Theresa May surprised audiences at the Tory party conference by choosing Sam Cooke’s civil rights song “A Change Is Gonna Come” as an introductory song to her speech.
But the phrase became a theme of the speech - the prime minister repeated “a change has got to come” (with slight variations) eight times.
It was used mostly in reference to Brexit: May talked of the “quiet revolution” of the referendum vote, and the new “destiny” of the British people.
“Great changes can occur. And be in no doubt, that’s what Britain needs today. Because in June people voted for change. And a change is going to come”, she said.