A fantastic few days at Conservative Party Conference. So much energy, passion and excitement and a real feeling of the Party coming together ready to secure an election victory.
Once again there was a great exhibition hall, so I took time to visit the Alzheimer's Society, Guide Dogs, and even jump on an e-scooter. I also committed to #BackBritishFarming with the NFU. I’ll always champion our high quality and high welfare food for our shared security, and celebrate our farmers for all they do to protect and enhance our natural heritage.
I also gave my support to the tireless Stop HS2 campaigners who had a giant white elephant to send home the message that HS2 will rip up our beautiful countryside! Growth is important where it bolsters and supports communities and our natural heritage, HS2 doesn’t do this.
A fantastic schedule of events made it difficult to join and listen to everything, but I particularly enjoyed the CPS event on Social Care, the Spectator on the future of our High Streets, the launch of the Conservative Women's Enterprise Network, the Conservative Friends of the Armed Forces event, the Free Market Conservatives' event on Brexit, and of course the Home Secretary and Prime Minister's speeches. Much fun was had seeing friends and making new ones at the Eastern Region, CWO and East Midlands receptions. A big thank you to the TRG for inviting me to speak about tackling threats from terrorists and malign states on the internet, and to the CWO event on Human Rights for allowing my intervention on Syria.
Some of the most important announcements made at Conference included:
? Increase National Living Wage to £10.50 by 2024
? Rural Superbus Network to tackle rural isolation
? No release at mid-way point for violent offenders and sex offenders
? £5bn funding for Broadband Funding in rural areas
⚡️ Tasers for up to 60% police officers
? Largest Hospital Building Programme in a generation
✊ New funding to tackle County Line Gangs with licence plate technology
??⚕️ £70m for Personalised Mental Health care
? Expand Pocket Parks
? New Safer Streets Fund to provide additional lighting and CCTV coverage
??????Specialist Maths Free Schools
? Future Homes Standard to reduce CO2 emissions
⚖️ Implement a UK ‘Magnitsky’ Law
? Create Great Northumberland Forest
? More Protections for Animals
