英国首相布莱尔的演讲(6)（推荐）

第一篇：英国首相布莱尔的演讲(6)（推荐）

英国首相布莱尔演讲（6）

The creation of the National Health Service back in 1948 lifted a massive worry from people's lives.For the first time, health care did not depend on wealth.Need, not ability to pay, was what mattered.Every family in Britainhas its own reasons to thank the creators of the NHS and the expertise and dedication of its nurses and doctors.But while support for the NHS remains strongin recent years there's been increasing concern.Concern, for instance, about growing delays and patchy standards of care.About why health funding has not kept pace with other comparable countries.And these concerns, in turn, have fed fears about the very survival of the Health Service in the new century.I understand these fears but I don't share them.I believe the values and principles behind the Health Service are as relevant today as they were 50 years ago.But I also accept that only by renewing and modernising our health service fundamentally can we re-assure the country that the Health Service will continue to meet its health needs

This has meant confronting two problems which have hamstrung the effectiveness of the Health Service over decadesand sustainedtwice the real-terms increase that the NHS has received over its history.But past lack of investment is not to blame for all the shortcomings in the Health Service.It can't explain for instance, why services in one hospital can be so much better than those in another in the same town.Indeed, sometimes the whole debate about shortage of money has helped mask other serious failures in the health service which risk wasting the extra investment that we now want to put in.So the challenge we laid down when we announced the extra money is that the Government would deliver the investment but the money had to be accompanied by modernisation and reform of the chronic system failures of the NHS.That's what the first ever National Plan for the NHS, published on Thursday, delivers.It's ambitious but it is realistic.Its a plan rooted in the experience of patients and thousands of front-line NHS staff, at every level and in every part of the country who have helped draw it up.I know, because I've had dozens of meetings with them over the last few months as I've worked to help draw this up.And together we've produced this plan for the future of our health service.It's a clear strategy, with sustained investment, to deliver real improvements for the patient.At every level, there will be radical change.And every reform will be driven by the goal of redesigning the NHS around the needs of the patient.We will tackle the shortage of staff through 7,500 more consultants and 20,000 extra nurses.And by recruiting more staff, removing unnecessary barriers between professions, modernising contracts for doctors and rewarding and encouraging excellence, we will improve the service for patients and end the culture of waiting in the Health Service.By 2004 patients will be able to see their GP within 48 hours.By 2005, the maximum waiting time for an out-patient appointment will be three months, for in-patients six months.By 2010 we will have 100 new hospital schemes.We will see modern matrons to ensure high standards on the wards Patients' champions in every hospital

And a new agreement with the private sector so that we can use their spare beds and operating theatres for NHS patients where appropriate.There will also be a guarantee for patients whose surgery is cancelled at the last minute that the operation taking place quickly.Better care for patients at home so that they don't block beds unnecessarily and can recuperate better is also part of the plan.As is regular inspections of hospitals to ensure they are meeting new national standards on care and treatment In essence we are trying to reform and modernise every aspect of the Health Service.In addition we need to provide through the Health Service Dignity, security and independence in old age.It will take time, of course, to achieve all this.But a whole range of people who work in or value our health service believe it offers, this plan, a genuine opportunity to re-build the Health Service for the 21st century.If we meet this challengethe health service will continue to be a source of pride and security for the people of this country for decades to come.

第二篇：英国首相布莱尔演讲(10)

