International Festival for Business: David Cameron바카라 사이트™s speech
The Prime Minister gave a speech to open the International Festival for Business, the biggest trade fair in the UK in over 60 years.
Prime Minister
Thank you for that welcome. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, it is absolutely great to be here at this International Festival for Business. I바카라 사이트™ve been associated with this right from the start and I think it바카라 사이트™s a great idea and full credit to everyone in Liverpool and Merseyside who has been involved in bringing this together.
This is the biggest showcase of British business since 1951. It is a shop window for enterprise, for innovation, for creativity. And I바카라 사이트™d like to go out into the exhibition hall as I have been told about some of the things that I am going to see. I am going to see GPS shoes that could walk you home. I am going to see floors that generate energy from footsteps. There is a high speed bicycle that Liverpool University claims can reach 90mph. There is a motorbike that runs on water, a golf trolley that caddies itself. There is a robotic scooter with folding wheels.
Now what I want to say today is I believe we are on our way back from the Great Recession. But there are 3 things I want to see. I want to see a full British economic revival, I want to see a rebalanced economy and I want to see a recovery that benefits every part of the country. And I want to say why I think you cannot just sit back and hope that will happen: you have to work hard to make it happen. None of these things 바카라 사이트“ getting our economy moving again, rebalancing our economy, making sure every region of our country benefits 바카라 사이트“ none of these things happens by accident. They happen because we put in place the right policies, the right plans and the right approach to make it happen.
First of all, this British economic revival. I believe we are now seeing this 바카라 사이트“ we are now the fastest growing major economy in the west. We have more people in work than ever before in our country, more women in work than ever before in our country. The European Council was interrupted the other day when a Prime Minister from another country said before we get on to discussing who should be running the European Commission and who should be running the European Council, I want to know why Britain is growing at 3% but the Eurozone is only growing at 0.2%.
We are now forging ahead as an economy. We have a higher employment rate than America. We바카라 사이트™ve seen a great record of job creation. Since I walked into Number 10 Downing Street, we바카라 사이트™ve seen 1.7 million new private sector jobs. Some people said that these private sector jobs will never make up for the loss of state sector jobs as you make reductions in public spending. But in fact, there are 1.5 million more people in work overall.
We are the top destination for inward investment. The Chinese are investing in our nuclear power. Malaysia is helping to rebuild our cities. The Indians are investing in our car industry. Dubai are helping to rebuild some of our port infrastructure. We are not embarrassed about international investment into Britain; we are proud of that investment. And I think it should be one of the calling cards for Britain around the world is that we are one of the most open economies for people to invest in.
We are seeing a good trend in terms of re shoring and relocation because it pays to stay in the UK. We have got EE bringing back call centres from the Philippines, Hornby are coming back from India, Aston Martin from China. It바카라 사이트™s the start of a trend but one that I believe we should encourage.
So whether you바카라 사이트™re looking at employment; whether you바카라 사이트™re looking at investment; whether you바카라 사이트™re looking at new business creation; whether you are looking at exports which are up by 100% to China, for business creation which is at the fastest rate in our history, when you look at all of those things it바카라 사이트™s clear that the economic revival is underway.
And as I said, the second thing is just as crucial. How can we make sure this is a rebalanced economy? Our economy became too reliant on financial services. Financial services is a great industry 바카라 사이트“ don바카라 사이트™t get me wrong 바카라 사이트“ and the City of London is an enormous national asset for the United Kingdom. And when I think of financial services, I don바카라 사이트™t just think of the jobs in London, I think of the jobs in Birmingham, in Glasgow, in Edinburgh, here in Liverpool. But financial services is not enough for an economy and we바카라 사이트™ve been very clear in this government that we want to see Britain invent more things, design more things, manufacture more things and export more things and the signs are again that that is happening.
