Dominic Perrottet: 'This election was truly a race to the top', concession speech - 2023

25 March 2023, Sydney New South Wales, Australia

Friends, thank you so much for being here this evening. A short while ago, I called Chris Minns to congratulate him and the Labor Party on their election victory. The people of New South Wales, the great people of New South Wales tonight have decided to elect a Labor government in this state.

And that is a decision that we respect. I particularly tonight want to acknowledge the Leader of the Opposition. Elections can get ugly, but I believe this election truly was a race to the top, a genuine battle of ideas. And that's when politics is at its best. And in many ways that is due to Chris Minns and the way that he's carried himself throughout this campaign. And that's why I truly believe and have no doubt that he will make a fine 47th Premier of New South Wales, because I believe that he will lead with the same decency and the same integrity that he has led with so far.

And ultimately, I ask everybody across New South Wales, whatever your political persuasion, to get behind him, to get behind him. Because when New South Wales goes well, our country goes well. And that is something tonight I believe we can all get behind.

Now friends, it goes without saying. I think we all would would've wanted to have a different result this evening. But as a party, we as a government should be very proud of what we have achieved together. And I feel a profound sense of gratitude to have been able to serve the people of New South Wales.

Make no mistake. We've made history, been in government for the longest time since our party was formed, and our government has achieved so much in so many ways. We have kept New South Wales strong, free and fair.

Friends, New South Wales is a much better place today than it was 12 years ago, and that will be the legacy of our Liberal and Nationals government here in our state.

Our record is one of infrastructure, of investment and of imagination. We have rebuilt this state from the ground up with the biggest building agenda since federation. We built the first metros when they said it couldn't be done. Motorways that have changed the face of our city. More schools and hospitals than any government in our history and museums and stadiums befitting this world, class city and Australia's truly only global city.

We have laid also the foundations for a strong future, with three more metros and the second airport opening soon, this will turbocharge and transform our state for generations. And at the same time we've transformed service delivery, with record investments in health, in education, in public transport - not to mention Service New South Wales else.
And we've done the work, our government has done the hard work to keep our economy strong, to keep jobs plentiful. and taxes low, just like good Liberal governments do.
Now friends, when I took this job, I said I wanted to be a premier for families. And we have kept that promise, with record support for families across the board. But we've also dared to imagine a different future, where every child gets access to five days free preschool before they start kindergarten by getting of stamp duty, so that we help first home buyers reach that great Australian dream faster.

In a New South Wales State budget that is not propped up by the rivers of tears from the misery of problem gambling in this state.

Friends. Friends, we leave New South Wales a more stronger, more confident and more successful state than we found it. And we've achieved all of this whilst navigating some of the most difficult times, with droughts and fires and floods, we pushed through the pandemic and led our nation out of lockdown.

Difficult decisions. Difficult decisions, but the right decisions. I particularly want to acknowledge tonight our communities who have been significantly affected by floods. And I want to particularly acknowledge the community in the Northern Rivers. The devastation and the challenges that we saw will stay with me for the rest of my life. But what's more is the selflessness, the generosity, the spirit of service that I saw of our people in those regions in the most difficult times. And sometimes it's through the darkest times that brings out the best. But the values and that spirit that I had the great privilege to witness as Premier of this state, is something that will always be with me for the rest of my life. And it really shows to me how great Australia is and how great our people are.

Friends, tonight, can I say I am very proud to lead my Liberal team, but I stand on the shoulders of those who have come be before me. Barry O'Farrell, Mike Baird, and Gladys Berijiklian. Each of those leaders have left an indelible mark on our great state. Their legacies are strong, and New South Wales is a much better place for their leadership. And from my perspective, I couldn't have asked for better examples of leaders to learn from.
I want to thank my Coalition colleagues, for all the support they have shown me as premier of this state and during the campaign. My deputy and treasurer, Matt Keene, my former former Deputy Stuart Ayres. It doesn't appear that Stuart will have the result that he wanted, or that I wanted, this evening in Penrith, but Stuart can hold his head very high. He has served his community of Penrith incredibly well, and he has served our state with distinction. I want to thank the deputy, the deputy, premier, and leader of the National Party, Paul Toole. it has been a real privilege serving with him and he has been a champion for regional New South Wales, and in what is a difficult night for the Coalition, it has been a strong night for the National Party. And it shows that the National Party is the party of regional New South Wales.

I want to issue a special thank you to all the candidates for the Liberal party who put their hands up to run at this election. I want to particularly thank those who were unsuccessful, but also those who have lost their seats this evening. Politics is tough, but each of those members who weren't successful tonight have served their communities with distinction. And I want to thank them so much for their service to the people of New South Wales.
I want to acknowledge the Liberal Party organisation and particularly pass on my thanks to Chris Stone.

Chris has led a great team at Liberal Party headquarters, and he's run many campaigns, but to be part, for him to be part of this team and the leadership that he has shown, Chris, thank you so very much.

I want to thank all the ministerial and electorate staff who work tirelessly each and every day for the people of New South Wales. Thank you for everything that you have done over the last twelve years.

