Portillo: Five Disciplines for Macro-economic Policy

Today I want to set out the framework of disciplines within which macro-economic policy would work under a Conservative government. I would also like to set out some radical ideas that would enable Britain during coming decades to meet many of the aspirations of the British people for better services ...

Hague: Common Sense on Crime

Last week, I spent a day in Nottinghamshire and saw for myself how we are losing the war against crime.

I met a Victim Support Group in Gedling and they told me that in the whole of Nottinghamshire there are 42 groups looking after the needs and rights of criminals ...

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 ...

Hague: You've Paid the Tax , So Where's All the Money Gone?

As I travel around Britain, I meet thousands of people who are paying more taxes under Labour: savers who are being clobbered by Labour's stealth taxes on pensions; hard-working families who have been hit hard by Labour's stealth taxes on marriages and mortgages; rural people who simply cannot ...

Hague: Target Dates for EU Enlargement

I am delighted once again to be speaking at the EDU party leaders conference. In fact this is something of an anniversary because this is the twentieth such conference since the EDU was formed in 1978 to bring together European Christian Democrat, Conservative and other like-minded political parties from across ...

Hague: the forces of Conservatism are on the march

As Conservatives and politicians of the centre right we could, of course, hardly be meeting on a more auspicious day. Today we join in the celebrations that are taking place for the inauguration of George W Bush as the 43rd President of the United States of America.

"The US Election ...

Hague: Common Sense on Regulation campaign

Today I want to tell you how the next Conservative Government will set business free from the stifling burden of red tape and regulations that have been imposed by Labour over the past four years.

I want to show how the next Conservative Government will be on the side of ...

Hague: A common sense Conservative vision for the future

I congratulate the press on exposing Peter Mandelson's deceptions. In what the Prime Minister calls the broad sweep of history, you have been the dustpan and brush.

Of course, all Governments lose Ministers through scandals. But what makes the current crisis in the Government so very different from kind ...

Hague: Blair must back Vaz or sack him

I am delighted to be able to join you here this evening. It is a great pleasure to be back in Wales and particularly at the Cardiff Business Club, where I am among many old friends, friends who form the backbone of business in Wales.

But I want to begin ...

Hague: Common Sense on Public Services

A door is opened and behind it lie dead bodies, roughly wrapped in sheets and placed on the floor of a hospital room little bigger than a cupboard.

A man is killed after an intruder breaks into his house. The police admit later that they didn't have the manpower ...

Hague: The Third Way – All Spin and No Delivery

I am delighted to be here this morning at this conference organised jointly by the Social Market Foundation and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. And it is a particular pleasure to be sharing a platform with Friederich Merz, the leader of the Christian Democrats in Germany. We first met last year ...

Hague: If Labour won't scrap the Energy Tax, we will

The Labour Government has imposed an extra £5 billion in taxes on business - including hikes in fuel duties, the abolition of dividend tax credits on pension funds, changes to the administration of Corporation Tax and the iniquitous, unwieldy and ultimately futile Climate Change Levy. The Climate Change Levy, or Energy ...

Hague: Conservatives will govern for all the people

I am delighted to be back in Devon today. For me, the South West has always been a place that embodies the character of rural England, with its coastland, its small towns and working countryside. But today the rural way of life over much of the South West is under ...

Hague: Tax Cuts for Savers will Build a Better Britain

Three weeks ago we completed our spending review, the most detailed review of public expenditure ever undertaken by a party in Opposition. It has been based on the sound Conservative principle that the Government should spend only what the nation can afford.

So we have matched Labour's spending commitments ...

Portillo: Conservatives to Abolish Taxes on Savings

Conservatives understand that savings give people choices and independence. People who are able to build up savings are better able to look after themselves and their families; they can be more independent of the state and face the future with more confidence.

"The Chancellor, as the election approaches, hints that ...

Hague: Renewing Civil Society

Thank you for your invitation to address today's annual conference of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and for the opportunity to record my appreciation for the work that you do across Britain.

Today I want to talk about the principled partnership that the next Conservative government will build ...

Hague: Stronger Families for Everyone

It is a great pleasure to be at National Marriage Week for the second time in three years and a privilege to follow the Chief Rabbi. Jonathan Sacks' contribution to our nation's life extends well beyond his leadership of Britain's Jews. He patiently reminds the whole country of ...

