Deputy Prime Minister speech at the Pontignano Conference
The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, delivered a speech at the Pontignano Conference in Rome in November 2024.

It is my pleasure to be in Rome with our many friends, and partners and allies.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
Here to celebrate a relationship between our two nations with so many layers of history.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
Our Queen Elizabeth the First used to receive her news about Europe from informers in Rome.바카라 사이트¯
Now, a hundred바카라 사이트¯years or so later there바카라 사이트™s another feisty red-head keen to make the UK ties with Italy even closer.바카라 사이트¯
I was talking to the Mayor of Rome yesterday, complaining about some of the restrictions that I바카라 사이트™ve found in the planning system when trying to deliver the homes we desperately need in the UK.바카라 사이트¯
I thought I had challenges with bats and newts, and then he told me that every time he tries to dig a new metro line, he바카라 사이트™s forced to stop work preserving ancient artefacts.
It turns out that Rome wasn바카라 사이트™t built in a day, but it바카라 사이트™s incredible to see the work that the Mayor is doing and the priority that both our nations put on regeneration and infrastructure.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯ 바카라 사이트¯
And as my counterpart as the Deputy Prime Minister, Antonio Tajani, and I will surely agree later over an espresso바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트“ I know바카라 사이트¯ the law! No milk after midday! 바카라 사이트“바카라 사이트¯ our nations are key partners: in trade, foreign affairs, and culture.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
 No one ever needs an excuse to come to Rome.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
 And I am delighted that this is my first official overseas trip.바카라 사이트¯
Myself and my fellow ministers Nick Thomas-Symonds and Gareth Thomas are here not only to admire the beautiful city and country, but to build our strategic relationship and joint agreement our Prime Ministers issued in September.바카라 사이트¯
A declaration which reflected the warmth we feel as partners and the scale of our ambitions.바카라 사이트¯
Our people are friends, bonded by historic ties and values, and our mutual love of art, music, good food and wine. We Brits cannot resist coming in our millions to admire Italy바카라 사이트™s remarkable scenery, architecture and fashion, and bask in the sunny climate.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And we are delighted that 600,000 Italians chose to make Britain their home 바카라 사이트“ it is fantastic to have our vibrant cultures entwined.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
My friends 바카라 사이트“바카라 사이트¯
Bilaterally and internationally,바카라 사이트¯
At home and abroad,바카라 사이트¯
Now and in the future 바카라 사이트“바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
We want this important partnership to count even more.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And in many areas 바카라 사이트“ including action to tackle the illegal gangs trafficking migrants through Europe 바카라 사이트“바카라 사이트¯our바카라 사이트¯cooperation is already at a higher level.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
Prime Minister has a great description for바카라 사이트¯the UK and Italy 바카라 사이트“ she calls us 바카라 사이트˜fundamental pillars바카라 사이트™ of the transatlantic community.바카라 사이트¯
Well I could not agree more.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
Pillars standing firm, side by side, in the face of shared challenges.바카라 사이트¯
Our governments come from different ends of the political spectrum but we have plenty in common.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
On the world stage, we share values as G7 economies and as allies in NATO. The first duty of any government is to keep its citizens safe and, more than 75 years on, the organisation remains a cornerstone of global security, constantly adapting in the face of modern threats to our society and embodying the principle of collective defence.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And at home, we share foundational values that we once took for granted. The right for people to have a safe and secure home and dignity at work.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
But in an ever more complicated world, these values are being challenged 바카라 사이트“ and friends and allies are more important than ever.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
We share the aspiration to do better for our people by tackling issues of profound economic and social justice, such as the need to tackle regional and social disparities and strengthen workers바카라 사이트™ rights.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And that바카라 사이트™s why I바카라 사이트™m so delighted to be here at this Conference, and the Co-Chairs, I thank you for covering both foreign and domestic policy in this year바카라 사이트™s바카라 사이트¯conference themes.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
The strength of this conference 바카라 사이트“ why it has flourished for 32 years 바카라 사이트“ is the diverse interests and expertise assembled in one place.
