Five weeks ago I spoke to you from these steps and said that this
Government was not going to hang around and that we would not
wait until brexit day - October 31 - to deliver on the priorities
of the British people.
And so I am proud to say that on Wednesday Chancellor
is going to set out the most
ambitious spending round for more than a decade.
I said I wanted to make your streets safer - and
that is why we are recruiting another 20,000 police officers.
I said I wanted to improve your hospital and reduce the
waiting times at your GP.
And so we are doing 20 new hospital upgrades in
addition to the extra £34 billion going into the NHS.
And I said I wanted every child in this country to
have a superb education and that’s why I announced last week that
we are levelling up funding across the country and spending much
more next year in both primary and secondary schools.
And it is to push forward this agenda on these and
many other fronts that we need a Queen’s speech in October.
While leaving due time to debate brexit and other
matters.
And as we come to that brexit deadline I am
encouraged by the progress we are making.
In the last few weeks the chances of a deal have
been rising, I believe, for three reasons.
They can see that we want a deal.
They can see that we have a clear vision for our
future relationship with the EU - something that has perhaps not
always been the case.
And they can see that we are utterly determined to
strengthen our position by getting ready to come out regardless,
come what may
But if there is one thing that can hold us back in these
talks it is the sense in Brussels that MPs may find some way to
cancel the referendum
Or that tomorrow MPs will vote - with - for yet another pointless
delay
I don’t think they will. I hope that they won’t
But if they do they will plainly chop the legs out
from under the UK position and make any further negotiation
absolutely impossible
And so I say, to show our friends in Brussels that
we are united in our purpose, MPs should vote with the government
against Corbyn’s pointless delay.
I want everybody to know – there are no circumstances in which I
will ask Brussels to delay. We are leaving on 31 October, no ifs
or buts.
We will not accept any attempt to go back on our
promises or scrub that referendum
Armed and fortified with that conviction I believe
we will get a deal at that crucial summit in October
A deal that parliament will certainly be able to
scrutinise
And in the meantime let our negotiators get on with their
work
Without that sword of Damocles over their necks
And without an election, which I don’t want and you
don’t want
Let us get on with the people’s agenda -
fighting crime, improving the NHS, boosting schools, cutting the
cost of living, and unlocking talent and opportunity across the
entire United Kingdom
With infrastructure education and technology
It is a massive agenda. Let’s come together and get
it done - and let’s get Brexit done by October 31.
