4 January 2005

Time to act for the forgotten majority

Speaking Wellingborough today, Conservative Party Leader Michael Howard, said:

“Britain returns to work this morning after a Christmas and New Year overshadowed by tragedy - a tragedy on so great a scale that it is still difficult to comprehend.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with all those who have been affected by this enormous tragedy, especially those who have lost relatives and friends – and particularly those Britons who have relatives who died or are still missing. 

When one sees the pictures of chaos and destruction, and reads the stories of those who survived, one is overwhelmed by a sense of despair and helplessness.

But if there is one small crumb of comfort that one can draw from this disaster, it is the world’s response - and especially the British public's response - to it.

It took no initiative, no grand scheme, no ministerial diktat. But spontaneously, quietly and selflessly, Britons everywhere have given their money, their possessions and their time to help those in need. 

Their efforts should be acknowledged and admired for what they say about the spirit of the British people.

Great though this achievement is, our task is not yet complete. We must ensure that these shattered communities are not forgotten once the media spotlight has moved away and that we continue to support them in the huge challenges they face. 

Today, though, I want to talk about Britain, our hopes and our future.

Forgotten, neglected and taken for granted by this Government. 

Is that how you feel at the start of 2005? 

If it is, then I am addressing you today. 

You're probably not part of the so-called liberal elite. 

You won't run our media or pressure groups. 

You're not a trade union boss, or the head of a quango. 

No - you'll be one of the millions of people who get on with life, work hard, take responsibility for your family, and respect others and their property. 

For me the heart of politics is all about those people - their hopes and aspirations. 

People want the freedom, security and opportunity to get on in life. 

The freedom to take the important decisions about their families and to keep more of the money they earn. 

The security that comes from owning your home, saving for your retirement, living in a safe neighbourhood. 

And the opportunity provided by a good education and a thriving economy. 

I don't believe that governments have all the answers - far from it. 

But if they govern with the right values, if they set the right framework, they can make a real difference. 

Trusting free enterprise; promoting individual responsibility; cherishing a sense of nationhood; rewarding hard work; admiring excellence; encouraging ambition - these are the right values. 

They are Conservative values. 

And they are the values of the people who make up the backbone of our country. 

Successful policies are shaped by their values – the values of the men and women who wear their self reliance as a badge of honour, who want choice and opportunity for their families, who accept their responsibility to the frail and the elderly, who understand that decisions about the future of our country are best made in Britain. 

These are the people who pull together in times of crisis, who believe in fair play but accept that life cannot always be fair, who respect others and their property.

They work hard. 

They save to buy their first home. 

They put money aside for their retirement. 

They take responsibility for their families. 

They deserve to be rewarded. 

But they have been forgotten, neglected and taken for granted by Mr Blair. He asked them to trust him and, when they did, he let them down. 

For the last seven and a half years their only reward has been to pay higher taxes. 

Today, they are the forgotten majority.

The forgotten majority are proud to be British, but they believe Britain could be doing so much better than she is today. 

They know that as a country we have the talent, ambition and enterprise to succeed. 

But they realise that Britain will only fulfil her real potential when she has a government that holds true to their values.

Britain needs to change direction. 

First, we cannot carry on down the path of ever rising taxes. 

Government is too big - it is spending too much, wasting too much and taxing too much. 

This threatens our economic prosperity. 

A strong economy is the foundation for everything we do in Britain. 

It provides higher living standards so that people can look to the future with optimism. 

It creates the jobs we all depend on - enabling families to build their financial independence. 

It should guarantee our pensions in old age. 

It provides a safety net for the least fortunate.

It pays for our public services - our children's education and our parents' health. 

And it allows us to invest in our nation's security - defence, the police and border controls. 

Britain cannot continue indefinitely to spend more than she is earning without higher taxes or higher interest rates - either of which will harm our economic prospects. 

If we are to secure our future prosperity, government must once again start to live within its means. 

When Mr Blair was first elected, he promised world class public services without tax increases. 

As the forgotten majority know only too well, taxes have gone up a lot. 

But standards have not. 

Why? 

Because Mr Blair has the wrong approach. 

Politicians and bureaucrats control too much from Whitehall. 

Take just one example - our hospitals have got dirtier because the judgement of professionals has been over-ruled by central targets. 

Mr Blair's centralised way of running our public services results in poor value for money, which means his government always needs higher taxes. 

Second, we need less central control, less political interference – we need to give power back to people. 

To the professionals, the doctors, nurses and teachers who know better how to care for the sick or teach children than ministers and bureaucrats in Whitehall.

To the parents and patients who will make the right decisions if they are only given the chance. 

To the wage earners who deserve to keep more of the money they earn and know better how to spend it than politicians in Whitehall. 

