Labour manifesto launch

[policywonk]

Thought we might as well get this over with

Ed Miller Band says:

• There will be an emphasis on green industries and new technologies (green investment bank);
• increase in the minimum wage;
• scrapping stamp duty for most first-time buyers;
• people on unemployment benefit who don't accept offers of work will lose benefits;
• 'we will have rules in the system to ensure that never again can a small number of people tak e such risks with the prosperity of our society by acting irresponsibly in the financial markets' (whatever that means);
• protect spending on policing, education and health (and international development I think, although he doesn't say this);
• allowing successful public services (schools, hospitals, police services) to take over under-performing ones, and introducting principles like mutualism to public services;
• setting up a 'universal national care service';
• protecting local post offices;
• referendum on the alternative vote system.

The full document will be released at 11.30.

is that like the referendum they were going to have on Europe then? Think we'll get it?

people on unemployment benefit who don't accept offers of work will lose benefits; ~ I'd like to know which people. Are single parents and people like my dad who they claim is not diabled depite suffering from fits due to an unkown cause amoung many other very serious illnesses?

what work as well?

With all the redundencies recently would we start seeing people with degrees in highly specilised subjects penalised because they won't accept a call centre job while they look for another research post (just an example) or similar situations - Its a dangerous slope to get on to IMO.

anastaisia - I take your point about Labour having failed completely to implement manifesto commitments before. They would say that this one is different, as they are committing to a referendum in the first parliament (ie before October 2011 I think). I think they couldn't possibly wriggle out of this one, they've made too much noise about it. (Whether AV is the right system is another issue!)

Shiny - again, take your point about the welfare reforms, especially as they impact on people on long-term disability allowance. I don't like what they've done here at all. On the face of it they're talking about unemployment benefit rather than disability allowance - but in truth, they are busily chucking disability claimants onto unemployment benefit and claiming that they are perfectly fit for work, which is often not the case.

Hello Len

You can download the manifesto here

That was a yawnfest, wasn't it?

leningrad It's my understanding that they wish to explore PR - this comes from a dear "friend" who is a card-carrying member. It's all a bit moving the goalposts.

I'm all in favour of PR. Not sure that AV is the way to go though.

Ha ha haaaa...

An emphasis on green tech? That will make a change then especially considering the last time GB lied about investing in green business our only manufacturer of wind turbines went bust on the same day.

They have had years to protect local PO's and haven't protected a single one.

The rest sounds like bullshit.

Why has none of this been done/thought of in the past 12/13 years?
What is different now??

Economy:

Halve the deficit by 2014 'through economic growth, fair taxes and cuts to lower priority spending'. 15 billion this year and 25 billion next year to be saved by cutting 'back-office and property running costs; abolishing unnecessary arms-length-bodies; sharply reducing spending on consultancy and marketing; and cutting lower-priority spending.' 3 billion saved by cutting public sector pay rises. National insurance rise of 1p next year, but won't affect anyone earning under 20k. Commitment to not raise income tax. (Boo.) VAT will not be extended to books, children's clothes, newspapers or public transport fares. Tax credits will be maintained and not cut. Maintain inflation at 2 per cent.

Global banking levy (again, what? and how?) 'We will compel banks to keep more capital and create "living wills" so that should they fail there will be no danger of that failure spreading. We will continue to work with our international partners to require all banks to hold more and better-quality capital, to ensure counter-cyclical protection, and to introduce a global levy on financial services so that banks across the world contribute fairly to the society in which they are based.' 'We will give the FSA additional powers if necessary to constrain and quash executive remuneration where it is a source of risk and instability. If there is evidence of bonus rules being evaded, we will act.' Northern Rock to be mutualised.

4 billion capital for new businesses. 'We will provide incentives for companies to invest through R&D tax credits, and protect and increase the size of capital allowances that help to grow key sectors such as manufacturing. We will ensure a competitive regime through the development of the patent-box ? a lower rate of corporation tax to encourage UK-based innovation ? supporting the UK's strengths in new industries and sectors.' Creation of a Small Business Credit Adjudicator with statutory powers ensuring that SMEs are not turned down unfairly when applying to banks for finance.

