Governor Schwarzenegger Addresses United Kingdom's Conservative Party Conference

Governor Schwarzenegger Addresses United Kingdom's Conservative Party Conference

Today, Governor Schwarzenegger addressed the United Kingdom's 124th annual Conservative Party Conference live via satellite. In his remarks, the Governor highlighted the importance of embracing ideas, issues and policies that transcend partisan ideology and pursuing pragmatic solutions that bring the greatest good to the most people. The Governor spoke to his experience and success in tackling important issues such as global warming and health care and praised Conservative Party Leader David Cameron for the bold steps he has already taken on climate change.

Cameron invited Governor Schwarzenegger to speak at this year's conference - held in Blackpool, England from September 30-October 3 - to discuss California's leadership across the globe on issues such as climate change. The conference is expected to draw 10,000 representatives from across the UK, including Members of Parliament, local elected officials, leading members from the press and media groups, business and charitable organizations and think tanks.

The Governor also introduced keynote speaker, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In June 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger joined Mayor Bloomberg at the Ceasefire! Bridging The Political Divide conference in Los Angeles to highlight ways to improve political dialogue and decision making at all levels.

Below is the text of the Governor's speech, as prepared:

Hello everyone. It is a tremendous honor to address the 124th annual Conservative Party Conference.

I am sorry I could not join you in person.

But we are in the middle of a special session of the Legislature that I called, to address two of the biggest issues facing California.

One is comprehensive health care reform and the other is a long-term water plan to make sure California has all the water it needs to remain prosperous for generations to come.

So I had to cancel all travel except a long-term promise to attend the Special Olympics World Summer Games in China in a few days.

But I am happy to talk with you via satellite because as someone from Europe who now lives in America, I have a profound appreciation of the bond between our two nations.

No matter the challenge, no matter the issue, Americans know you have always been our trusted and valued friend.

And I suspect you feel the same way about us.

It's fantastic you found such a great new keynote speaker, my good friend and soul mate, Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Now I have to say…

Because just like your dynamic leader David Cameron, the mayor always puts the people first.

He knows, like David Cameron and I know, that we are public servants, not party servants.

And that our job is to recognize the issues that matter to the people the most and to solve them.

Issues we are all working on very hard in California, New York City and in Great Britain.

Issues like health care, balanced budgets, economic development, education reform, public safety, infrastructure and of course global warming and protecting the environment.

These are not conservative or liberal issues. They are issues everyone cares about.

People want quality health care, no matter what party they belong to.

They want safe communities, no matter what party they belong to.

They want a healthy environment, no matter what party they belong to.

Think about global warming, which your party has done such great work on.

We are changing the dynamic. Last year, after I signed our landmark climate change bill, everyone was inspired by California's leadership on this vital issue.

Mayor Bloomberg did the same thing in April by proposing his green plan for New York City, the most ambitious environmental blueprint for a city in history.

And by being a strong and forceful voice on climate change, David Cameron has revived your Conservative Party's green heritage and helped strengthen Britain's resolve to set an example on this issue.

That is the kind of leadership people are hungry for. They want action and results, not ideology and stalemate.

They prefer progress with messy compromise, over defeat with pristine principles.

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity," Winston Churchill once said.

"The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty."

I agree 100 percent.

I know David Cameron and Michael Bloomberg do, too.

Thank you very much. And now let me introduce to you one of the great mayors ever, my friend, Michael Bloomberg.

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