24th November 2004

Queen's Speech:
Time to turn talk into action says Ottaway

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South has called on the Government to 'stop talking and start acting' after Tony Blair's eighth Queen's Speech was used to kick-start the Labour Party's campaign for the General Election.

With an election expected in around five month's time, Tony Blair used the Speech to ask people to trust him to deliver after 7 and a half years spent focusing on the wrong priorities.

Richard Ottaway suggested it was no surprise that Tony Blair has finally started talking about the issues that matter to people just five months before a possible general election, but argued that people shouldn't put their trust in a man who has shown he will forget about them once the election is over.

Richard Ottaway said:

"Empty promises are this Government's hallmark. I'm sure this offering will be no different. Tony Blair has had more than seven years to address the things that matter to people, but instead his Government has spent that time fighting the wrong battles.

"After 7 and a half years in power, 66 tax rises and record increases in spending, many people I speak to across Croydon South still want to know when Tony Blair's Government will deliver on the things that matter to them.

"Increasingly, people tell me that the Conservative Party is talking about the right things. We are committed to an extra 8539 police for London, and we will also deliver cleaner hospitals, school discipline, controlled immigration and lower taxes.

"We will also be accountable for our actions. Our specific Timetable for Action has set out very clearly how and when we'll deliver these things so that people can judge us by our record.

"All we get from Labour is talk when we need action and action when we don't. They tell us what to eat, how to raise our children and how to spend our spare time. But this Government can't turn talk into action when it matters. It's time for a Conservative Government that will."

ENDS

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