Attempt to create 1m new jobs in high-tech industries, including green jobs, high-speed rail and broadband. Ring-fenced science budget in the next spending review. Investment in technology and innovation centres. 'We will also support university research through the Higher Education Innovation Fund, and through the development of a new University Enterprise Capital Fund. The proceeds of success will flow back into the higher education sector.'

Requirement of a super-majority of two-thirds of shareholders in company takeovers (I heard somewhere a recommendation that the companies doing the taking over should have to put it to a shareholder vote, as well as the company being taken over - sounds like a good idea to me but not mentioned here). Extension of the public interest test so that it is applied to potential takeovers of infrastructure and utility companies. 'The UK's Stewardship Code for institutional shareholders should be strengthened and we will require institutional shareholders to declare how they vote and for banks to put their remuneration policies to shareholders for explicit approval.' (Good.)

'We will continue to support the economy while growth is still fragile, sticking with our targeted increase in public spending over the next year to sustain the recovery.' (Good.)

'We will welcome rail franchise bids from not-for-profit, mutual or co-operative franchise enterprises and will look to remove unfair barriers that prevent such bids benefiting passengers and taxpayers.'

Re-commitment to Heathrow third runway. (Boo.)

100,000 electric vehicle charging points.

Welfare/benefits/families:

'200,000 jobs through the Future Jobs Fund, with a job or training place for young people who are out of work for six months, but benefits cut at ten months if they refuse to take part; and anyone unemployed for more than two years guaranteed work, but no option of life on benefits.' (Hmm.) The dreaded work capability tests will be extended. 'For those with the most serious conditions or disabilities who want to work there will be a new guarantee of supported employment after two years on benefit.'

'A National Minimum Wage rising at least in line with average earnings, and a new £40-a-week Better Off in Work guarantee.' (Good.) 'Living wage' to be paid to all employed by Whitehall departments.

No stamp duty for first-time buyers on all house purchases below £250,000 for two years, paid for by a five per cent rate on homes worth more than £1 million. (Fair enough.) 'Our highly popular Home Buy Direct scheme will continue. We will work with Housing Associations to develop a new form of affordable housing targeted at working families on modest incomes who struggle in the private sector and rarely qualify for social housing. This will focus on enabling working people to rent an affordable home at below market rates while they build up an equity stake.' (Sounds good to me.)

'We believe local authorities should be able to play their part in providing social housing in the future; and we will reform the council house financing system to enable local authorities to maintain properties at the Decent Home standard and to build up to 10,000 council houses a year by the end of the next Parliament. Tenant involvement in the management of social housing properties will be strongly encouraged.'

'The pioneering Savings Gateway account for people on lower incomes will be available to over eight million families from July 2010, providing a match of 50p for each £1 saved up to a limit of £300... we will develop a matched savings account for all 18-30 basic-rate taxpayers, as set out in the Budget.' Hadn't heard about this - sounds good.

'A People's Bank at the Post Office; a Universal Service Obligation on banks to serve every community; a clampdown on interest rates for doorstep and payday loans.' Post Office not to be privatised. Retail banks obliged to provide basic bank accounts to anyone with a valid address.

Labour basically want to axe the one share one vote rule. Stupid. All that waffle about Cadbury's law. So chocolate isn't in the national strategic interest after all, apparently. There aren't any utilities or infrastructure companies that remain in British ownership are there? So it's more Labour waffle.

As for promise of a referendum. They don't hav a good track record of following through on the promise of a referendum.

Why AV? Why not PR? It seems ridiculous to me that we are in 2010 and still have an electoral system that means many people don't have a voice.

They really are going to lose this election quite badly aren't they?

