“It’s a great pleasure to be here.
It’s been a busy week in Wales.
We are, after all, the only country in the world to have hosted a four-day Ryder Cup!
So could I congratulate the Europeans – you won’t hear a Conservative say that too often at conference – and everyone who was involved in bringing the Ryder Cup to Celtic Manor. It was a superb achievement.
And as this is the first conference since the general election, can I start by thanking each of you for everything you did in May.
In the last few years Welsh Conservatives have won more votes and more seats with each passing election.
And I’m proud that a Conservative Prime Minister once again has the backing of a strong team of Welsh Conservative MPs.
David Cameron has already shown all the hallmarks of being a first-class Prime Minister.
Cheryl Gillan is a fantastic Secretary of State for Wales – and it’s my privilege to call Cheryl a friend as well as a colleague.
“Conference, events since May have been frantic.
But a few weeks ago came the news we’d all been expecting.
The left-wing government told the National Assembly the budget was “overloaded.”
The role of the state would be reduced.
State control of the economy loosened.
State subsidies for all would end.
The private sector would at last be allowed to grow.
You see – even Cuba’s reforming!
Even the Castros have realised the need to bring sky-high public spending under control!
“Sadly, in the National Assembly for Wales, there’s been no such change of heart.
In Wales it’s the same old politics; the same old Labour.
Labour has run Wales like its own private fiefdom.
It has centralised control in Cardiff Bay.
Built an army of bureaucrats.
Told our teachers it knows more about education than they do; our doctors and nurses it knows more about patient care.
At Westminster we may have got rid of a tired old Labour Government …
In Wales we’re still stuck with them!
“And so whilst Conservative Ministers in Westminster are opening up government spending to scrutiny like never before…
Labour Ministers in Wales continue to preside over a culture of secrecy and censorship – shutting out the public with deals behind closed doors.
The Health Minister won’t investigate claims that £1 billion of NHS funding is not being spent effectively.
She has smothered a report into the state of the health service.
Nowhere else in the world would a “discussion document” not be released for discussion!
“Conference, whilst Conservative Ministers in Westminster are prioritising spending in order to get more funding to the frontline …
Labour Ministers in Wales still believe that all you have to do is to throw money at a problem, and it will magically go away.
The legacy of their failure to spend public money effectively is clear.
We’re now the poorest part of the UK.
With the least competitive economy.
And one in three of our children stuck in child poverty.
The gap in attainment between Welsh and English students is widening.
Waiting times in our hospitals are longer.
Outcomes in health are poorer.
Old Labour, old politics – and it’s the people of Wales that are paying the price.
“So you see, it’s simply not good enough for Labour to go around saying that they were “wrong” on this and wrong on that – as Labour’s new leader has.
It’s not good enough to oppose everything, chasing sound bite after sound bite – as many in Welsh Labour continue to do.
Because the people of Wales not only deserve something more.
They can now rightly expect and demand something more.
The UK coalition government has ushered in a new type of politics:
Transparent.
Inclusive.
Determined to take the difficult decisions that are needed.
In the next few months, as we head to the Assembly elections in May, I am determined that it will be the Welsh Conservatives that show we’re the party of the new politics in Wales.
With policies that will bring targeted help to thousands of small enterprises with their business rates.
Effective help to those in our communities who need it most, by combating the causes – and not just the consequences – of poverty.
“With plans to push power away from Cardiff Bay to the furthest corners of our nation, right down to the experts – the teachers, doctors and nurses – who know their students and patients best.
By working alongside the people, and not against them.
We will unleash the vast potential of the people of Wales.
That seems to me, a very revolutionary strategy indeed.
It’s time for change in Wales. Thank you.”
