, Secretary of State for Wales,
speaking today at Conservative Party Conference at The ICC,
Birmingham, said:
“It’s a pleasure to be here and I’m delighted to see so many of
our Welsh membership here in Birmingham.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who are
involved in the Party in Wales, our Chairman and my Ministerial team,
and and my PPS .
I want to pay tribute to – recognising his service
to the Party and his commitment to holding a tired Welsh Labour
Government to account.
And it was a privilege to hear yesterday address Conference as the new leader of the
Welsh Conservative Group in the Assembly.
This year will bring new political leaders in every party in
Wales – UKIP have gone through three!
And whilst we will have a new First Minister we can expect the
same old Welsh Labour with the same old tired policies, chasing
yesterday’s economy. And if anything, a further lurch to the left
as the front runner is a fully signed up Corbynista.
The only way to deliver better public services, more jobs and
investment and a stronger Union, is to elect Welsh Conservatives
and as the next First Minister of Wales.
Amongst all these leadership changes and personalities let me be
clear, as we leave the EU the Union of the UK is more important
than ever before.
This principle is at the heart of the Prime Minister’s agenda.
From her first day on the steps of Downing Street to the
negotiating table in Brussels, the Prime Minister has been clear
that it’s the Conservative and Unionist Party who believes in the
precious bond between our four nations.
Being part of the Union of the UK has delivered:
- A new funding settlement for Wales – putting right the unfair
funding Labour oversaw for many years;
- We will have City or Growth Deals in every corner of Wales;
and
- Looking to the industries of tomorrow we have a thriving
compound semi-conductor cluster in South Wales and a nuclear arc
in the North including the new multi-billion-pound plant on
Anglesey which will power the UK.
But as we seek frictionless trade in Europe we find within our
own union an economic and psychological barrier. To cross into
South Wales hauliers were paying £20 and commuters thousands of
pounds a year.
Last year we committed to deliver a toll-free crossing into Wales
and today I’m delighted to announce that the Severn tolls will be
scrapped on 17 December 2018.
This decision will not only bring our nations together but it
will immediately boost the economy of South Wales by £100 million
a year.
And it sends a powerful message to businesses, commuters and
tourists alike that South Wales and the West of England – this
Great Western Gateway, this Severnside Super Region, this global
hub – are truly open for business.
With this focus on the Union it is little wonder that:
- Wales is the fastest growing part of the UK outside London;
- Employment is at a record high; and
- Unemployment is below the UK average
Conference, this shows what Conservatives in Government can
deliver.
We are working to build a stronger, fairer country where if you
work hard and do the right thing you have the opportunity of
living in a united, fair and outward-looking country – where we
come together so all four nations thrive after Brexit and we
stand tall and strong in the world.
Conference, thank you, diolch yn fawr iawn.”
