Theresa May: A plan to fight crime

I want to get straight to the point.  There is no greater responsibility than keeping our country safe.  Policing our streets.  Preventing terrorism.  Protecting our borders.  

And, because of the state of the public finances left by Labour, I will have to keep our country safe at the same time ...

Theresa May: Tackling unemployment and worklessness

Over the course of the morning my colleagues and I will be setting out the steps that a Conservative government would take to get Britain working, including ensuring that  young people have the skills they need to get into work, and to ensure that Britain's employers and employees are ...

Theresa May: Encouraging a new culture of saving

Thank you to the ABI and the IPPR for jointly hosting this important event. I know that there are some of you in this room who have spent the last few weeks travelling to some if not all of the party conferences to attend various events so thank you for ...

Theresa May: The change that will deal with the jobs crisis

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sure you‘ll agree I have a great team behind me, with the ideas, commitment and determination to make a real difference to people’s lives.

Almost two years ago Chris Grayling published Conservative plans for welfare reform in our Green Paper Work for Welfare ...

Theresa May: Labour has failed generations of workless families

“Thank you very much for inviting me to speak here today. Last week Policy Exchange published new figures that revealed the UK is heading towards having six million people on out of work benefits. Journalists were astonished, the statistic made the front pages. But the shocking truth is that four ...

Theresa May: CBI Pensions Conference

This is the first speech I have given to the CBI since being appointed to the Shadow Work and Pensions brief in January although on my first day in the job I spoke at your pensions panel dinner which was certainly a challenging way to kick off a new job ...

Theresa May: Labour cannot afford to duck the challenge of welfare reform

I am pleased to be able to publicly welcome David Freud to our team for the first time.  I have been working closely with David since he joined us but in a sense his involvement with the party goes back a long way in that his report influenced our welfare ...

Theresa May: Fair Play on Women's Pay

Speaking today at KPMG in London to highlight the issue of equal pay for women and how to tackle the pay gap, Shadow Minister for Women Theresa May said:

"It is 37 years since the Equal Pay Act received Royal Assent but this pay gap remains stubborn and significant. In ...

May: Winning back the women vote

Speech to Women 2 Win

"I think today could mark a turning point for the Conservative Party. What is clear from what you have heard is that throughout our party, at every level, there is a growing realisation that we must change. And fundamental to that change is the role ...

May: Let's be inspiring to win

Speech to Conservative Party Conference 2005

"It's great to be back amongst so many friends.

When I was Chairman, I met thousands of you as I visited constituencies across the country.

I know how hard you all work --- not just at election time, but week in, week out --- to ...

May: Improving lives of children in care

Opening a Conservative Party seminar on children in care

"Can I begin by thanking you all for coming here today. The events of the last few days have had a huge impact on the lives of everyone living and working in London. It is a sign of the resilience and ...

May: Localism and local government

Speech to the Conservative Group of the Local Government Association

"And so, as sure as night turns to day, a General Election defeat has now been swiftly followed by another Tory leadership contest.

Of course we will need, in time, to elect a new leader.

But my concern is that ...

May: The Conservative Party needs more women

Speech to the Adelaide Group, a 750 strong group of senior business women

"Increasingly, in recent times, the big political debates of the day have shifted from what the Americans sometimes call 'daddy issues' --- like the economy and defence --- to what they call 'mummy issues' --- things like the public services ...

May: The root causes of crime

Speech at Conservative Campaign Headquarters

"Drugs are at the root of a lot of crime, especially violent crime. They ruin families and destroy communities too. As the dealers and junkies take over, families move out, turning neighbourhoods into ghettos.

We cannot afford to sit back as drugs ruin more families ...

May: I will put family at the heart of Government

Speech to Conservative Party Conference 2004

"Thank you Carole and thank you to everyone who has taken part in this important debate this afternoon.

As you'll have noticed conference is a bit different again this year.

We've got a new set, a new format, and a new approach ...

May: Threat of another outbreak of a disease like foot and mouth is ever increasing

"Mr Speaker I beg to move the motion standing in my name and that of my Right Honourable and Honourable friends.

Mr Speaker I received a letter this morning from the Rural Affairs Minister explaining that the Secretary of State was not available to respond to this debate because she ...

Theresa May: Delivering a sustainable future for generations to come

Speech to Conservative Party Spring Conference 2004

"What an extraordinary year it has been since we were last here - for you, for me, and for the Conservative Party.

Now of course we all know that politics can be a rough old ride. And sometimes we even find ourselves asking, "Why ...

May: The balance between air travel and the environment

Speech to the Guild of Business Travel Agents

Mr Chairman, I am honoured that the Guild of Business Travel Agents has invited me to speak at this lunch. Members of this Guild play an important role in our economy - and a role that is very often forgotten. When the term ...

May: We all must have the will, the drive and the determination to win

Speech by Rt Hon Theresa May MP to the Party Conference, Blackpool, 2003

"This is the most important conference we have held in a decade. As we meet here in Blackpool, the eyes of the country are upon us. People are starting to look for a new government and they ...

May: Now it is time to start spreading the Conservative message

Comments at the media unveiling of the Conservative Party Conference set

Thank you for making the journey to Blackpool. I know for some of you it's a long way to come.

Those of you who've already been to the Liberal Democrat and Labour conferences are probably getting a ...

May: We believe in One Nation

Address by The Rt Hon Theresa May MP to the Compassionate Conservatism Conference 2003

"I am sure many people in Britain would be surprised to know that the Conservative Party has hosted such a successful conference on Compassionate Conservatism.

All too often, we have allowed ourselves to be portrayed as ...

May: A fair deal for Conservative supporters

Speech at Conservative Central Office on launch of affinity deals for Party supporters

Thank you for being here today - and on behalf of the entire party I would like to welcome you to Conservative Central Office.

