Debate on the Address

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:41 pm on 20 November 1980.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Tony Benn Mr Tony Benn , Bristol South East 4:41, 20 November 1980

It is no good Conservative Members laughing. We saw them going into No. 10 last night for £21 dinners. The Secretary of State for Employment was asked about the cuts and he said "I do not mind about the cuts." He added "I probably should not have said that." The right hon. Gentleman has a larger budget because unemployment is greater. That is why the employment budget is larger.

The Confederation of British Industry, whatever words it uses, believes, too, that the Government are prepared to destroy our industrial base to break the power of trade unionism. It, too, has been to the Government to say "You are going too far."

What is wanted is something that we have done many times before and something that we shall have to do again—namely, to harness the resources of the nation to meet the needs of the nation. We must reconstruct our industries with oil revenues and with moneys saved from excessive defence expenditure.