We know Labour’s real problem on education. Every move they make, they’ve got to take theircue from the unions. That’s who they really represent. The unions. Well, I’ve got a bit of newsfor you. It’s not something we’ve ever said before. We in this party are a trade union too.
I’ll tell you who we represent. This party is the union for hardworking parents…the father whoreads his children stories at night because he wants them to learn…the mother who works allthe hours God sends to give her children the best start. This party is the trade union forchildren from the poorest estates and the most chaotic homes. This party is the union for theyoung woman who wants an Apprenticeship…or the teenagers who want to make something oftheir lives…this is who we represent, these are the people we’re fighting for…and that’s why oneducation we won’t let Labour drag us back to square one – we’re going to finish what we havebegun. A real education isn’t just about exams. Our young people must know this is a countrywhere if you put in, you will get out.
Now I’ve got in trouble for talking about Twitter before, but let me put it like this. I want acountry where young people aren’t endlessly thinking: ‘what can I say in 140 characters?’ but‘what does my character say about me?’ That’s why I’m so proud of National Citizen Service.Every summer, thousands of young people are coming together to volunteer and serve theircommunity. We started this. People come up to me on the street and say all sorts ofthings…believe me – all sorts of things…but one thing I hear a lot is parents saying “thank youfor what this has done for my child.” I want this to become a rite of passage for all teenagers inour country. So I can tell you this: the next Conservative Government will guarantee a placeon National Citizen Service for every teenager in our country.
That rule: that if you put in, you should get out…more than anywhere it should apply to thosewho want dignity and security in retirement. But for years it didn’t. There were three greatwrongs. Wrong number one: the Pension Credit that was basically a means test – the more yousaved, the less you got. Wrong number two: compulsory annuities that meant you couldn’tspend your own money as you wished. Wrong number three: when people passed away, thepension they had saved was taxed at 55 per cent before it went to their family.
Three wrongs – and we are putting them right. The means test – it’s going. In its place: a newsingle-tier pension of £142 a week…every penny you have saved during your working life, youwill keep. Those compulsory annuities – scrapped…giving you complete control over yourprivate pension. As for that 55 per cent tax on your pension? You heard it this week: we’ve cutit to zero per cent. Conservative values in action.
When it comes to our elderly, one thing matters above everything. Knowing the NHS is therefor you. From Labour last week, we heard the same old rubbish about the Conservatives andthe NHS. Spreading complete and utter lies. I just think: how dare you. It was the Labour Partywho gave us the scandal at Mid Staffs…elderly people begging for water and dying of neglect.And for me, this is personal. I am someone who has relied on the NHS – whose family knowsmore than most how important it is…who knows what it’s like to go to hospital night after nightwith a child in your arms…knowing that when you get there, you have people who will care forthat child and love that child like their own. How dare they suggest I would ever put that at riskfor other people’s children?…how dare they frighten those who are relying on the NHS rightnow? It might be the only thing that gets a cheer at their Party conference but it is franklypathetic.
We in this party can be proud of what we’ve done. We came in and protected the NHS budget.Funding six and a half thousand more doctors – 3300 more nurses…a Cancer Drugs Fund tosave lives…more people hearing those two magic words: “all clear”. And think of the amazingthings around the corner.
From the country that unravelled DNA, we are now mapping it for each individual…it’s called thegenome, and I’ve got a model of one of the first ones on my desk in Downing Street. Crackingthis code could mean curing rare genetic diseases and saving lives. Our NHS is leading theworld on this incredible technology. I understand very personally the difference it couldmake. When you have a child who’s so ill and the doctors can’t work out what he’s got or why –you’d give anything to know. The investment we’re making will mean that more parents havethose answers – and hopefully the cures that go with them. And let’s be clear: all this is onlypossible because we have managed our economy responsibly. That is why I can tell you this: wewill do it again.
The next Conservative Government will protect the NHS budget and continue to invest more.Because we know this truth…something Labour will never understand – and we will neverforget…you can only have a strong NHS if you have a strong economy.
A Britain that everyone is proud to call home. A place where reward follows effort; where if youput in, you get out. But it also means a country that is strong in the world – in control of itsown destiny…and yes – that includes controlling immigration. To me, this is about working onall fronts. It’s about getting our own people fit to work. Fixing welfare – so a life on the dole isnot an option. Fixing education – so we turn out young people with skills to do the jobs we arecreating.
And yes – we need controlled borders and an immigration system that puts the British peoplefirst. That’s why we’ve capped economic migration from outside the EU…shut down 700 boguscolleges – that were basically visa factories…kicked out people who don’t belong here, like AbuQatada…and let’s hear it for the woman who made it happen: our crime-busting HomeSecretary, Theresa May.
But we know the bigger issue today is migration from within the EU. Immediate access to ourwelfare system. Paying benefits to families back home. Employment agencies signing people upfrom overseas and not recruiting here. Numbers that have increased faster than we in thiscountry wanted…at a level that was too much for our communities, for our labour markets. All ofthis has to change – and it will be at the very heart of my renegotiation strategy for Europe.
Britain, I know you want this sorted so I will go to Brussels, I will not take no for an answer andwhen it comes to free movement – I will get what Britain needs. Anyone who thinks I can’t orwon’t deliver this – judge me by my record. I’m the first Prime Minister to veto a Treaty…thefirst Prime Minister to cut the European budget…and yes I pulled us out of those Europeanbail-out schemes as well. Around that table in Europe they know I say what I mean, and meanwhat I say. So we’re going to go in as a country, get our powers back, fight for our nationalinterest…and yes – we’ll put it to a referendum…in or out – it will be your choice…and let themessage go out from this hall: it is only with a Conservative Government that you will get thatchoice.
Of course, it’s not just the European Union that needs sorting out – it’s the European Court ofHuman Rights. When that charter was written, in the aftermath of the Second World War, itset out the basic rights we should respect. But since then, interpretations of that charter haveled to a whole lot of things that are frankly wrong. Rulings to stop us deporting suspectedterrorists. The suggestion that you’ve got to apply the human rights convention even on thebattle-fields of Helmand. And now – they want to give prisoners the vote. I’m sorry, I just don’tagree.