Over the Conservative Party Conference 2021 in Manchester, the Government has set out how we are taking action to deliver on the people’s priorities, getting on with the job to build back better.
We did not go through COVID-19 to go back to how things were before – to the status quo ante. Build Back Better means we want things to change and improve as we recover. Only the Conservatives are getting on with the job, tackling the long term challenges this country faces. That means taking the big, bold decisions on the priorities people care about – like on social care, on supporting jobs, on climate change, tackling crime and levelling up.
This Conservative Government has a track record of delivering on the people’s priorities: we Got Brexit Done and secured a deal with the EU – keeping our election promise. On COVID-19, we rolled out unprecedented levels of economic support, protecting livelihoods and keeping businesses afloat. And thanks to our NHS, scientists and so many others, our successful vaccine rollout has saved thousands of lives, prevented countless hospitalisations and has allowed the economy and society to begin returning to normality.
All of this shows that the Government is delivering - and now it is time to go further - not only to recover, but to Build Back Better – with decisive action on more jobs, more police and supporting health and social care.
The Government is getting on with the job, with a strong and united team – making the tough decisions, focused on what really matters to people.
The Prime Minister’s Keynote Speech at the Conservative Party Conference 2021: 6 October
Yesterday on the final day of the Conservative Party Conference, the Prime Minister set out how the Government is getting on with the job of uniting and levelling up every part of the UK as we build back better from the pandemic.
After decades of drift and dither, this Government is getting on with the job. We got Brexit done, we are getting the vaccine rollout done, and we are going to get social care done – dealing with the underlying issues of our economy and society that no government has had the guts to tackle before.
The Government is embarking on the change of direction that has been long overdue in the UK, creating a high wage, high skill, high productivity economy that the people of this country need and deserve, in which everyone can take pride in their work and the quality of their work.
To deliver that change, the Government will get on with our job of uniting and levelling up across the UK – the greatest project that any government can embark on. You can view the Prime Minister’s keynote speech here.
Conference Announcements
Levelling Up Premium for Teachers
On 6 October 2021, the Government announced a teacher’s salary premium worth up to £3000 per teacher.
Disadvantaged schools are more likely to face teacher supply and retention issues - which limits the quality of education our children receive. That is why the Government has announced new teacher salary premiums worth up to £3,000 per teacher–helping to address the under-supply of teachers in high-demand subjects, schools, and parts of the country, and driving up teacher quality.
As we level up and build back better from the pandemic, this will help to improve school standards so that every child is given the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
Paying teachers more?
Teacher salaries have on average increased by 8.5% over the last 3 years, and teachers in early career regularly receive pay progression of over 7% as they progress in their first 5 years and we are determined to deliver a £30,000 starting salary, as per the manifesto.
Extending the Film Restart Scheme
On 5 October 2021, the Government announced that we are extending the Film Restart scheme, and investing in independent film through the Global Screen Fund.
The British film industry was hit hard during the pandemic, with major and independent films closed. The Government is working hard to help the industry bounce back as we continue our recovery. That is why the Government is extending our £500 million Film Restart scheme for a further six months – giving certainty to film production in the UK - and the Government has also announced the recipients of our Global Screen Fund, supporting their international distribution.
The Government is proud of our rich history in filmmaking, and by extending these support measures, we will help the industry build back better from the pandemic.
Will everyone registered on the scheme be able to claim?
The size of the fund will be kept under review. It is not the intention that compensation will be refused to any eligible participant of the scheme after they have registered.
Increasing the Use of Drug Testing On Arrest
On 5 October 2021, the Government announced plans to increase the use of drug testing on arrest, to help identify drug misusing offenders in order to address their behaviour and to reduce crime.
Illegal drugs are a key driver of crime, particularly homicide, serious violence against women and children and neighbourhood crime. If we are to cut crime, we must crack down on drug use. That is why earlier this year the Government published the Beating Crime Plan, committing to new tactics and investment to deal with illegal drugs, including increasing the police’s use of drug testing on arrest to crack down on recreational drug use and ensure those involved in crime after using drugs are identified.
