These were among the final words of the new British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, during his recent interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg. Few phrases capture Britain's current situation more accurately.
The new Prime Minister has assembled a Cabinet that combines fresh faces with experienced ministers, providing a reassuring degree of continuity in the departments that matter most. His first announcements – capping bus fares, abolishing VAT on electricity and lowering business rates for pubs – have been relatively easy wins. Now, however, the real work begins.
The Government faces an unenviable balancing act. Defence spending must rise in response to an increasingly dangerous international environment, yet fiscal discipline must be maintained. Welfare spending needs reform without undermining the social contract. Above all, the economy must return to sustained growth because, without growth, every other policy objective becomes more difficult to achieve.
Whether this Government succeeds will depend less on its ambitions than on its willingness to make difficult decisions – and to make them quickly. Andy Burnham is undoubtedly a gifted communicator. That gives him an important advantage: the ability to explain uncomfortable choices honestly whilst maintaining his appeal to the public. But communication alone is never enough. Leadership ultimately means taking decisions and, in light of the geopolitical and home-grown challenges, those decisions need to be taken quickly.
With Germany facing many similar challenges, we hope that the German government not only continues its reform agenda but also accelerates the pace of change. Again, time is of the essence if Germany is to restore economic growth, strengthen its competitiveness and play its full role in building a more resilient Europe.
In any case, the new British Prime Minister's commitment to rebuilding a closer relationship with the European Union is an encouraging development. It offers an opportunity to deepen cooperation in trade, innovation, defence and investment.
Trade has always been one of the strongest drivers of prosperity, productivity and innovation. When businesses trade, they exchange not only goods and services but also ideas, technologies and expertise. Cross-border cooperation makes us all stronger.
This is precisely where the German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce plays its part. Every day, we help companies overcome barriers to trade, navigate complex regulations and build successful partnerships across the Channel. Yet our work can only realise its full potential if governments create the right political framework.
Europe's challenges are shared. Our response should be shared too.
There is, indeed, so much more to do – but there is also so much more we can achieve together.
Dr Ulrich Hoppe
Director General
German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce
