Mr Major’s Doorstep Comments – 5 February 1994
Below is the text of Mr Major’s doorstep comments, made on Saturday 5th February 1994.
PRIME MINISTER:
Michael’s made a mistake; he has apologised; the matter is finished. What I propose to do is get us right back to the red meat of politics. That is that thing that counts at the moment. The Labour Party have a conference this weekend. Are we going to get any fresh policies out of them? Any ideas out of them? Any propositions out of them? The answer is absolutely no. If one looks at what is happening, the British economy is now back on the road to recovery. What the Labour Party are offering is a return to what is the imposition of a 35 hour week, moving to the Social Chapter and all sorts of propositions that will just keep people out of work. That’s what politics is about, employment and jobs.
[Inaudible question].
I have told you, we’re concentrating on the real issues of politics. That’s what matters, how to get Britain moving again, to make sure Britain gets back to work again, and we get back into secure, sustainable growth. That’s what’s happening. Those are the message that need taking out to the people in this country and that’s what we are going to do.
[Inaudible question].
There’s no distraction that’s going to push this government off the policies that are going to get us back into growth. We’re now in growth, we’re leading Europe out of recession, we’re going to persist with those policies and we’re going straight into the main items of politics. That’s what we are going to discuss with the people over the next few months. Jobs, growth, prosperity, how to keep inflation low. That’s what they are concerned about.
[Inaudible question].
It’s over, the matter’s over. We are concentrating on the matters that are really important to the British people. No side shows. We’ve had enough side shows in the last couple of years. What we now are going to concentrate on are the things that are of importance to the future of this country.
[Mr Major was asked the Palace break-in].
I have had a report of the incident. There is more work being done and we will see if there are any lessons to be learned from it. No member of the Royal Family was present at the time. I gather it is under further investigation. Security arrangements are not something I propose to discuss publicly. They are kept under very careful review all the time.