Reform . What Should concern them the moSt . Given the Scale ofthe them the moSt . Given the Scale of the defeat, them the moSt . Given the Scale of the defeat, the them the moSt . Given the Scale of the defeat, the anSwer them the moSt . Given the Scale of the defeat, the anSwer iS of the defeat, the anSwer iS they of the defeat, the anSwer iS they have to worry about all of they have to worry about all of the above. The party loSt nearly the above. The party loSt nearly one in four of thoSe who voted nearly one in four of thoSe who voted for nearly one in four of thoSe who voted for it nearly one in four of thoSe who voted for it in 2019 two two, one voted for it in 2019 two two, one in voted for it in 2019 two two, one in four to labour and one int6 one in four to labour and one intdto one in four to labour and one into to the one in four to labour and one in 16 to the Liberal DemocratS So it in 16 to the Liberal DemocratS So it iS in 16 to the Liberal DemocratS So it iS difficult for the conServativeS to recover unleSS they conServativeS to recover unleSS they can conServativeS to recover unleSS they can get voterS back from reform they can get voterS back from reform but alSo they need to Et Reform but alSo they need to get voteS back from labour. The queStion get voteS back from labour. The queStion iS get voteS back from labour. The queStion iS can they find a Strategy QueStion iS can they find a Strategy that can bring thoSe GroupS Strategy that can bring thoSe groupS together . In one SenSe the anSwer iS they cant. At the the anSwer iS they cant. At the laSt the anSwer iS they cant. At the laSt election the public had the laSt election the public had loSt confidence in their ability had loSt confidence in their ability to provide a competent government and alSo doubtS attout government and alSo doubtS about partygate. ThatS a motivation for thoSe who went to Labour Motivation for thoSe who went to labour and reform. Beyond that, to labour and reform. Beyond that, thoSe who went to labour were that, thoSe who went to labour were particularly concerned about were particularly concerned about the State of the health Service, about the State of the health Service, although what diStinguiSheS the Reform VoterS iS that diStinguiSheS the Reform VoterS iS that they were particularly concerned about immigration, they concerned about immigration, they Still concerned about immigration, they Still believe in the brexit they Still believe in the brexit project, but it SeemS to me having looked at the date of that in me having looked at the date of that in a me having looked at the date of that in a SenSe what really nratterS, that in a SenSe what really matterS, firSt of all you are doubtful matterS, firSt of all you are doubtful about the partyS doubtful about the pa rtyS conference, doubtful about the partyS conference, and then when you went conference, and then when you went to conference, and then when you went to labour and reform, only then went to labour and reform, only then did went to labour and reform, only then did iSSueS like Immigration Kick in. Then did iSSueS like immiaration kickin.. Immigration Kick in. For now, tom, Immigration Kick in. For now, tom. Thank Immigration Kick in. For now, tom, thank you, Immigration Kick in. For now, tom, thank you, becauSe Immigration Kick in. For now, tom, thank you, becauSe i i Immigration Kick in. For now, i tom, thank you, becauSe i think Jeremy Hunt haS taken to the Stage. LetS liSten to what he haS to Say. Stage. LetS liSten to what he haS to Say haS to Say. They have got a Secific haS to Say. They have got a Specific claim haS to Say. They have got a Specific claim about haS to Say. They have got a Specific claim about the haS to Say. They have got a Specific claim about the budget aS you Specific claim about the budget aS you are Specific claim about the budget aS you are aware Specific claim about the budget aS you are aware and Specific claim about the budget aS you are aware and i Specific claim about the budget aS you are aware and i know. Specific claim about the budgetl aS you are aware and i know you have aS you are aware and i know you have combated aS you are aware and i know you have combated rachel aS you are aware and i know you have combated Rachel ReeveS l have combated Rachel ReeveS quite have combated Rachel ReeveS quite a have combated Rachel ReeveS quite a bit have combated Rachel ReeveS quite a bit about have combated Rachel ReeveS quite a bit about thiS, have combated Rachel ReeveS quite a bit about thiS, So quite a bit about thiS, So explain quite a bit about thiS, So exoiain why quite a bit about thiS, So explain why it quite a bit about thiS, So explain why it iS quite a bit about thiS, So explain why it iS not quite a bit about thiS, So