Hague: Conservatives will fight tooth and nail to Keep the Pound

At Prime Minister's questions yesterday the greatest Labour lie of all was finally laid bare. For the past four years Tony Blair has been trying to con the British people into believing that at the next election the euro would not be an issue. He has sought to hide ...

Hague: Conservatives will Lower Tax for Pensioners

Last week we announced that the next Conservative Government will abolish taxes on savings. Our first tax reduction was specifically aimed at helping lower and basic rate income tax payers; those hard-working people hit hardest by Labour's stealth taxes who are seeking a better life for themselves and their ...

Portillo: Conservatives to take One Million Pensioners out of Tax

Last week, we announced that the next Conservative Government would implement the most radical reform of the taxation on savings in a generation. Our proposals have since been widely welcomed. Those proposals help pensioners and we welcome that. But there are approximately 17 million savers, and about 4 million pensioners ...

Hague: Trust Professionals to Deliver Better Public Services

Last month we launched our advertising campaign asking the question, 'You paid the tax, so where's all the money gone?' It struck an immediate chord with people up and down the country who have grown tired of a Government which is all spin and no delivery.

Today, we are ...

Widdecombe: Police will police

Police officers tell me that they cannot do their job effectively. They joined the police to fight crime and catch criminals - and that is what the public want them to do. Instead, they spend hour upon hour filling in forms - and judging from letters to Police Review and surveys 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 ...

Hague: Brown's red tape and high taxes are damaging Britain

Today we have yet more evidence of the damage that Gordon Brown's handling of the economy threatens to do to Britain.

For all Gordon Brown's boasts, his talk of prudence and his claims to have ended boom and bust, he is setting a course for the British economy ...

Portillo: Why Britain Needs Lower Taxes

A few years ago the road to Damascus was littered with Labour politicians who had seen the light. No longer was nationalisation the passport to commercial success. No longer was dictatorship by the unions the key to industrial partnership. No longer were higher taxes the route to a more prosperous ...

Fox: The Health we Deserve

Recent photographs of bodies lying unrefrigerated and piled on top of one another in a Chapel of Rest brought back powerful memories for many people. Images of the winter of discontent reminded us that while much of our national life has changed beyond recognition in the past 30 years, the ...

Hague: Blair's lack of leadership on Atlantic Alliance

It is now almost exactly ten years since the liberation of Kuwait from Saddam Hussein's forces. The Gulf War was about defending basic principles of freedom, of standing up to tyrants and protecting the rights of small nations against more powerful and aggressive neighbours.

Had we allowed Saddam Hussein ...

Widdecombe: Labour has failed on crime

Labour's came to power promising to be 'tough on crime'. But in Government Tony Blair and Jack Straw have failed to deliver. Last week we saw Britain topping the premier league of crime. Even Jack Straw's special adviser admits that Labour are soft on crime.

"To prove their ...

Hague: Labour are soft on crime

There are few things more important to the quality of our lives or the stability of our society than winning the fight against crime. Whether we are young or old, whether we live in towns and cities or the countryside, we all want to protect ourselves and our families and ...

Ancram: Spring Forum Speech 2001

Conservatives Will Win the Battle Ahead

We stand today at the gateway to victory in the coming election

We are the forces of conservatism who with fire in our hearts and faith in ourselves can secure that victory.

I read the left-wing commentators who mock us - and I have nothing ...

Portillo: Spring Forum Speech 2001

Conservatives are Setting the Agenda for Britain

I joined the Conservative Party just after Margaret Thatcher had become leader. I had a burning sense that we had to change Britain. We were overtaxed. The state was taking over people's lives, making them dependent on government for handouts. But we ...

Portillo: Conservatives will Follow Five Economic Disciplines

Many of us have come to think of Britain as being a good place from which to do business. We trade on a reputation, especially relative to our continental neighbours, for low taxes, a flexible labour market, and a healthy climate for enterprise. But every day it becomes less true ...

Jenkin: Spring Forum Speech 2001

Selby Rail Disaster Highlights Need for Road Safety Reform

Today, rail accident investigators have been lifting the shattered carriages of the GNER express train at Selby. They are sifting through all the wreckage and personal belongings to find out exactly how many dead there are and to establish their identities ...

Widdecombe: Spring Forum Speech 2001

Labour have failed to Deliver on Law and Order

Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime. We all remember what Labour promised in 1997.

