Reid pledges support for ambition

Saturday, 13 November 2004 12:00 AM

Health Secretary John Reid told a conference in London that people's own ambitions "are the engine of national improvement".

Dr Reid stated at the Blairite Progress conference that the Labour Government aims to help everyone, not just the rich, realise their ambitions.

"New Labour rejects the 'either-or' approach to social justice and economic dynamism, and we insist on emphasising both rights and responsibilities," he said.

In his speech Dr Reid also warned fellow Labour politicians that they had no right to power.

"Just as the process of change in the modern world is unceasing, so too is the process of renewal," he claimed. "The creation of New Labour was not a one-off event, but was rather the beginning of a process.

"So none of us should think that just because we bought a ticket for the game 10 years ago that will give us entry tomorrow.

Dr Reid's address comes ahead of the Public Health White Paper expected to include anti-smoking measures.

The Health Secretary explained: "In terms of health improvement, just as we reject the crude characterisation of all state intervention as 'nannyism', so we reject the idea that people's health can be determined solely by government edict or legislation."

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