Made in Britain is once again a badge of pride. We are a net exporter of cars for the first time since the 1970s. Manufacturing is growing at its fastest level for 7 years. Industries like aerospace are getting proper attention from the government and are really forging ahead whether that is Airbus nearby in North Wales, or whether that바카라 사이트™s Rolls Royce in Derby. And we바카라 사이트™ve got engineering companies 바카라 사이트“ Atkins, AMEC, just starting with the As 바카라 사이트“ that I think are really leading the way in terms of construction around the world. So the rebalancing is happening. But it needs to go further, it needs to go faster.
The third point I made is a recovery for all, for every part of the United Kingdom. In the 5 years before I became Prime Minister, for every 10 jobs created in London and the South East we were creating one in the North. That is not acceptable. That is bad for business, bad for the North West. So our long term plan aims for the whole country to benefit from this recovery.
So here in Liverpool we have seen the claimant count for employment go down 23% since the election. Apprenticeship starts are up by three-quarters since 2010 and we can see some really important signature investments taking place. I have just come from the Port of Liverpool where a new dock is being constructed in order to take the biggest ships in the world that now go through the widened Panama Canal. So this government can make the proud boast, as this dock is built and as the reclaimed land is being put in place, we바카라 사이트™re actually making Liverpool bigger.
But this is a really good example of how you need active industrial policy to help rebalance the economy. Because of course today so many of the big container ships come into the southern ports 바카라 사이트“ Southampton, Tilbury etc 바카라 사이트“ and yet so much of that cargo and freight is destined for the North; whereas actually this new terminal in Liverpool will make sure all of that can come directly to the North of England. It is an active act of rebalancing that I believe will make a real difference.
But the real point I want to make is this, these things are not happening by accident. The British revival is not an accident. Economies don바카라 사이트™t just automatically snap back after a difficult recession. We chose to have a clear plan 바카라 사이트“ getting on top of the deficit, creating jobs, cutting taxes, focusing on schools and skills, making sure our welfare system worked properly and rewarded work.
Those things and sticking to those things have been a key part of making sure this economic revival has happened. I think the deficit particularly important because if you want an economic revival you have got to create the conditions where interest rates can remain low. So introducing that plan, sticking to that plan and continuing it through to its conclusion is absolutely vital to continue to secure the revival.
The rebalancing hasn바카라 사이트™t happened by accident. It was a difficult choice to cut corporation tax and having to make difficult fiscal decisions, but it was the right choice because it means you can go around the world saying to businesses, 바카라 사이트˜Come and invest in Britain, it is a good place to invest, to grow and to make profits.바카라 사이트™
Making sure we kept our science budget: an absolutely key decision. When we바카라 사이트™re making difficult decisions on other budgets, saying that actually Britain바카라 사이트™s future lies in hi tech, lies in science, was a vital decision. Supporting exports: I have taken trade missions to every one of the G20 countries apart from Argentina. I바카라 사이트™m sure I바카라 사이트™ll make it there after the World Cup perhaps; who knows? But really prioritising exports 바카라 사이트“ not just for big businesses but also getting SMEs to export 바카라 사이트“ is absolutely crucial.
My point is if we want to have an economy for every part of the country, a recovery for every part of the country, the infrastructure decisions we make 바카라 사이트“ like the second Mersey Bridge, like electrifying the Cross Pennine line, like HS2 바카라 사이트“these are vital long term decisions that will help to make sure every part of the country can recover.
And it is actually worth making the point because sometimes people assume that everything is happening faster and further in the South East than the rest of the country. That is not the case. Employment is rising fastest, not in the South East but in the North East. Exports are growing fastest not from London, but actually from the West Midlands. The highest number of apprenticeship starts is not in London or the South East, it바카라 사이트™s right here in the North West.
So we are determined to continue with the plan that delivers these 3 vital things. A full scale British revival; a rebalancing of the economy between financial services and the other vital sectors; and a recovery that is for all. And I do not buy the pessimistic view that in a modern globalised economy, the good jobs for hard working people are going to get hollowed out. I think if you invest in science and you take long term decisions, if you build the right infrastructure and you train up your workforce for the future, there is no reason that your country 바카라 사이트“ your economy 바카라 사이트“ can바카라 사이트™t be a success story that is shared for all your people.