explain why it iS not the i quite a bit about thiS, So explain why it iS not the caSe in your explain why it iS not the caSe in your view explain why it iS not the caSe in your view that explain why it iS not the caSe in your view that we explain why it iS not the caSe in your view that we have explain why it iS not the caSe in your view that we have a l explain why it iS not the caSe. In your view that we have a 22 biiiion in your view that we have a 22 billion black in your view that we have a 22 billion Black Hole in your view that we have a 22 billion Black Hole in in your view that we have a 22 billion Black Hole in the billion Black Hole in the budget billion Black Hole in the budget that billion Black Hole in the budget that labour billion Black Hole in the| budget that labour now billion Black Hole in the budget that labour now haS to fill.. ...~ , fill. You dont have to take my word for it. Fill. You dont have to take my word for it, juSt fill. You dont have to take my word for it, juSt read fill. You dont have to take my word for it, juSt read thiS word for it, juSt read thiS weei and a long journey to Go On. But and a long journey to Go On. But governing iS about doing difficult but governing iS about doing difficult thingS, making the argumentS for thoSe thingS. And about argumentS for thoSe thingS. And about that, we have had nothing. When it comeS to the bil nothing. When it comeS to the big deciSionS we need to Secure our economic growth for the future, our economic growth for the future, i our economic growth for the future, i think people are beginning to wonder whether Labour Beginning to wonder whether labour actually haS a plan at all becauSe we have had abSolutely nothing in the 12 weekS abSolutely nothing in the 12 weekS they have been in office. I weekS they have been in office. I have weekS they have been in office. I have been pretty dubiouS about i have been pretty dubiouS about the i have been pretty dubiouS about the 22 i have been pretty dubiouS about the 22 billion i have been pretty dubiouS about the 22 billion claim i have been pretty dubiouS about the 22 billion claim but what about the 22 billion claim but what i about the 22 billion claim but what i have about the 22 billion claim but what i have been about the 22 billion claim but what i have been more what i have been more intereSted what i have been more intereSted in what i have been more intereSted in and what i have been more intereSted in and impreSSed by iS troth intereSted in and impreSSed by iS both the intereSted in and impreSSed by iS both the obr intereSted in and impreSSed by iS both the obr and intereSted in and impreSSed by iS both the obr and the iS both the obr and the inStitute iS both the obr and the inStitute for iS both the obr and the inStitute for fiScal iS both the obr and the. InStitute for fiScal StudieS taikinq inStitute for fiScal StudieS talking about inStitute for fiScal StudieS talking about the inStitute for fiScal StudieS talking about the medium J InStitute for fiScal StudieS talking about the medium Term PoSition talking about the medium Term PoSition in talking about the medium Term PoSition in tax talking about the medium Term PoSition in tax and talking about the medium Term PoSition in tax and Spending,. PoSition in tax and Spending, and poSition in tax and Spending, and Saying poSition in tax and Spending, and Saying if poSition in tax and Spending, and Saying if we poSition in tax and Spending, and Saying if we go poSition in tax and Spending, and Saying if we Go On poSition in tax and Spending, and Saying if we Go On aS poSition in tax and Spending, and Saying if we Go On aS a l and Saying if we Go On aS a country and Saying if we Go On aS a country we and Saying if we Go On aS a country we are, and Saying if we Go On aS a country we are, we and Saying if we Go On aS a country we are, we wont l and Saying if we Go On aS a I Country we are, we wont be able country we are, we wont be able to country we are, we wont be able to fund country we are, we wont be able to fund our country we are, we wont be. Able to fund our CommitmentS Country we are, we wont be able to fund our commitmentS in the medium able to fund our commitmentS in the medium term able to fund our commitmentS in the medium term So able to fund our commitmentS in the medium term So at able to fund our commitmentS in the medium term So at Some the medium term So at Some point the medium term So at Some Point Political the medium term So at Some point politicaL PartieS the medium term So at Some point politicaL PartieS will point politicaL PartieS will have point politicaL PartieS will have to point politicaL PartieS will have to confront point politicaL PartieS will have to confront either. Point politicaL PartieS will. Have to confront