John Healey has hailed “a new era of industrialisation” in his first Labour Party Conference speech as Chancellor of the Exchequer. His speech was accompanied by the news that Rolls Royce are investing £19m Rolls Royce at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Catcliffe, Rotherham. The money, supported by a further £2m from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, will increase the facility’s productivity, doubling its output of advanced turbine blades – a critical component in jet engines – by 2030.
John said
“I want to tell you how we’ll bring back hope. How we’ll get Britain growing. With hope for our young people. With good work, good jobs and a new age of industrialisation. Because I believe in Britain and we believe in Britain.
“This country has such resilience, such strengths, still such greatness. We’re home to nearly half the most innovative companies in Europe. We’re world-leaders in life sciences, in defence tech, in AI. Our financial services, led by London, are some of the best in the world. Our theatre, our TV shows, our fashion, our music is treasured the world over.
“And we have the best people. The veterans in the Royal British Legion at Remembrance. The winners of the Daily Mirror’s Pride of Britain awards. The lifeboat volunteers of the RNLI risking their own lives to save others in danger on the sea. This is the quiet patriotism that makes Britain great. So, despite everything that we face, there are many reasons for optimism.
“We need growth generated in more places. We need wealth created in more places. And I want our government decisions and our policies to bring new levels of confidence, investment and yes, profits in British business. Because it’s businesses that will create this country’s jobs, and wealth, and growth.
“And I say, growth isn’t just a graph or a spreadsheet. It’s a family at the kitchen table saying: yes, it looks like we can afford that holiday this summer. It’s the sole trader saying: yes, for the first time I think I can take on that apprentice. And it’s the community looking at its high street or its town centre and saying: there are new shops, there are new businesses, the pubs haven’t closed. We’re turning a corner. And this is what I dedicate myself to as Britain’s Chancellor. The growth that drives progress: better wages, better lives.”
To watch John’s speech in full, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF1kDh6oyoY
To read the full speech go to https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/john-healeys-speech-to-labour-party-conference-2026/