Today our Prime Minister, Theresa May, published the Conservative Party’s Manifesto for a stronger Britain and a more prosperous future. In it, we set out our plans to guide Britain through the challenges we will face over the next five years as we leave the European Union.
Our country faces five key challenges and only the Conservatives are setting out a plan to tackle them head on. These are:
1. To make sure our economy stays strong and to bring prosperity to the whole of our country.
2. To emerge from Brexit a strong and united nation able to take a lead in the world to defend Britain’s interests.
3. Overcome social divisions by giving people real opportunity and making Britain the world’s Great Meritocracy.
4. To restore the contract between generations that provides security for older people while being fair to the young.
5. To seize the opportunities of changing technology, while ensuring that our security and personal privacy – and the welfare of children and younger people – are still protected.
Both throughout the year and since the election was called, my team and I have been out and about talking to local residents on the doorstep across Rugby and Bulkington. I know the issues which concern local people and this manifesto will set out how, if we form the next Government, the Conservatives will build a country and an economy that works for everyone. The Conservatives are not ducking the difficult decisions the country faces.
Getting Brexit right remains the central challenge facing the country over the coming years. Only the strong, stable leadership of Theresa May will deliver the Brexit deal that Britain needs to prosper in the years ahead. Other leaders would risk making a mess of these negotiations and ordinary working families would pay the price with more debt, higher taxes, fewer jobs and a less secure future.
I know how important the NHS is to everyone in Rugby and Bulkington, which is why we are looking to invest an additional £8 billion in real terms over the next five years. This will enable us to invest in the doctors, nurses and hospitals we need to deliver a world class health service. Theresa May will also recognise the vital contribution that 140,000 EU nationals make to our NHS by prioritising them in her negotiations with our European partners, to ensure that they can carry on living and working in our communities.
We will also build on our successes in education. Thanks to our reforms in Government, 1.8 million more children are at good or outstanding schools than in 2010. However, there is still more to be done. I have spoken to many teachers and parents about the needs of our schools, particularly in Warwickshire which has historically been underfunded. I am delighted that the manifesto pledges to provide £4 billion of additional funding to our schools over the next Parliament, ensuring that no school has its budget cut.
Our manifesto sets out how we will remain a strong and united nation in a changing world. We will continue to back our brave servicemen and women across the Armed Forces, recognising the important and hard work they do keeping our country safe. We will invest in the equipment, training and personnel they need and recognise the contribution of veterans to wider society, by supporting them as they move into civilian life. The Conservatives will also introduce a Veterans Board in the Cabinet Office to co-ordinate government services for veterans.
I hope that I can count on your support on June 8th to help strengthen Theresa May's hand as we build a more prosperous Britain.