But that is the challenge. I believe today; to understand you have to be pro business, pro enterprise, pro open-market, keep the taxes down 바카라 사이트“ absolutely do those things, but then you need a rolled up 바카라 사이트“ a sleeves rolled up active industrial strategy to make sure you are the winner in the industries that count and in the industries of the future. That is what I바카라 사이트™m committed to doing.
I am absolutely delighted to be here in Liverpool today. This Festival for Business is a key part of what we바카라 사이트™re trying to do. I바카라 사이트™d like to thank everyone who is coming, who is exhibiting; who is going to bring money and investment to this fabulous region of our country and to this, the iconic city of Liverpool. Thank you.
Question
Prime Minister, we바카라 사이트™ve heard about engineering skills 바카라 사이트“ the need for engineering skills this morning. I just wanted to ask about the creative industries. It seems to me that they바카라 사이트™re moving up the political agenda quite fast, not least because they바카라 사이트™re growing more rapidly than the economy in general.
As we work towards more positive industrial strategies [inaudible] industries, can we make sure that we recognise the role of arts and cultural organisations 바카라 사이트“ this is an impartial question 바카라 사이트“ the role of arts and cultural organisations as vital incubators of creative talent which will [inaudible] in the future. Thank you.
Prime Minister
I think we바카라 사이트™re looking at where is Britain going to be a success. Where are we going to generate jobs and wealth in the future? We바카라 사이트™ve made a list of businesses and industries; life sciences with our university and scientific heritage; environmental sciences with all the advantages 바카라 사이트“ natural advantages we바카라 사이트™ve got, but also technological breakthroughs made here.
Obviously I talked about aerospace with the history and tradition here and the scientific endeavour. But creative industries would be absolutely up there because we have one of the great advantages which is the English language. We have the theatrical tradition. I have been known to watch a whole box set of an American drama and it seems to be an employment programme for brilliant English actors and actresses. And long may it continue.
But I think there are 2 serious points here. One is when we want to promote British industry, Britain as an investment destination, we should use the creative industries for all they바카라 사이트™re worth. I바카라 사이트™ll never forget taking the biggest ever business delegation to China. We had a lunch for 1,000 businesses in a huge hall in Shanghai and at the end we got Joey from War Horse 바카라 사이트“ the actual horse 바카라 사이트“ to come galloping into that arena.
And you know there was nothing better we could have done to really strike Chinese businessmen and women with this incredible impression of what Britain can deliver 바카라 사이트“ so I absolutely should always make sure that when we바카라 사이트™re doing trade and business missions that we include cultural institutions and creative industries.
Yes, let바카라 사이트™s make sure that people come and make movies here by having the film tax credit. Yes, let바카라 사이트™s make sure we attract talent by making this a welcoming and easy place to invest. But never forget that one of our strengths comes, not just from the low taxes, the openness, the English language, the large market here, all of the rest of it 바카라 사이트“ one of our strengths is because of the long history and the investments we바카라 사이트™ve made in culture.
I talked about the theatrical tradition and that is one of the reasons why I think Hollywood has such a close relationship with Britain. And so if we don바카라 사이트™t invest in repertory theatre or all the rest of it, then we will lose what we have. So remember where your greatness comes from, when you바카라 사이트™re thinking about the future.
Question
We바카라 사이트™re a Merseyside business involved in gas and power. We바카라 사이트™ve heard today that Africa is one of the fastest growing global economies. What plans does the government have to support [inaudible]?
Prime Minister
Right. Well, I think this is a major opportunity for Britain and one we haven바카라 사이트™t always taken up in the past. I led a trade mission to Africa, to Nigeria and South Africa. And I want to do more of that because I think if you look at the 바카라 사이트“ you know which economies are growing the fastest, you will see that some of the fastest growing are in Africa.
And I think for too long politicians, particularly, have thought of Africa as a destination for aid and a source of global difficulties and problems rather than an immense market opportunity.
So greater attention, I think the first point; I think the second point 바카라 사이트“ let바카라 사이트™s use the advantages that we have. We do have and have kept large aid programmes, particularly to sub Saharan Africa, that should give us a good relationship with these countries from which we can build better business and investment links; I think that makes a difference.
