Britain must remain in the EU to compete in global race, Cameron claims as he attacks 'bloated welfare system' and failing schools
Remaining part of the European Union
is vital to Britain being able to compete in the world, David Cameron
will claim in a bold speech today.
The Prime Minister will warn that a ‘bloated welfare system’ and underperforming state schools are holding Britain back in the ‘global race’.
But he will risk angering Eurosceptics in his party, insisting the UK must be at the top tables of all international groups including the European Union.
The Prime Minister will lay out three key goals - creating a world-class education system, reforming benefits and rebalancing the debt-fuelled economy - which he will describe as ‘national weaknesses’.
In a bullish speech ahead of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland next week, he will set out ‘ruthless’ plans to ‘turn our country around and give all our people the best chance of success’.
Taking on welfare spending, after a week in which the Labour party finally committed to caps on benefits, and economists predicted that austerity could last another decade, he will say: ‘We have identified, very clearly, our key areas of national weakness compared to the rest of the world.
‘One – our debt-fuelled, unbalanced economy. Two – our bloated welfare system. Three – our under-performing education system.
‘These are the priorities that define and drive our domestic agenda. A stronger economy. Welfare that works. A world-class education system. And we are pursuing them with ruthless ambition for everyone in this country.’
He will attack Labour’s record on education, and say a ‘sense of opportunity’ has been lacking for too long for children in the worst performing schools.
Britain’s national interests are a battle ‘on two fronts’, with the need to both competing at home and stand up for British values abroad, and every government department will be focused on the global race, he will say.
He will also set a goal to make
Britain one of the top five places in the world to do business and the
number one country to do business in Europe in the next three years.
'When your prosperity is won in far-flung places, when your fortunes are disproportionately affected by what happens beyond your borders then your national interest is not just about standing up for yourself – but standing up for what’s right, and standing for something more.
‘At the UN. The Commonwealth. NATO. The WTO. The G8. The G20. And yes – the EU. Membership of these organisations is not national vanity – it is in our national interest’, he will say.
‘The fact is that it is in international
institutions that many of the rules of the game are set on trade, tax
and regulation. When a country like ours is affected profoundly by those
rules, I want us to have a say on them.
‘That doesn’t mean supinely going with the flow…far from it. At the European Union we are prepared to stand up for Britain’s interests with resolve and tenacity.
'In Europe, actions speak louder than words. This is about boldly pursuing our interests - not by withdrawing from the world but engaging with it.’
He will boast of how he secured a cut in the EU's seven-year budget, removing Britain from the Eurozone bailout mechanism and vetoing an EU Treaty.
But Mr Cameron will say a single market of 500million people in Europe would be a ‘huge advantage in this world’ if it worked properly and was not bureaucratic, but said ‘The EU is a way off that goal yet’ which is why he is seeking to negotiate a new membership deal for Britain and put it to a referendum.
Among the policies he will mention are investment in apprenticeships which are equivalent of a degree, and ‘re-writing the benefits system so that work actually pays.’
He will say: ‘I have a very clear vision of the country we are building. It’s one where there is a sense of opportunity that was lacking for too long.
'Where children in all our schools – in the roughest areas, the places that were once written off are encouraged to dream, inspired to learn and feel good about where they’re going.
‘Where those who want to work
hard can get a good job, with prospects and a decent wage each month -
enough for a home to raise their family in, enough to feel that things
are getting better.
'As a parent what you want more than anything is to be able to look at your children and know they will grow up and be able to fulfil what they were born to be.
‘We tell them that if they try, they can make something of their lives. That is what we teach our children. And we need to build that country for them. Where everyone who works hard can get on. Where effort is rewarded. Where we pull together to make life better.’
The Prime Minister will warn that a ‘bloated welfare system’ and underperforming state schools are holding Britain back in the ‘global race’.
But he will risk angering Eurosceptics in his party, insisting the UK must be at the top tables of all international groups including the European Union.
The Prime Minister will lay out three key goals - creating a world-class education system, reforming benefits and rebalancing the debt-fuelled economy - which he will describe as ‘national weaknesses’.
In a bullish speech ahead of the G8 summit in Northern Ireland next week, he will set out ‘ruthless’ plans to ‘turn our country around and give all our people the best chance of success’.
Taking on welfare spending, after a week in which the Labour party finally committed to caps on benefits, and economists predicted that austerity could last another decade, he will say: ‘We have identified, very clearly, our key areas of national weakness compared to the rest of the world.
‘One – our debt-fuelled, unbalanced economy. Two – our bloated welfare system. Three – our under-performing education system.
‘These are the priorities that define and drive our domestic agenda. A stronger economy. Welfare that works. A world-class education system. And we are pursuing them with ruthless ambition for everyone in this country.’
He will attack Labour’s record on education, and say a ‘sense of opportunity’ has been lacking for too long for children in the worst performing schools.
Britain’s national interests are a battle ‘on two fronts’, with the need to both competing at home and stand up for British values abroad, and every government department will be focused on the global race, he will say.
'Membership of these organisations is not national vanity – it is in our national interest'
David Cameron
'When your prosperity is won in far-flung places, when your fortunes are disproportionately affected by what happens beyond your borders then your national interest is not just about standing up for yourself – but standing up for what’s right, and standing for something more.
‘At the UN. The Commonwealth. NATO. The WTO. The G8. The G20. And yes – the EU. Membership of these organisations is not national vanity – it is in our national interest’, he will say.
Progress: Mr Cameron will explain what a 'huge
advantage' EU membership is for Britain but how we need to renegotiate
its workings
‘That doesn’t mean supinely going with the flow…far from it. At the European Union we are prepared to stand up for Britain’s interests with resolve and tenacity.
'In Europe, actions speak louder than words. This is about boldly pursuing our interests - not by withdrawing from the world but engaging with it.’
He will boast of how he secured a cut in the EU's seven-year budget, removing Britain from the Eurozone bailout mechanism and vetoing an EU Treaty.
But Mr Cameron will say a single market of 500million people in Europe would be a ‘huge advantage in this world’ if it worked properly and was not bureaucratic, but said ‘The EU is a way off that goal yet’ which is why he is seeking to negotiate a new membership deal for Britain and put it to a referendum.
Among the policies he will mention are investment in apprenticeships which are equivalent of a degree, and ‘re-writing the benefits system so that work actually pays.’
He will say: ‘I have a very clear vision of the country we are building. It’s one where there is a sense of opportunity that was lacking for too long.
'Where children in all our schools – in the roughest areas, the places that were once written off are encouraged to dream, inspired to learn and feel good about where they’re going.
Global outlook: Mr Cameron, pictured in Strasbourg, says that he has the plans to 'turn our country around'
'As a parent what you want more than anything is to be able to look at your children and know they will grow up and be able to fulfil what they were born to be.
‘We tell them that if they try, they can make something of their lives. That is what we teach our children. And we need to build that country for them. Where everyone who works hard can get on. Where effort is rewarded. Where we pull together to make life better.’
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