:00:17. > :00:19.Thank you, Jonathan, for that over-flattering introduction.
:00:20. > :00:21.The sort that my father would have enjoyed and my mother
:00:22. > :00:35.Now, it's fair to say that when I accepted the invitation some
:00:36. > :00:37.months ago to speak today I sort of rather expected that
:00:38. > :00:40.the conference would fall in a nice, quiet period, just before
:00:41. > :00:42.the council decided its negotiating guidelines, so so much
:00:43. > :00:52.I certainly hadn't anticipated that we would be in the middle
:00:53. > :00:55.of a general election campaign so for all the arguments that there
:00:56. > :00:58.will be over the next six weeks, I know that here there are people
:00:59. > :01:01.from both sides of the debate, from all parties and none,
:01:02. > :01:03.and I am speaking today as a Secretary of State,
:01:04. > :01:05.so you will understand, and you'll probably be relieved,
:01:06. > :01:08.that I do not intend to indulge in any general
:01:09. > :01:20.This is going to be a very serious speech.
:01:21. > :01:24.And I am generally delighted to see Prosperity UK to emerge in a spirit
:01:25. > :01:25.of forging consensus, as we have been
:01:26. > :01:28.Your commitment to moving beyond the divisive arguments
:01:29. > :01:30.of the past and looking constructively to the future
:01:31. > :01:33.is absolutely the right one, and one the Prime Minister
:01:34. > :01:47.Although you have lost some ministerial speakers today
:01:48. > :01:49.because of the general election, you still absolutely
:01:50. > :01:52.have our interest and attention, a point I will return to later.
:01:53. > :01:54.Now, my clear sense is that a majority of people,
:01:55. > :02:03.however they voted in last summer's referendum, now want the government
:02:04. > :02:05.to get on with the job of negotiating and implementing
:02:06. > :02:08.the UK's exit and seeking a new partnership with the European Union.
:02:09. > :02:11.This week it'll be a month since the UK's historic notification
:02:12. > :02:13.to the European Council of our intention to leave.
:02:14. > :02:15.The Prime Minister was very clear about our approach,
:02:16. > :02:18.and the spirit in which we approach these negotiations.
:02:19. > :02:23.It is a straightforward plan with clear principles.
:02:24. > :02:26.We are leaving the European Union but we're not leaving Europe.
:02:27. > :02:31.This means our primary aim is to get a deal, a good deal,
:02:32. > :02:36.We want to establish a deep and special partnership
:02:37. > :02:38.with the European Union for the future.
:02:39. > :02:43.And it is in the interest of both the UK and the European Union
:02:44. > :02:49.that we establish that new partnership in as fair
:02:50. > :02:54.and orderly a way as possible, with the minimum disruption for all.
:02:55. > :02:57.I believe it's time for the country to come together with those goals
:02:58. > :03:00.in mind and Prosperity UK has an important role to
:03:01. > :03:07.We won't succeed without the wisdom and energy of the institutions
:03:08. > :03:12.You're all a key part of what has made the United Kingdom a success
:03:13. > :03:17.and a key part of what will ensure that we go from success to success
:03:18. > :03:22.and strength to strength in the future.
:03:23. > :03:25.Now, that given, we should be under no illusions about the scale
:03:26. > :03:34.We are reshaping Britain's place in the world.
:03:35. > :03:42.Securing an agreement with the EU within the two-year period
:03:43. > :03:45.about our withdrawal and the shape of our future relationship
:03:46. > :03:49.We will have difficult issues to confront, compromise will be
:03:50. > :04:01.And even as the election campaign proceeds, the work
:04:02. > :04:03.of government goes on to prepare for the negotiations.
:04:04. > :04:06.I visited a number of countries even in the last few days,
:04:07. > :04:12.let alone the last few weeks t to talk to my European
:04:13. > :04:15.counterparts, and that will go on through the election as well.
:04:16. > :04:16.Jean-Claude Juncker, Michel Barnier, my opposite number,
:04:17. > :04:19.and others are coming to London today to meet the Prime Minister
:04:20. > :04:22.Some are determined, for their own reasons,
:04:23. > :04:24.to focus on the differences between us, and seize on every
:04:25. > :04:33.But the UK has a very good reason to feel optimistic.
:04:34. > :04:36.The discussions I've had confirmed to me that on both sides
:04:37. > :04:39.negotiations with our European partners will be conducted
:04:40. > :04:46.It's a spirit we have shared through our common history.
:04:47. > :04:50.Indeed, one of my key messages on my visits to the four countries
:04:51. > :04:54.in the past couple of days and more than a dozen countries over a longer
:04:55. > :04:57.period is that the UK wants to see the European Union succeed
:04:58. > :05:06.and prosper - politically, socially and economically.
