The theme running through the speech was fairness and he pledged to create "a Britain of fair chances for all and fair rules applied to all".

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McCain's willingness to fight was a recurring theme throughout the speech.

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It was a theme on full display in a speech by the shadow chancellor, Michael Portillo, who appealed to his party to show tolerance, respect and support for all people, whatever their background, race or sexual orientation.

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The theme of the speech, as many pundits have pointed out, was a move toward the center and a pledge to work with Republicans, while guiding the nation.

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Focusing on consumers in the future was the main theme of Da Silva's keynote speech to the 200-strong audience of academics, industry experts and commission officials.

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There was a little less enthusiasm for the more esoteric section of the speech that dealt with his core theme: aspiration.

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