The Prime Minister opened Cabinet by paying tribute to . He said her murder had been profoundly shocking
in a number of respects. The Prime Minister said was a highly distinguished, forthright politician,
who as an elderly woman had been murdered in her own home. The
Prime Minister said Ann Widdecombe's murder was the third murder
of a politician in his 11 years in politics, after and Sir . He said it was clear there
were wider questions to address about the safety of
politicians.
The Prime Minister then turned to the fact this was his final
Cabinet meeting and set out his government's achievements. The
Prime Minister said the UK now had a strong economy, with the
fastest growth in the G7, improving public services, including
the NHS, and had seen a huge investment in tackling child
poverty. He said other countries now wanted to work with the UK
strategically on defence and security and that the government had
transformed our international standing in the world, whether
through our reset of relations with the EU, or through our
leadership on the Coalition of the Willing or on the Strait of
Hormuz. The Prime Minister said helping people who struggle to be
seen or heard was the reason he had gone into politics in the
first place. He said he would give Cabinet and his successor his
full support. He thanked members of the Cabinet for their hard
work over the first two years of a five-year government and said
there were three great years ahead.
The Prime Minister then turned to the Home Secretary to update on
Ann Widdecombe's murder and the safety of
politicians.
Cabinet concluded with the Deputy Prime Minister paying tribute
to the Prime Minister's work and legacy.
