A YEAR OF HOPE AND LIBERTY
1983 was an historic year for the Conservative Party. We won a decisive victory at the General Election. Faced with a clear choice, the British people once again rejected State Socialism and supported the ideals of the Conservative Party.
The victory belongs to the thousands of Party workers in all the constituencies who worked so hard before and during that Election. I want to thank every one of you.
Our commitment remains as strong as ever to the goals we set ourselves in the first term of office: The defence of the realm and of our way of life; support for the rule of law; greater freedom and personal responsibility for our citizens; protection for the most vulnerable members of our society—the sick, the old and the disabled; honest money and prudent finance; and an efficient and competitive economy which alone can provide secure jobs.
We have already made considerable progress. Inflation has been brought down to its lowest level for years. Production of goods and services is now increasing faster in Britain than in any other country in the European Community And the prospect for jobs is becoming brighter. [end p1]
We have shown what can be done. But this is only the beginning of the revival of Britain.
We have embarked on our second term with the same enthusiasm and determination with which we came to office 4½ years ago.
But this time we have something else as well. The British people now know that we are as good as our word. And the rest of the world is beginning to know it too.
They know that this Government is a reliable ally and a staunch defender of the rule of law, both at home and abroad.
They know that this Government will never hesitate to stand up for Britain's interests. We shall persist until we secure a fair and reasonable settlement of the problems of the European Budget and the Common Agricultural Policy.
And we must all work hard to ensure that Conservative policies for Europe bring a Conservative triumph in the European Elections in June.
With the Conservatives, Britain is a country to rely on, a country to invest in, and a country with a future.
We want men and women of all ages and in all walks of life to set their hopes high and to carry them through into reality. We want people to succeed, so that they can provide for their own families and so that we, as a country, can afford better health care and improved public services.
That success for the nation will only come through the efforts of individuals. And we shall not be afraid to encourage enterprise and reward success. [end p2]
But if individuals are to succeed, they need a Government which follows a consistent and coherent policy—and sticks to it.
We shall continue to protect the value of your money. We shall continue to control public spending and see that the public gets full value for money. We shall continue to protect the pensioner and the NHS.
We shall carry forward our sweeping reforms to protect the customer against monopoly and restrictive practices wherever they are found—in the trade unions, in business, and in the professions too.
And we shall continue to remove from State control industries which ought never to have been nationalised. We have already shown time and again that denationalisation saves taxpayers' money and improves service to the customer.
This Government already has a reputation for consistency. We are rapidly winning a name for imaginative and radical new ideas.
We shall judge those policies by one simple test: Do they make life better for individuals and their families?
No-one can accuse this Government of complacency. Far from losing our way, we are just getting into our stride.
We have stayed right on course. We have kept in tune with the people of this country. And we have remained true to our ideals.
Today, no less than when we first came into office, we believe what we say, we say what we believe, and have the courage to see it through.
And that is why I am convinced that for Britain at least, George Orwell was wrong. 1984 will be a year of hope and a year of liberty.