the promise we made to the voters to respect the first referendum. They also want us to move on: to put Brexit behind us and to focus on the NHS, on violent crime, and on cutting the cost of living.

    That is why I brought forward a Queen’s Speech. This Government intend to present a programme for life after Brexit, but some Members could not stand that either. Instead of facing the voters, the Opposition turned tail and fled from an election. Instead of deciding to let the voters decide, they ran to the courts. And despite the fact that I followed the exact same process as my predecessors in calling a Queen’s Speech, the Supreme Court was asked to intervene in that process for the first time ever. It is absolutely no disrespect to the judiciary to say that I think that the court was wrong to pronounce on what is essentially a political question, at a time—[Interruption.]

    Mr Speaker

    Order. Whatever the strength and intensity of feeling and the passions to which these matters give rise, we must hear what is being said in the Chamber, and I wish to hear the Prime Minister.

    The Prime Minister

    I think that the court was wrong to pronounce on what is essentially a political question, at a time of great national controversy.

    So we have Opposition Members who block and delay everything, running to the courts to block and delay even more measures, including legislation to improve and invest in our NHS, and to keep violent criminals in jail. I think that the people outside this House understand what is happening. They know that nothing can disguise the truth.

    It is not just that this Parliament is gridlocked, paralysed, and refusing to deliver on the priorities of the people. It is not just unable to move forward. It is worse than that, Mr Speaker. Out of sheer political selfishness and political cowardice, Opposition Members are unwilling to move aside and give the people a say. They see MPs demanding that the people be given a say one week, and then running away from the election that would provide the people with a say. Worst of all, they see ever more elaborate legal and political manoeuvres from the Labour party, which is determined, absolutely determined, to ​say “We know best”, and to thumb their noses at the 17.4 million people who voted to leave the European Union.

    The Leader of the Opposition and his party do not trust the people. The Leader of the Opposition and his party are determined to throw out the referendum result, whatever the cost. They do not care about the bill for hundreds of millions of pounds that will come with every week of delay. They do not care if another year or more is wasted in arguing about a referendum that happened three years ago. All that matters to them now is an obsessive desire to overrule the referendum result. While we want to take our country up a gear—to go forward with a fantastic programme, an accelerated programme of investment in infrastructure, health, education and technology, they are throwing on the hand brake.

    We will not betray the people who sent us here; we will not. That is what the Opposition want to do. We will not abandon the priorities that matter to the public, and we will continue to challenge those Opposition parties to uphold democracy. If Opposition Members so disagreed with this Government’s commitment to leaving on 31 October, they had a very simple remedy at their disposal, did they not? They could have voted for a general election. I confess that I was a little shocked to discover that the party whose members stood up in Brighton this week and repeatedly, and in the most strident terms, demanded an election—I heard them—is the very same party whose members already this month, not once but twice, refused to allow the people to decide on their next Government. For two years they have demanded an election, but twice they have voted against it.

    The Leader of the Opposition changes his mind so often, I wonder whether he supports an election today, or whether the shadow Chancellor, or the shadow Attorney General, have overruled him again because they know that the voters will judge their manifesto for what it is—more pointless delay. Perhaps he is going to demand an election and then vote against it—just as he says that he wants to negotiate a new Brexit deal and then vote against that, too. Is he actually going to vote no confidence in this Government? Is he going to dodge a vote of no confidence in me as Prime Minister, in order to escape the verdict of the voters? I wonder, does he in his heart even want to be Prime Minister any more? He says that I should go to Brussels on 17 October and negotiate another pointless delay, but he does not want to go himself. And even if he did, his colleagues would not let him, because quite frankly they recoil at the idea of him negotiating on the people’s behalf, representing this country with the likes of Vladimir Putin, let alone the EU or the mullahs of Tehran.

    Or is it perhaps that he wants a Conservative Government? It would be a curious state of affairs indeed if Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition had every faith in the Government of the day. So if in fact the party opposite does not have confidence in the Government, it will have a chance to prove it. It has until the House rises—[Interruption.] I think they should listen. It has until the House rises today to table a motion of no confidence in the Government—[Interruption.] Come on! Come on, then. And we can have that vote tomorrow. Or if any of the smaller parties fancy a go, they can table that motion and we will give them the time for a vote. Will they have the courage to act, or will they ​refuse to take responsibility and do nothing but dither and delay? Why wouldn’t they act? What are they scared of? If that is what you are scared of, then have the—

    Mr Speaker

    Order. I appeal to the House to have some regard to how our proceedings are viewed by people watching them in the country at large. [Interruption.] Order. Let the remainder of the statement be heard. I am grateful for the Prime Minister’s exhortation but I do not require it; I am perfectly content. What I want to hear is the rest of the statement and then questioning on it.

