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Theresa May's first speech to the nation as prime minister - in full

New PM vows to look after the interests of the many rather than just 'the privileged few'

Caitlin Doherty

Wednesday 10 June 2020 16:15 BST

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Theresa May addresses 'burning injustices' in UK during first speech as prime minister

"I have just been to Buckingham Palace where Her Majesty the Queen has asked me to form a new government and I accepted.

"In David Cameron, I follow in the footsteps of a great modern Prime Minister under David’s leadership, the government stabilised the economy, reduced the budge deficit and helped more people into work than ever before.

"But, David’s true legacy is not about the economy, but about social justice. From the introduction of same-sex marriage, to taking people on low wages out of income tax altogether, David Cameron has led a One Nation government, and it is in that spirit that I also plan to lead.

"Because, not everybody knows this, but the full title of my party is the Conservative and Unionist Party, and that word Unionist is very important to me. It means that we believe in the Union, the precious, precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but it means something else that is just as important.

"It means we believe in a Union, not just between the nations of the United Kingdom, but between all of our citizens, whoever we are, and wherever we’re from.

"That means fighting against the burning injustice that if you’re born poor you will die, on average, nine years earlier than others.

"If you’re black, you’re treated more harshly by the criminal justice system than if you’re white.

"If you’re a white, working class boy, you’re less likely than anybody else in Britain to go to university.

"If you’re at a state school, you’re less likely to reach the top professions than if you’re educated privately.

David Cameron makes a speech outside No 10 earlier today before leaving for final time as PM (PA)

"If you’re a woman, you will earn less than a man.

"If you suffer from mental health problems, there’s not enough help to hand.

"If you’re young, you’ll find it harder than ever before to own your own home.

"But, the mission to make Britain a country that works for everyone means more than fighting these injustices.

"If you’re from an ordinary working class family, life is much harder than many people in Westminster realise.

"You have a job, but you don’t always have job security. You have your own home but you worry about paying the mortgage.

"You can just about manage, but you worry about the cost of living and getting your kids into a good school.

"If you’re one of those families, if you’re just managing, I want to address you directly. I know you’re working around the clock, I know you’re doing your best and I know that sometimes life can be a struggle.

"The government I lead will be driven, not by the interests of the privileged few, but by yours. We will do everything we can to give you more control over your lives.

"When we take the big calls, we’ll think not of the powerful, but you.

"When we pass new laws, we’ll listen not to the mighty, but to you.

"When it comes to taxes, we’ll prioritise not the wealthy, but you.

The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address

Show all 6

1/6The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address

The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address

Brexit

The big one. Theresa May has spoken publicly three times since declaring her intent to stand in the Tory Leadership race, and each time she has said, ‘Brexit means Brexit.’ It sounds resolute, but it is helpful to her that Brexit is a made up word with no real meaning. She has said there will be ‘no second referendum’ and no re-entry in to the EU via the back door. But she, like the Leave campaign of which she was not a member, has pointedly not said with any precision what she thinks Brexit means

Reuters

The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address

General election

This is very much one to keep off the to do list. She said last week there would be ‘no general election’ at this time of great instability. But there have already been calls for one from opposition parties. The Fixed Term Parliaments Act of 2010 makes it far more difficult to call a snap general election, a difficulty she will be in no rush to overcome. In the event of a victory for Leadsom, who was not popular with her own parliamentary colleagues, an election might have been required, but May has the overwhelming backing of the parliamentary party

Getty

The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address

HS2

Macbeth has been quoted far too much in recent weeks, but it will be up to May to decide whether, with regard to the new high speed train link between London, Birmingham, the East Midlands and the north, ‘returning were as tedious as go o’er.’ Billions have already been spent. But the £55bn it will cost, at a bare minimum, must now be considered against the grim reality of significantly diminished public finances in the short to medium term at least. It is not scheduled to be completed until 2033, by which point it is not completely unreasonable to imagine a massive, driverless car-led transport revolution having rendered it redundant

EPA

The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address

Heathrow expansion

Or indeed Gatwick expansion. Or Boris Island, though that option is seems as finished as the man himself. The decision on where to expand aviation capacity in the south east has been delayed to the point of becoming a national embarrassment. A final decision was due in autumn. Whatever is decided, there will be vast opprobrium

PA

The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address

Trident renewal

David Cameron indicated two days ago that there will be a Commons vote on renewing Britain’s nuclear deterrent on July 18th, by which point we now know, Ms May will be Prime Minister. The Labour Party is, to put it mildly, divided on the issue. This will be an early opportunity to maximise their embarrassment, and return to Tory business as usual

EPA

The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address

Scottish Independence

Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP are in no doubt that the Brexit vote provides the opportunity for a second independence referendum, in which they can emerge victorious. The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood has the authority to call a second referendum, but Ms May and the British Parliament are by no means automatically compelled to accept the result. She could argue it was settled in 2014

AFP/Getty

"When it comes to opportunity, we won’t entrench the advantages of the fortunate few, we will do everything we can to help anybody, whatever your background, to go as far as your talents will take you.

"We are living through an important moment in our country’s history. Following the referendum we face a time of great national change and I know because we’re Great Britain that we will rise ot the challenge.

"As we leave the European Union, we will forge a new, bold, positive role for ourselves in the world, and we will make Britain a country that works, not for the privileged few, but for every one of us.

"That will be the mission of the government I lead, and together, we will build a better Britain."

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