To all the volunteers, not just in the Liberal Party, but volunteers from all political parties who today spent much of the day handing out pamphlets, supporting our great democracy. Thank you for everything that you've done over the course of the day.

 But to everyone in the Liberal party, I'd say this. This next period of time will not be easy, but it will be necessary. It is a time to reflect. It is a time to rethink and ultimately to renew.
As leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party. I take full responsibility for the loss this evening, and as a result, I will be standing down as the parliamentary leader of the Liberal part. It's very clear, we need a fresh start. We need a fresh start.

We did a fresh start for the liberal party. I want to thank the community of Epping and recognise their continued support. And thank them very much for supporting me at this election. Of all the 90 electorates across the state, Epping is the best. It is. I've had a few. It is the best, because it is my home. And thank you so much for your support.
Last lastly, and most importantly, I want to acknowledge my family, particularly Helen for everything she's done.

Helen is an amazing support. And I could not do this job and serve the people of our state without everything that she does for me and our family every single day. So thank you. To my kids, who should be a asleep, but they're probably not. Charlotte, Amelia, Annabelle, William, Harriet, Beatrice, and Celeste, you're not asleep. So just want to say I love you very much. Thank you for everything.

I want to finish tonight by saying that I didn't get into politics for a job. I got into politics to serve. And I want to thank every person across New South Wales for the great opportunity that you have given me. It has been an absolute honour and privilege, the greatest honour and privilege that I've had in my entire life. Thank you and good night.

Boris Johnson: 'We have to reconcile two novle sets of instincts', Campaign victory speech - 2019

23 July 2019, Westminster, London, United Kingdom

Thank you, Cheryl. Thank you, Charles. Thank you very much, Brandon, for a fantastic, well-organised campaign. I think it did a lot of credit, as Brandon has just said, to our party, to our values and to our ideals. But I want to begin by thanking my opponent, Jeremy. By common consent, an absolutely formidable campaigner and a great leader and a great politician.

Jeremy, in the course of 20 hustings… or hustings-style events – it was more than 3000 miles by the way, it’s about 7000 miles that we did criss-crossing the country. You’ve been friendly. You’ve been good natured. You’ve been a font of excellent ideas, all of which I propose to steal forthwith.

And above all, I want to thank our outgoing leader, Theresa May, for her extraordinary service to this party and to this country. It was a privilege to serve in her Cabinet and to see the passion and determination that she brought to the many causes that are her legacy, from equal pay for men and women to tackling the problems of mental health and racial discrimination in the criminal justice system. Thank you, Theresa. Thank you.

And I want to thank all of you, all of you here today, and obviously everybody in the Conservative party, for your hard work, for your campaigning, for your public spirit, and obviously for the extraordinary honour and privilege that you have just conferred on me.

And I know that there will be people around the place, who will question the wisdom of your decision. And there may even be some people here who still wonder what quite what they have done. And I would just point out to you that of course nobody, no one party, no one person has a monopoly of wisdom. But if you look at the history of the last 200 years of this party’s existence, you will see that it is we Conservatives who have had the best insights, I think, into human nature and in the best insights in how to manage the jostling sets of instincts in the human heart. And time and again, it is to us that the people of this country have turned to get that balance right between the instincts to own your own house, your own home, to earn and spend your own money, to look after your own family.

Good instincts, proper instincts, noble instincts. And the equally noble instinct to share and to give everyone a fair chance in life. And to look after the poorest and the neediest. And to build a great society. And on the whole, in the last 200 years, it is we Conservatives who have understood best how to encourage those instincts to work together in harmony, to promote the good of the whole country.

And today, at this pivotal moment in our history, we again have to reconcile two sets of instincts, two noble sets of instincts.

And I want to thank all of you, all of you here today, and obviously everybody in the Conservative party, for your hard work, for your campaigning, for your public spirit, and obviously for the extraordinary honour and privilege that you have just conferred on me.

And I know that there will be people around the place, who will question the wisdom of your decision. And there may even be some people here who still wonder what quite what they have done. And I would just point out to you that of course nobody, no one party, no one person has a monopoly of wisdom. But if you look at the history of the last 200 years of this party’s existence, you will see that it is we Conservatives who have had the best insights, I think, into human nature and in the best insights in how to manage the jostling sets of instincts in the human heart. And time and again, it is to us that the people of this country have turned to get that balance right between the instincts to own your own house, your own home, to earn and spend your own money, to look after your own family.

Good instincts, proper instincts, noble instincts. And the equally noble instinct to share and to give everyone a fair chance in life. And to look after the poorest and the neediest. And to build a great society. And on the whole, in the last 200 years, it is we Conservatives who have understood best how to encourage those instincts to work together in harmony, to promote the good of the whole country.

And today, at this pivotal moment in our history, we again have to reconcile two sets of instincts, two noble sets of instincts. Between the deep desire for friendship and free trade and mutual support in security and defence between Britain and our European partners. And the simultaneous desire, equally deep and heartfelt for democratic self-government in this country.

And of course, there are some people who say that they’re irreconcilable. And it just can’t be done. And indeed, I read in my Financial Times this morning, devoted reader that I am. Seriously, it’s a great, great, great, great British, great British brand.