    The Prime Minister

    Mr Speaker, thank you. As I commend this statement to the House, I say it is time to get Brexit done. Get Brexit done, so we respect the referendum. Get Brexit done, so we can move on to deal with the people’s priorities—the NHS, the cost of living. Let’s get Brexit done so we can start to reunite this country after the divisions of the referendum, rather than having another one. It is time for this Parliament finally to take responsibility for its decisions. We decided to call that referendum. We promised time and again to respect it. I think the people of this country have had enough of it. This Parliament must either stand aside and let this Government get Brexit done, or bring a vote of confidence and finally face the day of reckoning with the voters.

    I commend this statement to the House.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2019 Speech on Iran

    Below is the text of the speech made by Emily Thornberry, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, in the House of Commons on 25 September 2019.

    I thank the Foreign Secretary for advance sight of his statement.

    We have been summoned back here due to the unlawful actions of the Prime Minister, attempting to avoid debate on one vital issue, but it is important that we debate other vital issues, including the threat of war with Iran. First, Mr Speaker, may I take the opportunity of this discussion of vital issues in the middle east to apologise publicly to my Liberal Democrat colleagues for my crass throwaway “Taliban” remark in an interview last week? I am sorry for what I said. I believe that our politics is better when we are honest and apologise for our mistakes—a lesson that our country’s Prime Minister, Her Majesty’s Prime Minister, would be well placed to learn.

    I do not have a scintilla of doubt that Iran was responsible for the drone attacks in Saudi Arabia and the attacks on oil tankers in Hormuz. I totally agree with the Foreign Secretary that Iran’s actions are utterly unacceptable and must be condemned by all sides. Sadly, this was all too predictable, because just like during the tanker wars in the 1980s, there is a reckless and ruthless logic being applied by the Iranian hard-line theocrats who are now in the ascendancy in Iran, and it is this: “If you stop our oil supplies, we’re going to stop yours.”

    That development has been inevitable since the United States reimposed sanctions on Iran. There are absolutely no excuses for what Iran has done, but there is also no excuse for the Trump Administration wilfully wrecking the nuclear deal, destroying the chances of progress on other issues, and handing power back to the Khamenei hard-liners, who have always wanted to reverse the Rouhani Government’s attempt to engage with the west. What are we left with now? With a Trump Administration agitating for war and Iranian hard-liners actively trying to provoke it—war with a country that is nine times the size of Syria and has three times Syria’s pre-war population. That leaves us with a choice to make as a world and, even more important, a choice to make as a country and as a Parliament.

    In an era when we can no longer rely on the United States to provide any global leadership on matters of peace and war, or anything to do with the middle east, we need the EU and the UN to step up, to do our job and to demand that, after working so hard to negotiate the nuclear deal, we will not let it be thrown away and allow the spiral into war to continue. As the Leader of the Opposition said yesterday, real security does not come from belligerent posturing or reckless military interventions; it comes from international co-operation and diplomacy. Let me add that it does not come from what successive Governments have done by committing to military intervention with no planning for what comes next, creating chaos in the aftermath and opening up ungoverned spaces in which the evil of jihadist death cults thrives.

    If war with Iran is where the world is headed and we cannot stop it, we have a choice to make as a country, and we should have a choice to make in this Parliament. That choice is whether our country is involved and the lives of our servicepeople are put at risk as a result of a power struggle between Tehran and Riyadh, as a result of a power struggle between Khamenei and Rouhani, and as a result of a power-crazed president in the White House who wants to start wars rather than end them. In that climate, there is only one thing we should be doing now, and that is working to de-escalate the tension with Iran, getting the nuclear deal back on track, and using that as the foundation, which it promised to be, of addressing all the other concerns that we have about Iran, not least its continued detention of Nazanin and other dual British nationals.

    Instead, at this crucial moment, we have a Prime Minister openly talking about sending troops to Saudi Arabia, in an apparent bid to please Donald Trump. As the Leader of the Opposition said yesterday, have we learned nothing? On a day when we are also rightly focused on the powers of Parliament and the abuse of power by the Government, let me close by asking the Foreign Secretary one simple but vital question. Will he guarantee that, before any decision to join Donald Trump in military action against Iran and to put British servicepeople in harm’s way, this House will be asked to approve that action and given the chance to save our country from the disaster that war with Iran would be?