 to us law and order is not an election slogan it is the foundation of the British tradition government is playing its full part in the fight against crime we've strengthened the police we've introduced tougher sentences to the British people we hear you to the police service we back you and to the criminals we are coming after you we stand for the forces of right and against the forces of evil we stand for the law-abiding majority and not the criminal minority policing safe streets is the absolute bedrock of society public needs that confidence that comes with seeing say the neighborhood team of police officer out on the streets my job is to make your streets safer and we're gonna go in with another 20,000 police on the streets and we start recruiting forthwith good afternoon everyone as someone who is first and foremost a grassroots Conservative Party member I'm sorry that we're not together in Birmingham this week as we all know the world has changed drastically since we last met COVID is the most challenging global health crisis in many of our lifetimes it has tested us as a country but it has also brought us together sometimes in tragedy and I know you will all join me in mourning every person we have lost but also in determination the fight against this disease is by no means over but as our Prime Minister has said if we stick together and or play our part there will be better days ahead because it is at times like this that we are all forced to reflect upon what is most important to us all and we find the answer in the things that bring us together family community country our sense of fair play which means on the one hand supporting the hard-working majority who play by the rules and on the other hand taking tough action against a minority who do not deliver in a firmer and fairer system for all and that is the approach that I take when it comes to law and order to uphold the rights of the law abiding majority and not the criminal minority to stand proudly alongside the brave men and women of our police and security services to remain driven by the people's priorities and to deliver on them just over a year since Boris Johnson became our Prime Minister the thugs the criminals the terrorists are in no doubt of our determination and we've already recruited over 4,300 additional police officers that means more bobbies on the beat keeping our families our communities and our country safe in June we saw the United Kingdom's biggest ever law enforcement raid led by the national crime agency demonstrating that under this government serious and organized criminals will not get away with their crimes and while some on the left have called for us to defund the police we have provided them with the biggest funding increase in a decade we've given them additional 25 million pounds to roll up county line drug gangs with this funding alone the police have shut down over 300 drug lines they've made over 2,600 arrests protected vulnerable children we are going after the ringleaders while protecting those being exploited we are supporting our outstanding counterterrorism police and intelligence agencies we are passing the toughest terrorism sentence in legislation in decades so that convicted terrorists spend more time behind bars because as conservatives we will always put your rights above those of criminals and terrorists that is firm that is fair this year we have asked our police service to do more than ever before and they've done so with relentless courage commitment and professionalism as well as policing this deadly disease we've seen our police on drug raids breaking up illegal raves and dealing with violent and abusive protesters this government will always defend the right to protest that is a fundamental pillar of our democracy but the hooliganism and the thuggery we have seen is not it is indefensible there is no excuse for pelting flares at our brave police officers there is no excuse for throwing bikes at police horses there is no excuse for disrespecting the cenotaph or vandalizing the statue of Sir Winston Churchill one of the greatest protectors of our freedoms who has ever lived it is not acceptable for the mobs to tear down statues and cause criminal damage across our streets it is not acceptable for thugs to assault our police officers just for doing their jobs as our police walk the line of duty i want every one of them to know that i have their back they have the backing of our party our government and our prime minister we work closely day in day out with chief constables police in bodies and the police federation to ensure that they have the tools the support and the powers they need training and equipping eight thousand more officers with tasers empowering them to stop and challenge those who have been known to carry knives whenever i have the privilege of accompanying officers on patrol across the country i feel proud to see them in action proud to see our brave officers support our communities proud to watch them protect us on the streets proud to witness their selflessness as they walk the beat this sacrifice is epitomized by names we know for the saddest of reasons pc andrew harper was a hero killed after responding to a call for help and in recent days we have seen another brave officer killed in the line of duty custody sergeant matt fratana in his pursuit to protect others he made the ultimate sacrifice these two officers represent the very best of us they will never be forgotten it is in the memory of andrew and matt others like them that we will continue to act to protect those on the front line and we've already made progress by introducing the police covenant to recognize their sacrifices their bravery and commitment of serving and former officers i will enshrine their physical protection health and support for their families into law we will double the maximum sentence for assaults on emergency workers and the justice secretary and i will continue working with lissy harper pc andrew harper's widow to ensure that anyone who kills an emergency worker gets the sentence they deserve because to say that the punishment should fit the crime isn't just a conservative belief it is what the people of our country expect that is firm that is fair we believe everyone should play by the same rules and those values underpin our approach when it comes to immigration we made the british public a promise that this conservative government would end free movement and we will for the first time in decades the british government will determine who comes in and out of our country we will welcome people based on the skills they have to offer and the contribution they can make not where they come from those seeking to work study or settle in the uk will need a sponsor and a visa our new british point space immigration system will attract the brightest and the best talent to our nation like the