2013-05-20T16:44:44-04:00 David Cameron http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=david-cameron Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for David Cameron Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2218605 2012-11-30T19:00:00-05:00 2013-01-30T05:12:01-05:00

David Cameron http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-cameron/ World Aids Day is a chance to do two things: take action and reflect. First and foremost it's got to be a spur to take action, as there are still far too many people who aren't educated about HIV and AIDS and who don't get tested. Over 100,000 people in the UK are living with HIV, but a quarter do not know they have it - that is 25,000 people who are not benefiting from treatment and are increasing the risk of passing the virus on. This means up to 600 people a year could be dying from a preventable, treatable condition.

People need to know that diagnosed early, the outlook for most people with HIV in the UK today is a good one, thanks to the availability of effective treatment and the excellent care provided by the NHS. Above all people need to know that it's never been quicker or simpler to get tested. In fact to demonstrate just how quick it is, this year the sexual health clinic 56 Dean Street is attempting to set a new world record for the number of people tested in one day - last year they tested 467 people, this year they're determined to beat it.

That's what World Aids Day is about: taking practical action. But it's a chance to reflect, too, on the huge strides that have already been made. Thirty years ago the friends of Terrence Higgins started a trust that has benefitted countless people. Two other bodies celebrate their 25th birthday this year - the National Aids Trust and Food Chain - and together these organisations and their dedicated teams have done so much to challenge prejudice, educate people and befriend those who are ill. Huge strides have been made abroad, too. Globally there were more than half a million fewer deaths in 2011 than in 2005 - and British campaigning efforts have played an important part in that change.

So to everyone reading this - let's use World Aids Day to spread the message about education, testing and early diagnosis. And to everyone who has been involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS for decades now - you should feel proud of what you've done.

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David Cameron http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-cameron/
Some people ask: Does the G8 still matter, when we have a G20? My answer is "Yes." The G8 is a group of like-minded nations who share a belief in free enterprise as the best route to growth. And as eight countries making up around half of the world's entire GDP, the standards we set, the commitments we make, and the steps we take can help solve vital global issues, fire up economies and drive prosperity all over the world.

Lough Erne 2013 will be focused on three ways in which we can support the development of open economies, open governments and open societies to unleash the power of the private sector. Advancing trade, ensuring tax compliance and promoting greater transparency.

First, trade. There is no greater stimulus for growth in the world economy than trade and no more important battle than the fight against protectionism. As the G8, we have a collective responsibility to drive forward trade liberalisation. I am already leading EU efforts to finalise a free trade agreement with Canada and to launch negotiations with Japan and America over the next year. I want G8 leaders to seize the opportunity of the discussion at Lough Erne to agree how we will accelerate progress across our ambitious trade agenda. To take just one example, the EU and US together make up nearly a third of all global trade. And an ambitious deal between the two could provide an enormous boost to jobs and growth adding over £50 billion to the EU economy alone.

Second, taxes. People rightly get angry when they work hard and pay their taxes, but then see others not paying their fair share. So this G8 will seek to maintain the momentum generated by the G20 on information exchange and the strengthening of international tax standards. We will look to go further including, for example, on tax havens by improving the quality and quantity of tax information exchange. And we will work with developing countries to help them improve their ability to collect the tax that is due to them too.

Third, transparency. The G8 has a long history of advances on development -- and this G8 will be no different. The UK is meeting our commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of our gross national income on aid from 2013 -- and we will be holding other countries to account for their promises too. We will also be leading the way in the battle against hunger with a special event on food and nutrition a few days before the main meeting, to follow up on this year's Olympic Hunger Summit.

But I believe the UK's track record on aid gives us the legitimacy to use this G8 in a radically different way by supporting what I call the "golden thread" of conditions that enable open economies and open societies to drive prosperity and growth for all. These include the rule of law, the absence of conflict and corruption, and the presence of property rights and strong institutions.

Transparency and accountability are vital for this. Too often, development at the G8 has been about rich countries doing things to poor countries. But at Lough Erne, we in the developed world will concentrate on issues that involve us putting our own house in order and helping developing countries to prosper. Take the issue of mineral wealth. We need to make sure that, for developing countries, this is a blessing not a curse. So the UK is leading efforts in the EU to require oil, gas and mining companies to publish key financial information for each country and project they work on. And I want this G8 to drive greater transparency all around the globe so that revenues from oil, gas and mining can help developing countries to forge a path to sustainable growth, instead of fuelling conflict and corruption.

These defining advances in trade, tax and transparency could lay the foundations of long-term growth and prosperity for generations to come. But to achieve them we also need to cut through the bureaucracy of traditional international summits.

