SPEECH

Andrew - let me be the first to offer you congratulations on your victory.

You will now take over the mantle of representing Welwyn Hatfield. A privilege

that I have had for the past 19 years. After I won this seat on my second attempt,

winning it five times over.

I know that you will represent local people to the best of your ability and I wish

you well as you take up the baton.

In addition to representing Welwyn Hatfield, I’ve also had the honour to serve in

more Cabinet roles than most…

From Party Chairman to Transport Secretary. Home Secretary (briefly) to

Business Secretary, Energy Secretary and of course, Defence Secretary.

I want to pay tribute to the selfless courage of the men and women of our

Armed Forces whom I have had the privilege to work with.

There is no more important task for any government than the defence of the

realm and my proudest achievement by far has been to secure a large - multi-

billion pound - increase in funding for our military.

1
It is clear tonight that Britain will have a new govt in the morning and I am

extremely concerned that, unless it quickly commits to spend 2.5% of GDP on

defence, our Armed Forces will be let down. And so will our friends in Ukraine.

If there is something that I am most proud about in Britain today, it is our

staunch support for Ukraine and their democracy. And this must never waiver

even through a change of government.

But what is crystal clear to me is that it is not so much that Labour has won

this election, but rather that the Conservatives have lost it.

On door after door, voters have been dismayed by our inability to iron out

differences in private, then be united in public.

Instead, we have tried the patience of our traditional Conservative voters - with

a propensity to create an endless political soap opera out of internal rivalries

and divisions which have become increasingly indulgent and entrenched.

Today voters have simply said... If you can't agree with each other, then we

can't agree to vote for you.

2
We forgot a fundamental rule: people do not vote for divided parties. //

For the sake of the United Kingdom, I wish the new government well.

But for a strong democracy, the Conservative Party needs to play its part too.

By recognising what has gone wrong. And using time in opposition to refresh

and rebuild.

The Conservative Party should have a natural advantage that - at our best - we

mirror the hopes and aspirations of hardworking British people.

But there is a danger that we now go off on some sort of tangent. Condemning

ourselves - and the public - to years of lacklustre opposition, that fails to hold

the government to account effectively.

We must not let this happen. We should be clear about what went wrong. Put it

right. And create a plan to present to the public, and deserve to win again in 5

years; not 15 years or longer. //

Finally, politics is not a solo effort. So I want to thank all the staff and advisers

who have worked for me over the years in my constituency, in Parliament and in

my many ministerial offices.

3
To my agent Nat Chapman and all those who have done the role before him. To

the thousands of party volunteers who have helped me over the years. And, of

course, to my family - Belinda, Hadley, Tabytha and Noa, my mum and sister -

without whom none of this would have been possible.

I also want to thank the Returning Officer and Police for a perfectly executed

election.

And finally, thank you to the people of Welwyn Hatfield. I have been honoured

to represent you in Parliament, which has come to an end for the time being.

Thank you for your support over the years.

Thank you.