Articles tagged Speech:
Lecture: The NHS - Things That Need To Be Said
- 27 Jan 2014
This is the text of a 45 minute lecture I gave today to an audience at Queen’s Hospital in Romford. It is the annual Leslie Oliver Oration. Every year the hospital celebrates the works of one of pioneers in Neurosurgery in this country. Leslie Oliver founded the Neuroscience u...
Making a Speech is Like Giving Birth
- 25 Jan 2014
Someone once said that writing a speech is like giving birth. Whoever it was, they had a point. Back in early December I wrote this on the blog… I must be mad. When will I ever learn? I have just accepted an invitation to give a lecture on the NHS to 50 doctors, surgeons a...
The NHS: Things That Need to be Said...
- 4 Dec 2013
I must be mad. When will I ever learn? I have just accepted an invitation to give a lecture on the NHS to 50 doctors, surgeons and consultants from a London hospital in late January. Why on earth can’t I just learn to say ‘no’? I don’t do a lot of speeches nowadays. My job me...
Speech to the Tory Pride Dinner in Manchester
- 4 Oct 2013
On Tuesday night I gave the after dinner speech at the Tory Pride Dinner in Manchester. Several people who weren’t there have apparently been told about it and asked if I would put it on the blog, so here goes. I have removed all the jokes and smut, though, which formed about ...
Speech: Politics, Speeches & Audiences in the Age of Celebrity
- 31 Mar 2010
Last week I spoke to a group of speechwriters. Several people have asked if I would post my speech, which took as its subject “Politics, Speeches & Audiences in the Age of Celebrity”. Here's an abbreviated version... The best speeches are made like I sing in the shower....
When Making a Speech, Don't Change a Winning Formula
- 14 Feb 2010
It's only natural that I have been giving a lot of thought to what happened yesterday and why I underperformed at the East Surrey selection. Without going into a rather long tedious saga of self analysis, I think two things were at play. One is that I broke the habit of a l...
Speech at William Hague Fundraiser
- 11 Jan 2005
Commonwealth Club, Northumberland Avenue. Joint dinner with Mark Fox, candidate for Great Yarmouth. William Hague was the guest speaker. Ladies & gentlemen I would like to echo Mark’s welcome to you all tonight. I can’t tell you how honoured we are that so many of ...
Speech on the Proposed European Constitution
- 9 Oct 2004
Speech at a debate with Phil Harris, North Norfolk Labour Candidate and Andrew Duff, LibDem MEP at Fakenham. I’d like to thank you for inviting us here tonight to talk about what I think is one of the most important issues of our time – our future relationship with th...
Speech to Wantage Conservatives
- 12 Feb 2004
Ladies and Gentlemen, this must be the first time Wantage Conservatives have had two Guardian columnists speaking at a dinner. I’m not sure this trend should be encouraged any further. I was delighted to receive your invitation to this Valentine’...
Speech to Cambridge University Conservatives on the Media
- 4 Feb 2004
Thank you for inviting me back to the City of my birth to speak to you this evening on The Tories and the Media. With the background noise of the Hutton Report still ringing in our ears it is perhaps a good time to reflect on our relationship with the media, a relationship whi...