This room is more accustomed to press conferences announcing the party's latest policy ...

May: Reconnecting Parliament with the people

Speech to the Hansard Society's Annual Lecture

I'm very grateful to the Hansard Society for inviting me to deliver its fourth annual lecture.

I'm pleased also to be following in the footsteps - I'll resist the urge to say standing in the shoes - of Robin Cook, a ...

May: Act as 21st Century Conservatives

Speech to Conservative Party Spring Conference

Today, we meet in the shadow of great and terrible events.

The situation currently unfolding in the Gulf dominates all our thoughts.

British servicemen and women are preparing to risk their lives to disarm Saddam Hussein and to uphold the rule of international law ...

May: We are the Party that can win again

Speech to the Welsh Conservative Party Spring Conference in Cardiff

Today I want to talk to you about a thing called hope.

I want to spell out why we should be hopeful both for the future of our party and our country.

And I want to encourage you all to ...

May: Conservative councillors deliver results

Speech to the Conservative Local Government Conference in Coventry

Thank you for inviting me to speak at your conference today.

It's a great pleasure to be here with you in Coventry, and could I begin by paying tribute and saying thank you to the Mayor, Cllr Taylor, for his ...

Theresa May: A 'Commission for Democracy'

Speech to Conservative Future members at Conservative Central Office

"During the 1968 US presidential election campaign, the US Senator Robert Kennedy finished every speech with one phrase borrowed from George Bernard Shaw:

'Some men see things as they are and ask "Why?" I dream things that never were and ask ...

May: We must step up the pace of change

Speech to Conservative Party Conference 2002

Ladies and Gentlemen, you'll notice that there have been some changes to our Conference this year.

A new format. A new timetable. A new set.

But most important of all, this conference marks a new approach from a party that is changing.

Shaping ...

May: At the forefront of the youth agenda

Speech to the Conservative Future National Weekend

I would like to take this opportunity to outline to you the direction our Party will follow in the next few years, and to seek your full involvement in it.

But I firstly want to deal with what we have achieved in the ...

May: Making life better for Wales

The theme of this conference is making life better for Wales.

Today, I want to talk about why we are the Party fit for that purpose.

We are the Party that recognises the value of community.

We are the Party that wants to push power down to people, not take ...

May: Labour's planning changes will mean more delays not less

Speech to Town & Country Planning Association Conference

It is a pleasure to be with you today at this conference looking at the implications of the Government's Planning Green Paper with of course particular reference to the structure of plans proposed and within that to the life or death ...

May: Conservative councils make your life better

Speech to Conservative Spring Forum 2002

I'm delighted to be responding to this session at the Spring Forum - and my goodness haven't we heard some exciting examples of how Conservatives have been working to improve their local communities - making life better in your areas.

Over the next few ...

May: Local Government - Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

Speech at the Conservative Local Government Conference 2002

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a great pleasure to be with you at your conference today. The Chairman has just set the scene for your work this weekend by describing clearly the important role that local government plays electorally.

"The forthcoming local ...

May: Planning and designing for people

Speech to the Annual Royal Institute of British Architects Council Club Dinner

I often find when I do radio interviews that I am asked for my correct title. When I tell them it is Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Local Government and the Regions they usually recoil in horror ...

May: Culture of Spin within Government

Speech made in House of Commons debate on Conduct of Jo Moore

(check against delivery)

Thank you Mr Speaker and I would like to move the motion standing in my name and that of my Right Honourable and Honourable friends.

Mr Speaker I am sure we will all remember the ...

May: Conservatives will give local councils more freedom

Chairman, Ladies, Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to respond to this excellent debate - and a pleasure to introduce the new team. On the platform today, we have:

· Eric Pickles, Shadow Minister for Transport and London,

· Malcolm Moss, Shadow Minister for Local Government,

and William Astor, Our Spokesman on Transport in ...

May: Discipline, standards and choice

Launching 'Twenty Conservative policies for better schools', Shadow Secretary of State for Education, Theresa May:

"William has just described to you the vision we Conservatives have for the future of education in this country.

"But it is not just our vision.

"Parents across the country know the type of school ...

May: We will tackle Labour's classroom crisis

Shadow Education Secretary, Theresa May gave Labour a lesson in how to run the nation's education system, as the Conservatives announced plans to tackle the crisis in the classroom:

"Every parent knows the sort of school that they want their child to attend.

"They want a school that has ...

May: Spring Forum Speech 2001

Education – our Vision for the Future

It is clear from everything that has been said in this session, and from what I see in the schools I visit across the country that what we need now in education is a 'radical approach - one that focuses on the best interests of ...

May : Teachers will be Teachers

Conservatives want to ensure that every teacher is free to teach. That is why we have put forward bold and radical proposals that will mean a common sense revolution for our schools.

"We will allow teachers to teach by ensuring that schools are free from political interference; whether at local ...

May: North of England Education Conference Speech

Education is the key that unlocks the door to the future of every child`s life. We want our children to be the best educated, most motivated and inspired in the world. We want every child to have the education which is right for them.

"Education must be grounded in ...

May: Party Conference Speech 2000

Thank you Chairman and I am delighted Ladies and Gentlemen to respond to this excellent debate on Education so very ably introduced by Marion Rix and John Harthman.

"The quality of contributions we have heard this morning shows the importance this Party attaches to the education of all this country ...

May: Women''s Choices Debate

Good afternoon Ladies and gentlemen and welcome to this Conference session on Women`s Choices - so-called after the document we launched earlier in the year which set out across a number of policy areas the issues that women in particular had raised as we Listened to Britain.

"Ladies and Gentlemen ...