I think also we바카라 사이트™ve got to make sure that our UKTI 바카라 사이트“ you바카라 사이트™ve been hearing from Lord Livingston 바카라 사이트“ make sure that we바카라 사이트™re orienting UKTI into the markets where we can succeed but perhaps haven바카라 사이트™t yet succeeded; and I think that is absolutely vital. And then look at the specific businesses where there바카라 사이트™s real opportunities. There바카라 사이트™s obviously oil and gas opportunities 바카라 사이트“ particularly in Mozambique, now discovering so much gas. But there are huge opportunities, I think, for small and medium sized businesses to get involved in these markets. And that바카라 사이트™s really the big challenge here, is if we can go from 1 in 5 of our SMEs exporting to 1 in 4 we바카라 사이트™d effectively wipe out our trade deficit altogether.
So I think a new focus on Africa; use the relationships that we have; and then try and identify some of the sectors where we can make a difference. Don바카라 사이트™t just think big business, think small as well.
Question
You brought up the question of the President of the European Commission, Prime Minister; what can you say to Angela Merkel to change her mind over the next couple of days, and what would happen if Jean Claude Juncker did succeed? What would that do to Britain바카라 사이트™s prospects in Europe?
Prime Minister
Well the point I will be making, which I바카라 사이트™ve made to everybody, is that what matters is that we have people running these organisations that understand the need for change and reform in Europe. I think the programme is as important as the people and I think one of the things that Angela and I will be discussing with Mark Rutte and Fredrik Reinfeldt at this Swedish conference we바카라 사이트™re going to is what is the work programme for the Commission and for the European Council for the next 4 years? Can we focus on completing the single market? Can we have a digital single market in Europe? Can we make sure we get an energy single market in Europe? Can we make Europe more energy resilient, particularly as we see the risks now of being over reliant on Russia?
Let바카라 사이트™s look at the things we need to do, the flexibilities we need to create, the competitiveness we should be pushing. Let바카라 사이트™s look at all those things as well as understanding that Europe needs to change. My reaction to the fact that in Britain an anti-European party topped the poll, and my reaction to the fact in France the Front National came first is not to bury my head in the sand and just wish all this would go away. I think we need to make sure we바카라 사이트™re engaging with the public about these issues and changing some of the things that Europe does and some of the things that Europe doesn바카라 사이트™t do in order to address these issues. So that바카라 사이트™s what the conversation will be about but it바카라 사이트™s about progress most importantly of all.
Speaker
You said that you바카라 사이트™d like 1 in 4 British companies to export instead of 1 in 5. One of the things that would really help companies be more competitive is getting more technical and digital skills; what is your government planning to do and doing to achieve this?
Prime Minister
I바카라 사이트™ve said a key part of our economic programme is to make sure that we have the best schools and skills to serve our people and our future. And we have rewritten the ICT and digital agenda in our schools because I think it wasn바카라 사이트™t fit for purpose; it was simply about training people how to use a computer rather than 바카라 사이트“ actually, one of the key skills today is how to code.
And like many sort of 40 somethings who struggled with all these new technologies that have come along, I was a bit sceptical about this to start with, and I would say to my team, 바카라 사이트˜How can you possibly teach children of 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 how to code?바카라 사이트™ And 2 points were made to me. One is this is an area of massive job creation, every app you have on your iPhone or your tablet or whatever, is basically a piece of code, and people will need to learn how to code.
But secondly, actually when you look at what coding is, it바카라 사이트™s a relatively simple 바카라 사이트“ you바카라 사이트™re really just trying to write a set of instructions. And you can start to teach people that, and I바카라 사이트™ve seen it in the classroom really work. You can start to teach people that at a very early age. So I think we바카라 사이트™ve got to improve the curriculum; we바카라 사이트™ve got to keep investing in not just academy schools but also universities and technical colleges, which I think are going to make a big difference. We바카라 사이트™ve got to have better conversations between universities and colleges and government on the one hand, and industry on the other, about what the results of choices are.