The very best and the brightest of influencers and thinkers, champions for the ties between the UK and Italy 바카라 사이트“ at the wonderful Villa here with our fantastic host whom you all know so well - our British Ambassador, Ed who kept sneaking off and leaving me but
I바카라 사이트™ve forgiven him for that.Â
Where better to explore our shared interests and opportunities?바카라 사이트¯
The UK, like Italy, is negotiating a landscape of shifting but interconnected policy changes: energy security, volatile supply chains, legal and illegal migration; the war in Ukraine and the Middle East. 바카라 사이트¯
And with mounting international tensions, I want to congratulate Italy for leading the drumbeat of diplomacy over the past year, both in its Presidency of the G7 and under the European umbrella.바카라 사이트¯
The UK and our partners remain united in supporting Ukraine against Putin바카라 사이트™s spiralling aggression, with economic, humanitarian and military assistance.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
We also welcome news of the long overdue ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah. Italian soldiers comprise one of the largest contingents of the UNIFIL in Lebanon, and civilians in both Lebanon and northern Israel have suffered unimaginable consequences during the last few months of devastating bloodshed.바카라 사이트¯
Prime Minister Meloni바카라 사이트™s efforts to de-escalate conflict align with the UK바카라 사이트™s desire for long-term, sustainable peace in the Middle East, the return of all hostages, and a return to stability. We continue to work urgently to support progress towards a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And closer to home, both the UK and Italy want to stem the flow of people arriving illegally on our shores 바카라 사이트“ crossing the Mediterranean and the English Channel in small boats, smuggled by ruthless gangs that don바카라 사이트™t care if they live or die as long as they pay up.바카라 사이트¯
Prime Ministers Starmer and Meloni believe that preventing people from travelling in the first place 바카라 사이트“ tackling the problem 바카라 사이트˜upstream바카라 사이트™ 바카라 사이트“ is one of the best ways to deal with this difficult and sensitive issue.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And like Italy, the UK is바카라 사이트¯committed to sharing more international intelligence and carrying out바카라 사이트¯more joint operational work to dismantle the smuggling networks. 바카라 사이트¯
Now 바카라 사이트“ as I mentioned, I am here with ministerial colleagues from the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business and Trade. And Minister Thomas-Symonds will be speaking just a little later on the strength of our bilateral relationship, and our desire to reset relationships across the European Union - without going back on Brexit.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
Tomorrow it is Minister Thomas바카라 사이트™s turn to discuss the UK바카라 사이트™s industrial strategy 바카라 사이트“ and how we are building on our strengths to support even more international businesses to thrive in our market.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
So, I am going to focus my intervention this evening바카라 사이트¯on our domestic agenda 바카라 사이트“ and matters very close to my heart.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
I want to focus on our number one mission as a newly elected 바카라 사이트 in the UK - with a strong majority and four years ahead of us - to promote the growth that every part of the UK needs and deserves바카라 사이트¦바카라 사이트¯
I want to focus on how we will raise living standards for everyone, everywhere, to heal economic and social hardship 바카라 사이트¦바카라 사이트¯
How we will get the homes and jobs we desperately need, by fixing our broken housing market.바카라 사이트¯
And create the opportunities to breathe new life into our towns and cities.바카라 사이트¯
The theme of this conference is, indeed, 바카라 사이트˜creating opportunities바카라 사이트™. There바카라 사이트™s no better subject, or moment, to talk about it than now.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
For my entire career I바카라 사이트™ve been fighting for the left-behind and the forgotten, the overlooked and the underestimated.바카라 사이트¯
Now, serving as Deputy Prime Minister, I바카라 사이트™ve got my opportunity to tackle the long-standing social injustices that have held our country back for far too long.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And I will not waste it.바카라 사이트¯
Helping people out of insecurity and instability, giving them back their self-respect is deeply personal to me.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
Because I바카라 사이트™ve lived a life on the edge 바카라 사이트“ and I remember how it feels.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
As a little girl, growing up on a council housing estate in a poor part of Manchester, I had no expectations.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And no one expected much of me, either.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
I was a teenage mum who was lucky enough to get a good job and the support of social housing 바카라 사이트“ it was the first step to a secure life for me and my son.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
I know that secure, affordable homes is not a luxury or a nice-to-have.
It바카라 사이트™s the foundation on which all else is built: self-respect, stability, the chance of decent work, and hope for a better future.바카라 사이트¯
And I am determined now, to deliver for the millions of people for the opportunities that I had.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
The ambition to tackle social and regional inequality is something the UK and Italy have in common.바카라 사이트¯
And the North-South divide is an age-old problem for both of our nations.
Although the financial strongholds are at the opposite ends of each country.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
But it wasn바카라 사이트™t always this way.바카라 사이트¯
The UK has a tradition of gutsy Northerners, proud of the place they call home.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And for good reason.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
In the 19th century, the north of England was a powerhouse of industry and innovation.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
Growth surged through the factories, the mills, the mines and the ports.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
It was unstoppable.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
We were unstoppable.바카라 사이트¯
But while our workers were fuelling the Industrial Revolution, the wealth stayed with the business owners.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
The people of the North were further punished by the decline in manufacturing and the economic tilt towards the service industries.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And today 바카라 사이트“ our citizens are bursting with ambition and potential, as they are all around our country.바카라 사이트¯
We have the raw ingredients to power growth 바카라 사이트“ the high-skilled workers, competitive industries, the leading universities and world-class businesses.바카라 사이트¯
But even though the talent and potential are there to be found in every town and city 바카라 사이트“ the opportunities are not.바카라 사이트¯