So Lough Erne 2013 will return the G8 to its roots. The original leaders' fireside chat which inspired today's G8 gatherings took place at the Chateau de Rambouillet in 1975, organised by the then French President in response to the need to address worldwide economic problems. They held searching discussions, and issued a succinct declaration just 15 paragraphs long.

Nearly forty years on, we will go back to those first principles. There will be no lengthy communiqué. No mile-long motorcades. And no armies of officials telling each other what each of their leaders thinks -- or should think. Instead we will build on the approach taken by President Obama at Camp David this year: one table and one conversation with G8 leaders holding each other to account and ensuring that good intentions really do become vital actions to advance growth and prosperity across the world.

I look forward to welcoming my fellow leaders to Lough Erne and to showcasing Northern Ireland to the world as a modern and dynamic part of the United Kingdom that is open for business, with huge potential for investment and tourism.

Northern Ireland's transformation over the last two decades was made possible by the courage of so many people across all sections of its community. Their determination and leadership has inspired the world. And we must show the same resolve to make sure this G8 delivers growth and prosperity for the United Kingdom, for the United States and for the world.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1327807 2012-03-07T19:00:00-05:00 2012-05-07T05:12:02-04:00

David Cameron http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-cameron/
It is despicable that in the 21st century so many medieval practices and attitudes remain. And it is appalling that time and again, this is shoved under the carpet. People turn a blind eye and a culture of shame and secrecy is perpetuated.

That's why ending violence against women and girls is a priority for this government. We are challenging the behind-closed-doors mentality and shining a light under the rocks to root out violence and intimidation where it's happening - at home and abroad.

At home we've protected central government funding for tackling violence against women - £40 million over the spending review period, including funding for vital rape support centres.

We're consulting on how we can crack down on practices like forced marriage, sweeping away the cultural over-sensitivity which said we should just turn a blind eye.

We're piloting 'Clare's Law', which will help victims, or potential victims, of domestic violence by disclosing information about previous violent-offending by their partner. This is to prevent tragic cases like that of Clare Wood, who was killed by a man she had become involved with - because she had no idea he'd committed a string of violent offences.

And today we can announce another big step: making stalking a criminal offence in its own right. Stalking is an abhorrent crime. It makes life a living hell for the victims - breaking up relationships, forcing the victims to move house, making them feel they are being watched 24 hours of the day. That's why we are explicitly criminalising stalking, to make sure that justice is done, protect the victims and show beyond doubt that stalking is a crime.

We're acting abroad too. In Zambia we're providing thousands of survivors of violence with legal, medical and psychological support. In Ethiopia we're expanding a programme that has been massively successful in preventing child marriage - with the ambition of stopping 200,000 girls from being married out young. In South Asia we've launched a new anti-trafficking programme, which aims to stop 60,000 women and girls being dragged into modern-day slavery.

Everyone in this country should feel proud that because of British aid, fewer women and girls are going to be living in fear. But of course we're stronger if we act together with other countries. That's why today we can confirm we are working towards signing The Council of Europe's Convention on Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, before ratifying the treaty and so incorporating it into UK law. This is a landmark agreement between countries that together we're going to drag this problem into broad daylight and tackle it head-on.

So International Women's Day is vital as it forces people across the planet to focus on issues like this. But we have got to make sure that action to stamp out violence against women continues every day - and that's what this government is determined to do.

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David Cameron http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-cameron/
Key elements of this include:

- The 'Benefits Cap' which ensures no one can get more that £26,000 in benefits (that's the equivalent of a taxed income of £35,000)

- The 'Universal Credit' which will ensure that work always pays more than being on benefit

These reforms will change lives for the better, giving people the help they need, while backing individual responsibility so that they can escape poverty, not be trapped in it.

Past governments have talked about reform, while watching the benefits bill sky rocket and generations languish on the dole and dependency. This government is delivering it. Our new law will mark the end of the culture that said a life on benefits was an acceptable alternative to work.

While we've been putting in place a sensible, modern welfare system that protects the vulnerable, our opponents have shown they are on the side of Britain's 'something for nothing' culture.

We've stood up against the abuse that left taxpayers footing the bills for people on £30,000 or even £50,000 a year in benefits. It's a fair principle: a family out of work on benefits shouldn't be paid more than the average family in work.

This is a core part of the government's task of turning around the legacy of debt, overspending and waste we inherited.

We want money to go to people who need it, not subsidising the consequences of our broken society. By reforming welfare we will get people into fulfilling jobs, not abandon them to poverty and dependency, save billions of pounds of taxpayers' money and make sure those who really need help get it.

