Britain & free trade

We know that free trade, facilitated by the rules based multilateral trading system, is an engine of global growth and prosperity.

Good evening – I’m delighted to welcome our honoured guests, Vice President Pence and Mrs Pence, and Ambassador Johnson and Mrs Johnson. They are huge friends of Britain and I’m thrilled that they are able to join us tonight. 

This is a crucial moment for the Conservative Party, but also for the country. Earlier today, Boris Johnson set out his vision for the future of Britain and I was proud to be there supporting him.

Well it’s brilliant to be here tonight for the launch of FREER’s Social Freedom Paper, and it’s brilliant that we’ve got so many fantastic Conservative MPs and others that have written essays: Ben Bradley, Luke Graham, Rebecca, on issues from vaping to medicinal cannabis and to more generally how

2019 is a massive year for British politics – and not just because it’s the year I joined Taylor Swift’s squad. As we leave the European Union, we have an opportunity to set out a new economic agenda.

Well thanks very much to the British Business Bank for sponsoring tonight’s event and producing this excellent report. We have got a room full of people here who are brilliant businesspeople.

It’s fantastic to be here in Leeds. I grew up here mainly in the 1990s, and it’s more trendy now than when I was here.

Great to be here.

I have to admit it was quite late in the day that I was invited to present these awards.

I did wonder whether I was first choice… or if Fraser had to ring as many people as the PM did to recruit the new Brexit Secretary.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Elizabeth Truss)

It’s great to be here and a privilege to follow such esteemed colleagues. 

Of course, Conference is something I look forward to every year. 

It’s a platform for Conservatives to make the big arguments about our country’s future.