Third, we have to restore order to Britain. 

The decline of responsibility and the proliferation of so-called "human rights" have left us in a moral quagmire, unable to get a grip on rising crime and disorder. 

In an age of global terrorism we have lost control of our borders. 

We have no idea who is coming into or leaving our country. 

A Conservative Government will give taxpayers value for money by spending on people's priorities like schools and hospitals. When we can, we will lower taxes. We need to reward hard work and enterprise. 

We will give professionals, teachers, doctors and nurses, control over our schools and hospitals, so they that can deliver what matters to parents and patients - school discipline and clean hospitals. 

We will give parents the Right to Choose where their children are educated, and patients the Right to Choose which hospital they are treated in. Choice drives up standards in every field of human endeavour. 

We will put more police on our streets - increasing police numbers by 40,000 and cutting back on the paperwork and political correctness that keep them chained to their desks. 

And we will control immigration. Every year Parliament will set an annual limit on the number of people who can settle in Britain, just as they do in Australia.

These are my priorities - the priorities of the forgotten majority. 

I don't pretend I can solve all the problems Britain faces. 

Politicians never can. 

But what I promise I will deliver. 

I will be accountable for my actions. Conservatives won't just make a difference - we will be different. 

For Mr Blair the political end justifies the means. 

He has politicised the civil service. 

He has undermined the integrity of government. 

Spin, manipulation - these are what count in Mr Blair's world - a world in which his priority is to remain in power.

I will restore integrity to government. 

I will stop party political spin doctors issuing orders to civil servants. 

I will make the Office of National Statistics truly independent of ministers, so that people can once again trust the statistics on which they judge their government.

People face a clear choice at the next election. 

A Conservative Government that gives power to people - or ever greater centralisation under Mr Blair. 

A Conservative Government that will get a grip on crime, immigration and disorder - or an ever growing rights culture under Mr Blair. 

A Conservative Government that offers value for money and lower taxes - or more waste and higher taxes under Mr Blair. 

A Conservative Government that will reduce the number of politicians and bring powers back from the European Union - or more regionalisation, more politicians and more powers to Brussels under Mr Blair. 

Nor should people be under any illusions about the Liberal Democrats. 

Mr Kennedy offers the same false solutions as Mr Blair - more government, more power to Brussels, higher taxes, a relaxed approach to rising crime and immigration.

It is for the people of our country to decide who they want to govern them for the next five years. 

If my party is entrusted with the honour and responsibility of government, we will work tirelessly for the good of our country. 

Of course, there will be challenges to face, obstacles to overcome and threats to withstand. 

But I offer the British people decisive leadership, a clear path ahead and a vision of a country achieving its full potential. 

While others talk, we will act. 

In the coming weeks I will release the individual chapters of our manifesto for government. 

They will explain in detail exactly how and when we will deliver on our five priorities - lower taxes, cleaner hospitals, school discipline, controlled immigration and more police. 

No-one will have to take us on trust - we have a Timetable for Action so that people can hold us to account. 

Everything a Conservative government does will be a means to one end - and that end is opportunity. 

The opportunity for everyone, whatever their background or the colour of their skin, to make a success of their chosen career. 

The opportunity for people to fulfil their ambitions. 

The opportunity for children to have a better life than their parents. 

My hope for Britain is ambitious but simple - to give the forgotten majority control over their own lives and the chance of a better future. 

Everyone should have the opportunity to live the British dream. 

When I go round the country I don't meet core voters or floating voters. 

I meet forgotten voters. 

People with hopes and dreams and ambitions - people who have been forgotten, neglected and taken for granted by Mr Blair.

I meet families of all parties and none. 

Families who believe in fair play, but have lost faith in government to reward hard work and individual responsibility. 

I meet parents of all parties and none. 

Parents who pay their taxes but despair of getting their children into a good local school. 

I meet older people of all parties and none. 

Older people who have worked hard and saved all their lives, but now face an insecure and uncertain retirement. 

So to those who voted Labour last time, who dream of a better life, who work hard, but feel forgotten by Mr Blair I say come and join us.

To those who voted Liberal Democrat last time, who cherish a sense of nationhood, who want decisions about their future to be taken here in Britain but feel forgotten by Mr Kennedy I say come and join us.

And to those who have lost faith in politics and politicians to make a difference, who feel forgotten and ignored, I say come and join us.

We are the only choice if you want a government that is responsible, that shares your values and will act on them, that is accountable to you.

Whatever party you may have supported in the past, come and join us. 

The British people are renowned for their good sense, generosity and enterprise. 

When a government holds true to these values, Britain is at her best - and is the best. 

And nothing but the best is good enough for Britain.”