That's compassionate modern government in action.

It's also a huge tribute to the Secretary of State for Welfare, Iain Duncan Smith, who has worked tirelessly and with real moral purpose in tackling the blight of welfare dependency.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1258260 2012-02-06T19:00:01-05:00 2012-04-07T05:12:01-04:00

David Cameron http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-cameron/
The reason for that commitment is simple - apprenticeships are right at the heart of the kind of economy we want to build: one where many more young people have the chance to learn a proper trade; where we have a highly-skilled workforce; where we're not just borrowing and spending huge amounts but really earning our way, making and selling the goods the world wants to buy. Apprenticeships are a vital thread running through this vision.

So we have massively increased investment to over £1.5 billion - and today we announce three more important steps we're taking.

First, we're opening the second round of bidding for the Higher Apprenticeship Fund. This fund has a very clear purpose: to increase the number of apprenticeships available at the highest level. For far too long academic subjects have been elevated above practical learning and these rigorous, well-respected qualifications - equivalent to a traditional degree - are going to help end that imbalance. We're looking to see new higher-level apprenticeships in fields like engineering, aerospace and renewable technologies, and to that end we've got £6 million of funding available. Now we want businesses, universities and training providers to start putting their bids together to make this a reality.

Second, we're launching new incentives to encourage small businesses to take on apprentices. The benefits of doing so are proven and overwhelming: you get loyal staff; you train them as you wish; and you recoup your investment rapidly. You just need to look at the board of Rolls Royce - where half of them started as apprentices - to see the business case for doing this. But still, not enough small businesses go this route, which is why we're offering new financial rewards. From today, if you're a small or medium-sized business without any apprentices, and you hire one aged 16-24, then you're eligible for £1500. So if you're reading this and you fit the bill, get hiring - there are 40,000 payments to be snapped up. Find out more about it here.

Third, we're giving employers more control over training. Instead of mainly streaming the money through training providers we're going to give it straight to employers, putting them in the driving seat to commission or develop their own training. There is £250 million in the pot to achieve this - and today we're detailing how employers can get a share of this and get the skills they need. Read more about how to bid here.

If we want an economy that is truly world-class, high-skilled and open for everyone willing to work hard, then we have got to keep putting our efforts into strengthening apprenticeships with bold measures like this. That's what this government is pledged to do. ]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2010:/theblog//3.789407 2010-11-30T10:00:00-05:00 2011-05-25T18:15:22-04:00

David Cameron http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-cameron/
Football is our national game. It's part of what defines us as a country. But football in England is all the more special because it's also an international game. We are privileged to have some of the best footballers from all over the world playing week in, week out in our Premier and Football leagues. Players like Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard and Marcus Hahnemann are very much part of that. And our game would not be the same without them.

England prides itself on having the facilities that great players need to produce great football. And we would continue to develop our infrastructure, building on the legacy of the London Olympics and the continuous investment in football in England, to deliver a playing environment fit for the best players at the best tournament on earth.

That includes great stadiums, packed with some of the most passionate fans and most electrifying atmospheres anywhere in the world. For whether it's Wembley or Old Trafford, the Emirates or St James Park, these stadiums mean something to people in every corner of the world. Many of them have a special place in the history of football and in the hearts of all those who love the game.

So an England World Cup in 2018 would not just be special for the players. It would also be special for the fans. England is the most multicultural football nation on the planet. That means in England, every team is playing at home, because every country in the world has a community of fans already living and working here.

Our "Fan Fests" would bring these communities together and put them at the heart of the action, making a World Cup in England a truly global festival of football in a country that is easy to get to, easy to get around -- and most importantly, easy to feel at home in.

So I really believe that a World Cup in England in 2018 would be a great World Cup for players and fans alike. But just as importantly, it would also be a great World Cup for the future.

If we win the privilege of hosting the 2018 World Cup, there will be a new global fund for football, called Football United. This will aim to match FIFA's current investment in grassroots football and social development across the world by 2018.

Our legacy would directly affect the lives of one billon people globally. And it could affect even more in the years to follow as we would pass the fund on in a sustainable way to future World Cup hosts.

USA '94 was a real triumph both as a tournament for the world and as way of helping football to grow in America. I know you are bidding for 2022, and I wish you every success with that bid. When President Obama and I had a lighthearted wager on the England-USA game last summer, we had to settle for a 1-1 draw. This time we could both be winners.

Our ambition is to bring people together in the common cause of football and to use football to change people's lives for the better. That's the mission of an England World Cup in 2018. Because our bid is not just about what a 2018 World Cup could do for England. It's about what England 2018 could do for your country, and for the world. ]]>