It was great to be at the South West Conservative Conference today. Once a year it is good to gather with campaigners from across the region to share stories about the difference local Conservatives are making.
As a newish Parliamentary Candidate, I had the opportunity to briefly speak to the conference about my motivation and vision for Plymouth and the campaign I'm going to lead to win back the seat from Labour. I believe we have much that is positive to talk about - policies and ideas which make real difference to the lives of real people in our city. It was great to be joined in expressing these views by leading Members of Parliament such as the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Defence, Gavin Williamson, the Minister for Disabled People, Sarah Newton, and my local colleague, Johnny Mercer.
Plymouth has a bright future under a Conservative Government and with three Conservative MPs. I am determined to work as hard as I possibly can to see Plymouth Sutton and Devonport return to Conservative hands.
The short speech I gave followed on from the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid. He highlighted some of the government’s recent funding commitments to the city and its work to boost the prospects of people and businesses across the region.
He also highlighted recent defence commitments in Plymouth, including the homing of all eight of the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates in Devonport, and financial support for a range of other projects in the South West.
For example, in recent months Plymouth alone has been awarded £30million to build a new Urgent and Emergency Care Hub at Derriford Hospital, an extra £1.28million for social care services to ease pressure on the NHS, £3.5million towards the creative sector and the Mayflower400 celebrations, over £1million to fix potholes and £44,000 to restore Elizabethan House as a visitor attraction.
Police forces across the South West are also set to receive up to £72million of additional cash as part of the largest increase in police funding since 2010, announced by the Home Secretary in December.
“The government continues to deliver for people across the South West and there is plenty to celebrate and be proud of,” said Mr Javid.
“Most notably, we’re seeing record levels of employment with nearly 2.8million people now in work in the South West – an increase of over 290,000 since 2010.
“Over 80% of the region’s schools are rated good or outstanding and we’re helping businesses to grow, building more homes, fixing the energy market and assisting with the cost of living by increasing the National Living Wage, cutting taxes and freezing fuel duty.
“Our balanced approach to the economy is enabling us to pump an additional £394million a week into the NHS by 2023/24 as part of a long-term plan for the health service, which will help us build on the extra 1,250 doctors working in the NHS in the South West since 2010.
“Compare this to Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour, who would hit people with more debt, higher taxes and fewer jobs – just like last time.”
