Speech at the QE2

9 July 2007

The Prime Minister has outlined the key areas in which the Government plans to push ahead with reform.

• PM outlines government priorities

Read the transcript

Prime Minister:

Let me thank all of you - Gus O'Donnell, senior staff, all cabinet office staff - for the manner, and the expertise with which you managed a transition that was seen by the whole world as smooth and effective.

When I stood on the steps of Downing Street I said I would invite all men and women of goodwill to join in a new era of public service in our country:

• men and women volunteering for service in their community...
• young people undertaking community national service...

...but I know that every day hundreds of thousands of Britain's civil servants also undertake public service which benefits individual communities and the country as a whole.

And I want not just to thank you today for the efficiency and professionalism of the work you do but also to set out my vision of the Britain I believe we can all create together.

It is of course a changing Britain. A Britain changing because of:

• global economic competition
• climate change
• security and terrorism
• and of course rising aspirations

And what these challenges have in common is that we cannot solve them without involving and engaging the British people.

People don't want us to walk away. In an insecure world they want us to be with them on their side.

People want us to put government at the service of creating opportunity for people.

And I want a Britain where people rise as far as their talents take them and then all the talents of each of us can contribute to the wellbeing of all of us.

Last week we announced changes to put patients first in an improved NHS and to make sure the NHS is there for all British families when they need it.

Last Thursday we announced changes in tuition fees that will mean the vast majority - two thirds - of students will now receive grants and mean that young couples buying their first home can take a five year holiday from tuition fee repayments.

So in education as we encourage higher aspirations there will be more opportunity for all who work hard and make the effort.

Tomorrow we will announce changes that help all children at primary and secondary school benefit from personalised learning and at all levels raise their performance.

And in the days ahead we will bring forward announcements to put affordable housing, adult skills, and better career chances within the reach of more and more people.

Why? Because I believe that Britain is a nation of talented and creative people with the potential to make the most of their lives - and who will benefit from our support and encouragement to do so.

And the task of this government is to break down the barriers to opportunity and ensure that in a fast changing world there is opportunity and security for all.

I believe we need to respond to the rising aspirations of this generation of British people.

The Britain of rising aspirations needs a government with a mission to deliver new and better opportunities.

And I want opportunities that are today only available to some to be accessible to all:

• new and better opportunities for your child to benefit from teaching tailored to your child's needs
• new and better opportunities for you and for young couples to get on the housing ladder
• new and better opportunities for you to succeed at college or university or get an apprenticeship
• new and better opportunities for you to get a skill and then a job and then a career
• new and better opportunities for you to save and plan your pension

And our task is not just to break down the barriers to opportunity but to provide the best chances for people to make the most of themselves and their potential.

If we take the right long term decisions I'm optimistic about Britain's future.

And I'm optimistic that there is no weakness in Britain today that cannot be overcome by the strengths of Britain and the British people.

I want a Britain where there is a stronger 'can do better' culture.

So we believe in supporting all parents with children and not just some. We believe in investing in the educational chances of all children not just some. We believe in helping all people into work and not just some.

All of us are united in a common purpose: the transformation of Britain for the better

And together, in partnership, I believe we can make it happen.