"Four years on, they have failed to deliver. Instead, they've been tough on the crimefighters. There are 2,500 fewer police since 1997 ...

Yeo: Spring Forum Speech 2001

Labour Must Halt Sub standard Imports

Now that there is a possibility that foot and mouth disease has reached other European countries, the British Government must be prepared to be as prompt in stopping imports from those countries with confirmed cases, as it was prompt in stopping exports from this ...

Maude: Spring Forum Speech 2001

We Will Give Britons Back their Country

Thank you, Edward, for your introduction. As you say, we at Westminster and the MEPs have never worked so closely together. We're part of one team. Working together for our high common purpose, under William's leadership.

We must never again allow ...

Heathcoat-Amory: Spring Forum Speech 2001

Tax Cuts for Small Business

The number of Civil Servants at the DTI has rocketed since 1997. Bureaucracy is now Britain's fastest growing industry. I will reduce the number of Civil Servants at the DTI and slash red tape, producing savings of £425m. Of that, £200m will go to ...

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 ...

Maude: We will give Britons back their country

Addressing the Conservative Spring Forum in Harrogate on Sunday 4 March 2001, the Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary:

"Thank you, Edward, for your introduction. As you say, we at Westminster and the MEPs have never worked so closely together. We're part of one team. Working together ...

Edward McMillan-Scott - Spring Forum Speech

As a Board member, and as Leader of our 35 MEPs, I am delighted to chair this session. My group has at least one - and in most cases several Conservative MEPs - in each region of the UK. I know they are playing their part, not just in Europe, but as ...

Hague: Spring Forum Speech 2001

The Last Chance Election for Britain

As we gather here this weekend, we think of our fellow members and friends who had planned to be with us today in Harrogate, but who have had to remain at home or on their farms.

The thoughts and sympathy of the whole Conference ...

Portillo: Brown is the high taxing Chancellor

Before the last election Tony Blair and Gordon Brown said that they had no plans to increase taxes at all. Since 1997 the Labour Government has increased taxes relentlessly.

"Like all Labour Governments, this Government has increased taxes. But instead of increasing income tax, Mr Blair and Mr Brown have ...

Hague: Scottish Party Conference Speech 2001

Conservatives can win in Scotland

It is wonderful to be back among you and to be in Scotland once again. And looking around, talking to colleagues, I feel I am in a party that has been transformed. Because there is little doubt that Scottish Conservatives have never been better prepared ...

Ancram: Welsh Conference Speech 2001

I am delighted once again to be here in Wales.

I arrived here first in 1997 and I will never forget the warm support you gave me at that difficult time.

We were all then involved in a mission. A mission to stand in the way of the tide which ...

Hague: We Can Win on May 3rd

It is always a great pleasure for me to be with so many friends and colleagues at the annual conference of the Conservative Councillors Association. Whenever I speak at your conference, I am reminded of the great tradition of public service and duty that exists throughout all sections of our ...

Hague: Ambitious for our Children and our Schools

Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am grateful to you for inviting me to speak to your conference today. As the third politician to speak to you in as many days, you will be relieved to hear that I propose to take as my theme the need to remove politicians ...

Hague: Foot and Mouth 'Disaster' for Tourism

After weeks of underestimating the extent of the crisis the Government is being forced to face up to the devastating impact that the spread of foot and mouth is having on the British countryside and rural businesses.

As the crisis has spread out of control, and with the number of ...

Hague: The Conservative countryside recovery plan

Launching the Conservative Party's foot and mouth Strategy for Recovery at Uttoxeter Racecourse today, the Rt Hon William Hague MP, Leader of the Conservative Party, said:

"Today I want to set out how a Conservative Government would go about the urgent task of tackling the crisis, through a Strategy ...

UK Digital TV 2001 Conference

Speech by Peter Ainsworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport.

Given at UK Digital TV 2001 Conference, Park Lane Hotel, London W1.

It is in the end, you, the industry, who will forge Britain's digital future.

You who will have the ideas, the knowledge, the ...

Hague: Action needed now to rebuild rural Britain

Addressing a press conference at Conservative Central Office, the Rt Hon William Hague MP, Leader of the Conservative Party:

"Over the last seven weeks, we have become accustomed to seeing every night on TV images of destruction all over Britain.

Rarely has this country shown more concern at what is ...