As we stand today, if you바카라 사이트™re a 14 year old or indeed an 18 year old it바카라 사이트™s quite difficult to find out, 바카라 사이트˜If I do this course at this university, what will happen to my future earnings, what are my life chances?바카라 사이트™ And what we need to do is create much better information so you can see as you go through school what the choices you make will have for the rest of your life. Then I think we need to have almost an annual moment, rather like a budget, we could have annual skills discussion about, 바카라 사이트˜Where are we short? Where are we not producing enough skilled graduates?바카라 사이트™
Because we have the situation, it links to the immigration debate, we바카라 사이트™re still bringing into our country every year certain skills that we바카라 사이트™re deemed to be short in, but are we actually amending our skills policy fast enough to address those skills shortages? No we바카라 사이트™re not, and yet we could. So I think a far more joined up conversation, an annual discussion about it and making sure that we have the quality schools that are going to deliver.
Speaker
I don바카라 사이트™t want to be accused of being a sycophant but let me just say this year 바카라 사이트“ I paid tribute to Lord Livingston this morning at UKTI. Can I just personally thank you for your commitment to the International Festival for Business. Without you it wouldn바카라 사이트™t have happened so on record, I really, seriously want to thank you for your efforts and I hope it바카라 사이트™s something that will continue for the future.
Prime Minister
Thank you very much. Well I think part of rebalancing the economy is actually Westminster based politicians giving far more attention, and where possible powers, to our great cities. And I바카라 사이트™ve read what you have said our city deals and about the local growth plans that we have, and I바카라 사이트™m really pleased that we are now devolving to cities some of the powers and some of the money 바카라 사이트“ I know everyone wants more and I want to see more 바카라 사이트“ in order to make things happen, whether it is building roads, whether it바카라 사이트™s dealing with pinch points, making enterprise zones work.
This is the future, and I think the encouraging thing is, after the big argument about local enterprise partnerships and regional development agencies and all the rest of it, I think there바카라 사이트™s now a political consensus. I saw what the Labour Party said recently and there바카라 사이트™s a political consensus that business led local enterprise partnerships, devolving power and money from Whitehall to the cities 바카라 사이트“ this is the future. The debate now in Westminster is about how far and fast that can go and the helpful thing is, no one바카라 사이트™s arguing about changing the architecture round any more, it바카라 사이트™s just about pushing everyone faster.
And I바카라 사이트™d like to 바카라 사이트“ in the spirit of let바카라 사이트™s all thank each other 바카라 사이트“ I바카라 사이트™d like to thank Michael Heseltine who was in my office, in the Deputy Prime Minister바카라 사이트™s office, in Vince Cable바카라 사이트™s office, in the Chancellor바카라 사이트™s office 바카라 사이트“ crucially 바카라 사이트“ and driving this agenda, to say it really is time to devolve more power and money to the cities and to make these local enterprise partnerships work. So Michael바카라 사이트™s done a brilliant job and has driven a lot of this agenda.
Question
[Inaudible] creative industries for a moment, and we바카라 사이트™ve really had [inaudible] a flourishing right now; in film and video games and television and theatre. So first of all everyone is great partners in the industry, so thank you for that, in the spirit of thanking everybody. And I just want to ask specifically, if you바카라 사이트™re looking at the future, what바카라 사이트™s your view on what your government can continue to do to push that success, and with respect to skills and training as well, which has been a priority.
Prime Minister
Well I think we바카라 사이트™ve got to look at first of all at what Warner Bros are doing in Britain. I think I바카라 사이트™m right that actually all the film studios that we have across the United Kingdom are full to bursting point, not just because of the tax credit but also I think that this is seen as a good place to invest and has good talent, and that바카라 사이트™s great to see. Obviously as a Thrones fan it바카라 사이트™s particularly good to see Game of Thrones made in Northern Ireland and we바카라 사이트™re all awaiting the arrival of season 4 바카라 사이트“ or the box set as Clive James was putting it the other day.
