Conservative - Wednesday Today at Conference

Evening all. Welcome to our fight of a conference with the Conservatives

here in Birmingham. Where Theresa May made her pitch not just for the

centre ground of British politics but for the centre left with her

repeated claims that she would run a government in the interest of what

she called ordinary working-class families. Change was going to camp

said the Prime Minister, pledging that her government would be a force

for good, for working people who felt they had left out. She took a

swipe at the socialist left and the libertarian right as she parked her

tanks across the centre of British politics, claiming Labour was now

the nasty party. Brexit looms over everything she does and says. Adam

headed out to see if delegates think leaving the EU will make the country

richer or poorer. Richer, 100%. Absolutely. No doubt about it. We

will be 100% richer? Roughly. Mrs May did not dwell much on

Brexit, but what she did say was significant. No longer under the

jurisdiction of the European Court of justice, no more free movement of

people but she did not spell it out but it was implicit in everything

she said was that we would no longer be members of the single market.

When we came to Birmingham this week,...

When we came to Birmingham this week, some big questions

Do we have a plan for Brexit?

Are we ready for the effort it will take to see it through?

Can Boris Johnson stay on message for a full four days?

But I know there's another big question people want me to answer.

What's my vision for Britain?

Today I want to answer that question very directly.

I want to set out my vision for Britain after Brexit.

I want to lay out my approach ? the things I believe.

Change is going to come. Change has got to come, because as we leave the

European Union and take control of viral destiny, the task of tackling

some of Britain's long-standing challenges, like how to train enough

people to do the jobs of the future, becomes ever more urgent. But change

has got to come, too. Change has got to come

because as we leave the European Union and take control

of our own destiny, the task of tackling some of Britain's

long-standing challenges - like how to train enough people

to do the jobs of the future - But change has got to come too

because of the quiet revolution that took place in our country just three

months ago ? a revolution in which millions of our fellow

citizens stood up and said they were not prepared

to be ignored anymore. Because this is a turning point

for our country. A once-in-a-generation chance

to change the direction The referendum was not just a vote

to change for the EU, it was something the European Union has

come to represent. It was about a sense, deep, profound and let us

face it, often justified, that many people have today. That the world

works well for a privileged few, but not for them. It was a vote not just

to change the British relationship with the European Union, but to go

for a change in the way the country works and for whom it works forever.

Knock on almost any door in any part of the country and you will find the

roots of that revolution laid bare. A society should work for everyone,

but if you cannot afford to get onto the property ladder or your child is

stuck in a bad school, it does not feel like it is working for you. Our

economy should work for everyone but if your pay has stagnated for

several years in a row and six items of spending keep going up, it does

not feel like it is working for you. Our democracy should work for

everyone, but if you have been trying to say that things need to

change for years and your complaints fall on deaf ears, it does not feel

like it is working for you. And the roots of the revolution run deep.

Because it was not the wealthy who made the biggest sacrifices after

the financial crisis, but ordinary working-class families.

APPLAUSE. And if you're one of those people

who took a pay cut as household bills rocketed, or, and I know a lot

of people do not like to admit this, someone who finds themselves out of

work or on lower wages because of low skilled emigration, life simply

does not seem fair. Now, do not get me wrong, we applaud success, we

want people to get on, but we also value something else. The spirit of

citizenship. That spirit, that means you respect the bonds and

obligations that make our society work, that means a commitment to the

men and women who live around you and work for you, who buy the goods

and services you sell, that spirit, that means recognising the social

contract that says you train up local young people before you take

on cheap Labour from overseas. That spirit that means you do as others

do and pay your fair share of tax. But today...

APPLAUSE. But today, too many people in

positions of power, behave as though they have more in common with

international elites, than with the people down the road, the people

they employ, they people they pass on the street. But if you believe

you're a citizen of the world, you are a citizen of nowhere. You do not

understand but the very word citizenship means, so if you are a

boss who earns a fortune but does not look after your staff, an

international company that treats tax laws an optional extra, a

household name that refuses to work with the authorities even to fight

terrorism, a director who takes out massive dividends while knowing that

the company pension is about to go bust.