Cutting crime is central to our mission of levelling up the country. Safe communities attract investment, create better conditions for businesses to thrive and boost jobs and life chances.
Effectiveness of drug testing?
Drug testing is a powerful tool for identifying drug-misusing offenders. A positive drug test for heroin, crack or cocaine use is a valuable gateway to ensure the offender can access treatment and other support to tackle their drug-related offending.
Increasing the Use of Tags for Offenders
On 5 October 2021, the Government announced a package of tagging measures worth nearly £200 million, which will ensure 26,000 extra offenders are tagged over the next 3 years.
The first job of any Government is to keep its people safe, which is why the Government has made it our priority to cut crime, protect the public and give the authorities the tools they need to stop reoffending. That is why the Government is cracking down on burglars, robbers, and domestic abusers with a£180 million package of tagging measures - which will nearly double the number of people on tags, including 10,000 more thieves and burglars, and 12,000 more prison leavers over the next three years.
This will help to cut crime and boost public safety - making our streets and communities safer as we build back better.
Why hasn’t this been rolled out already?
The Government are continually working on the evidence base for the roll out of the programme. It’s right to roll out incrementally and assess its effect in order to ensure we are achieving the maximum benefit from the programme.
Investing in Community Payback for Offenders
On 5 October 2021, the Government announced that we are investing up to £93 million to deliver 8 million hours per year of unpaid work by offenders, ensuring they contribute to cleaning up neighbourhoods across the country.
Community payback through unpaid work is an essential part of ensuring offenders visibly make reparations for their crimes. That is why the Government is announcing a £90 million package to increase community payback to 8 million hours a year, so that the public can see offenders visibly paying back for their crimes: cleaning up streets, estates, alleyways and open spaces of litter and graffiti.
The Government is delivering on our promise to the British people, ensuring that our justice system stands for the law-abiding majority, not the criminal minority and that offenders are seen to contribute to society.
Chain gangs?
It is not enough for justice to merely be done, it must be seen to be done and much more focused on tasks that clean up and make a real difference for neighbourhoods, towns and cities for the law-abiding majority. It is vital that while offenders are carrying out their punishment, the underlying factors that led them to crime in the first place are also addressed, so they have the means and incentive to break the cycle of reoffending.
Accelerating Our Zero Carbon Electricity Ambition To 2035
On 4 October 2021, the Government announced our ambition to overwhelmingly decarbonise the electricity system by 2035.
Current international price spikes underline the need to get the country off of volatile gas and on to secure zero carbon power. That is why the Government is accelerating our ambition to deploy low carbon generation by 2035, including renewables, nuclear and new options such as hydrogen, and accelerating carbon capture technology to provide flexible gas power, using unabated gas only when needed for security of supply.
Net zero will be a net win for British homes and businesses and will protect UK consumers by ensuring UK clean energy independence and protecting them from higher bills.
Is this ambitious enough?
It is hugely ambitious given our current reliance on volatile unabated natural gas and the delivery challenges of deploying low carbon alternatives. Moreover, this commitment would make the UK a world-leader in transitioning away from using fossil fuels in power generation.
Investing in Artificial Intelligence
On 4 October 2021, the Government announced new investment to double the number of research places in Artificial Intelligence, in order to ensure we build the right skills for our future economy.
The Government is determined to make this country not just a scientific superpower and the best place in the world to do business, but a high-skilled economy where we create the jobs of tomorrow. That is why the Government is providing new funding to double the number of scholarships available for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Master’s conversion courses for disadvantaged students, and also doubling the number of Turing World-Leading Researcher Fellows.
Our Plan for Jobs continues to help people back into work, earn more and gain the right skills to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow, including in the exciting industries of the future - such as Artificial Intelligence.
Why are you doing this now?
Investing in the future is a critical part of our Plan for Jobs. The impact of AI on businesses across the UK and the wider world will be profound - and UK universities and start-ups are already leading the world in building the tools for the new economy. We want to ensure we are nurturing our best and brightest, and creating equal opportunities for all parts of society to help build our future economy.
