PM outlines plans for transparent Government

The Prime Minister has outlined plans to make Government more transparent and allow people to hold ministers and public services to account.

In his first podcast, David Cameron said he would “rip off the cloak of secrecy” surrounding Government information and help to rebuild trust in politics.

As a first step, details of public spending over the past 12 months, information about hospital infections and some of the salaries of senior Whitehall officials will be published next week.

The PM said:

“If there’s one thing I’ve noticed since doing this job, it’s how all the information about government; the money it spends, where it spends it, the results it achieves; how so much of it is locked away in a vault marked sort of private for the eyes of ministers and officials only.

“I think this is ridiculous. It’s your money, your government, you should know what’s going on. So we’re going to rip off that cloak of secrecy and extend transparency as far and as wide as possible. By bringing information out into the open, you’ll be able to hold government and public services to account.”

“We are getting to grips with the deficit” – PM

The Prime Minister has spoken about the Government’s plans to cut the deficit during a live interview on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning.

Speaking to presenter Evan Davis, the PM said there could only be a “sustained recovery” with real growth and jobs if ministers tackled the Budget deficit.

Earlier this week, Chancellor George Osborne outlined where £6.2 billion of savings will be made in government spending during this tax year and the plans were a key part of the Queen’s Speech on Tuesday.

The PM said:

“The key thing is we promised £6 billion of spending reductions; we have delivered £6 billion of spending reductions. That is good for our economy, it shows us getting to grips with the deficit, it will enhance international confidence in the economy.”

He added:

“I think it is an important point, though, that reducing the deficit and getting the economy to grow, they’re not alternatives, they go together. We’re only going to get a sustained recovery with real growth, real jobs [and] the wealth we want to see in our country, if we get to grips with the fact that we have an 11 per cent budget deficit.”

Conservatives Abroad Dubai - Executive Committee Meeting

Capital Club, The Gate Village, DIFC, Dubai
26 May 2010 at 5:30pm

The Executive Committee ("EC") of Conservatives Abroad Dubai and Northern Emirates met yesterday at the Capital Club for the first time since Prime Minister David Cameron was elected to office.

The EC discussed a number of subjects including ways in which the supporter base could be grown.

The EC also agreed to increase frequency of meetings and decided to start inviting supporters to join for post meeting drinks.

Conservatives Abroad Dubai and Northern Emirates EC Members:
David Haigh
Zulfi Hydari
Darren Davis
Peter Gray
John Belsey

www.conservativesme.blogspot.com

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Queen’s Speech 2010

The Queen has outlined the Government’s priorities for the coming Parliamentary year in the Queen’s Speech following the official state opening of Parliament.

Reducing the deficit and continuing to ensure economic recovery was one of the major areas covered by the speech.

The Queen said:

“The first priority is to reduce the deficit and restore economic growth. Action will be taken to accelerate the reduction of the structural budget deficit.”

Twenty20 champions visit Number 10

England’s world-beating Twenty20 cricket team has visited Number 10 for a reception celebrating their success.

Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed team members including captain Paul Collingwood and player-of-the-tournament Kevin Pietersen to Downing Street.

England won the ICC World Twenty20 for the first time earlier this month after beating Australia in the final in Barbados.

The PM said:

“It really was a fantastic result and you made the whole country incredibly proud. As a cricket fan myself, you always remember where you are for the great England victories and everyone will remember what you all achieved in the Twenty20.”

He added that although it was a team victory, he especially wanted to praise Mr Collingwood, Mr Pietersen and Craig Kieswetter for their “inspirational” performances during the tournament.

Government unveils Ministerial Code

The Government has today published three documents to ensure greater accountability and transparency for Ministers.

The Ministerial Code, published by the Prime Minister, sets out the standards of conduct expected of Ministers.

The Code bars former Ministers from lobbying Government for two years; tightens controls on government cars and numbers of special advisers; and requires the regular publication of Ministerial meetings, hospitality, gifts and travel.

The Ministerial Code covers all aspects of ministerial life from access to official papers and appointments to the use of Government resources and the handling of Ministers’ private interests.

The Government has also published a list of Cabinet Committees which shows the membership of each committee and shows a significant reduction in the total number of Committees.

The third document is the Coalition Agreement for Stability and Reform which sets out the practical and operational arrangements for how the Parties will work together in coalition.

PM meets Chancellor Merkel in Berlin

Prime Minister David Cameron has held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

In his first visit to Germany as PM, Mr Cameron visited the Chancellery, where the two leaders discussed EU cooperation and the ongoing economic situation in Europe.

Speaking at a joint press conference after their meeting, the Prime Minister said he wanted a “strong and positive partnership” with Germany.

He added that although the UK would not be joining the euro, it was in the UK’s interests to have a strong eurozone.

The PM said:

“I want Britain to be a positive player in Europe. I want us to work together to achieve the economic stability, the growth and action on European deficits that we know is very much in the interest of all our countries and in the interests of a strong, stable economy which we very clearly need. Britain is not a member of the euro, nor are we likely to become a member, but we want a strong and stable eurozone. That is where 50 per cent of our trade goes and it’s our interest that that takes place.”

The two leaders also discussed Afghanistan and the prospect of further sanctions against Iran.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister also held talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris and met Northern Ireland’s First Minister and Deputy First Minister at Stormont.