WE WILL BE THE NEXT GOVERNMENT

Since 1959, I have been proud to be the Member of Parliament for Finchley. Since 1979, I have been proud to be the Prime Minister. And as we enter 1987, I am proud of what Britain has achieved in the 1980s.

We have regained the respect of the world by being unswerving in support of freedom and justice, and by being totally opposed to terrorism, whether in the UK, Europe, the Middle East or elsewhere. Strong government has brought us peace and security in the world. In particular, nuclear defences have kept the peace in Europe for more than four decades. To discard those defences would be a monumental act of folly. It would put the Western Alliance, and peace itself, at risk.

Strong government at home, too, has brought success: with new freedom, new rights and new responsibilities for trade union members, for council tenants wanting to buy their own home, and for those wishing to buy shares in the newly privatised State industries. As a result, Britain today is more truly democratic than ever it was under socialism.

But although we may have beaten back socialism, we have not yet overcome it. The extremism in today's Labour Party—especially in parts of London—is seen time and again: whether in the harassment of a headmistress, or in anti-police activity. This is what happens when Labour gain power. And this is the essential difference. Socialists want the government to exercise power over people. Conservatives want the government to give power back to people. And we have done just that.

The new spirit of enterprise is gaining ground among the self-employed and in small and family businesses as well as the larger companies. The result?—over a million new jobs in the last three years, and, as we saw in the last few months of 1986, unemployment beginning to fall.

Building on our achievements, the coming year will see the Government's next moves forward: including our reforms to strengthen the powers of the courts and to help the victims of crime. We are now taking action so that as soon as possible we can abolish domestic rates in England. And we are coming forward steadily with our plans to raise standards in education.

In the public sector, too, the story is one of success. Despite the talk of so-called “cuts” , medical care and treatment in today's National Health Service is in fact better than ever before. Benefits for those in real need, and pensions for people in retirement, are higher than ever before.

Step by step, we are building a Britain in which all can take pride, and creating success for all to share.