英国首相布莱尔演讲（10）

I'm sometimes asked why so much of a Prime Minister's time is spent on foreign affairs when there are so many pressing problems here at home.And I've got some sympathy with this point of view, not least because I know more than anyone what needs to be done here.But I also know that in a world which is increasingly interdependent, building good relationships between countries has never been more important.For Britain's national interests.Next week I will meet Vladimir Putin, the Acting President of the Russian Federation here in London.When I was growing up, like many of you, the Cold War was at its height.Our relations with Russia and the old Soviet Union were characterised by hostility and mutual suspicion.Since then, we have witnessed a transformation which few people would have believed possible.President Putin arrives here as the democratically-elected leader of a country in the midst of a massive transformation.He was the overwhelming choice last month of the people of Russia in free and fair elections.And while much has changed, Russia remains a great and powerful country-and an increasingly important partner for us in business.It's a country with which we share a continent and many common concerns and interests.Russia is the European Union's largest trading partner.Many British firms are already playing their part in rebuilding and modernising its economy and many more firms want to follow their example.Russia is also a country, freed of the shackles of communism and dictatorship, which has the potential to make a huge contribution for good in the world.Its soldiers serve alongside ours in Bosnia and Kosovo, and we work closely with Russia in the United Nations Security Council where we are both Permanent Members.All of this explains why the decision to continue building a strong relationship with the new democratic Russia must be the right one.And it is a relationship that Russia is keen to foster as well.Britain is here seen as having something of a pivotal role, because of our place in Europe, the close relationship with our European partners but also the fact that we've got a close partnership with the United States of America.However I understand why there is some controversy about President Putin's visit, just as there was over my decision to accept his invitation to meet him in St.Petersburg last month.Off course there is real concern over what is happening in Chechnya.Last month when I met President Putin, we talked this over in detail together.I can understand Russia's need to respond to the threat of force from extremists and terrorists.But I am also clear that the measures taken should be proportionate and consistent with its international obligations.Russia should allow full access to international organisations which have a role to play in Chechnya and I hope that Russia will act on the clear lesson from similar such conflicts around the world: that there are no purely military solutions.Political dialogue is essential.So of course I will take the opportunity of the visit to London to repeat our concerns, clearly and frankly to President Putin.But I believe that the best way to ensure that Russia responds to these international anxieties is through engagement not isolation.And this chance to talk directly and frankly about matters of difference as well as issues of shared concern demonstrates why meetings of this kind are so important.It's a fact that today problems and solutions rarely stop at national borders.Events in one country quickly spill over to their neighbours.We live in a global economy.Economic decisions made in one country have an impact on the other side of the world as we saw with the Asian economic crisis a couple of years ago.Politics too, however, is becoming increasingly globalised.So it is more vital than ever that we maintain friendships between countries and leaders, build new ones and share experiences and views for the benefits of our citizens.It is in the end only by building alliances and winning arguments that Britain, for example, was able to help shape a new economic agenda agreed at last month's European summit which focussed the whole direction of European economic policy far more strongly, rightly so, on jobs and future prosperity and economic reform.It's only through our ties with the United States and European partners that we were able to act successfully together to stop ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and allow one million people who otherwise would be refugees in Europe, allow them to return home.We have already seen greater co-operation between Russia and this country than anyone could have forecast just fifteen years ago.But we have to build on this, consign the Cold War relationship to the past and grasp the opportunity for real partnership in the future.A partnership from which not just both our countries, but also Europe as a whole, can benefit.And we can see this already despite our differences.We have worked together, in bringing stability to the Balkans.There is increasingly close co-operation, for instance, between our security forces in tackling international organised crime and drugs.This co-operation has to be in the best interests of our two countries and our citizens.And like all such relationships, it can only be enhanced by direct and personal contact.For some Britain is an island, and as a result of being an Island, and we should almost try to isolate ourselves as much as possible from the world around us.But this inward-looking view is not the true lesson of British history.My belief, passionate belief, is that our historic role has been of a Nation outward-looking and engaged.For me Britain thrives when we make allies, argue our corner;take our case out to the world.That's why we will be having this meeting with President Putin in London next week and why I will continue working at home and abroad to do all I can to protect our security, promote British interests, British jobs and British prosperity.

第三篇：英国首相布莱尔的演讲

I make no apologies for returning to the subject of drugs so soon.As I said three weeks ago, the threat drugs pose to our children is something which terrifies all parents.Some of you may have seen the TV programme on Wednesday night about the death of Leah Betts after taking ecstasy.Not long ago, I sat downset up as one of the first priorities of the new Scottish Parliament.Its an exciting initiative intended to co-ordinate action against drugs north of the border and one we will be watching closely.But whether we do things slightly differently in Scotland to England, or in the UK to the rest of the Europe, or indeed in Europe to the rest of the world, the real lesson for all of us is that we can only win this war against drugs together.There is a great deal of good work already going on internationally particularly in Europehelping those countries that want to join us.We are already helping them economically to prepare for European Union membership.But we must also help them in the fight against international crime and drugs.Not just for their own sakes now but for the future of an enlarged European Union.Britain will be setting a lead by expanding our own anti-drugs programmes with these countries.Increasing the assistance, for instance, we already give in training police and customs officers.Providing the extra resources they need from sniffer dogs to computer software to spot money laundering.So we are going to set a lead internationally.Keith Hellawell is doing this with INTERPOL and the United Nations.But we are also going to do more at home.In the next few days, we will be unveiling the new Criminal Justice Bill.This will give police new powers to help break the link between drugs and crime.For the first time, they will be able to test for drugs suspects they have arrested for a whole range of offences.Its a controversial move but one that I am convinced is right.Because I know you expect us to do all we can to combat the threat drugs pose to our families, our communities and our country.And that's what we will continue to do, whether at home or abroad.