Its a good question from GeorginaWorsley about 'why now and not in the last 12/13 years'

I think the reassuring thing is that if Labour are promising it, its bound to be workable/deliverable

After all, they have been at it for quite a bit and they wont want to be caught on promises they cant deliver thro no money etc

Expect the Tories will have lots of whizz-bang-unachievable-eye-catching-nonsense

Educashun, educashun, educashun lifelong learning and skills acquisition:

Spending increased on frontline Sure Start and free childcare, schools and 16-19 learning. 'For primary-age children, we are guaranteeing childcare and constructive activities from 8am until 6pm in term-time at their own or a neighbouring school.' 'We are extending the provision of free school meals so that an additional half a million primary school children in families on low incomes will benefit, and we are trialing free school meals for all primary school children in pilot areas across the country.'

'All secondary school pupils will have a Personal Tutor of Studies, and we will work with schools to extend one-to-one or small-group tuition to pupils in the run-up to their GCSEs.' 'More will be invested in anti-bullying interventions including tackling homophobic bullying.' 'Cadet forces will move increasingly into state schools and we will expand spare time activities for young people, doubling those available ? including sport ? on Friday and Saturday nights' (surely avoiding the CCF is one of the benefits of attending state schools?)

'We are committed to an historic change: raising the education and training leaving age to 18. All young people will stay on in learning until 18, Education Maintenance Allowances will be retained and there will be an entitlement to an apprenticeship place in 2013 for all suitably qualified 16-18 year olds.' 'We will open up opportunity for people from families on low incomes to enter professions like the media and law, expanding paid internships for students. To increase social mobility, careers advice for young people, including for younger children, will be overhauled, ensuring much better information and guidance.'

An expansion of free nursery places for two year olds and 15 hours a week of flexible, free nursery education for three and four year olds.

Every pupil leaving primary school secure in the basics, with a 3Rs guarantee of one-to-one and small-group tuition for every child falling behind; and in secondary school, every pupil with a personal tutor and a choice of good qualifications.

A choice of good schools in every area ? and, where parents are not satisfied ? the power to bring in new school leadership teams, through mergers and take-overs, with up to 1,000 secondary schools part of an accredited schools group by 2015. 'For pupils and parents we will set out in law guarantees of the excellent education and personal support they can expect... Where parents are dissatisfied with the choice of secondary schools in an area, local authorities will be required to act, securing take-overs of poor schools, the expansion of good schools, or in some cases, entirely new provision. Where parents at an individual school want change, they will be able to trigger a ballot on whether to bring in a new leadership team from a proven and trusted accredited provider... Ensuring all pupils make progress also requires a fair funding system, so we will introduce a local pupil premium to guarantee that extra funding to take account of deprivation follows the pupil [isn't this a LibDem policy?]. Barriers to social mobility will be tackled by giving disadvantaged families free access to broadband to support their child's learning.'

Every young person guaranteed education or training until 18, with 75 per cent going on to higher education, or completing an advanced apprenticeship or technician level training, by the age of 30.

Labour 1997 Manifesto pledge in full:

?We are committed to a referendum on the voting system for the House of Commons. An independent commission on voting systems will be appointed early to recommend a proportional alternative to the first-past-the-post system. ?

Still waiting....

Labour 2005 manifesto pledge:
A referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

13/12/2007 Gordon Brown signs the Lisbon treaty.... referendum? What referendum?

Health:

'All hospitals will become Foundation Trusts, with successful FTs given the support and incentives to take over those that are under-performing. Failing hospitals will have their management replaced. Foundation Trusts will be given the freedom to expand their provision into primary and community care, and to increase their private services ? where these are consistent with NHS values, and provided they generate surpluses that are invested directly into the NHS.'

'All women will have the right, wherever it is safe, to a home-birth, and every expectant mother will have a named midwife providing continuity of care. More mums and dads will be offered single rooms if they need to stay in hospital overnight, and post-natal care will be further expanded so that every area of the country has a Family Nurse Partnership, supporting families in greatest need.'

Legally binding guarantees for patients including the right to cancer test results within one week of referral, and a maximum 18 weeks? wait for treatment or the offer of going private.

Preventative healthcare through routine check-ups for the over-40s and a major expansion of diagnostic testing.

