In Cue
There now follows a party election broadcast by the Conservative Party.
On Friday May 15th, the Prime Minister spoke at Perth:
Thatcher
Mr President, for the next few weeks, we will enjoy or endure, all the razzmatazz that accompanies a democratic election. The polls will confuse us daily, the politicians of all parties will talk, argue and canvass, no one can take the British people for granted. No one can be sure of their votes until the very last one has been counted. We never assume success, we try to deserve it but we work for it. (APPLAUSE).
The British people have seen the greatness of our country, which in 1979 was in a slough of despair and defeatism, revived and restored. (APPLAUSE) When a Government does well, Britain does well. (APPLAUSE). We're now in our seventh year of economic growth. It's put us at the top of the growth league of major European countries, after years when we were at the bottom. The British economy today is one of the strongest in the world. Britain is on the move again. [end p1] Output is up, exports are up, over the country as a whole, manufacturing productivity has gone up, at a faster rate than any other country, faster even than Japan. That gives me special pleasure to say. (APPLAUSE).
And because Conservative policies have brought about growth, there is more money available for the health service, by every test we've done far better for them, than Labour did. Labour talk about spending more money, we do the spending. The day we Conservatives took office, £8 billion a year were spent on the health service. How much do you think it is today? It is £21 billion this year an increase way above inflation. (APPLAUSE) One million more patients a year are now being treated in hospital and three and a half million more are being looked after as out patients. That is the Conservative record on the health service. (APPLAUSE). I don't doubt that Labour means well by the Health Service but the plain fact is that every Labour Government causes an economic crisis, it then has to cut back. And on what? On hospital building and on nurses's pay, that's what they did. Labour cut nurses pay in real terms during its last period of office, we've increased nurses pay by 30%; over and above inflation. (APPLAUSE) I've heard many say that the National Health Service is safe with us, I say that the National Health Service is safe only with us. (APPLAUSE).
All the improvements in the well—being and strength of our country have only been possible because we've had a strong government with sound policies and a decisive majority in Parliament. (APPLAUSE).
In this election, there is so much at stake. We look to your [end p2] help, your strength, and the people's support to elect a strong, decisive, united, Conservative Government for the third time. (APPLAUSE)
Out Cue
That was a party election broadcast by the Conservative Party.