第四篇：英国首相布莱尔演讲(7)

英国首相布莱尔演讲（7）

I want to talk today about a subject on which I've probably spent almost as much time as anything else since I became Prime Ministeron government, on decommissioningthe best for a generationthe most important Agreement that has happened and a historic achievement in relations between Britain and Ireland since the Treaty 80 years ago.I believe that we, during that week of two years ago, got the balance right and the institutions were working extremely well, responding to the real needs of real people.All sides were beginning to reach out to each other.Tragically therefore the institutions are in suspension.Above all else, the Prime Minister and myself and all of the Parties are determined to put them back in place at the earliest possible date.It's our highest priority to do that.We believe that the institutions are working for Loyalists and Republicans, for Unionists and Nationalists and can make Northern Ireland prosperous.The economic prosperity in the North is beginning to grow.Peace is at its strongest ever.Violence thankfully has practically stopped in all its respects.And if we can continue to renew our collective commitment to the Good Friday Agreement we can restore the institutions and bring forward the implementation of all the Agreements and all its aspects.I agree fully with the Prime Minister that on issues of human rights, on equality, of the implementation of many parts of the Agreement, that it's worked extraordinarily well.We are seeing peaceful cooperation between communities.We are seeing greater cooperation North and South and in the period that the north south bodies were operating, we saw the prosperity of the islands moving forward.And what is true of our excellent economic relations holds good for cooperation in sports and politics, in culture and social life.I am proud of the quality of the relationships between Ireland and Britain that's been built up by Tony Blair and I over the last two years.And I wanted to publicly acknowledge the role which everybody plays to do that and particularly what the British Government have done.I believe that strong Anglo-Irish relations are a great source to our country and I am determined to make them stronger in every way moving forward.The relations between Ireland and Britain on the economic front have never been better.And the level of economic inter-dependence between us has never been greater.And for all of these reasons, and the fact that our people are now again travelling across the sea-an enormous part of tourism and an enormous part of investment, last year 3.4 million people visited Ireland from Britain, this new relationship which we have built up together can be completed and we can see the Good Friday Agreement in all its respects in an inclusive way with all of the parties working together successfully implemented.I look forward on the other side of the Easter break to continuing this work with the British Prime Minister and thank him for the enormous amount of involvement and commitment and dedication he's given to it over the last three years.

第五篇：英国首相布莱尔的演讲

英国首相布莱尔演讲（4）

I want to speak today about the devastating outbreak of foot and mouth disease, to say what we are doing to control and eradicate it, and how everyone can play their part in ensuring this can be achieved as quickly as possible.The situation is indeed grave for British farming.The funeral pyres of farm animals are the worst nightmare for the livestock farmers.And it is not just the financial loss, massive as that is, which is the cause of so much pain for farmers, the heartbreak also comes from all the hard work and planning, often over many years, that has ended with their animals being slaughtered and burned.This also explains why there is such a tremendous feeling of dread and anxiety throughout farming, an industry which has suffered difficult times in recent years.I want to offer my sympathy to all those farmers whose livestock has been infected.I also promise them and the wider industry that the government will do what it can to help over this very difficult period.I can also reassure all farmers and the general public that everything possible is being done to contain this disease, to eliminate it, and in the longer term to put in place any new controls needed to prevent it happening again.It is why we imposed the total ban on the movement of livestock last Friday, and have placed exclusion areas around the farms affected.It is likely there will be more cases in animals already incubating the disease, but we hope however that the controls that have been put in place will prevent the further spread of the disease.I want too to pay tribute to the tremendous efforts of the State Veterinary Service in identifying, tracing and controlling this disease.But for their work we would now be facing an even bigger problem than we are.I also want to thank the farming and livestock industry itself for the way it has reacted to this crisis, for their advice and their co-operation in putting in place the tough controls needed.Everything we have done has been in full consultation with the National Farmers Union.I can understand too why there may be general concern in the public at large.The scenes of burning carcasses on our farms are disturbing.But it is important to remember that foot and mouth disease has no implications for human health or food.But though we are not at direct risk from this disease, we can play a part, unknowingly, in spreading it.Foot and mouth disease is a highly infectious virus which can be picked up by us on our boots, clothes and cars and carried many miles.By staying away from farmland, by keeping off any footpaths through or next to farms or open land with livestock, we can help the efforts to eradicate this disease.We are giving local authorities today the power to enforce the temporary closure of footpaths and rights of way, but we hope people will voluntarily stay away in any case.Farmers, of course, are not producers of our food simply, they are also guardians of our countryside.Their hard work and dedication has created and protects the countryside we cherish and enjoy visiting.So by staying away from farmland areas, unless we have good reason, we can show our support for farmers in these difficult times and help contain and then eradicate the disease from Britain as soon as possible.Thank you.