The Prime Minister, Theresa May, closed the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on Wednesday by delivering a speech in the main Conference Hall at which Nigel Huddleston, MP for Mid Worcestershire, was present.
During the speech the Prime Minister spoke of her pride in the achievements of the Conservative led governments since 2010, and she outlined her mission of building ‘a country that works for everyone’ which was also the theme of the conference.
The Prime Minister said that each new generation should be able to build a better future and it was the historic mission of the Conservative Party to help renew the British dream in each new generation.
She said: “It has always been a great sadness for me and Philip that we were never blessed with children. It seems some things in life are just never meant to be. But I believe in the dream that life should be better for the next generation as much as any mother. Any father. Any grandparent. The only difference is that I have the privileged position of being able to do more than most to bring that dream to life.
We must renew the British Dream at home through a determined programme of economic and social reform. A programme that champions our belief in free markets by being prepared to reform them when they don’t work. That ensures our economy and society work for everyone in every part of this country, not just the privileged few.”
Amongst the key policy announcements in the Prime Minister’s speech were: a £2 billion increase in the government’s affordable housing budget to more than £9 billion and allowing homes to be built for social rent; a major review of university funding and student financing – on top of the freezing of maximum fee rates and increasing the amount graduates can earn before they start repaying their fees to £25,000; a price cap on energy bills; and a move to an opt-out rather than opt-in system for organ donations – something that Nigel Huddleston has been lobbying for since becoming an MP.
After hearing the speech Nigel Huddleston said: “This was the most personal and emotional speech I have seen the Prime Minister give and she set a compassionate and optimistic tone that reminded me why I voted for her as Conservative Party leader in the first place. I was particularly pleased by the policy announcements on housing, organ donors, energy costs and the promised review of student finance which many young people in my constituency have contacted me about.
He added: “Towards the end of the speech the Prime Minister said: ‘It has never been my style to hide from a challenge, to shrink from a task, to retreat in the face of difficulty’ and the gutsy and humorous way with which she dealt with a prankster and her determination to complete her speech despite a seriously saw throat showed that she is true to her word.”