Extending our Plan For Jobs
On 4 October 2021, the Government announced that we are extending many of our Plan for Jobs measures and introducing new policies to support those in and out of work.
Over a year ago, the Government launched our Plan For Jobs - an ambitious plan to help people back into work, earn more and gain the right skills to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow as we recover from the pandemic. The Government is now extending many of these schemes and introducing a new package of measures so that we help as many people as possible as our economic recovery continues, making the choice to invest significant funds in our Plan For Jobs, rather than spend more on welfare or extending furlough.
Supporting, protecting and creating jobs helps vulnerable people in particular by providing them with opportunities for well-paid work as we build back better and level up the country.
Extending the Universal Credit uplift?
Extending the £20 increase by another 12 months - or effectively making it permanent - would cost over £6 billion per year. That’s equivalent to adding 1p on the basic rate of income tax and 5p on fuel duty. Instead, the Government is making a deliberate choice to invest significant funds in our Plan For Jobs.
Finding the National Home of Great British Railways
On 4 October 2021, the Government announced a competition to find the national home of Great British Railways.
Our railways were born and built to serve this country - but years of fragmentation, confusion and over-complication has seen that vision fade and passengers failed. The Government has a new Plan for Railways which puts passengers first - led by a new organisation: Great British Railways. The Government has now established the transition team that will serve as the early forerunner to the organisation, and will launch a competition to find the first national HQ.
The Government is getting on with the job to deliver a new era in the history of our railways - putting passengers first.
The benefits are years away?
The Government is already getting on with the job of delivering benefits for rail passengers. For example, the Government recently launched our new Flexible Season Tickets, to encourage people back to rail while recognising that commuting patterns may have changed as a result of the pandemic.
Making Lancashire The Home of The National Cyber Force
On 3 October 2021, the Government announced that the recently established National Cyber Force will be located in Samlesbury, Lancashire.
We must ensure our armed forces are fit for the threats of a more competitive world and the opportunities of Global Britain. That is why, backed by over £5 billion of investment up to 2030 and jointly run by the MOD and GCHQ, the Government has announced that the National Cyber Force’s new site in Samlesbury in Lancashire will be the home of offensive cyber operations, keeping the UK at the forefront of cyber warfare.
The new site will deliver thousands of skilled employment opportunities for young people in the region - delivering for the North West as the Government levels up every region of the country and build back better.
Why this location?
There has been an extensive cross-government process to select the new location of the site. The North West of England is home to some of the fastest growing tech hubs, which will enable the National Cyber Force to work with local universities and other education establishments to harness the technical talent in the region, creating growing opportunities to develop cyber skills in the region.
New Police Powers to Tackle Disruptive Protests
On 3 October 2021, the Government announced we will table amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to strengthen police powers to tackle highly disruptive protests.
Insulate Britain activists have brought our country to a standstill in recent weeks - breaking the law and creating extra pollution - in self-defeating ‘environmental’ acts. That is why the Government will table amendments to introduce new measures to the PCSC Bill, including increasing the maximum penalties for disrupting a motorway, criminalising interference with key infrastructure and new powers for the police and courts to deal with a small minority of prolific offender’s intent on travelling around the country, causing disruption and misery to others.
The Government will not stand by and allow a small minority of selfish demonstrators to cause massive and dangerous disruption to the lives of the hard-working majority, whilst draining police resources.
Banning protests?
No, these measures will not grant anybody powers to ban protests. The Public Order Act 1986 already contains exceptional powers for a local authority to prohibit a public procession or unlawfull assembly. In London, these powers are given to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the Commissioner of the City of London Police, with the consent of the Home Secretary. These powers are unchanged by this Bill. This is about balancing the right to lawfully protest with the fact that working people need to go about their daily lives.
Announcing Safer Streets Fund Allocations
On 3 October 2021, the Government announced allocations of £25 million for local projects aimed at increasing the safety of public spaces for all, with a particular focus on tackling violence against women and girls.
Crimes against women and girls are abhorrent and still all too prevalent in our society. The Government is determined to ensure women feel safer going about their daily lives. That is why earlier this year the Government launched the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, informed by the largest ever public survey of women and girls on this issue. As part of this, the £25 million Safer Streets Fund will invest in crime prevention initiatives across the country where women and girls say they feel most unsafe.
