Yesterday, our Prime Minister set out a series of ambitious promises to the British public. He will halve inflation this year; grow the economy to create better-paid jobs and spread opportunity across the country; get national debt down so that we can secure the future of public services; cut NHS waiting lists; and legislate to stop small boats and tackle illegal immigration.
These promises tackle the priorities of people up and down the country and reflect the issues I am often asked about. But they are not just about giving people peace of mind in the months to come, they also lay the foundations with which to change the way our country works and build a better future for our children and grandchildren.
A key part of this plan is to boost innovation. Innovation should be at the heart of everything we do. It will not only grow the economy, but also create better-paid jobs. We must invest in science and technology, and support businesses – large and small – to do the same. Local businesses lie at the heart of our communities. They are places where we see friends and neighbours and by strengthened them we are supporting our much-loved high streets and town centres.
As well as regeneration and investment, everyone (but especially women and girls) must feel safe. In spring of this year, we will deliver on our manifesto commitment to put 20,000 extra police officers on our streets. This means more police officers on the beat, cutting crime and cracking down on issues such as anti-social behaviour, which sadly still plagues too many of our communities.
We must raise education standards across the country, so that our children can receive the best possible education for which to build their futures. And, in a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, we must increase focus on numeracy so that our young people have the skills needed to succeed.
The Prime Minister has been clear that we must build a healthcare system which is focused on patients. In my own community we have access to the excellent Sevenoaks Hospital – a community hospital that provides inpatient and outpatient care as well as having an Urgent Treatment Centre. This means local residents are able to benefit from high quality care without significant travel, while also taking pressure off other NHS services. It is exactly this service that we must replicate across the country.
Finally, but by no means least, families must be at the very heart of everything we do. To deliver a growing economy, we need to do more to help parents manage the demands of the workplace. And that is why this Conservative Government will be rolling out Family Hubs to provide parents with the support needed to raise their child.
As a country we face significant challenges; soaring inflation as a result of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine; strikes; and increasing pressures on the NHS. But the change we all want to see cannot be delivered overnight. Our Prime Minister has never shied away from honest conversations and hard work. And I believe, that through determination, optimism and belief in our great country, we can together build a better future.
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