The Copenhagen summit is of historic importance

In nine days time, representatives from 192 countries will meet in Copenhagen for the UN Conference on climate change. This summit is of historic importance. It is an opportunity for the world to take bold action to deal with the real danger of climate change.

So this week, ahead of the summit, members of the Shadow Cabinet have given a series of speeches setting out plans to help protect the global environment. Each one of these speeches sets out specific steps which need to be taken if we are going to reduce our carbon emissions.

For instance, in his speech, George Osborne set out plans to create a framework which would reward people for recycling. William Hague set out his plans to push for fundamental reform of the EU budget to redirect resources towards addressing climate change and energy security. And Andrew Mitchell set out how we need to end the scandal of taxpayers' money being used to guarantee environmentally damaging energy projects around the world.

Two incredibly powerful ideas lie behind these policies. The first is about the role of the state. Government does have a role to play in helping people to live sustainably. But it is at its best when it enables people to take action for themselves.

The second idea is about international leadership. We believe passionately that just as we are part of One Nation here in Britain, so Britain is itself part of One World. In this century of global threats and challenges, we can't afford to ignore what is happening in other parts of the world. So when it comes to tackling climate change, just as with fighting international terror, Britain must always be a strong force for progressive change in the world.

Shadow Minister Michael Gove sets out Conservative priorities for school reform

Last night I went to hear Shadow Children’s Secretary, Michael Gove, set out the five priorities on school reform for a future Conservative Government.

In a speech to the Centre for Policy Studies yesterday, Gove pledged that a Conservative government "will improve standards for all pupils and close the attainment gap between the richest and poorest".

He outlined a five-point plan for change in England’s schools:

• Move to a high quality system of teacher recruitment and training similar to those in Finland and Singapore
• Give teachers the tools and powers they need to keep order in the classroom.
  
• Deliver more robust examinations and a more rigorous curriculum.
  
• Open a new generation of independently run state schools.
  
• End waste and shift spending to a national per pupil funding formula.

Gove said that he wanted to give every child the kind of education that is currently only available to the well-off: "safe classrooms, talented and specialist teachers, access to the best curriculum and exams, and smaller schools where teachers know the children’s names".

Read the Full Speech

A policy on Europe that people can believe in

The Lisbon Treaty has beem signed by the President of the Czech Republic. It is now set to become EU law.

I know from the huge number of letters and emails that I have been receiving how much people will resent the fact we cannot now have the referendum we were promised by Labour.
But I have always been clear that, if this situation came about, I would immediately set out how a Conservative Government would respond.

First, if we win the next election, we will prohibit, by law, the transfer of further power to the EU without a referendum. Never again should it be possible for a British government to transfer power to the EU without the British people’s consent.

Second, we will introduce a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill to make it clear that ultimate authority stays in this country, in our Parliament.

And third, we want to negotiate three specific guarantees with our European partners over powers that we believe should reside with Britain, not the EU. We will negotiate the return of Britain’s opt-out from social and employment legislation in those areas which have proved most damaging to our economy and public services. We also want a complete opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights. And we would negotiate for a return of powers in criminal justice to prevent EU judges gaining steadily greater control over our criminal justice system.

If I am elected Prime Minister, the British Government I lead will be an active member of the European Union. Like every other Member State, we will fight our corner to advance our national interests. But our guiding principles will be that Britain’s interests are best served by a European Union that is an association of its member states – and we must never allow Britain to slide into a federal Europe.