either that point politicaL PartieS will have to confront either that we are making have to confront either that we are making two have to confront either that we are making two big have to confront either that we are making two big Stay are making two big Stay commitmentS are making two big Stay commitmentS or are making two big Stay commitmentS or not. Are making two big Stay commitmentS or not financing them commitmentS or not financing them enough commitmentS or not financing them enough and commitmentS or not financing them enough and that commitmentS or not financing them enough and that cauSeS| commitmentS or not financing. Them enough and that cauSeS a problem them enough and that cauSeS a problem for them enough and that cauSeS a problem for a them enough and that cauSeS a problem for a political them enough and that cauSeS a problem for a political Party Problem for a politicaL Party that problem for a politicaL Party that wantS problem for a politicaL Party that wantS both problem for a politicaL Party that wantS both higher problem for a politicaL Party that wantS both higher Spending or at that wantS both higher Spending or at leaSt that wantS both higher Spending or at leaSt that that wantS both higher Spending or at leaSt that wantS that wantS both higher Spending or at leaSt that wantS better or at leaSt that wantS better pubiic or at leaSt that wantS better public ServiceS or at leaSt that wantS better public ServiceS and or at leaSt that wantS better public ServiceS and at or at leaSt that wantS better public ServiceS and at the i or at leaSt that wantS better i public ServiceS and at the Same time public ServiceS and at the Same time lower public ServiceS and at the Same time lower taxeS. Public ServiceS and at the Same time lower taxeS. So public ServiceS and at the Same time lower taxeS. So firSt i public ServiceS and at the Same time lower taxeS. So firSt of. Time lower taxeS. So firSt of all, time lower taxeS. So firSt of all. Before time lower taxeS. So firSt of all, before aSking time lower taxeS. So firSt of all, before aSking you i time lower taxeS. So firSt of all, before aSking you how. Time lower taxeS. So firSt of. All, before aSking you how you might all, before aSking you how you might Solve all, before aSking you how you might Solve thiS, all, before aSking you how you might Solve thiS, iS all, before aSking you how you might Solve thiS, iS thiS might Solve thiS, iS thiS analySiS might Solve thiS, iS thiS analySiS iS might Solve thiS, iS thiS analySiS iS Something. Might Solve thiS, iS thiS L AnalySiS iS Something you might Solve thiS, iS thiS analySiS iS Something you might accept . AnalySiS iS Something you might accept . I analySiS iS Something you might acce t . analySiS iS Something you might accet .. ~ accept . I do, and i think everyone accept . I do, and i think everyone knowS accept . I do, and i think everyone knowS in i accept . I do, and i think everyone knowS in their| accept . I do, and i think everyone knowS in their heart of HeartS Everyone knowS in their heart of heartS that if you are looking of heartS that if you are looking ten, 20, 30 yearS ahead with an looking ten, 20, 30 yearS ahead with an ageing population and all the with an ageing population and all the preSSureS on the nhS and the all the preSSureS on the nhS and the care SyStem, and then you took and the care SyStem, and then you took at and the care SyStem, and then you look at what putin iS doing in ukraine you look at what putin iS doing in ukraine and the deSperate need in ukraine and the deSperate need to in ukraine and the deSperate need to put more money into Defence Need to put more money into defence and get our European FriendS defence and get our European FriendS to put money into defence friendS to put money into defence aS well, then there iS a Iot Defence aS well, then there iS a lot of defence aS well, then there iS a lot of preSSure, longer Term PreSSure a lot of preSSure, longer Term PreSSure on public financeS. What preSSure on public financeS. What the preSSure on public financeS. What the obr Said in their analySiS, which i thought waS the crucial thing. Everyone taiked the crucial thing. Everyone talked about thiS 300 Trillion ap talked about thiS 300 Trillion gap that there waS going to be, but what gap that there waS going to be, but what they alSo Said waS if we increaSe our Productivity Growth we increaSe our Productivity Growth byjuSt1 a year ahead of current Growth ByjuSt1 a year ahead of current levelS, then the entire of current levelS, then the entire gap diSappearS and that waS why entire gap diSappearS and that waS why in the budget i Said what waS why in the budget i Said what iS waS why in the budget i Said what iS the obviouS thing for the government to do Start with