APPLAUSE. I am putting you on warning, this

cannot go on any more, a change has got to come and this party is going

to make it! APPLAUSE. Just listen to the way a

lot of politicians and commentators talk about the public. They find

your patriotism distasteful. Your concerns about immigration,

parochial. Your views about crime liberal, your attachment to your job

security inconvenient. They find the fact that more than 17 million

voters decided leave the European Union simply bewildering. Because if

you are well off and comfortable, Britain is a different country and

these concerns are not your concerns. It is easy to dismiss

them, easy to say that all you want for -- from government is for it to

get out of the way, but a change has to come, it is time to remember the

good that government can do. Time for a new approach that says, while

government does not have all the answers, government can and should

be a force for good. That the state exists to provide what individual

people, communities and markets cannot and that we should employ the

power of government for the good of the people. Time to reject the

ideological template provided by the socialist left and the libertarian

right and to embrace a new centre ground in which government steps up

and not back to act on behalf of us all. Providing security from crime

and ill-health and unemployment as well, supporting free markets, but

stepping in to repair them when they are not working as they should.

Encouraging business and supporting free trade. But not excepting one

set of rules for some and another for everyone else. And...

APPLAUSE. And if we do, if we act to correct

on fairness and injustice and put government at the service of

ordinary, working people, we can build that new United Britain in

which everyone plays by the same rules and in which the powerful and

the privileged no longer ignore the interests of the people. Only we can

do it. Because the main lesson I take from the conference last week

is that the Labour Party is not just divided, but divisive. Determined to

pit one against another. To pursue vendettas and settle scores. And to

embrace the politics of pointless protest, that simply pulls people

further apart. That is what Labour stands for, fighting amongst

themselves, abusing their own MPs, threatening to end their careers,

tolerating anti-Semitism and supporting voices of hate. You know

what some people call them? The nasty party.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. The speech was long and ambitious,

rhetoric and ambition, short on specific policy detail. Even when it

came to the economy, she spoke only in the most general of terms. An

economy that works for everyone is an economy where everyone plays by

the same rules. I understand the frustration that people feel when

they see the rich and powerful getting away with things that they

themselves would not dream of doing and they would not get away with if

they tried. I understand that, because I feel it as well. There is

always an excuse, reason why something cannot be done, but when

that is used as a basis for inaction, save in capitalism and

free markets falls. The Conservative Party will always believe in free

markets and that is precisely why it is this party that should act to

defend them. From Edmund Burke onwards, Conservatives have always

stood that if you want to preserve something important, you need to be

prepared to reform it. And we must apply that same approach today. That

is why when markets are dysfunctional, we should be prepared

to intervene. Where companies are exploiting the failures of the

market in which they operate, where a consumer choice is inhibited by

deliberately complex pricing structures, we must set the market

right. This party will always be the party of business, large and small.

But we must acknowledge that the small number of businesses behave

fuels the frustration that people feel.

But the actions of a few tar the reputations of the many.

So the party that believes in business is going to change

Too often the people who are supposed to hold big

business accountable are drawn from the same,

narrow social and professional circles as the executive team.

And too often the scrutiny they provide is not good enough.

So later this year we will publish our plans to have not just consumers

represented on company boards, but workers as well.

Those who contribute and give of their best.

That's why we announced on Saturday that we're

going to review our laws to make sure that, in our modern

and flexible economy, people are properly protected at work.

Workers' rights, not under threat from a Conservative government.

Workers' rights, protected and enhanced

Government cannot stand aside when it sees social

If we want to make sure Britain is a country

that works for everyone, government has to act to make sure

And I want us to be a country where it doesn't matter

where you were born, who your parents are,

where you went to school, what your accent sounds like,

what god you worship, whether you're a man or a woman,

All that should matter is the talent you have and how hard

To build a new united Britain, rooted in the centre ground.