:05:07. > :05:09.And when it comes to it, our European partners know,
:05:10. > :05:12.even those that are most dismayed by our departure after the UK
:05:13. > :05:15.referendum result, that it will be in their interest for the UK
:05:16. > :05:24.The vote to leave the EU did not signal any desire to do damage
:05:25. > :05:26.to the European Union, or its 27 remaining member states.
:05:27. > :05:36.Nor was it a rejection of the values that we share as fellow Europeans.
:05:37. > :05:40.Now, there have been some suggestions that the UK might now
:05:41. > :05:42.seek to take a divide and rule approach to the Union
:05:43. > :05:49.We want the European Union to be united, not just for the good
:05:50. > :05:52.of our continent but also because it makes sense in the negotiations
:05:53. > :05:55.We want the negotiations to be swift and effective,
:05:56. > :06:00.so unity amongst the 27 helps with that.
:06:01. > :06:04.Given that the subject matter is complex and time is tight,
:06:05. > :06:07.the unity of the European Union will therefore be
:06:08. > :06:17.Remember, too, the unprecedented regulatory alignment that we already
:06:18. > :06:22.We trust each other's institutions, and there is no reason whatsoever
:06:23. > :06:27.We start from an assumption of convergence and shared
:06:28. > :06:31.values that should make these discussions easier.
:06:32. > :06:35.And as we made clear, we enter the process of seeking
:06:36. > :06:40.to negotiate the shape of our future relationship with the EU alongside
:06:41. > :06:42.the terms of withdrawal, within the two-year window provided
:06:43. > :06:49.I believe it is important to ensure that we can implement that agreement
:06:50. > :06:51.effectively and in a timely manner, something that will be
:06:52. > :06:58.That means as much certainty and stability is possible for the UK
:06:59. > :07:03.economy and the economies of the individual EU member states,
:07:04. > :07:08.And it means we will seek to avoid any cliff edges,
:07:09. > :07:12.and that desire to avoid cliff edges is, I know, from my own
:07:13. > :07:18.conversations shared by a number of European nations I have
:07:19. > :07:25.Now, that is one of the reasons that the day after Article 50
:07:26. > :07:28.was triggered the government published a White Paper on what is
:07:29. > :07:34.Now, as I have explained, the bill will, among other things,
:07:35. > :07:38.convert EU law as it applies at the point we depart into UK
:07:39. > :07:50.Now, this means as far as possible the same laws, the same rules,
:07:51. > :07:59.will apply immediately before and immediately after our
:08:00. > :08:03.departure, enabling a smooth and stable transition.
:08:04. > :08:06.Our parliament will then be in control of any changes that are
:08:07. > :08:12.Now, given that, we should favour an intelligent approach
:08:13. > :08:18.Yes, we must avoid unnecessary burdens on business,
:08:19. > :08:21.but we also want to make sure that our new...
:08:22. > :08:25.that our approach, maintains or ensures new access to markets
:08:26. > :08:27.from Croatia to California, the regulations must
:08:28. > :08:33.And, as the Prime Minister has said on many occasions,
:08:34. > :08:36.whilst we are leaving the institutions of
:08:37. > :08:38.the European Union, we are not leaving Europe itself,
:08:39. > :08:45.The values we share it run deeper than the politics
:08:46. > :08:59.They were forged long before the United Kingdom joined
:09:00. > :09:02.the European Economic Community, as it was then, and will endure long
:09:03. > :09:07.We intend to continue to be a reliable partner and a willing
:09:08. > :09:09.ally to our closest neighbours who want a new, deep and special
:09:10. > :09:13.At the core of this partnership should be an ambitious
:09:14. > :09:15.and comprehensive free trade agreement of unprecedented scope.
:09:16. > :09:20.We will seek the freest possible trade in goods and services
:09:21. > :09:25.between the UK and the EU and we want to continue to give
:09:26. > :09:30.businesses the freedom to operate within European markets.
:09:31. > :09:34.It's also vitally important to continue our collaboration
:09:35. > :09:37.in the areas of science, research, education and technology,
:09:38. > :09:40.to maintain Britain's status as a world leader in these sectors
:09:41. > :09:43.and so that we can play our full part in advancing Europe's
:09:44. > :09:47.collective excellence is here, so important for our
:09:48. > :09:56.This is a key part of building a truly global Britain.
:09:57. > :10:02.Now, some of you in this room have spoken to me or my colleagues
:10:03. > :10:06.directly about your concerns, so I want to take
:10:07. > :10:11.a moment to address some of these specific issues.