So what can we do to help this? Well, keep the stable investment environment, keep the tax credit in a way that it is working well, but I think the challenge for us is skills. I think that if we바카라 사이트™re going to be this home not just of US talent but also home grown talent, as was being said earlier, we바카라 사이트™ve got to make sure that we are turning out the technicians through our colleges and universities.
And it comes back to my skills argument: we바카라 사이트™ve got some great universities when it comes to the audio visual sector 바카라 사이트“ places like Bournemouth. We바카라 사이트™ve rewritten the curriculum done by someone who actually works in the post production industry, Alex Hope. I think there바카라 사이트™s more 바카라 사이트“ we could enlarge our skills base so that the facilities are even better run when people want to come and invest here. And I think there바카라 사이트™s a big opportunity if we get all those things right. Plus, I suppose, we have to go on watching a bit of television and going to the cinema while we바카라 사이트™re at it.
Question
Prime Minister, you mentioned the RDAs and the LEPs and the consensus has moved on from that now. However, the amount of money the LEPs get is a fraction of that that was given to the RDAs. Also last week it was reported that transport spending in London and the South East was double that of the English regions, so it바카라 사이트™s a fair question to ask, when are we going to get a fair slice of the pie?
Prime Minister
Alright, let me take the second bit first, on transport spending. Obviously the current figures are very altered by the fact that Crossrail is the largest construction project taking place anywhere in Europe; so that obviously has an impact on the figures. If you look ahead and you can see the government바카라 사이트™s plans for the whole of the next 5 years, you can see a massive transport infrastructure investment plan: the biggest investment in the railways since Victorian times, the biggest investment in our roads system since the 1970s.
Obviously HS2, which is of great benefit not just to the West Midlands and North West but also Yorkshire and the North East 바카라 사이트“ that is a very big part of the government바카라 사이트™s investment plans going forward. But the point I would make 바카라 사이트“ because sometimes people think that HS2 is going to take up too much of the pie 바카라 사이트“ we바카라 사이트™ll actually be spending 3 times more on other road and rail schemes in the next parliament as we will be spending on HS2.
And I think if you look at the electrification of the Trans Pennine Railway, obviously a big benefit to the North West; if you look at the electrification of the Midlands Mainline, which goes all the way up to Sheffield, if you look the [inaudible] at all the things that are being done in terms of improving rail services in the North of England I think you바카라 사이트™ll see a very big package going in.
You바카라 사이트™ve also of course got the second Mersey crossing, so I think on any basis you can see that the North of England is getting a very fair crack of the whip in terms of future road and rail investment.
On the issues of RDA / LEP spending, I바카라 사이트™d just make this point 바카라 사이트“ look, of course we had to make some spending reductions and the RDAs did spend quite a lot of money on themselves rather than on projects, and I think the efficiency of the LEPs is that they are relatively lean; they are business led; they are not bureaucratic; and they are now bidding for and spending money that goes directly into infrastructure, into skills, into development. And I바카라 사이트™ve given you some examples of that today.
All of this isn바카라 사이트™t possible unless you have a functioning economy with a properly controlled fiscal situation. We couldn바카라 사이트™t make long term decisions about infrastructure spending unless we바카라 사이트™ve got the books under control, and this government has got the books under control which is why we can make these long term commitments, many of which will benefit Liverpool and the North West.
Can I thank you again for coming today; thank you for your welcome. I congratulate everyone who바카라 사이트™s involved, I think we바카라 사이트™re going to see some of the stands right now, but thank you very much, and come and invest in the UK, in the North West, in Liverpool. I know people don바카라 사이트™t always come here for the weather, but I can promise you if you come and invest in Britain, you바카라 사이트™ve got one of the most business friendly governments anywhere in Europe. You바카라 사이트™ve got a growing economy, you바카라 사이트™ve got a well functioning labour market, you바카라 사이트™ve got low rates of taxation, you바카라 사이트™ve got brilliant skilled people, you바카라 사이트™ve got some of the best universities in the world, and obviously a team who바카라 사이트™s going to amaze us all in the World Cup. What more could you possibly want? Thank you very much.