Justine Greening’s brief as International Development Secretary is really quite specific. It certainly doesn’t require wide-ranging speeches about social mobility or domestic policy. And while Greening didn’t give a wide-ranging speech in her address to the Tory conference today, she did insert little snippets about her own life in a way that suggested she isn’t keen to remain International Development Secretary for ever. For instance, she said:
‘Wherever you are in the world, young people tell me they want the same thing, a job and the dignity of work. I know that the toughest year of my childhood in Rotherham was the year my dad was unemployed.’
And she also said:
‘Having been in business for 15 years before entering Parliament, I’m determined to make sure my department delivers value for money.’
It’s hardly the most personal speech ever, but it was the most personal of the afternoon, which suggests at least that Greening feels the conference hall needs to get to know her a bit better.
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