Good evening...
My name is Jeremy Corbyn. Thank you for listening to me. We are now a few days on from the unexpected general election that gave Labour a very small minority in parliament. Yesterday, Her Majesty invited me to form a government. Before I agree to do so, I want to explain to you the situation in the United Kingdom as I see it.
It's been almost 3 years since the UK voted on leaving the EU. The arguments for leaving were never clear. It now looks as if the official Leave Campaign will face prosecution for misuse of public funds and some of its leaders will face prosecution for corruption in public office. There's no doubt people were lied to about the consequences of leaving the EU. My party - my government - is going to have to face a decision about what to do next. We will have more to say about this very soon.
However, there are other issues I want to bring to your attention. We have examined the 'books' and it seems my party has inherited a national debt of 1 trillion pounds. This can't be allowed to go on accruing. Frankly, the World Bank won't allow it. In my opinion, the vanity projects we are involved in: HS2, a rail link that reaches only the English Midlands, and Crossrail, serving only London, already behind schedule and over budget - these must end, and there must be no more talk of a new runway for Heathrow or any other airport serving the South-East of England, unless it is self-funded. In addition, any state funds available should be directed to the repair and maintenance of existing - not new - infrastructure. Thus, roads in the north of England, the West Country, South Wales and Scotland should take priority in future years. As should rail connections. And that means taking railway companies back into state operation.
Whether there will be funds available for future developments is a moot point since the United Kingdom has been living beyond its means for decades now. We must find a way to curb spending. The punishment (and I use that word advisedly) of the poorest people under austerity must not continue: the needs of disabled, unemployed and poor people must be safeguarded. My government will look to reform the Social Security system. The main plank of that reform will involve obliging companies to pay their UK taxes, whatever jurisdiction they may claim to be based in. If Starbucks, Amazon and the rest decide to leave the UK, that will be their loss.
A final concern: 3 of the 4 nations in the United Kingdom are expressing unhappiness with their situation. It looks as if Scotland, where the SNP achieved a clean sweep of MPs in the general election, will seek independence in the near future. Wales is also looking to independence in the future, with the commitment of voters moving more and more towards Plaid Cymru. Northern Ireland, now that the Tories' agreement with the DUP is at an end, has a Sinn Fein government and is looking south to unification with Eire.
If - when - Scotland leaves the UK, it has been made clear by the independence parties in Scotland that a decision will have to be taken about where to base the nuclear facility currently based in Faslane, 30m from Glasgow. Other military bases in Scotland will also have to be re-sited.
There is a lot to be done in the years to come and I hope you will join me in facing the challenge.
It's been almost 3 years since the UK voted on leaving the EU. The arguments for leaving were never clear. It now looks as if the official Leave Campaign will face prosecution for misuse of public funds and some of its leaders will face prosecution for corruption in public office. There's no doubt people were lied to about the consequences of leaving the EU. My party - my government - is going to have to face a decision about what to do next. We will have more to say about this very soon.
However, there are other issues I want to bring to your attention. We have examined the 'books' and it seems my party has inherited a national debt of 1 trillion pounds. This can't be allowed to go on accruing. Frankly, the World Bank won't allow it. In my opinion, the vanity projects we are involved in: HS2, a rail link that reaches only the English Midlands, and Crossrail, serving only London, already behind schedule and over budget - these must end, and there must be no more talk of a new runway for Heathrow or any other airport serving the South-East of England, unless it is self-funded. In addition, any state funds available should be directed to the repair and maintenance of existing - not new - infrastructure. Thus, roads in the north of England, the West Country, South Wales and Scotland should take priority in future years. As should rail connections. And that means taking railway companies back into state operation.
Whether there will be funds available for future developments is a moot point since the United Kingdom has been living beyond its means for decades now. We must find a way to curb spending. The punishment (and I use that word advisedly) of the poorest people under austerity must not continue: the needs of disabled, unemployed and poor people must be safeguarded. My government will look to reform the Social Security system. The main plank of that reform will involve obliging companies to pay their UK taxes, whatever jurisdiction they may claim to be based in. If Starbucks, Amazon and the rest decide to leave the UK, that will be their loss.
A final concern: 3 of the 4 nations in the United Kingdom are expressing unhappiness with their situation. It looks as if Scotland, where the SNP achieved a clean sweep of MPs in the general election, will seek independence in the near future. Wales is also looking to independence in the future, with the commitment of voters moving more and more towards Plaid Cymru. Northern Ireland, now that the Tories' agreement with the DUP is at an end, has a Sinn Fein government and is looking south to unification with Eire.
If - when - Scotland leaves the UK, it has been made clear by the independence parties in Scotland that a decision will have to be taken about where to base the nuclear facility currently based in Faslane, 30m from Glasgow. Other military bases in Scotland will also have to be re-sited.
There is a lot to be done in the years to come and I hope you will join me in facing the challenge.
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