With the regional inequalities people face now, not only will you do better at school and get a better job, and better wages and have a heathier life if you live in the south-east of England.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
You will also live longer 바카라 사이트“ on average ten years longer - as a man living in Hampshire, near the south coast, than in Blackpool, on the north-west coast.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And I know the challenges are similar in Italy, where some regions have GDP as high as 127 per cent of the EU average, and in others it is as low as 56 per cent.바카라 사이트¯
In the UK, the Prime Minister knows that healing our social and educational and cultural disparities is vital to our growth 바카라 사이트“바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And he has asked me to lead the way in three key areas which I바카라 사이트™m going to take you through this evening.바카라 사이트¯
First, we are giving local people a bigger say in shaping the place that they live and call home.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And we바카라 사이트™re doing it by extending opportunities not from the top down 바카라 사이트“ but from the bottom up.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
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And I바카라 사이트™m a firm believer in strong leaders who live and work close to their communities being best placed to shape their communities.바카라 사이트¯
When they make informed choices about where the money goes and flows, they also have the biggest stake in getting it right.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And already there are mayors in England바카라 사이트™s biggest cities 바카라 사이트“ including, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Newcastle 바카라 사이트“ with powers over areas such as housing, transport, skills and business support.바카라 사이트¯
As with Italy바카라 사이트™s directly elected Mayors, working with central government, they can address local needs and day-to-day problems, and build a closer connection with citizens.바카라 사이트¯
Now, every country is different and there is not one size that fits all approach, but what we want to do is go further in the UK.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
By letting people with the biggest stake in the outcomes make the decisions, in the UK, we believe that we will be more successful, resilient in our communities and revive areas that have been left behind.바카라 사이트¯
Now as we build an economy that works for everyone in the UK 바카라 사이트“ we are also looking after the workers themselves.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
Making work pay, and bringing in strengthened employment rights fit for a modern economy, has been my lifelong mission.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
I am so proud that our New Deal for Working People 바카라 사이트“ on which I바카라 사이트™m leading with Jonathan Reynolds, the UK Business Secretary - will change the lives of over 10 million people.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
I바카라 사이트™m even prouder of its protections for people in the most deprived areas 바카라 사이트“ including the North and the Midlands 바카라 사이트“ and the particular recognition for the brilliant and indispensable work of carers.
For millions of people in casual work, unable to rely on guaranteed hours, working hard on low pay and struggling to make ends meet, our 바카라 사이트 is working for them, we are a 바카라 사이트 in the service of working people.바카라 사이트¯
And our deal is pro-business, pro-growth and pro-worker. It바카라 사이트™s a new partnership between workers and business, putting money in the peoples바카라 사이트™ pockets which will go back into our economy.바카라 사이트¯
And I commend Prime Minister Meloni바카라 사이트™s government for achieving two historic milestones: a record high number of people employed and, most significantly, a record 10 million women in employment.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
Both our countries are looking for the balance between providing financial support to those in need and promoting policies that actively encourage people to take up work.바카라 사이트¯
And my colleague Minister McGovern discussed these areas with her Italian counterpart at the G7 meeting 바카라 사이트“ and we are very keen to continue that conversation.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And in the UK, better quality work for the lowest paid in society will mean higher living standards for working families and communities in every corner of our country.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
There is a small cost to some employers from our reforms mostly in salary payments. But it is expected to be 0.4% of the £1.3 trillion pay bill paid by UK businesses annually.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And our reforms are ambitious, but they will deliver real change 바카라 사이트“ the biggest uplift in workers바카라 사이트™ rights in a generation, which benefits workers, businesses, and our economic future.바카라 사이트¯
And the last area I wanted to focus is our drive to Get Britain Building.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
We have a housing crisis to tackle 바카라 사이트“ and our pledge to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years is a stretch target.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
But we have to think big 바카라 사이트“ we can바카라 사이트™t carry on with over 150,000 children living in temporary accommodation in the UK, and 1.3 million households waiting for social housing. So, we바카라 사이트™re aiming to build a new generation of secure, social and affordable homes.바카라 사이트¯
Now I바카라 사이트™m going to be announcing a significant shake-up of our National Planning Framework shortly 바카라 사이트“ but unfortunately, I can바카라 사이트™t jump the gun even if the Chatham House rules applies in here before I바카라 사이트™ve put those proposals to Parliament.
But what I can say is we want to remove the obstacles to development and encourage investment; and make planning the launchpad for building the vital homes and the infrastructure 바카라 사이트“ the schools and healthcare 바카라 사이트“ that we need to go with them.바카라 사이트¯
Around the Cabinet table, we are standing up for every citizen of the United Kingdom, whether they voted for Labour or not.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
And for me, it바카라 사이트™s my chance to give the people in every community the same opportunities that changed my life.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
These are our priorities, as a fresh 바카라 사이트 in the UK, making a fresh start. But we are not operating in isolation, oblivious to what is going on around us.바카라 사이트¯
On the contrary, we want to make a fresh start with our closest friends and partners in Europe too 바카라 사이트“ it바카라 사이트™s what we call our EU reset.바카라 사이트¯
And I바카라 사이트™d like to end by saying this: our nations are the closest of friends and allies. So many Brits love coming to Italy and so many Italians are proud to call the UK home and make a fantastic contribution to our nation바카라 사이트™s life.바카라 사이트¯
So it stands to reason that our two nations have so much to learn from each other 바카라 사이트“ and I am looking forward to absorbing and following up on the many fascinating debates and workshops that will be held here. Â
Together, the UK and Italy will continue to move forward with common purpose바카라 사이트¯in pursuit of our opportunities and goals 바카라 사이트“ as partners, allies and friends.바카라 사이트¯바카라 사이트¯
Thank you.