An agenda for a new modern Conservatism.

That understands the good government can do.

That will never hesitate to face down the powerful when they abuse

That will always act in the interests of ordinary,

That's what this government's about: action.

It's about doing something, not being someone.

About identifying injustices, finding solutions, driving change.

Taking, not shirking, the big decisions.

Having the courage to see things through.

It's not always glamorous or exciting, but at its best

Not every generation is given this opportunity.

Not every generation called to step up in such a way.

To bring power home and make decisions here in Britain.

To take back control and shape our future

To build an outward looking, confident, trading

To build a stronger, fairer, brighter future,

That is the opportunity we have been given.

And the responsibility to grasp it falls upon us all.

So to everyone here this morning ? and the millions

Come with me and we'll make that change.

Come with me as we rise to meet this moment.

Come with me and together, let's seize the day.

The Tory faithful like the cut of the new leader, they feel she is

closer to them come Paire David Cameron ever was. Adam rugby tackled

a few of them after the speech. What did you think of her first

conference speech? Very good, great. What was the message? Country for

everybody. What did you think? Everybody working for everybody,

fairness, getting back to what the Conservatives do best. Did it sound

like Ed Miliband, talking about helping with the markets not helping

ordinary people? She will put it into practice and he didn't. How

different was that to the David Cameron conference speeches?

Completely different. I haven't been. I thought she was fantastic.

She speaks as if she intends to do what she's set out to do and she has

given me confidence that she will do that. Let's go over here. We are on

the BBC, are you happy with the government getting involved in all

sorts of things? Fantastic speech, inspirational. We have a spring in

our step. What about the idea of the government intervening more? It will

be an agent of change and she has thrown down the gauntlet, a

government for one country, one nation conservatism. Scottish

Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has become the darling of the

English Tories but she is cutting out her own distinctive policy

agenda in Scotland and I suggested to her that there are a number of

areas where she doesn't agree with Mrs May. You are not going to

propose the reintroduction of grammar schools in Scotland? I'm

not, I know it is a few years since you attended Paisley Grammar. Not

that long! About 120. That's one policy you won't follow through. The

education system in Scotland has been different, even before

devolution. Since it came in we have been wholly in charge of education

in Edinburgh, we have ploughed a different furrow, giving more power

to individual schools and head teachers, out of local authority

control. But not grammar schools. You would like to remain in the

European single market. I would have liked to have remained in the

European Union. You would like to remain in the European single

market. You heard from the Prime Minister, she said she wants British

businesses to have the freedom to operate... At not as a member,

everyone can access. I wanted to stay in the European single market

because I wanted to say the laid-back stay in the European

Union. What about companies being forced to publish the number of

migrant workers? -- because I wanted to stay in the European Union. It is

not something that I would propose. You saw me say strongly in my speech

that I want us to be the international party we have always

been in the past, saying to people who have made a home here and

contribute that this is your home and you are welcome. The government

hasn't said that. Liam Fox, your fellow Scot, said that citizens of

the EU in this country are essentially a bargaining chip. David

Davies said that they are not and he's 100% sure that they will be

staying and he wants to make sure that is the first thing that is

sorted out so people can have that certainty. Good announced now that

regardless of negotiations can anyone coming here legally from the

EU and is working without a criminal record has automatically a

guaranteed to remain in the country -- you good at -- you could

announce. The government warrant. The government has a responsibility

to the 1.2 million British people living abroad that they get

assurances in the countries they are living in. You had reluctance to say

you were confident in Boris Johnson. Would you like to say it today? I

said clearly that... I had a sit down with him. We had a ding-dong in

the referendum but we are both big boys and girls. You said you are

confident in the role of the Foreign Secretary. Mrs May has set a high

bar, the aspiration to help ordinary working families, we need to measure

this progress. If I was somebody considering tax dodging or

facilitating somebody to dodge taxes and I saw Theresa May's gimlet eye

as she stared down the camera lens and said that they won't get away

with it, I would block my socks pretty soon so you are going to see

action. Ruth Davidson, she was the warm up act for the fine minister

and she turned up the heat, especially when it came to the

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

I'm here to give you the good news ?

the Scottish Conservatives are back as a fighting force once again.

