00:01Now, these are three very different stories, all in different parts of England, but they're bound together by the same
00:06values of service, of generosity, and of respect.
00:11They are examples of people stepping up for their communities, when, frankly, it would be easier in many cases to
00:17step back, not to step up, but they stepped up.
00:20They're exceptional stories, and yet in this country they feel familiar, because you'll find them in every community across England,
00:27and every moment this country has been tested.
00:30Look at the pandemic. Millions of people signed up to volunteer, showing their support on the doorways, and I will
00:37always take away from the pandemic the fact that people simply went up the road to neighbours they didn't know
00:42and knocked on the door to simply say,
00:44Are you all right? Is there anything I can do for you? I think that is really English. I think
00:48it's what we are, and we should bottle that, because that is the true England.
00:54Or when Russia invaded Ukraine, many, many people opening their doors to refugees, and of course the Ukrainian flag still
01:01flying proudly on village halls and churches and people's homes across the country.
01:08And we're seeing it again now, across the country, everyday acts of volunteering in communities, bringing together those who need
01:14it most, in lots of different ways.
01:16Faith groups reaching out to lend their support, quiet acts of kindness that go unseen, but they're second nature to
01:24so many people.
01:25And when time and time again, when times get tough, we pull each other together and we pull each other
01:32up.
01:33And it's really important that we do that, because there's no getting round the fact that there are voices both
01:39here and abroad who would seek to divide us, who want to set us apart from each other, who want
01:45to pretend that in this country what we really do is to distinguish between people, to find the points of
01:51difference, to have the sort of toxic culture of hatred between different individuals, different groups, different communities.
01:58Sadly, we've seen it repeated so many times, including attacks on our synagogues, the most recent of which was just
02:06in the last week, and similarly, abhorrent attacks on our mosques.
02:11They're not just senseless acts of abuse.
02:15They're acts of violence designed to send a message to the Jewish and Muslim communities of this country that they
02:21are not safe.
02:22That's what they're designed to do, that they're not welcome, an attempt to rip up the bonds that tie our
02:29communities together.
02:30And make no mistake, we must be clear, we will not let them do this.
02:34We reject their division completely, and we will fly our flag proudly.
02:39It's our flag.
02:40It belongs to us, and we will fly it for the values that we believe in, and they're the values
02:45of the people I've named in this room tonight,
02:47the people who step out for their communities, who want to bring people together, who reject the division that others
02:53want to inflict on us.
02:55They are English values, service, generosity, and respect.
03:00And that's why I love this country so much, because that is us.
03:03That is our values.
03:04That is what we fight for.
03:06That is what the flag truly represents.
03:08And when we stand together, united in our communities, we are stronger than any challenge that is thrown at us.
03:14So thank you for being here tonight.
03:16There's fantastic showcases, there's fantastic food.
03:20You can smell it in all different parts of the room.
03:24Thank you for being here tonight.
03:26Enjoy all the wonderful showcases around the room, and happy St. George's Day.
03:31Have a good evening.
03:34You're right.
03:52Well, look, you've got English values, that's probably it.
03:55No, I've got a look here, look here.
03:58British values as well.
04:01Anyway, at least I corrected the record.
04:05He's hiking for every pound of the lake, so it's very nice.
04:08And also he's now hiking the highest cook.
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