the government to do Start with a the government to do Start with a 20 of the economy we directly with a 20 of the economy we directly control, the public Sector, directly control, the public Sector, and thatS why we announced our public Sector Productivity Programme Starting with the Productivity Programme Starting with the nhS and that big inveStment, the 34 Billion we gave inveStment, the 34 Billion we gave to inveStment, the 34 Billion we gave to the nhS to improve itS it SyStemS. Public Sector Productivity and productivity generally, that iS a really good generally, that iS a really good example of the kind of difficult good example of the kind of difficult deciSion that a good government iS going to have to et government iS going to have to get to government iS going to have to get to gripS with. But what do we get get to gripS with. But what do we get from thiS Labour Government . 9. 11 we get from thiS Labour Government . 9. 4 Billion public Sector Government . 9. 4 Billion public Sector Pay Government . 9. 4 Billion public Sector Pay riSe, double inflation, triple inflation in the caSe inflation, triple inflation in the caSe of the junior doctorS nine the caSe of the junior doctorS nine timeS inflation without aSking nine timeS inflation without aSking for a Single improvement in productivity and return. JuSt in productivity and return. JuSt pumping 9 Billion more into juSt pumping 9 Billion more into public Sector Pay will reduce into public Sector Pay will reduce public Sector Productivity at a time when it iS already productivity at a time when it iS already 6 lower than it waS pre pandemic, So thatS not taking pre pandemic, So thatS not taking a pre pandemic, So thatS not taking a difficult deciSion, it iS docking a difficult deciSion on the iS docking a difficult deciSion on the iSSue of productivity that on the iSSue of productivity that moSt economiStS Say iS the moSt that moSt economiStS Say iS the moSt important one for the economy moSt important one for the economy if we are going to raiSe economy if we are going to raiSe living StandardS. That iS Jeremy Hunt. RaiSe living StandardS. That iS Jeremy Hunt, the raiSe living StandardS. That iS Jeremy Hunt, the now i raiSe living StandardS. That iS| Jeremy Hunt, the now Shadow chancellor, former chancellor of courSe, giving a defence of hiS own economic Strategy and hiS own economic Strategy and hiS own economic Strategy and hiS own record in government. But letS carry on talking to john curtiS. We were talking about the competence and the need for the electorate to See that the ConServative Party iS competent again. Which iS beSt placed to do that . To be honeSt, that there iS a big unknown. HoneSt, that there iS a big unknown unknown. We have four candidateS unknown. We have four candidateS that unknown. We have four candidateS that aS i unknown. We have four candidateS that aS far l unknown. We have four| candidateS that aS far aS unknown. We have four candidateS that aS far aS the wider public iS concerned, they are largely unknown categorieS. And characterS. If you look at the opinion put out yeSterday, you have nearly 50 of conServative voterS Saying i dont know enough about any of theSe characterS to be able to Say whether i like them or not or whether i would vote them. And the point of the Beauty Parade we are having over the next three dayS iS to See if we can get Some clueS aS to whether any of theSe characterS doindeed whether any of theSe characterS do indeed have the ability to reach out to the wider public to begin to command their attention, to demonStrate the ability to perhapS create a narrative aS to how the party might get itS Way Back that might get itS Way Back that might SuggeSt they will be able to reach out to wider voterS. One of riShi Sunak S problemS iS he waSnt that good at it with the party having loSt aS bad aS it did, it doeS need to badly find Someone with that quality. More broadly, there iS clearly a debate going on aS part of thiS LeaderShip ProceSS about iS the iSSue Simply a queStion of Competence And Integrity or aS Some conServative activiStS believe, and the argument to which all the leaderShip candidateS Seem to be tilting to Some degree, the reaSon why we loSt iS becauSe we put taxeS up too much and allowed immigration to be too high. In other wordS, policy StanceS. They are iSSueS that upSet Some voterS, but aS i waS Showing on the Fringe Meeting i did yeSterday on taxation for example, itS not clear but that iS the iSSue that at the moment concernS voterS. What concernS voterS iS the State of the public ServiceS, yet the ConServative Party tried to win the election by having won. InSurance which didnt make any difference but they would like to go back becauSe the laSt conServative government preSided over one of