The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1996Prime Minister (1990-1997)

Mr Major’s Doorstep Interview in London – 10 July 1996

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Below is the text of Mr Major’s doorstep interview in London, held on Wednesday 10th July 1996.

QUESTION:

Prime Minister, what is your reaction to LG’s decision to invest in South Wales?

PRIME MINISTER:

I think it is absolutely marvellous news for Wales and absolutely wonderful news for the United Kingdom. It is not just the fact that it is the biggest ever single investment into the United Kingdom – 1.7 billion pounds – it isn’t only the 6,000 jobs it will directly create, it will of course create over time a lot of extra jobs in order to service those. So it is remarkably good news for Wales and I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to encourage them to come here.

QUESTION:

Turning to Northern Ireland, with the extra troops being sent in and the violence overnight, is the peace process effectively at an end now?

PRIME MINISTER:

No, it isn’t. At the moment we have to deal with the immediate problem that exists. The confrontation we have seen, the mob violence we have seen, does nobody any good in Northern Ireland. And I think the best way that that is going to be resolved is by negotiation at local level between the communities and I very much hope that is what is going to happen over the next day or so. But the RUC will seek to ensure that there is proper law and order there, that is essential. But I hope over the next couple of days that everyone with any influence will use that influence to encourage the communities to talk at local level and to bring this present impasse to an end. That is what we very much hope will happen.

QUESTION:

Do you think that MPs are going to support you call for pay restraint this evening?

PRIME MINISTER:

I very much hope so. We have had to ask other people for restraint over the last few years and we will have to do that again in the future. It is changing the face of the British economy, what has happened over recent years, and today’s announcement, for example, is another illustration of that. So was the announcement last week of Lite-On’s investment in Scotland of a thousand jobs.

So the Government have set out its priorities. We believe restraint is appropriate and I very much hope that is what we will be able to achieve tonight.