The tragic cases of Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa, Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman touched us all. As we Build Back Safer from the pandemic, tackling violence against women and girls is our priority.
How will you ensure this funding reflects the needs of women and girls?
This funding is focused on addressing the concerns of women and girls, which is why bidders had to demonstrate that they had consulted with groups that seek to prevent violence against women and girls when developing their proposals, as well as other organisations in their area with responsibility for women and girls - such as schools, universities, or youth groups. They were also encouraged to consider public surveys about areas where people feel most unsafe in their neighbourhood to ensure that the funds are properly targeted.
Investing in Tennis Courts Across the Country
On 3 October 2021, the Government announced that we are investing £22 million to support grassroots tennis across the UK, focusing on improving facilities in the most deprived areas.
The Government is determined to make access to sports facilities easier to improve the health of young people in our country. That is why, to provide facilities for people across the UK, the Government is are announcing a £22 million package to replace or repair tennis courts across the country and invest in multi-sport facilities.
Sporting talent is spread across the UK and the Government does not want a lack of access to be a barrier for the sporting stars of the future.
Why only funding for tennis?
The Government has provided an unprecedented £1 billion to ensure the survival of the grassroots, professional sport and leisure sectors. This includes our £100 million National Leisure Centre Recovery Fund which has secured the survival and reopening of more than 1,100 swimming pools across the country.
Boosting Funding for Sport in Schools
On 3 October 2021 the Government announced nearly £30 million funding a year for improving and opening school sport facilities in England and improving the teaching of Physical Education at primary school.
The Government wants to help schools offer a richer sporting experience to children-both during, and outside, the school day, and see communities as a whole benefit from better access to great facilities. That is why the Government is building on the £10.1 million which has supported schools to reopen their sports facilities after the COVID-19 pandemic by providing nearly £30 million of new funding to build new sports facilities and upgrade existing facilities.
We know the next Harry Kane, Emma Raducanu or Mo Farah is out there, which is why the Government is investing in helping children realise their full athletic potential with the right facilities and support.
Why are you investing in sporting facilities when children are so far behind due to the pandemic?
The Government has already invested £3.1 billion in the most evidence-based catch-up interventions, including over 100 million hours of tutoring this parliament.
Reviewing Health and Social Care Leadership to Drive Up Efficiency
On 2 October 2021, the Government launched the most radical review of leadership and management in health and social care in 40 years to enhance great leadership and reduce variation in efficiency across the system.
The strength of leadership in our NHS is one of the biggest drivers of performance – but not enough is done to foster the best performance, meaning patients do not always get the care they deserve. That is why the Government will launch a far-reaching review looking at how health and social care is led and managed in the UK - led by General Sir Gordon Messenger, former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, a distinguished leader with an excellent track record of delivery, and will last four to six months.
The pandemic has shone a light on chronic problems in our health and social care systems and made many of them worse – the Government is determined to fix these problems and build our NHS back better.
Previous reviews have not been implemented yet?
This review will also look at how to deliver the findings of proposals and commitments made in previous reports. It will be followed by a clear Delivery Plan and any changes will be made immediately, before the full piece of work is finished.
New Community Diagnostic Centres
On 1 October 2021, the Government announced that we will launch 40 one-stop shop Community Diagnostic Centres in locations from shopping centres to football stadiums to provide millions more tests and scans.
COVID-19 has created a historic backlog; there were 300,000 fewer urgent cancer referrals over the pandemic than expected – this could grow to 13 million in the coming years unless addressed. That is why the Government is announcing 40 new Community Diagnostic Centres which will help us tackle the backlog by bringing vital services closer to home, allowing us to meet rising demand, catch cancer and other issues as quickly as possible, and save more lives.
The government is the party of the NHS - protecting it from being overwhelmed during the most challenging period in its history. Now, as we help the NHS build back better, we must do the same.
When will they all be up and running?
All of the schemes approved this year will be delivering measurable benefits by March 2022, some as early as November.