More personal care, with the right in law to choose from any provider who meets NHS standards of quality at NHS costs when booking a hospital appointment, one-to-one dedicated nursing for all cancer patients, and more care at home. 'We will work with Marie Curie Cancer Care and other providers to guarantee everyone who wants it the opportunity to receive palliative care in their own home at the end of their lives.' (About time too.)

The right to choose a GP in your area open at evenings and weekends, with more services available on the high-street, personal care plans and rights to individual budgets.

'We will pioneer better mental health care and tackle the scourge of mental illness. Over the next Parliament more than 8,000 new therapists will ensure access to psychological therapy for all who need it as we seek to change our society?s attitudes to mental illness.' (More therapists is good news, but what's really needed in mental health care is more acute beds, more community nurses, and greater outpatient capacity IMO.)

'We will extend the right for staff, particularly nurses, to request to run their own services in the not-for-profit sector... The NHS will benefit from a period of organisational stability: we will make no top-down changes to the structure of Primary Care Trusts or Strategic Health Authorities during the next Parliament.'

'ard-workin' faaamilies (the feckless and the barren need not apply):

More help for parents to balance work and family life, with a 'Father?s Month' of flexible paid leave. Maternity leave can be shared with fathers after the first six months.

A new Toddler Tax Credit of £4 a week from 2012. Lots of nice words about child poverty but no detail.

'We will continue to promote internet safety for children, building on the recommendations of Dr Tanya Byron's review. We will support parents who challenge aggressive or sexualised commercial marketing. We will ask Consumer Focus to develop a website for parents to register their concerns about sexualised products aimed at their children.' (Or you could just send them to Mumsnet.)

The right to request flexible working for older workers, with an end to default retirement at 65.

A new National Care Service; free care in the home for those with the greatest care needs and a cap on the costs of residential care after two years.

A re-established link between the Basic State Pension and earnings from 2012; and help for ten million people to build up savings through new Personal Pension Accounts.

'Financial support should be directed at all children, not just those with married parents. We reject proposals that would skew resources to the wealthy, or penalise loving and committed adults who, for whatever reason, are not married, and stigmatise their children.' (Well said.)

The thing that really scares me is the time target for cancer results.

When they introduced a 4 hour maximum waiting time for A&E, hospitals kept people waiting in ambulances because that delayed the clock starting. When they set targets for hospital finances we got scandals like Stafford hospital where the books balanced but the death rates soared.

Now deadlines for cancer tests. It's just too dangerous an area to have idiot politicians of any party scoring political points. I've had one of those waits and frankly I'd rather it was two days late but accurate, rather than within the deadline but wrong.

They should focus on the quality of doctors and keep out of the diagnosis.

Its the Mumsnet manifesto

Lots beneath the headlines that I like here. Spose the reason they haven't done everything in 12-13 yrs is that you can't as a government achieve everything in a 4 year term, it's impossible. There have to be priorities. Plus, things change. Wars and terrorism happen. Big financial crises happen. Political crises happen. Some people thought the time spent on banning fox hunting was a waste, personally I don't. But if the Government hadn't been doing that, they could have done something else instead. It's a question of priorities and promises, to the public and to their Party.

Loads in the personal finance arena that I agree with, support for credit unions, limits on loan sharks etc. High speed rail link to the north west - yee ha! The Tories promised this as part of Eurotunnel and then it just disappeared. Free vote for 16 yrs olds to get the vote is popular with my DD (she could vote at the next election if this went through, asked if she would get a day off school to vote, ha!) Right to recall MPs naughty with money. Right for crime victims to choose restorative justice and get an apology. More free nursery places for 2 yrs olds (remember when we didn't get free nursery for anyone? I do when my DD was born Labour wasn't in power). Not sure about parents changing management of schools, my kids in good schools so never wanted to change it. Like pledges in health service for people seeking treatment.

Sorry if anyone caught me being grouchy last night on the "what public services to cut" thread, am better with specifics. Thanks Policywonk but did actually have a look at the quick crammer on the BBC website, much simpler for the simpletons amongst us

There's lots of promises and not much explaination of how it's all paid for isn't there?