It was incredibly moving to see the outpouring of respect towards Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. It was a moment of national unity in remembrance of someone who dedicated her life to dutiful public service. It was both inspiring and heartening to see the nation come together.
It has in all seriousness been an extraordinary three weeks. We have seen leadership pass from Queen to King and from one Prime Minister to another. And at a time of great uncertainty given pressures on the cost of living and of course the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The new Government has acted decisively to settle anxiety over fuel bills. The increase in energy prices is unprecedented and without intervention the impact on households would have been crippling. There would also have been significant impacts on jobs and livelihoods.
The level of intervention is significant. And coming on top of the spending on COVID the impact on our public finances will be with us for some time. Without it though the impact on our economy would have been extremely severe. It is at these times that Government must act to secure the economic security of our nation.
This Government headed by Liz Truss has a determined focus on growth – on making Britain the best it can be so that we all become better off. I am pleased to be playing my part as Minister for Industry. We will only enjoy good well funded public services if we ensure that we create the best conditions for wealth creation. I want a society that rewards those who take initiative and go the extra mile. Everyone should be able to keep more of what they earn.
These next six months will not be without challenge but we will do the best we can for everyone.