:10:12. > :10:15.Firstly the government has made it very clear that it wants to secure
:10:16. > :10:18.the rights of EU nationals living in Britain at the earliest
:10:19. > :10:23.Citizens of EU member states made a vital contribution
:10:24. > :10:26.to our society and our economy, and while we want to control
:10:27. > :10:29.immigration in the future, I do not think anyone wants to pull
:10:30. > :10:35.up the drawbridge, and a global Britain will always welcome
:10:36. > :10:44.Secondly we want no return to the borders of the past
:10:45. > :10:46.in Northern Ireland, and I can guarantee that stability
:10:47. > :10:49.there will be a key priority when we look to the future
:10:50. > :10:57.Happily these areas are ones in which the EU and the UK think...
:10:58. > :11:05.I am confident that we can work closely with Michel Barnier's team
:11:06. > :11:07.to achieve early agreement on these issues, very early agreement
:11:08. > :11:12.It is also important that we focus on embracing
:11:13. > :11:14.the opportunity of Brexit as well as addressing
:11:15. > :11:20.We can reach out beyond the borders of Europe to some of
:11:21. > :11:24.the fastest-growing export markets in the world.
:11:25. > :11:27.At a time when the entire Western world faces great challenges
:11:28. > :11:30.from automation and the changing nature of work, we
:11:31. > :11:38.The EU is many things, and we wish it every success,
:11:39. > :11:46.but making our own decisions as one sovereign country I do not doubt
:11:47. > :11:48.that we can be more agile and more responsive,
:11:49. > :11:50.not least because we start from an incredibly strong position.
:11:51. > :11:53.We are a great global nation with so much to offer Europe
:11:54. > :11:57.We are one of the world's largest and strongest economies,
:11:58. > :12:00.we have the finest intelligence services, the bravest Armed Forces,
:12:01. > :12:02.the most effective hard and soft power, and friendships
:12:03. > :12:10.and partnerships and alliances on every continent in the world.
:12:11. > :12:13.So let me be clear, the UK's departure from the EU should not be
:12:14. > :12:20.We want to reach out to our old friends and new allies
:12:21. > :12:26.alike and say Britain is open for business.
:12:27. > :12:28.I hope that you will also share my optimism about Britain's
:12:29. > :12:31.bright future, and if I may I'm going to deviate slightly
:12:32. > :12:34.from my set speech here and just say something personal to this.
:12:35. > :12:42.I mean, democracy is a massively important thing, but one
:12:43. > :12:45.of the things that happens in political arguments is sometimes
:12:46. > :12:48.the most important issues are not the most exciting in the news,
:12:49. > :12:53.so it's battles over disagreements that dominate things,
:12:54. > :12:56.and sometimes in the last nine months we have lost a little
:12:57. > :12:58.sight of the importance of those new opportunities
:12:59. > :13:03.that we will enjoy, and that is why I have made a point of coming today,
:13:04. > :13:10.despite the problems of the general election and doing a ministerial
:13:11. > :13:13.speech in the middle of it because what you are doing in this
:13:14. > :13:16.meeting and this conference at Prosperity UK are addressed
:13:17. > :13:19.exactly the sort of issues that I think are not getting
:13:20. > :13:24.And the government will do its best to ensure that those opportunities
:13:25. > :13:34.But before I was a politician I was a businessman,
:13:35. > :13:37.and I am acutely conscious that while the government can
:13:38. > :13:42.facilitate the opportunities, what converts the opportunities
:13:43. > :13:50.into innovation, investment, jobs, wealth creation, is civil society
:13:51. > :14:04.And that's why your meeting today, your conference today,
:14:05. > :14:06.is incredibly important and why I shall read very carefully
:14:07. > :14:09.the outcomes of your discussions today and others you have in future
:14:10. > :14:13.because in our policy formulation, to try to create and maximise
:14:14. > :14:16.those opportunities, knowing exactly how you'll use them,
:14:17. > :14:19.the problems you see, the issues you see,
:14:20. > :14:23.the opportunities you see, will be very important to us
:14:24. > :14:27.so I want to reiterate what I said briefly at the beginning,
:14:28. > :14:30.that I thank you to Jonathan Hill and Paul, Sir Paul Marshall,
:14:31. > :14:37.for setting this up because actually this is a massively important
:14:38. > :14:42.meeting for helping us achieve the best future for our country,
:14:43. > :14:48.so working together we can ensure that our country goes from strength
:14:49. > :14:52.With cool heads, strong leadership and traditional British resolve
:14:53. > :14:54.we can build a stronger, fairer Britain than ever before.
:14:55. > :15:39.Order! Order! Questions to the Prime Minister. The goings on in
:15:40. > :15:42.Parliament are watched closely. Comments and counterclaims pored
:15:43. > :15:46.over, especially busy times like this. Of course, there are times
:15:47. > :15:48.when there are fewer people taking