I read in my Financial Times this morning that there is no incoming leader, no incoming leader has ever faced such a daunting set of circumstances, it said. Well, I look at you this morning and I ask myself, do you look daunted? Do you feel daunted? I don’t think you look remotely daunted to me. And I think that we know that we can do it and that the people of this country are trusting in us to do it. And we know that we will do it. And we know the mantra of the campaign that has just gone by in case you’ve forgotten it. You probably have. It is: Deliver Brexit. Unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn. And that is what we’re going to do. We’re going to defeat Jeremy Corbyn.

I know, I know, some wag has already pointed out that deliver, unite and defeat was not the perfect acronym for an election campaign, since unfortunately it spells ‘dud’. But they forgot the final ‘E’ my friends. ‘E’ for energise. And I say to all the doubters: dude, we are going to energise the country. We’re going to get Brexit done. On October 31st, we are going to take advantage of all the opportunities that it will bring in a new spirit of can do.

And we are once again going to believe in ourselves and what we can achieve. And like some slumbering giant, we are going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self-doubt and negativity with better education, better infrastructure, more police, fantastic full-fibre broadband sprouting in every household. We are going to unite this amazing country and we are going to take it forward. I thank you all very much for the incredible honour that you’ve just done me. I will work flat out from now on with my team that I will build.

I hope in the next few days to repay your confidence. But in the meantime, the campaign is over and the work begins. Thank you all very much.

And of course, there are some people who say that they’re irreconcilable. And it just can’t be done. And indeed, I read in my Financial Times this morning, devoted reader that I am. Seriously, it’s a great, great, great, great British, great British brand.

I read in my Financial Times this morning that there is no incoming leader, no incoming leader has ever faced such a daunting set of circumstances, it said. Well, I look at you this morning and I ask myself, do you look daunted? Do you feel daunted? I don’t think you look remotely daunted to me. And I think that we know that we can do it and that the people of this country are trusting in us to do it. And we know that we will do it. And we know the mantra of the campaign that has just gone by in case you’ve forgotten it. You probably have. It is: Deliver Brexit. Unite the country and defeat Jeremy Corbyn. And that is what we’re going to do. We’re going to defeat Jeremy Corbyn.

I know, I know, some wag has already pointed out that deliver, unite and defeat was not the perfect acronym for an election campaign, since unfortunately it spells ‘dud’. But they forgot the final ‘E’ my friends. ‘E’ for energise. And I say to all the doubters: dude, we are going to energise the country. We’re going to get Brexit done. On October 31st, we are going to take advantage of all the opportunities that it will bring in a new spirit of can do.

And we are once again going to believe in ourselves and what we can achieve. And like some slumbering giant, we are going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self-doubt and negativity with better education, better infrastructure, more police, fantastic full-fibre broadband sprouting in every household. We are going to unite this amazing country and we are going to take it forward. I thank you all very much for the incredible honour that you’ve just done me. I will work flat out from now on with my team that I will build.

I hope in the next few days to repay your confidence. But in the meantime, the campaign is over and the work begins. Thank you all very much.

John Bercow : 'We degrade this parliament at our peril', Resignation as Speaker - 2019

9 September 2019, Westminster, London, United Kingdom

Colleagues, I would like to make a personal statement to the House. At the 2017 election, I promised my wife and children that it would be my last. This is a pledge that I intend to keep.

If the House votes tonight for an early general election, my tenure as Speaker and MP will end when this Parliament ends. If the House does not so vote, I have concluded that the least disruptive and most democratic course of action would be for me to stand down at the close of business on Thursday, October 31.

Least disruptive because that date will fall shortly after the votes on the Queen’s Speech expected on 21st and 22nd October. The week or so after that may be quite lively and it would be best to have an experienced figure in the chair for that short period.

Most democratic, because it will mean that a ballot is held when all members have some knowledge of the candidates. This is far preferable to a contest at the beginning of a parliament, when new MPs will not be similarly informed and may find themselves vulnerable to undue institutional influence.

We would not want anyone to be whipped senseless, would we? Throughout my time as speaker, I have sought to increase the relative authority of this legislature for which I will make absolutely no apology to anyone, anywhere, at any time. To deploy a perhaps dangerous phrase: I have also sought to be the backbenchers’ backstop.

I could not do so without the support of a small but superb team in Speakers’ House. The wider House staff, my Buckingham constituents and above all, my wife Sally and our three children, Oliver, Freddie and Jemima.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank them all profusely. I could also not have served without the repeated support of this House and its members past and present.

This is a wonderful place filled overwhelmingly by people who are motivated by their notion of the national interest, by their perception of the public good and by their duty not as democrats, but as representatives to do what they believe is right for our country. We degrade this parliament at our peril. I have served as a member of parliament for 22 years and for the last ten as speaker.

This has been – let me put it explicitly – the greatest privilege, an honour of my professional life for which I will be eternally grateful. I wish my successor in the chair the very best fortune in standing up for the rights of all honourable and right honourable members, individually and for parliament institutionally.

As the Speaker of the House of Commons. Thank you.