Flattening the break-up of Britain, asserting that independence is

closer now than ever before, declaring that separation is somehow

inevitable. Today, speaking to people from across the UK I want to

make this clear, don't believe a word of it.

There is nothing inevitable about the break-up of this great

nation, and I for one will fight it every inch and so will

The SNP doesn't speak for all of Scotland.

Every nation is bigger than any one party, bigger than any one person.

And Scotland is bigger, more varied, more complex than the nation the SNP

instead of focussing on a second referendum that isn't

wanted, why not get back to the day job, instead?

Instead of picking endless fights with Westminster about whatever

pick a fight with poor literacy and numeracy standards

Pick a fight with the health gap between our richest

Pick a fight with the absence of mental health services

Pick a fight with the dealers who push the poison

You're the government of Scotland and you were elected to improve

the lives of the people of our country.

That's the fight that matters, so get on with it.

Last week, at a ghettoised 'women's conference', tacked

on to the front of the main event, speaker after speaker rose

to denounce the Prime Minister as not a real feminist.

Harriet Harman declared that Theresa May "is a woman,

What do the Conservatives do for women?

And Theresa May is exactly what a sister looks like.

Theresa May was a reluctant remain but she has embraced Brexit with all

the gusto of a convert and so have the vast majority of Tory activists

in Birmingham this week. Do they think that leaving the European

Union will make us richer? Adam went out with his balls for the last

time. We'll leaving the EU leave the

country feeling richer or poorer? Let's find out. Which are in the

long term but a lot of challenges. So both. Some people better off and

some people worse off. Two balls, then. Are you at the wrong

conference? Very good question. I feel more welcome here than I do at

the Labour Party. Richer, just having the seat at the top table. I

think we won't notice it this early on but eventually we will be

significantly richer. I think we will be poorer. We haven't left yet.

Why will we be poorer? I don't think we will get the right deal. Richer,

if we get the fair immigration system, anyone from Europe or

outside of Europe coming with no discrimination, it is carried to

make us richer and a better workforce. Go for it. Richer or

poorer? 100% richer. 100%? No doubt about it, best decision we've made.

100% richer? Roughly, absolutely. In the long term we will be richer but

there may be a period of turbulence. Is it a price worth paying? It has

to be. Andrea, you are going to like the question, is Brexit going to

leave us richer or poorer? Not denying it will leave us poorer!

That shall -- is that how we should interpret it? What would Andrew

Mitchell say? I think richer. We are old enough to remember it before the

first referendum. And were we rich in the 1950s? We had a good life.

Slightly on the poorer side. Why is that? Because it will take us some

time to get back into it. You've heard of Brexit? No... No one is

talking about it... Is Britain going to be richer or poorer? Don't you

want to answer? Time to take a selfie but not time for the box.

Which one will he go for? Emphatically richer. Aren't you rich

already? I'm going for poorer. I think it is a big mistake to have

left, making ourselves more isolated. It is a whopping majority

thinking that Britain will be richer as a result of Brexit.

That's it from Birmingham. Theresa May once asked to judge her by the

progress she makes in helping ordinary working families. The

rhetoric and the aspirations are ambitious. By the Conservative

conference of 2017, words will not be enough and people will want signs

of progress. Jo Coburn will be back on this programme with the daily

politics tomorrow at noon and I'll be back on BBC One on Sunday at 11am

with the Sunday politics. Until then, good night, don't let the

working families bite!