New era of politics will benefit Wales, says Cheryl Gillan
The coalition Government’s ambitious five year plan will change Wales for the better, Secretary of State for Wales told members of Public Affairs…
The coalition Government’s ambitious five year plan will change Wales for the better, Secretary of State for Wales told members of Public Affairs Cymru in Cardiff Bay today.
Mrs Gillan highlighted how the coalition Government’s new politics is already delivering and is addressing the challenges facing Wales.
Addressing the audience, Mrs Gillan said: “Politics at Westminster has entered a new era. This new politics means doing things differently. It signals an era of co-operation, compromise and respect. It is co-operation in the national interest.
“Our top priority since in office has been to tackle the deficit we inherited. We do not relish having to take these difficult decisions but we will certainly not shy away from them - and we haven’t. Without stable finances and economic growth we cannot do the things we want to do to support vulnerable people, to invest in public services, in infrastructure, to back business and spread prosperity.
“Our next challenge is global and requires nations, as well as governments to co-operate if we are to address the issue of climate change. That is why my colleague Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary, has invited the Assembly Environment Minister to join the UK delegation at the next global climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico.
Mrs Gillan outlined the importance of communities working together to deliver local change that matters to them - a theme central to the Government’s Big Society initiative.
Mrs Gillan said: “There are many examples of the Big Society in action already across Wales from community-run post offices to redevelopments partly designed by the people they will service. These are projects that we can learn from across the rest of the UK as we take this very important initiative forward.”
The full version of Mrs Gillan’s speech is available at:
http://www.walesoffice.gov.uk/2010/09/30/public-affairs-cymru-speech/