25 November 2015
In our country we share certain values. We know that if you give people opportunity they will aspire and strive to succeed. We believe that if you work hard and save responsibly, you should be able to afford to buy your home. Hard working people should be able to afford to put money away for retirement and be able to look after their families. We want our NHS to keep providing world class healthcare free at the point of use, and for our government to never waver from its responsibility to protect us in the face of terrorism and foreign aggression. Today, the Chancellor showed that this One Nation government can deliver these One Nation values. The contract between government and the people was threatened by the financial crisis, the recession, and irresponsible previous governments who built up all that debt and didn’t plan for the future. Now, it’s threatened by an opposition that’s been hijacked by a far-left sect who would threaten all this again. George Osborne’s determination rescued the economy and got us out of the debt storm that could have brought everything crashing down. Today, he has opened up a new chapter and set out his plans to build on what he rescued. Debt crisis averted, Britain now has the fastest growing major economy, and a government on track to deliver a surplus by 2019/2020 so we can withstand future storms. Now, because of this strong economy, he has been able to announce on average, departmental spending will fall at less than half the rate of the previous five years and that there is money available to invest in the future. His plans on house building and home ownership for first time buyers will roll back the crisis in home ownership. The extra money he’s promised for the NHS will ensure that it will be there for all us in the future, even in the face of rising demand as our population ages, with half a trillion pounds of funding in this Parliament. The Chancellor has also listened to concerns about tax credits, and is funding Iain Duncan-Smith’s Universal Credit to ensure that work will always pay in the future. Power is being devolved to the regional cities with elected mayors getting wide ranging new powers to grow their economies. And the devolution revolution will continue with the plan to incentivise councils to develop business in their area by letting them keep revenues from business rates while phasing out the local government grant. There’s £2 billion to protect 300,000 homes from flooding, whileschool funding will be reformed to ensure it’s fairer to pupils from rural areas. The Chancellor also recognised that it’s the police who protect our communities and keep people safe, and that’s why we’re protecting the policing budget. The Apprenticeship Levy on large businesses will come into place, and will release £3 billion in spending on apprenticeships moving us towards our 3 million target - which the Prime Minister recently appointed me as his Apprenticeship Adviser to help deliver. We’re seeing a One Nation vision emerge in clear form. It’s a vision based on spreading opportunity across the entire country by encouraging growth and skills investment that will raise productivity, wages and create jobs. We are the real worker’s party and with that as our compass this Conservative government will restore Britain as a high wage, high skill economy and make our country great again.