brilliant and dedicated doctors and nurses now able to use a fast track visa to come and work in our nhs and the brightest and the best scientists and academics who now benefit from the global talent route into the uk that is firm that is fair it is what the british people have demanded of their government for decades this conservative government is delivering and i believe that it is by understanding the british people's lives and their priorities that my direction will always be true which means addressing the issues that people speak to me about day in day out and yes people do speak to me about illegal migration and our asylum system illegal migration is and always has been a complex issue it has plagued many home secretaries many political parties and many governments for years people have risked their lives to enter our country illegally like those crossing the channel in dangerous small boats if the solution to stop this was simple and straightforward then believe me this issue would have been resolved by now a fair asylum system should provide a safe haven to those fleeing persecution oppression or tyranny but ours doesn't because our asylum system is fundamentally broken and we have a responsibility to act right now the most vulnerable are stuck in this broken system with over 40 000 other people almost half of these claims take a year or more to reach a decision costing uk taxpayers over one billion pounds each year the highest amount in almost two decades and because of our broken system the way people arrive in our country makes no difference to how their claim is treated let me give you three examples of how our system has failed take the example of a young person from Syria who arrived legally to the uk to work and contribute to our country while they were here the conflict in Syria deteriorated making it unsafe for them to return home when their visa expired to guarantee their own safety and protection they had no other option but to claim asylum here but they had to wait over 17 months for a decision that isn't fair all the example of someone who came to our country on a visa but went on to abuse our values and our laws by committing an abhorrent crime having served a spell in prison they filed repeated legal challenges to stop their deportation followed by numerous miraculous asylum claims so that they could stay in our country it took several court hearings at a cost to the taxpayer of tens of thousands of pounds before we could finally do the right thing and remove them that isn't firm or take the example of someone who enters our country illegally on a small boat traveling through multiple safe EU countries France Italy Spain shopping around for where they can claim asylum making that final and extremely dangerous channel crossing to the united kingdom while lining the pockets of despicable international criminal gangs our broken system is enabling this international criminal trade it is disregarding the most vulnerable elbow in women and children in need to the side trampling over the week that cannot be right all while the criminal gangs laugh in the face of the British people well i will not be complicit in that so i will introduce a new system that is firm and fair fair and compassionate towards those who need our help fair by welcoming people through safe and legal routes but firm because we will stop the abuse of the system firm because we will stop those who come here illegally making endless legal claims to remain in our country at the expense of the British public and firm because we will expedite the removal of those who have no legitimate claim for protection after decades of inaction by successive governments we will address the moral legal and practical problems with the asylum system because what exists now is neither firm nor fair and i will bring forward legislation to deliver on that commitment next year i will take every necessary step to fix this broken system and mounting to the biggest overhaul of our asylum system in decades but i'll be honest with you this will take time so as we overhaul the system i will accelerate our operational response to illegal migration we will continue to hunt down the criminal gangs who traffic people into our country i will continue to use the full force of our national crime agency and intelligence agencies to go after them we will make more immediate returns of those who come here illegally and break our rules every single week and we will continue to examine all practical measures to effectively deter illegal migration and no doubt those who are well rehearsed in how to play and profit from the broken system will lecture us on their grand theories about human rights and yet they seem to care little about the rights of the most vulnerable who are fleeing persecution oppression and tyranny what about their right to live their lives securely and free from fear that is the most fundamental right and we've already heard from the Labour Party claiming that lives will be lost but lives are already being lost so do not let them pedal a forced narrative that conservatives do not have a proud history of providing a safe haven to the most in need from the expulsion of Ugandan Asians from a repressive regime to proudly resettling more refugees from outside Europe than any other EU country to supporting campaigners fleeing political persecution in Hong Kong under conservative leadership the United Kingdom has and always will provide sanctuary when the lights are being switched off on people's liberties and for those defending the broken system the traffickers the do-gooders the lefty lawyers the Labour Party they are defending the indefensible and that is something I will never do if at times that means being unpopular on Twitter I will bear it if at times it means Tony Blair spin doctor mocking my accent so be it and if at times it means Labour members of parliament attempting to silence me because I do not conform to what their idea of an ethnic minority woman should stand for I will stomach it because as conservatives we do not measure the depths of our compassion in 280 characters on Twitter but in the actions we take and the choices we make this conservative government will continue to stand up for the hard work in law abiding majority who play by the rules and take action against a minority who do not providing a safe haven to those fleeing persecution oppression or tyranny but I will not be complicit in an international criminal trade in asylum seekers elbowing the most vulnerable to the side reform the system prosecute the criminals protect the vulnerable that is what a firm but fair asylum system should look like that is what I intend to deliver as conservatives we will protect the most in need and put the rights of those who respect the rules above those who take our country for a ride because without firmness there will be no fairness