Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending this LPUK Party Conference. It is exciting for me to see so many people who are interested in liberty and free market solutions to the challenges that we face as a nation. It makes me incredibly proud to see the ranks of our party continue to grow year-over-year, election after election. We are working to ensure that the people are allowed to build their own future, free from the meddling of government. Give yourself a round of applause!

I want to tell you that this last term has been incredibly successful, and I want to tell you about the twin objectives that I have brought to the Department for Transport. We have gotten a great deal accomplished, and I look forward to going even further after the election.

The first objective was in ensuring that the transport effects of Brexit were as minimal as possible. To this end, we have ensured that treaties are in place so that British motorists, both commercial and non-commercial, are able to drive on the continent. This ensures that transport links to Europe, especially to France and Ireland, will remain open for travellers. We have made sure that plans are in place to deal with overflows at the borders should there be issues. There will be places for cars and trucks so that they will not back up onto existing roads. I am completely confident that, no matter how Brexit plays out, our transport infrastructure is prepared for any inevitability.

What I am most proud of is our work to introduce market based solutions to our transport system. We all understand that opening our transport infrastructure to more market based competition is critical to ensuring that transport is available to all, in the most effective configuration at a price that all can afford. We have promoted the privatization of rail. We have promoted privatization of air traffic control. We have laid the groundwork for the next generation of vehicle infrastructure for electric and hydrogen vehicles. We have stood against porkbarrel spending on local transit systems. It has been a busy term!

Now I do want to say something to my critics on these local rail initiatives. I am ready to approve such projects, so long as they do not cost the British taxpayer. Why should my constituents in Humberside pay for the operations of light rail systems in Manchester and Tyneside? I say if they want improved systems their funding should be local. Let them raise their own taxes and not raise mine!

Let’s stand together for freer, fairer transport for Britain!