Mr Major’s Address to Sailors on HMS London – 8 January 1991

The text of Mr Major’s address on HMS London, given on 8th January 1991 to troops in the Gulf.

PRIME MINISTER:

[Beginning of speech inaudible]

…and how much I appreciate your hospitality while I have been here and how very impressive I found your demonstration over the last few moments. I only wish that those people who wish us ill at any time could have seen it, I am sure it would have scared the pants off them.

I am sorry these remarks have to be brief but I need to leave for Muscat very speedily. I know over the last few weeks you have been at sea for some time and it is quite a while before you get back home again. I dare say it has been a frustrating period for you but I would like to express my thanks for all the splendid work that you have done here over recent weeks and that I know you will do over the weeks to come.

One always gets a curious perception when you see people very briefly, but the perception that I have had this afternoon is not only that you are an extremely professional outfit but that you seem to be doing the job with a great will, a great vigour and seem in extremely good heart and I am very pleased indeed to hear that.

I wish you the very best of luck in the next few weeks and I hope these uncertainties that we now face will soon clear away. Thank you very much for your hospitality this afternoon and the best of luck in the future.