Howard: "Rewarding fair play"

Michael Howard has set out his vision of Britain in a wide ranging pre-election speech.

At a party rally in London, the Tory leader invoked a vision of a country committed to the values of "fair play and rewarding those who play by the rules", and promised voters that he would "liberate and serve the forgotten majority".

Adopting a softer tone than in recent weeks, he nevertheless insisted that critics of his populist stance would not stop him speaking out on controversial issues such as immigration, traveller camps, and MRSA.

The Conservative chief played on his own immigrant roots and paid tribute to "the quiet heroism of Private Johnson Beharry" who was awarded the Victoria Cross last week.

"That a young man from Grenada, a small island in the Caribbean, with deep and long-standing ties to Britain, should become the first living recipient of the Victoria Cross in 36 years says something remarkable about Britain," he argued.

Britishness

But describing the view of the continent from his house in Kent, Howard added: "Much as I love France, I always think how intensely grateful I am that I was born on this side of the Channel."

"I am deeply proud of being British," he said.

"I'm proud of our history, our traditions. I'm proud of the contribution our country has made to the world.

"And I'm confident that Britain can make an even greater contribution in the years ahead. I'm proud of our past and I want to be proud of our future."

"My hopes for Britain are rooted in the values of the hard working families who make our country the best in the world: rewarding enterprise; encouraging individual responsibility; and a pride – no matter what our colour, creed or religion – in being British," he added.

"Governments cannot do everything - but if they govern with the right values then they can make a real difference.

"The Britain I believe in will reward people who do the right thing: the people who work hard, pay their dues, bring up their children to respect others. The people who don't expect something for nothing.

"The Britain I believe in will give hard-working families the support they deserve. Those people who play by the rules, pay their taxes, respect others and ask for nothing from the state but good local services need a government which never forgets what a struggle life can be."

Tribute

Howard praised public servants as well as business leaders.

"They are professions, professions without which no decent society can function," he said.

"Respect for public service means trusting professionals. 

"And that means a government that's prepared to take a blowtorch to paperwork. A government that won't patronise doctors and teachers with the dogma of the politically correct.

"Business needs a government which rewards risk taking and rewards hard work. A government prepared to make the tough decisions needed to cut waste and bureaucracy so that it can lower taxes and reward families for their hard work."

On immigration he said that "cultural richness and economic vitality" is being "endangered by a system which turns a blind eye when the rules are abused, which is openly exploited by criminal gangs and which places a strain on communities with already over-stretched public services".

And he added: "The balance between rights and responsibilities in Britain is out of kilter.

"Too many people now believe that they are no longer wholly responsible for their actions. And the rights culture rewards those who don't play by the rules."

Opportunity

He concluded by calling on the Conservatives to seize "a historic opportunity to put the forgotten majority in power".

"Just imagine for a moment what our country would be like if the values of the hard working forgotten majority prevailed," he asked.

"It would be a liberation. With lower taxes and regulation slashed, our people would be freed to make the most of their talents.

"With hard work rewarded properly and risk-takers recognised our economic future would be better still.

"With the foundations laid for real, lasting, secure growth families would be able to keep more of their own money and our schools and hospitals get the investment they need.

"With professionals free to make the judgements that matter, and citizens free to choose the services they need, the chemistry of competition would generate innovation and excellence in schools and hospitals.

"It is time to liberate our nation. To unlock its hidden potential, to trust its deepest instincts, to be led by the values of the forgotten majority.

"It is time to reward those who do the right thing. It is time, at last, for a government that believes in Britain."